unclescott58

I love those Canadian only cars. One of the delights of going into Canada as a car crazy kid.

I have the kit. If I knew what "tiger traps" we're in this context, I might be able answer that question.

You know I appreciate full reports like the above. Thanks Snake. And it sounds like a pretty good kit you got your hands on. Everything you mentioned as a problem sounds minor to me. By the way, can one have enough C2 Corvettes? I don't know. As you know, it is one of my all time favorite cars.

Okay Steve. You are right about the stripes. The one picture of a Road Runner in a sales brochure from 1980 shows and mentions the stripes. Also I see the black Road Runner you show above comes from a photo used by Phoenix Graphics. Who make replacement factory stripes for many cars. And I have found to be a very good and correct source for information on factory striping. Between Phoenix Graphic and the 1980 Plymouth brochure, I concede I am wrong, and you are right. Not the first time I've made this kind of mistake. And I'm sure it will not be the last one.

Wire wheels? No............!

I debate on the stripes being factory. Like the wheels on both cars, they could have been added later. I maybe wrong on this. But, my Chrysler-Plymouth facts book from 1980 makes no mention of the stripes being part of the Road Runner package. And your photos above are the first time I've ever seen striping like the window striping on any Volare. I have seen the striping around the wheel wells once before. Again I could be wrong. And sometimes things could be added or taken away, in any given model year. But I'd like to see some proof of some sort that these stripes were put into on by the factory. Could they be a dealer add on? That too was somewhat common still in the 70's and 80's. For example, we had a local dealer in the late 80's who offered a "Road Runner" package for the Plymouth Sundance (remember those?). This threw me for a loop the first time I saw one! Even had the Warner Brothers cartoon bird on it. Something not found on the last factory built Road Runners.

Still waiting for a nice review, showing us what exactly is in the box. I still have not bought one. The guy sells most of my new releases has not been at MCCM meeting the last two months. So, I have bypassed buying from him on a couple of the new kits I've really wanted. I like to give him my business, but I can also be a little impatient. The Volare maybe my next purchase before seeing my regular vendor at the meeting. The Pinto wagon can wait until I see him next. In the meantime, let's see a review.

Over the weekend there was a little Mopar show going on at a local drive-in. I was working, so I couldn't go. But, the drive-in is near our local O'Reillys warehouse, so I ended up driving buy it on the way to pick up parts. Naturally I had to look and see what I could see as I passed by. Sitting in the group, was a 1980 Volare. It looked really good. It was black. And it looked like it was a Road Runner. But, I'm not 100% sure on that. It also had t tops like the kit. I've never been a fan of t tops. But, after seeing what I could of the car, I thought they looked okay. Now do I put the t tops on my model or not? I'm still leaning towards not. "drought" above, indicated the kit needs red stripes to be correct. Are you sure your talking about 1980 Road Runners? Other than the wheels (which are incorrect), the spoiler,black gas cap, and "road runner" name decals, I really can not recall anything else to distinguish the Road Runner from other Volare coupes in 1980.

Looking at the box art for the engine, it shows no spark plugs or spark plug wiring on model. Did it come with plugs and wires? In 1/8 scale, you would think it would.

I'm hoping for a non Hurst version of the Olds.

Okay, as I'm working on my Mod Rod, I'm again questioning if I got all the parts with mine. I'm wondering where the clear headlamp parts are for the Mod Rod quad headlamp setup? Could those be the little round clear pieces on the clear parts tree? They look awfully small compared to the known regular headlamps in the kit.

There is an area here labeled "All the rest". In that area, they do allow bike reviews. Amongst other things. Do your review. Just put it in the right place. By the way, I'll read it. I love almost all kit reviews.

Just finished mine yesterday. Fun kit and it turned out great. Been on a Deal's Wheels kick lately. Had a talk with my best friends' 20 year old son about setting up a photo account and then showing me how to setup links, so I can start posting photos here again. The only trouble is the kid is going with his girlfriend to Mexico on a week long trip. And they fly out tomarrow morning at 5 am. So it will still be a week or two before I can start showing thing like my just finishing Deal's Wheels "The Baron". And other Deal's Wheels cars I have finished in the last couple of months.

Slightly off topic? I'd love to see Round 2 reissue MPC's old Vending Machine show rod. I'd love to build that one as favorite brand of soda pop. Mountain Dew. A couple of years ago, I built Monogram's Beer Wagon with Mountain Dew decals made by an outfit I think is called Firebird Design. Maybe Firebird Design will design more decals for the Li'l Gasser. Including my Pure Firebird Racing Gas decals.

By the way, Pure was the official gas used by NASCAR in the 1960's. Until UniCal took over. You'd see their signs at many tracks back in the day. I'm not sure about the 1950's. Though you see many early NASCARs carrying the Pure, non Firebird logos.

Yep. That's it. I love that design. Oh, and remember Pure's slogan: "You Can Be Sure With Pure". If there were Pure Firebird decals for this kit, I'd buy one right away.

I'd love to see a review on this kit. I've seen some photos in the past. Mainly of old glue bombs. But, nothing that really shows what comes in the box. So I'm courious about the detail and general look of the kit? The kit was originally tooled by Monogram well over 50 years ago now. How is it by today's standards? Most Jag E Type kits one sees seem a little off proportion wise. Wow is this one?

I'm not a big fan of this kit. But, if I could find some Pure Oil "Firebird"* decals that fit it, I'd build one. I'd also love to find Pure/Firebird decals for AMT's tanker trailer too. * For those who don't know Firebird was the name for Pure Oil's racing gas. It had a very cool logo, with they're interpretation of a Firebird. Very different from Pontiac's Firebird emblem. I believe Pure started using the Firebird brand in 1961. About 6 years before Pontiac's Firebird showed up on the scene. About the same time as Pontiac brought their Firebird to market, Pure Oil merged with Union Oil of California. And over the next couple of years, converted the Pure stations into Union 76s. Phasing out the Pure and Firebird names and logos. When I was a young kid, Pure was the main brand of gasoline my father bought. I was never happy when UniCal took them over, converting them to Union 76s. I missed their Firebird.

The above looks good. (To me at least.) I'll be buying one as soon as I can.

Others may still be interested. Speaking of models of Pontiac Grand Prixs, I was lucky to get my order into Modelhaus before they quit taking orders, for their resin '67 Grand Prix convertible. By far my favorite of Pontiac of all time. The only year Pontiac offered a Grand Prix convertible. And I love that front end. Looks a bit like the TV Batmobile's. In my eyes a classy looking car. I know the last MPC Grand Prix model was the '72. Which was later modified into the Welcome Back Kotter, Sweat Hogs dream car. I would how bad those dies were ruined to make that kit? For I would love to see the '72 Grand Prix kit come back.

I've never heard the "strange harmonic vibration or oscillation" theory before. And a standard joint length on US Interstate highways? I've heard rumors of that one. But, even if they had a standard it would be tough to match in a lot of cases. The change in wheelbase on the '68 GM "A" body cars was done strictly for styling. The four-doors were stretched one inch, which did provide a slightly better ride, as lengthening the wheelbase on any car will. The two-doors dropped three inches, because it made them look better. More sportier than the four-doors. An interesting wheelbase story is the one on the then new '65 full-size Dodge. They dropped the wheelbase of the big Dodges from a 122" wheelbase to 121". One inch. Not a big deal right? Well it was to the California Highway Patrol at the time. For ride reasons they would not accept any car with a wheelbase under 122". (This was changed in the mid-70's.) So Dodge ended up building special Polaras with the rear axle moved back to meet the requirements of the CHP. And for the CHP only. The CHP contract was worth that much to them back then. The contract for CHP cars was so big, that Buick in 1956 built special Century two-door sedans for the CHP only. (The rest of us, if we wanted a two-door Century, we had to be happy with the two-door "Riviera" hardtop. If you want a Buick two-door sedan most years, including '56 you bought it in the Buick Special line. With the smaller motor.) For '67, all full-size Dodges were back up to a 122" wheelbase.

1968 Dodge Chargers had small round side marker lights. 1969, they became rectangular.

Why would the Teddy Bear not eat his dinner? Because he was already stuffed.

I hope both versions of the new Camaro kit sell very well. But, I personally do not want even the simplified version for myself. I want promos. Of the coupe now. And hopefully a convertible in a year or two. I love building kits. But, I love promos even more. I do have the last generation Camaros in both coupe and convertible promo versions. Plus, the latest Sring Rays. And no kits of either.