unclescott58

I'm still trying to figure out how to glue the clear parts together on this kit. And keeping them clear. My normal Testor Pro Modeler white glue does not set up fast enough to hold the parts together while drying. This problem was been driving me nuts for a while now. You almost never see this trailer built with the clear parts intact. So I'm guessing I'm not the only one.

????? How does this fit here? It doesn't sound like anybody is wasting their time or being negative in this thread. Taking time off and relaxing maybe. But, that is not the same as wasting time or a negative thing.

Man, I'm getting hungry. And it's the middle of night. I should not be reading this.

5 cents a gallon for gas? In the 1960's a gallon of gas around here was about .25 cents. In the summer of 1973, just before the first fuel crisis, a gallon of self serve regular (leaded) gas was selling for .32.9 cents at the gas station I was mowing the lawn for. Photos I've seen of gasoline prices in 1920's, a gallon was going for about .12 cents. I don't think gasoline was ever .05 cents a gallon when AMT and like model kits were going $2.00. By the way, my favorite gasoline story from the early 70's is when a new self service gas station opened up in our area. For opening, they were offering a gallon of regular gas for .25.9. A pretty good price. But, the kicker was, if you filled your tank, they also gave you a free bunch of bananas! To this day, I don't understand why they choose for their giveaway bananas? I've always thought that to be strange.

Dave I think you've 100% right in analysts of the situation.

AMT are not the only models in town? Blasphemy Snake....... Oh, your right. There is MPC. But they were still $2.00 at the time. And to say we're about the same age! How dare you...... Okay. Maybe your right about that too. Others here have talked about the amount of the allowances they got back in the day. In the late 60's I was given $2.00 per week for allowance. And one of those dollars automatically went towards savings for college. Which reminds me. I wonder were that money went, when I did go to college? With the other buck, you were suppose to save it for something special. No running down to hobby store for me. My folks were both cheap and controlling. Thankfully they started letting earn my own money in the early 70's. As noted, I got $2.00 per lawn. In the winter, I made money blowing out driveways. Again, $2.00 per driveway. Not as much demand for that for some reason. In 1971 or '72 a local gas station hired me to mow their lawn. Now, I was making the big bucks. It took me a hour and half to mow and trim their lawn. And for that, I got paid $10.00! Then I discovered drinking, drugs, and stealing...... But, that is another story for another time.

You don't know what your talking about Jim. The 1961 Trallfazz Belchfire 500 was a much better car than the 2016 model. The '61 has horizontal chrome strips on the tail fins. The 2016's chrome is vertical, allowing rain water to drip across the backup light at a 43% angle, rather than the more true 45% angle on the '61s. Plus I don't like the shade of chartreuse paint used on the 2016 model. I hear they are going to correct this mistake next year. But, not the chrome trim problem. So see you know nothing about the subject at hand. Plus the scale kit of the '61 only costs a $1.59. The 2016 kit sells for $29.99. True the 2016 kit does come with the option blinker fluid beaker. Blinker fluid beaker? On second thought, your right, the 2016 model is more desirable. They'll sell a million of them!

The above again looks great, except the green stuff. I'm afraid of anything green on a sandwich that is not lettuce or a pickle. And I love salami. Keep that on there.

That cane is cool!

Spent the last few days reading a great magazine. Classic Trains Special Edition 18: Great Trains West. Each article was like taking a mini vacation. The 12 feature articles were all old articles that first appeared in Trains magazine from 1942 through 1962, about riding on passenger trains out west. All were pretty good articles, with lots of great photos. Traveling by train is still my favorite way to go.

That explains a lot Steve. I knew the interior didn't look quite right for an H. Steve you said that some of the JoHan '62 - '65 300s could be built as letter cars. Do you or anyone else out there know exactly which ones?

They are younger than me. All pups.

The MPC 1/16 scale cars keep coming up here. About two months ago I got MPC's last reissue of the '63 Sting Ray coupe. It's a very nice kit. One of my all time favorites. But still, I'm interested in learning more about the AMT 1/16 kits. I'd love to see some build ups and reviews if anybody out there has them. Especially the T-birds. But, I'd love to everything else in that scale by AMT too. (And if a few MPCs, or others slip in. I wouldn't object too much.)

I love the true letter cars. My favorite is the F. With as Jay, I, and others call it the toilet seat trunk lid. The Beautiful Brutes. And there are not enough model kits of them. Other than Moebius' '55 and '56. AMT's '57. And maybe Johan's '62 - '65 300s. The cars have been generally ignored. By the way, I'm not 100% sure if the '62 - '65 Johan 300s were letter cars or not. I had the '62 that was reissued in the 70's. I remember it said 300H on the outside of the car. But, the interior looked more like a plain, non-letter 300. Can anybody confirm this? Sad to say, my favorite, the F, is only in my collection through die-cast models. I'm not a fan of 1/18 scale die-cast models. I have only 3 that I've purchased for myself. And 2 more that were given as gifts. Of the 3 I've purchased. One is Ertl's '37 Cord convertible coupe. Two is the Hot Wheels '66 Batmobile. And the third one is Yat Ming's 1960 Chrysler 300F convertible. The two 1/18 die-casts given to me that I've kept? Both are put out by Maisto. One a '71 Chevelle SS 454 convertible. The other a '56 Chrysler 300B. Two out of five 1/18 die-casts are letter cars. That tells you want I think of the letter cars. The only other F in my collection is a hardtop in 1/64, put out by M2. I'd love to see more letter cars made into 1/25 plastic kits. The E, F, G, and L would all get my money with little to no hesitation.

Then what was the point of this thread? Kits are now $29.99? Okay. So what then?

By the way, kits being affordable to kids in the past is a bunch of B.S. too. They could buy models with their lunch money? Who were these kids? I sure couldn't. In the late 1960's, in 5th and 6th grade, a hot lunch ticket cost .25 cents. I was allowed two hot lunches per week. The other days I had to brown bagged it. Using the same bag the whole week. An AMT kit cost $2.00. A month of hot lunches for me. Guess what? I mainly got models on birthdays and holidays. Starting in about 7th grade I started making big money mowing lawns. I charged $2.00 per lawn. A good week I'd maybe earn $10.00 to $14.00. But, there were other things I wanted besides just model kits. Don't feel too bad for me. I had plenty of models. Not as many as wanted. But, that was life. Do I like the price of models today? Of course not. But, compared to other things, it's still a relatively cheap hobby. What does a dinner with drinks cost at a somewhat nice restaurant? I'm just tired of people whining about this one subject. If it cost too much money quit buying them. Me? I've got more models in my collection today than I ever have had. And some I've had to $29.95 for. Others less. I'm willing to pay to play. And not whine about it.

Here we go again. Another thread about the cost of models. If you don't like the price. Don't buy the model. How many times are we going to beat this dead horse?

I'm wondering and would like to see some information and photos on AMT's 1/16th scale model cars. How many kits were offered? When and why did AMT start offering kits in this scale? How was the level of detail? Did they all have the same basic features, like opening doors? What was the good and bad of these kits? We need a list of what was made by AMT in with scale. Below is a list of what I believe was offered. In some cases I had some of them, so I know for sure those exist. 1955 Ford Thunderbird * 1957 Ford Thunderbird * 1965 ('64 1/2?) Ford Mustang 2-door coupe 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air 2-door hardtop 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible 1955 Chevrolet Nomad 2-door wagon 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air 2-door hardtop 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible 1957 Chevrolet Nomad 2-door wagon * I've owned these 2 for sure at some point. Those are the ones I remember. I don't know if that's a complete, or even correct list. The Thunderbirds, especially the '55, I'd love to see reissued. We know the Mustang was reissued just a couple of years ago, for Mustang's 50th anniversary. And I beleive they've announced the '55 Nomad is coming back soon.

I can't agree more.

Oh oh. For sure you've lost me now!

With AMT's 1/16 scale '55 Nomad coming back, I wonder about their 1/16th scale model kits? The one I'd like to see is their 1/16 '55 Thunderbird. I could be talked into buying the '57 Bird too. But, with no other '55 kit out there, that is the one I'd really to see.

A great story. I had never heard that one before. I wonder if there are many Imperials left out there with that top? I doubt it. Be kind or cool, and ugly, to have one.

Other than that green stuff, that looks and sounds great! How people can ruin perfectly good food by adding green plants to it I'll never understand. Lettuce is okay. But, broccoli and others? Ugh! ? And I don't know if mentioned this one before. But, a great local only, drive-in is Wagners off of highway 81 just north of I-694 in Brooklyn Center, MN. Summer only. Good greasy food. And a pretty good place to do a little car watching. Well worth the stop.

The big scale kits have always been a problem for me. Where do you put them when your done? That and the cost. 1/8 scale is pretty big and pretty expensive. And I personal have no real interest in the Big Drag. The only one of that scale I have any interest in is Monogram's '65 Corvette. Even then, I'm not 100% sure I'd buy one. Now I don't mind 1/16 scale car kits. They're still big. But not as big 1/8. The prices for 1/16 kits seem to be within my budget if the subject is right. I recently picked up an unbillt, mostly complete, MPC '63 Corvette. And I could easily part with my money for either of AMT's 1/16 Thunderbirds. Especially the '55. But, 1/8? Like I say Monogram's '65 Corvette maybe. And again that's just a maybe. There is one other large scale kit I would be will to part with my money for. And I can't remember off hand the scale. I'm pretty sure it was smaller than 1/8. But, bigger than 1/16. And that is Monogram's Mean Maverick funny car.

Man, I'm with you on the Ala Kart Snake. I too have never cared for it. I like the early 70's look red Mod Rod on the one side of the box. That's the main reason I bought the kit. On that same box side, they show old fashion competition model. That's my plans for car number 2 in the box. Though I'm thinking of painting that one a gray of some sort. The Mod Rod? I can't quite make up my mind on that. I'm leaning towards Testor's One Coat Lacquer in either Stat Spangled Blue or Ice Blue. The red or yellow box art versions don't do for me. The yellow looks good without fenders. But, for sure it would not work with the fendered version I want to build.