unclescott58

Sound like good news, but...... Looking at Yuri Andyushenko's build of the Buyer's Choice kit in the "Underglass" section here, makes me question a few things. There were a few things that didn't look quite right on the model in his photographs. Which make me question if the original tooling was lost in converting the kit to the 2+2? Then later, Ertl realized the mistake they had made and tryed converting it back to the Bonneville? I hope I'm wrong on this theory. And that the Bonnevile dies/tooling is still intact. The few things that make me question if the tool has been messed with? On Yuri's Bonneville the front fender badge, just behind the front wheel well is missing. I'm also not seeing the Bonneville nameplate that should be in the driver's side upper segment of the grille. And I can not tell from his photos, but the rocker panels don't look quite right to me. They look too smooth. There should be horizontal ribs/fluting on the rockers. He also shows some very nice photos of the interior before he installed it into the rest of the kit. There is some talk here that Ertl changed the upholstery pattern in the dies when converting the Bonneville into the 2+2. Is the upholstery pattern in Yuri's build correct for the original Bonne kit? Or has it been changed? By the way, Yuri's Buyer's Choice Bonneville is a beautiful build. As nice of a AMT Bonneville as I've ever seen. So the problem isn't Yuri's build from what I can see. I'm waiting to hear his reply on things I questioned about his kit. The only thing I know for sure, from what I can see in his photos, are the missing fender badges.

This is good news. There is some debate on what came in this box. Was it really the Bonneville? Or the 2+2? There was some question if the dies/tooling for the Bonneville were lost to the 2+2 when Ertl made the 2+2. The closer I look at your model, the more I wonder about it. On the original AMT Bonnevilles there was a badge of some sort on the front fender, above the the wide rocker panel, just behind the front wheel. It's shown on the box art above, but missing from your model. Also the rocker panels don't look quite right in your photos compared to the original kits. Your rocker panels look smooth. The original kit's rocker panel have horizontal ridges, fluting. Also, I believe the original kit had the word Bonnevile in the driver side upper segment of the grille. Which looks like it's missing on your build. This makes me wonder. Did Ertl ruin the tooling for the Bonneville in making the 2+2? Then realized their mistake, and tryed to convert the the tooling back to a Bonneville? The mystery deepens.

Fun videos. The Isle of Man looks beautiful.

I love Holden. And I love Utes. So the above commercial is a double winner to me. Thank you for sharing it.

A very beautiful build Yuri. I'm wondering if it was built from an original kit? Or if a reissue, which one?

Interesting. I was going by the box saying it was the Bonneville in there the last time out. I did not buy the kit, so I really don't know what is in the there. If it was not a reissue of the Bonne itself, and the original tool was modified to give us the 2+2, I am not a happy camper. I'd rather have a correct Bonneville, than an incorrect 2+2. Thankfully, they did not mess with the Grand Prix. So we've gotten that one back. Losing AMT's old '65 Bonneville kit would be a sin. And one of the worst mistakes ever made by Ertl.

Your right about that. It is not a wax.

I love Future floor wax. Just built the Polar Lights "SnapIt" Stone, Woods & Cook '40 Willys Gasser. Other than painting the grille, headlamps, and taillights, I left it in the colored plastic it was molded in. After assembly and applying the decals, I then took a cotton ball wetted down with Future and wiped the car down. It looks great! So easy and so shiny! I love the stuff. And Wayne, you were at the NNL North? Do you know, did we meet? If not, I hope we do in the future. And I'm not talking about the floor wax in that case.

Two beautiful Mercs. I like them.

Very nice job. I like it.

I like this idea! A lot! But, then again, I'm kind of a weird person.

I've been on a "car-toon" model kick lately. Mainly focusing on Revell's Deal's Wheels kits. Just today in the mail I received the ZZZZZ-28. It will look especially good a long side it's sister, the Tirebird Trans Um. I use to stay away from these types of kits for two reasons. First, they weren't "realistic" enough for me. Second, I hated the idea of hand painting the figures in these kits. Well, in the last couple of years, I found I have a bit of a talent at hand painting figures. In fact I now enjoy it. Plus, I've loosened up a little. I use to dislike caricature kits like the Deal's Wheels or MPC's Zingers. I only like cars that looked "right". Cars I could see myself driving on the street in real life. For the same reason I didn't like race and drag cars. For I could not see myself driving them on the street. I don't know what changed all of that? But, in the last couple of years I've began liking all of that stuff. And I'm having a heck of a lot of fun building a wide variety of stuff now.

The type of plastic used on promos until about 1962 or so, was very prone to warping. It was nice and shiny compared to styrene. But that was about it. I have a very nice 1960 Ford Galaxie 4-door hardtop. Beautiful. But it looks like it's been t-boned on one side. Beyond that it's not badly warped at all. There is some debate on what causes this. A friend of mine has a impressive dealer display with eight or so Ford promos in it from 1956. The display was setup by the factory mainly to display some of the available colors. Mostly two-tones. All the cars in his display show no signs of warping. But, he keeps the display covered with a black vinyl cloth in front of it, to keep light away from the models. He believes that it's light, not anything else that brings on this warping problem. And looking at the condition of the cars in his display, it's tough to argue with him.

Just ordered one off of eBay. I did not like these as a kid. But as an adult, I find them really cool. Fun seeing yours Ron. It looks pretty good. With headers like that, I wonder what kind of engine that is? Again, very cool and very nice job Ron.

I'm not so sure Ertl modified the Bonneville tool, as much as copied it for their 2+2. For the Bonneville has been offered at least one time again after the appearance of the 2+2.

I know your pleased. But, shouldn't this be placed with finished models, rather than here? I always thought this thread was for things other than builds. It is a very nice model, by the way.

My cat who use to steal parts, loved being squirted with a squirt gun. A veterinarian recommend the squirt gun to stop any bad behavior. Instead the cat loved it! Over all he was a very good cat. I never really had any major problems with him. In fact the only time he would jump on the kitchen counter was to watch me fill the squirt gun up with water. He loved it so much, he shaked with excitement watch me fill up the squirt gun. He would chase the after the water coming out of the gun. At times I would pretend to run out of water. He would come up to give a friendly rub against the squirt gun, and I'd shoot him in the face at close range. It maybe mean of me. But, he didn't seem to mind too much. And never tired of the game. This cat was unusual in other ways. He was never shy around people. His personality was such, that most people who didn't like cats, liked this one. I swear, I think he thought he could talk. He'd go out on to the three season porch for a while, and then come running back in to tell me what he had seen. I would listen and say things like, "is that right?" or "that's interesting." And then when he was satisfied he would go back out to the porch to watch some more. Coming in with more reports from time to time. He is also the only cat I ever had that figured out how to retrieve. Most cats you throw a ball, they'll chase it, but will never bring it back to you. This cat, not only chased the ball, but he figured out that if he brought the ball back, your more likely to throw it again. The one part of this story, and I don't know if was cause or effect. This cat who in some ways acted more like a dog than cat? I had named him Rover! After a Volkswagon Station Wagon/Bus ad from the early 60's describing the type of housewife who would own a VW Bus. It said she would be the type to name a cat "Rover". I always thought that was cool. So I did it. I named one of my cats Rover. Not to discount my other cats before or since, but Rover was hand down was my favorite cat. Other than stealing a model part or two from time to time. He was a very good cat.

Somehow they did not destroy the original tool as I feared when they issued the 2+2. For the Bonneville has been reissued at least once since. I didn't have as many problems with the 2+2 as other had when it first came out. Other than I feared that they had permanently ruined the Bonne dies to make the 2+2. Somebody at Ertl at the time was wise enough to see foolishness of that idea. I don't if they cut a second die for the 2+2 or what? But, the Bonne tool appears to be okay.

Beautiful build.

Wow! Very nice. I need to get around to building mine some day.

Despite not being a big Ford fan, I love all of the Ford GTs. Old and new. And I had to come back and take another look at the beautiful GTs posted here.

Yes. Please do. I'm not bored by most anything automotive related.

That's what I do too.

So, what's the problem?

'65 Bonneville was converted into an incorrect 2+2. Not the Grand Prix.