unclescott58

I've built Mongram's '58 Bird a few times over the years. The first time, I found one in the box Greg posted first above. I was blown away. Here it was sitting, new in an unopened box on the shelves of our local Spartans store in the early 1970's! Bought a lot of models at the Spartans store in the past, but where this one showed up from when it did I'll never know. I think that first release, the one I found at Spartans, was from 1964. Cool kit. Besides the great box art, in a fairly flat box, there are several things I remember about that kit. Loved the instructions. If I remember collectly they used photographs showing you how build the kit? Cool custom parts. Didn't really know who Darrel Starbird was at the time, though I'd seen and admired his work in a couple of books I had seen by that time. And, I remember the kit was molded in a fairly nice, shiny black plastic for the body. And I think it may have had red plastic for a lot of the other parts? I do know I built it with out painting it. And I built it with the bubble top. I remember them reissuing it without the custom parts, sometime in the 1970's. They showed the car in red on the box. I can't remember if I bought one of those at the time or not? I think not. I do know I bought and built one in the late 80's, molded in Seafoam Green. Again the plastic was so nice, I decided not to paint the body, but leave it as is. The last one I built, and the only one I still have, is the one they reissued in 2002 with all the custom parts back. Despite the those cool custom parts, I built this Bird stock. And was very happy that this time they decided to mold it in white. Despite liking the Seafoam Green, I preferred and painted my present '58 a nice Light Blue. One last thing about this kit. You've never been able to built it 100% stock. The wheel covers are '57 wheel covers. Not 58's. No big deal to me. I this love the kit. Scott

Only in the right way. Scott

Let us know what happens. Scott

I have N scale stuff just sitting in my basement wait for someday. Even with N scale I really don't have room for a decent layout. I have started to think about selling my stuff. But, love trains. And have the fantasy of see my Great Northern Empire Buiders running on decent track layout someday. Scott

Tamiya Decal Adhesive? Interesting. Can you tell us a little bit more about this product? Scott

I've been building models for about 50 years now, and I love it when I find out about things like the above. I rarely wire my engines, but I'm always interested in learning about what is what in my model kit. Until today, I never knew there was anything like the Spalding Flamethrower. I like many others just assumed it was a magneto. This is when this site is the best. When one has threads like this, that explain things like the above. Very cool! Scott

?????? How's a '27 T relate to a '57 Ford?

What's wrong with the 348 and 409? Why do you refer to them as boat anchors? They may not have the buildup potential of the 396/427/454, or even the small block. But they saw plenty of action in their day. And did okay. I don't know why people bad mouth the 348 and 409. Or refer to them as truck engines, as they appeared in cars at the same time as trucks. Given a choice of a 409 or a 396 in an Impala in '65, I'd take the 396. But, I wouldn't have turn my nose up at a 409. Scott

I'd love to see some '58s, and some non-Galiaxie '59s. I'm not big on the big Thunderbird "C" pillars on the '59 Galaxies. Give me a Fairlane 500 Victoria and Sunliner, any wagon, and a Ranchero for either year. '58 or '59. Plus let's not forget a '57 Ranchero. A '57 Meteor or two would be cool too. Scott

Is the above toaster custom made? Or is it something that can be bought somewhere? I want one! Scott

Maybe we need to go back to the days when the door on the driver's side was a fake, like on many Model Ts. Forcing you to get in the passenger side. Then again, I sure there were people back then who figured out way around that and still stopped traffic. Scott

Under license from Ford? That's great! I wonder if Ford had MPC sabotage the kits, and then leave notes in each kit encouraging the kid to buy only Fords? Scott

Yes. More please. Scott P.S. I still think it's witchcraft of some sort, this build. Simply amazing.

There were '55 and '56 Mercurys, Buicks, Chrysler New Yorkers, Cadillac Eldorado convertibles, and Ford Sunliner convertibles in 1/32 scale that I know of. For both years. And the original releases of these kits were sold with both the Revell and AMT logos on the boxes. I have the reissues of the '56 Caddy and Ford convertibles, besides the Mark II. Again, I liked the kits. You'll hear a lot of people complain about the multi-piece bodies of these kits. I've had little to no trouble with them. One just has to take their time building them. They turn out okay. The three 1/32 scale 56's I have were all reissues, brought back in the 1990's through Revell/Monogram's SSP program. With only the Revell logos on the box. They also rereleased the '56 Chrysler at the time. But it could not be built stock, so I passed on that one. As far as I know, the Mercurys and Buicks have not been reissued since the 50's. I'd buy them if they were (hint, hint, Revell). Scott

Yes.

Thanks Tim. I guess I need to pick one up to build to match my AMT '58 then. I've always liked the looks of the '58 Chev. In '57 give me a Ford. But '58? It's Chevy in the low price three for me. Scott

I was missing and needed a couple parts for my recent Revell Surfite. Went to Revell's website and easily ordered the missing parts. No hassle. And less then a week later, I got the parts and can continue working of the kit. This was a great experience. Thanks, Revell! About a week before, I went on Round 2's website. I need a propeller for my recent AMT Hindenburg build. Even though it's not a car, I broke one taking it the local model car club meeting a few months ago. I requested a new one from Round 2. I got an email back telling me I've got to print out, fill out, and mail them back their form, with proof of purchase, the UPC code from the box, to get the part. What??? Why the hassle? True it's not really a big hassle. But, in this day and age one should be able to do this quickly and easily, like Revell does it, on the web. I have printed off Round 2's form. Printed up a envelope. But, I've not filled it out or mailed the form back to Round 2 yet. And their request for the UPC code. I'm sorry, but I am not cutting up any of my model kit boxes. Even though the Hindenburg will not fit back in it now that it's finished. They're just going to have to trust me, that I recently purchased and built the kit. I love Round 2's reissued kits. I grew up with many of these kits. Owned some, and lusted after others back in day. I am delighted to see many them back on the shelves. Now I can afford to purchase many of them again and some of the others for the first time. I love their old kits. But, I do not like their old fashion customer service. I will not stop buying their kits because of it. But, I'm not happy about it. And do not understand it. Kudos to Revell and their customer service. This is the way it should be done. Again, thank you Revell. Scott

How close can the Revell '58 be built to "stock"? Both Richard and Steve's look somewhat stock. But, are they (especially Steve's)? Can they be built without all the lowrider stuff in the trunk and the bottom of the car? Other wise I'll stick with my AMT '58. Scott

Snake, I got to see that Buick GS wagon in the flesh (sheet metal???), so to to speak, a couple of years ago when the Buick National meet was held in Iowa. That is one nice customizing job. Looks like something the factory would have done. Completely and correctly stock other than the the roof. Notice how the "C" pillar and the dome wrap over piece match up. This was no amateur hack job. Like I say, it looked like the factory did it. Very nice! Scott

I built the Revell SSP Continental Mk II kit in the last ten years. Other than the lack of windows, I liked it. Mine looks great. I painted like the box art. Black with a red interior. I still have not finished the two figures that came with the kit. I need to do that one of these days. Scott

You said it a lot better than I did. Keep posting this stuff Greg. Scott

I generally agree with Greg's choices. And I find his posts interesting. Great models and great photos. Keep them coming Greg. Scott

Why do you refer to this as a beginning? Monogram offered models before these kits. Scott

Crosley's two-door all-steel wagon came out before the Jeep. Most historians consider this as the first production all-steel station wagon built in the U.S. And it's a two-door. Scott

Looks great! Exact opposite color scheme of a '78 Monte I once owned. By the way Revell has offered the kit in more recent editions as a more "stock" version of the car, with stock Chevy Rally wheels. I'm still debating on how I'm going to build mine. Do I build it white with a red interior and red landau roof like the '78 I owned? Or dark blue with a white interior and top? Closer to what I would have wanted to ordered and own back in the day. Any how, nice job on yours Tom. Scott