unclescott58

All the talk about different colored cop cars, brings up a strory on the site MaroonCruisers.com. A site dedicated to history of the cars used by the Minnesota State Patrol. For several years in the 1950's the MN State Patrol used cars in many different colors. But, in the mid-50's the AAA started making a big push for all state patrols around the country to start going to consistent colors for their cars. Since Maroon and Gold were our state colors, Maroon was the color they picked for all their cars starting 1958. The Maroon used on MN State Patrol cars has not always been consistent. At times the shades varied depended on the manufacturer. One year, in I believe the late 1980's, Chevrolet delivered a bunch of Caprices in an odd shade of "Maroon." Not all that close to what was used before or since. The biggest problem with this paint? The paint of these cars started fading almost immediately, to a very unattractive shade of pink. I don't remember the whole story, I'm sure it's at MaroonCruiser.com, but I believe Chevrolet had to repaint the cars. Also intresting, to me at least, in 1974 they added one AMC Ambassador to fleet. This car was not used for patrol duties. But, for other functions. I'm surprised they only had one the Ambassador? Plymouths were their main choice of cars at the time. But, Ambassador's little sister, the Matador, built on the same but a shortened wheelbase version of the platform used by the Ambassador, was a very popular choice as a police car at the time. And I think that the one Ambassador was the one and only AMC product the MN State Patrol ever had? If your interested, the website MaroonCruisers.com is pretty interesting. I know it only deals with Minnesota's State Patrol cars. But, there quite a few interesting explanations for why they used certain cars, and certain equipment over the years. And how and why things changed as time went on. I wish there were more sites like this one on other states and municipalities police cars.

Ya I saw that one Steve. Thank you though for pointing it out.

I've been looking for an EXP. I can't find any. And I spend a lot of time looking eBay. They show up half built or at very high price.

Geez. You guys seem a little ticked off over a simple request. Sorry I brought it up.

No confusion Snake because of someone like Ertl re boxing an MPC kit as an AMT. It's just in some cases, some kits and tooling were shared between AMT, MPC, and JoHan. I'm not saying all of the same subject were from the same tool. But, some were. I do know for example the AMT and MPC Corvettes were not. But any Olds Toronado, under AMT, MPC, and JoHan were. I did not know if this was case between the 1st generations Camaros or not. I know the 2nd gen Camaros are from separate tools. I also think it would still be interesting still to see the old AMT '69 Camaro compared to the MPC version.

Very cool. I like it.

As noted in the thread "What Did You Get Today" model car related, I brought up the question of what color should I paint my recently acquired AMT 1/16 scale 1955 Thunderbird kit. I'm very partial to blue. Depending on the car, I may like a light blue. Others a dark. Every '57 Thunderbird I've ever built, I've done in a light blue. Very close to what the Ford factory offered on their Thunderbirds in '57. And like those '57s, I'd love to build my '55 Thunderbird in a factory offered light blue. The trouble is, Ford only offered the '55 Thunderbird in one factory blue color. It was called Thunderbird Blue. But it was more of a light greenish blue, than a blue to me. And in general I don't find the color all that appealing. It's okay. Just not great. Another color I'm think about, is a color Ford called Torch Red on the '55 Thunderbird. I actually like this color best of those offered on Thunderbirds that year. The third consideration is a color that Ford called Raven Black. There are three reasons for considering this color. One. The first assembly line built Thunderbird was painted this color. Two. Tom McCahill the famous car tester from the magazine Mechanix Illustrated, and my favorite writer, always claimed to have first Thunderbird sold to a private party. We know he did not have car number one. But, his was an early Thunderbird, and it too was painted Ravel Black. Number three. The ad I'm posting below. I've always loved this ad since the first time I saw it. I always felt it reeked of class. Expressing that of what Thunderbirds have always meant to me. The guy in the Bird is who I wanted to be. Very classy. Other colors Ford offered on Thunderbird in 1955? There were really only two others. Starting in March of '55, you could also get Snowshoe White and Goldenrod Yellow. There was also the options of have ones '55 Bird painted in a "special" color or primer. But basically it was only the five colors listed for 1955. And unlike '56 and '57 Ford really did not encourage ordering your '55 Thunderbird with a hardtop in a different color from the main body of the color. Also in most cases, with the exception of Snowshoe White, the interior match the color of the exterior. I believe there were some late in the model run Raven Black cars with the Goldenrod Yellow interior. So that's it. Do I go Thunderbird Blue? Which I may have the additional problem of finding something close to in a spray can. Or Torch Red? Which I really like the looks of. Or Raven Black? Because of the history, in more ways than one. What do you guys think?

Here's where things are sitting at right now. It will be a little while before the model goes to paint. So I figured letting it sit like this to maybe get the use to how needs to be? They say plastic some memory. I'm hoping it picks up of original out of the mold memory. If that is even possible? At least I know that it should be okay now when the glass is actually glued in.

You know, one of things that blows me away in this hobby, and particularly on this website, is generosity of people here. In less than 24 hours, I already have a person who planning sending me all the missing parts I need to complete my '55 Thunderbird! You guys are great! Thank you.

Thanks for the advice Tom. It sounds pretty right on. I do have the windshield, so that part is not the problem. My question is, are you recommending placing the windshield in before painting to get it to conform to the right shape first with the tape? Then removing the windshield before painting? And glueing it in later? Or are you doing it in one step?

Oh, one other thing I'm debating on, is what color to paint the T-Bird above. I love the color blue. But, the only blue available that year was a color called Thunderbird Blue. Which was really more a light peacock green than a blue to me. And I'm really unsure what might be close in hobby spray paint to that. The second choice is a Thunderbird color that year, called Torch Red. It's not far from the Red seen on the box art above. And would be much easier to match. I think I'm leaning towards the red. What do you guys think?

Your right Snake. Thank you for pointing it out. I'm okay with moving at this point.

I have decided, despite the missing pieces, I'm going to keep the 1/16 scale '55 Thunderbird kit I got yesterday. I've already had one personal contact, contact me offering to help with some parts. Mainly the missing glass pieces. The only other things missing is one metal axle, and the plastic whitewall rings for the tires. Which I'm wondering if they can be sourced from another 1/16 scale AMT kit? So if anybody can help me with that, it would be greatly appreciated. Also I may need some advice fixing the windshield frame. Glueing it back together is not a problem. But, getting it to conform to the right shape maybe?

Sorry to say Ace, I think both of the sources you link to seem to have a little bit of a political slant, which makes me question them. At the same time there is some truth to them too. But, I think the problems are deeper than "Common Core" as stated in the links above. There are several problems leading to the problems of educating children today. Many caused by people on the left politicaly. But, that's not complete and whole story. I hope we can back to the now!

Doing what?

Doing an online search, it looks like I'm correct on the Falcon kit dashboard. They did change it for 1968, just like on the real car.

More good ones Snake. But, I will be interested in seeing if anybody complains about the Michelangelo God and Adam one. It's very close to the the Last Supper one that I put up a couple of weeks ago, and had taken down. It's funny to me. So I'm not complaining. But don't be surprised if somebody does.

People weren't to picky back then when it came to accuracy in model kits. Model kits were mainly toys aimed at the youth. And it cost money to tool up new parts each year. Something like the interior on a model of a '66 Buick was not a big deal. It's really not going to be noticed that much. As long as the outside of the car looked correct. I have a model of a 1967 Ford Falcon. Ford did its last major redesign of the Falcon for 1966. After that, there were really only minor changes to the Falcon (not counting the Fairlane based '70 1/2 Falcon) until the end. So AMT's Falcon kit followed suit. Mainly changing only what people would readily notice. On the real '67 Falcons with a 289, like the car the kit portrays, the exhaust was completely rerouted for that year from the '66. Would most kids, or even adults know about this? It's very doubtful. And since retooling the chassis would cost money. For something most would not notice. Guess what? All of the AMT '67 through '69 Falcon kits still have the same chassis as the '66 Falcon kit. With the now wrong exhaust system. I do not remember how much changes were made to the Falcon kits interiors? I do believe the '68 AMT Falcon kits did get the redesigned dashboard that the real Falcon got that year. Though I'm going to have to go elsewhere online to check that.

One thing I'd like to see here is a comparison of the original AMT kit to the much maligned MPC '69 Camaro. There was a lot of tool sharing going on between AMT, MPC, and JoHan, back in the day. So how similar or different are the AMT and MPC '69 Camaros. Also, everybody loves to beat up on the MPC '69 Camaro, and to a lesser extent the AMT kit, ever since the Monogram version came out. But for its time, how bad are these kits, really? I like many others have built one or two over the years. I always thought they were okay.

Hopefully, and I'm sure somebody will, do a proper review on this kit when it comes out. A little premature to look for a review of the kit yet. In Rounds 2's ad, they state the model will be available in June.

If we could only time travel and grab lots deals. On more than just Roadrunners.

Interesting. Any photos of the kit itself?

Exactly.

So what's so wrong with Common Core then?

I actually find this one a little offensive. Rather than funny. Seems like a political point of view to me. And I'm not one who feels the need to protest over what's going on right now. And the first one you posted, I just don't get. What's the "Old Town Road" song?