mk11

X2... I've got the book here somewhere and remember that there was a note published at the front crediting a gent in Connecticut for technical info supplied to the author. Great book; in the vein of Hot Rod or Street Rod, sans the unhappy ending. mike

Here's another great thread on the box modification procedure... ...also, the compartment built into the box side on the camper special is actually a spare tire compartment; that's why the inner wall is shaped like it is. The regular toolbox is shown in the second pic. mike

Yes, they are. AMT very accurately captured the '73-'79 F series in scale (aside from the upper windshield trim). Modelers aren't so fortunate with some current releases... mike

This kit does have the regular 8 foot bed on it but because of the F350 super camper special package it is modeled after, the wheel base is longer (140") than the regular 133" wb that the regular long box trucks came with. It's only the box sides/inner panels that need modifying. More info in this thread...

That is a beauty, Rich . Evokes a memory of an identical big block roadster pulling away from me at a light; you didn't just hear those pipes, you felt them through the seat and floorboards mike

When did you order? XE shows the exchange level today to be within a couple of cents of what it was in the spring/summer of '16... mike

Fantastic, inspiring work, Bill mike

RIP Tom Wolfe... https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/15/obituaries/tom-wolfe-pyrotechnic-nonfiction-writer-and-novelist-dies-at-88.html Interesting and insightful writer to say the least. Prompted me to dig out and reread his essay on the mid-sixties socal custom car scene; Ed Roth et al; 'Kandy colored tangerine flake streamline baby'. mike

I've been hoping to see an actual application of the apparently mythical mcg parts. Don't know how I missed this the first time but better late than never. Really nice work on the whole package, Steve. Been gathering parts with the same project in mind as John. mike

Everything is done with CAD files now but the output can only be as good as the input. Full factory blueprints on the big trucks made the difference, as Chuck said. mike

I'm sure 'good enough' wasn't the primary intent of this expensive project but it's plain that early test shots didn't get into the hands of people familiar with the subject matter. With all the other distractions going on, things got overlooked. What's done is done. Hope the next one hits the goal. mike

I certainly hate to be the bearer of bad news but this forum isn't exactly the center of the universe Maybe we here on the lunatic fringe get to think so but there's a far wider market out there that responds to kits with attractive box art and subject matter and may not care about the fine details we do. As long as it's a close enough resemblance to create the urge to buy one, that's all the company needs. mike

A good start for an 8 or 9' flareside conversion would be the box from the recent re-issue of the monogram '80 ranger. It has the correct internal details so one just needs to add the flared topsides, length, modified tailgate and older fenders. Complete measurements are in the flareside thread. mike

That is a fantastic clean build, Steve, and should sell a bunch mike

Correct you are, Luc. One would think taking flak for this sort of thing would be foreseeable by the principals here; a little work on the wheels to give them a five lug look by the artist would have paid dividends in credibility. As well, the 'custom cab' nomenclature ended in '69, with 'sport custom' taking it's place from '70-'72. There appears to be a divorce from reality in some aspects of the development of these truck kits that didn't show up in the other kits released over the last few years. The inclusion of F250 hubcaps, other generic parts and the pending possibilty of non-Ford six lug 4x4 wheels being included in the '66 kit is interesting. One must remember, though, that the company has a strong presence in the fantasy kit genre and has a right to spend its money as it wishes mike

Looks like the powers-that-be relaxed the requirements from total translation to the basic 'modele reduit' ...also looks like AMT was into a similar translation program.... mike

That sounds logical. Guess the lithography and instruction sheet translating tipped the balance to enable the 'made in Canada' notation. Scrounged up a couple of pics. Looks like the 'golden wheels' promo was just a stateside thing. The US version was numbered in this example as 1-0713 and the Canadian market kit was numbered Q-10713. mike

Sad it is that it's still happening; add it to the pile that includes a recent release of a series of light commercial models with body shape problems worse than the trumpeter had mike

They would have on this side of the line. It looks like an effort to have the boxes of kits sold here fully 'frenchified' and I'm just curious how long this era lasted and the disposition of the molds; ie were they just shipped north for short runs and returned etc. mike

Just curious to know if anyone has taken the time to research or catalogue the MPC kits produced in Ontario in the late '70s/early '80s by Parker under licence from cpg/fundimensions. I've seen the camaro and I think the little red express kits.

The '68 and '69 grills are identical in 1:1 aside from distribution of black accents and a thin groove pressed into the middle horizontal bar on the '69. Plenty of reference pics available. If this scale interpretation suits you, you're golden ...if, however, the company should choose to add a '67 to their repertoire, it will require not only a modified grill but also door panels and dash face. This would provide a chance for a more accurately designed grill overall. Would new owners like to see something more reputation enhancing? Time will tell... mike

Note also that the stock Ford wheels were not 'dished', as supplied in some currently available Ford truck kits, but actually had kind of a 'domed' center section as seen in the bottom pic. The only dished style 1:1 wheels I've ever seen have a GM bolt pattern.

hmmmm... Maybe this pic is a figment of my imagination Anyways, as these are labelled the first test shots and it's been reported that changes are due for the next round, it behooves us to patiently wait for the results. The real beauty of these trucks in 1:1 is in the body curves and shape. Obviously there are some things evident on the cab that are in need of an experienced eye and knowing hands to correct and we can hope those kind of people are being allowed to help with their input. Perhaps, with experience gained from the last foray into truck design, a truer shape and scale roof and body will result. mike

Well said. This place can be a gold mine for good modeling info that can't be found anywhere else and the effort put into some older posts may or may not ever be replicated on those subjects. Those that find old dates annoying don't have to click on them. mike

For all the lamentations (mine included) about the trumpeter falcon body, it's not an incorrigible mess. As Mr Reckner (afx) proved with his '64 T/A build, some minor reshaping brought it into reasonable shape. Strangely enough, it's a whole lot closer to it's subject's shape than a long awaited recent release is ... mike