gwolf

One of the best kits I built as a teenager, everything just fit perfect. I'm curious to see what you decided to make.

When I think of Ohio and model cars I think of $4 Jo-Han kits at the Clines 5&10 in New Matamoras, Ohio, right down the road from Newport and Marietta. Nice to see some familiar Ohio town names on here.

Man, it's so good to see these old Made In USA kits being built. Also, it's great to see the 80's GM kits being put to good use. Too bad they never made kits for an 1985 Pontiac Sunbird or a 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier, they're two of my favorite GM's from back then.

I've been collecting matchbook covers for some time and came across this one recently. I thought a few people might dig this one from Michigan, a Strombecker Raceways matchcover.

Looks great, man. WAY better than my recent, first attempt at wiring.

Who makes this kit? Looks great so far.

Thanks guys!

A quick update Got a Mexican blanket cut from a piece of fabric from my buddy Pat (who I also go this original build from) Got the donated flathead engine mostly put together (again, from my buddy Pat.) He said the air filter is an "oil bath" air filter. That guy is a wealth of knowledge. Spark plug boots have been put on the wires. Might not sound like much, but I was dreading putting them on. First time using a prewired distributor. Painted the body the other night. It's Testors Flat Olive Drab Green. I kinda dig the gray primer firewall...anyone have any other color suggestions for that?

Nope. Not gonna do it, wouldn't be prudent...my Revell '59 Skyliner and a Ranchero bought in the 1980's are still sitting around, unfinished. I can't work on those multi piece body kits.

Wow...that is also the best interior I've ever seen. Amazing work.

Had a good time at Model Classic in Fairfax, Va this weekend and came home with a trunkload of great stuff, including about 5 years worth of Scale Auto magazine, some 1980's Car Modeler and a few Model Cars magazine. Though the bulk of the dealer stuff was armor and planes(blechh), there was lots of good old American MADE IN USA car kits to be had. Here's what I got and what I paid: A nice Made In USA '55 Chevy Cameo kit, sealed from 1991.$10 I don't particularly like 1/24 scale, but I do like 32 Fords. A little disheartening though, this one had been resealed with shrinkwrap after someone took out the chrome parts.That's shifty. Luckily it was only $4. A great looking Lindberg 64 Dodge that was sealed for $5 I looked at this Barris T Buggy kit about four times, deciding if I wanted it. The dealer ended up just giving it to me. I was pretty psyched when I saw this MPC Fiero. I dig mid 80's GM vehicles and this one was in perfect shape, even the box. The dealer had $22 on it and it was buy one get one free. I opened it up, everything was sealed and perfect, but the tires had been laying on the windshields for some time and burned them up. I showed the dealer, thinking he'd knock a few bucks off and he says "It's yours" and didn't charge me a penny. A very cool guy and generous dealer. I got this nice opened, but unbuilt Monogram Triumph TR7 Wedge from the same dealer. $18 For the buy one get one from the above dealer, I picked out this 66 Chevelle station wagon kit. I picked up this sealed Monogram 1/24 58 T-Bird from 1986. I had this one as a kid in the 1980's and vividly remember getting it. It's molded in a gorgeous sea foam green color. I'm not even painting this puppy. That color is too nice to cover up. $12 The AMT 1960 Starliner is a beauty. I already have one, but what would another one hurt? $5 I don't know what it is about sealed, new in box 1980's MPC kits, but I'm really gravitating towards them lately. Amazing box art and a slick looking GTO. The detail on this kit is pretty incredible. $12 I had to have this Revell Special Edition '62 Chevy Impala. I'll build it stock. $5 I got this well loved Buick station wagon from my buddy Pat. It's all there, it just needs some time and TLC. I think I paid $10 for it.

A quick update on my progress: Got the steelies primed and painted. I went with a darker red than most rats use. The new firewall has been altered to allow the raisl to be channelled under the body. Using the Dremel and a microscopic bit, I got the spark plug holes drilled in both headers. I spent about 45 minutes Friday evening drilling out a hole in the block and creating a "gulley" for the distributor to sit in. It's not exactly how it should be on a 1:1, but once the fan belt assembly is installed, you won't be able to tell. I used this photo for reference:

I would LOVE to find a 1/25 kit of a 1988 or 89 Cavalier or Cavalier Z24. Always liked them and the Pontiac Sunbird...

I've been collecting matchbooks and matchbook covers for a few years. I have them from anything you can think of: soda, dog food, nightclubs, movies, movie theatres, world war II era patriotics and of course, even old hobby shops. You guys might dig this category I have a lot of; cars (I even have an old Hupmobile one): Car dealerships: Check out our matchbook club blog here: http://www.marvaclub.blogspot.com/ I'm always on the lookout for them

Just my two cents here, but these forums are great, no matter how they're divided. I have no complaints whatsoever about any of it. I feel lucky just to have a place like this.

I'm going to quote Jantrix here: "If I might make a recommendation? Leave it as is. IMHO, you should have a representation of where you started. Where your modeling skills began improving. This way you can see how much you have improved over time." I think Jantrix is right. Besides what he said, there's something kind of sacred about a model you built that long ago. I've thought about redoing some of the out of production kits I have from when I was a teenager, but I just can't do it. Looking at them, they represent not only my skill level at the time, but that time itself. Get a new or builtup kit on ebay. There's an old Monogram unbuilt kit on there right now for $11.99 Buy It Now.

By the way, have you seen the prices for 1959-1961 Buick kits/buildups on evilbay?

Wow...THAT is one good looking car. I'll be watching your progress.

This is just an amazing build...

Thanks guys! I honestly had no idea about the difference between front and rear. It's been ten years since I even made a car with steelies. You learn something new every day.

Hey, now that Spring has sprung, are you still building?

JamesW, if you notice, he doesn't just have one huge honking Monster tattoo on his face, he has two: The second one is on his cheek. Great life decisions being made. I mean, I don't remember kids at my school getting Jolt Cola tattoos. What the hell...

LOL, we had a cat years ago that would steal parts as soon as you walked away from the workbench. Headers, tires, even a whole engine one time! Great post!

Just got a small package in the mail with those car stamps. You're right, they are fantastic!

As a teen in the mid 80's I'd get Johan USA Oldies kits (the '60 DeSoto Adventurer being my favorite) for $4 each at a 5 & 10 store in my grandma's town. I wish I could have bought every single one they had back then. Not for resale or hoarding, just because I liked the makes and models of those kits more than say a '53 Vette or a '69 Camaro and now the price on those simple kits is pretty high.