Luc Janssens

You mean the "frit" ;^)

Schabak had one in 1/25 scale, thought its a Ford

A small step in the right direction would be, if Round-2, would see fit to update their '78ish Monaco tool with decent wheels/tires and lightbars and separate front clip, to recreate the Monaco/Fury series Yodel ones did. Or throw it in a bigger box together with a mpc Dodge Daytona and secure a license with Stephen J. Channel productions (News corp)

Any photo's of that Mustang, pre-crash I mean?

Came across this Not yet publicized book at Amazon, of which I'm sure a few of you are interested in.

Do they still mark the shipping boxes with a "don't sell before" stamp? Seem to recall that from my days at VLS

Facebook is WW but sadly Revell's distribution network is not.

While many of us are waiting impatiently, I'm pretty sure we're all glad you're taking the time to do the kit right.

Update: Seems I found it at Kit Form Services in the UK http://www.kitformservices.com/photoetch.html

If there's enough interest I guess they could add an extra grille and bumpers to the chrome tree, the landau top, would require tooling another body or modifying the current one, IIRC the GN / GNX kit has some symmetrical issues on the 1/4 windows, a retool can fix that;but again it boils down to costs vs return....and 1/24 vs 1/25

I think it was earlier then that, '84 or so. On that same page they tested the waters showing pics from a then current BMW 7 series and a Volvo 760, only the Volvo materialized. On page 7, of the November/December 1995 issue of Ertl's Blueprinter magazine, there's another announcement hidden.....a '96 Dodge Ram Sport (kit #8247). Five or so years later when talking with one of the former Amt R&D guy's, I learned that the project went as far as the 1/10th scale wooden tooling model of the body. Why it was killed I never found out, but maybe Ertl got word of Revell's Ram VTS kit. BTW, my first ever email was about this subject, asking Larry Greenberg, at SAE or CM if he could find out more....

From what I recall... The convert is the best kit, though you will need the hardtop for the seats due to being wrong in the 'vert kit. Also when buying these please check the chrome parts as the early editions have dull chrome.

It gives me sort of a peace of mind, that when I need or feel the desire to tinkle with a certain kit, that I just can pull it from stock. ;^)

I like that car a lot, but the question is, how many years before that model will be mothballed and the profitability of such a kit goes down the toilet. Cuz unlike an retool of the Revell Impala, this one will be an all new, because I only think the front doors will be the same then those of the earlier Lindberg release.

A separate trunklid IMHO would be the way to go if ever Revell would retool the Impala SS into a 96 SS and Caprice 2'n 1 kit. Also the interior tub should have separate seats both front and rear and center console, two grilles new footwear, light and pushbar, the removal of the Impala SS lettering on the rear quarters, and replace it with laser cut-out vinyl stickers in red, black and gray, we're probably talking $15-20,000 already, but for argument sake what else needs to be changed so that Revell can do both an SS and Caprice 9C1? So we can give them something they can evaluate..... Thanks Luc

1969 Dodge Polara CHP Cruiser As with big rig builders, police car modelers are rarely blessed with new subjects, and the few released were either simplified designs and retools or marketed towards youth, sometimes including questionable and costly extras. Only one kit sticks out and then it's an old tool whose current existential status is unknown, namely the old Jo-Han Plymouth Fury, which was on the market for decades. I firmly believe that police car modelers will lay the green on the counter for a detailed cruiser because they almost always had to rely on aftermarket companies to make a convincing model. The 1969 Dodge Polara is widely known as one of the all-time favorite cruisers amongst officers who were active during the 60s-70s. It is also listed as the fastest cruiser of the time, even surpassing the 94-96 Caprice LT1s. The 1969 Polara equipped with a 440 4bbl was officially clocked at 147mph in tests. It was basically a 4 door muscle car, which sat on top of the food chain eating GTOs, Chargers, Challengers, 'Cudas, Chevelles, Camaros and Mustangs for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Just the kit we need for keeping the tablecloths of America's contest tables free from tire burns! In fact, anyone who collects and/or builds muscle car kits must have at least one, just to keep his collection intact. Finding a pristine example will not be a problem in this case, because Hemmings "Muscle Car Machines" Magazine recently did a restoration feature on one. Likewise for someone to measure and photograph it, because it's in Tom Montgomery's (Former Amt/Ertl kit designer) back yard! Body: Four-door body of course with fine and sharp engraving (Don't you love the window surrounds on a late 60s Jo-Han annual?) and without heavy molded-in features. For example, a dome light which can lead to a sink mark in the roof, which the modeler has to fill and sand. Small ridges and holes where to drill in the roof for roof mounted emergency lights will do. Because this car has seen service in many agencies, it would be handy to either offer the side moldings as separate metal transfer pieces (like Galaxie LTD's 1948 Chevrolets). This may not be feasible and could be a possible giveback when running into budget issues, but since it's a thin molding to begin with, it probably can be sanded off with relative ease when molded-in. The body closings will only consist of the hood dressed up with a separate lip* and hinges, in case the builder wants to show off the engine. The following items round up the body assembly: firewall, inner fenders (as with Amt '68 RR), radiator brace, side mirror(s)*, door handles*, front bumper* with separate grille* (to ease the detail painting) with clear headlamp lenses, rear bumper*, tail lamp-surrounds* with a perimeter flange to reinforce them and provide a gluing surface to mount them into the body and provide a stop for the rear bumper, and clear tail lamp-lenses of course (* indicates chrome part). Interior: The plain-Jane base level trim all around interior, would be a sort of snap-fit platform style, minimizing the risk of getting glue in unwanted places. Consisting of a floorboard with a two piece dash, steering wheel and column with molded-in selectors, separate pedals, two piece bench seat, separate rear seat with package tray (flashed over holes for mounting the two CHP flashers), separate door panels to allow for easy detailing. Police radio set-up for the transmission hump. It can be similar to the Jo-Han Plymouth set up, as that was very accurate. However, having separate pieces for the radio, siren control and switches would be great so that different set-ups can be configured by the builder. Two detailed microphones are needed; there was only one in the Jo-Han kit which was incorrect for the set-up. Chassis and drivetrain: Breakdown similar to AMT’s 1957 Chrysler 300 or their 1960 Galaxie kit, 440 4bbl (what else!) with Torqueflite 727 Auto Trans. This police engine was rated at 375 HP. Kit should include two air cleaners, one stock and one low restriction. The low restriction is the police unit, and is similar in design to the one in the Lindberg 1964 Dodge 330 kit. It's actually referred to in the Dodge literature as an "unsilenced" air cleaner. Separate chassis, heavy duty rear end, dual exhaust, and front and rear sway bars round out the chassis. Wheels: two sets...one needs to be correct steel wheels with dog dish hub caps of correct vintage. I'd include a base series full hubcap as an option for those doing a standard sedan. Tires need to be a beefy vintage blackwall, Goodyear Polyglas or similar. The ones AMT has been using for years are actually pretty good. Accessories: Here's where it gets tricky. The Jo-Han Plymouth was actually a great kit for the roof lights alone. They were extremely accurate and looked the part. This kit should be done with that in mind, optional roof light set-up* for multiple agencies. Spotlights* for both sides are a must. Two styles of beacon lights, one like the Jo-Han, which is a Federal model 176H and one a flat top 4 beam (Federal 184, Dietz 211 or similar). The roof bar with twin beacons would be nice too. That's a Federal model 11, with optional chromed siren speaker in the center. I'd use the rounded speaker (like the speaker on the Adam-12 car) instead of the flat wide style in the Jo-Han kit. Since electronic sirens were just becoming popular, it would still need an old mechanical siren for under the hood as another option. To round it out, about six flashers of different sizes, 2 small, 2 medium, 2 larger, all single faced. These could be used for rear deck flashers, front grille flashers, optional light bar flashers, etc. Now the most important necessity for all of these lights: MOLD ALL OF THEM IN CLEAR PLASTIC. Not red, not blue, not a mix... CLEAR. This allows the builder to tint them accordingly to the agency that's being represented. The push bar would be a preformed pre-painted metal assembly, to keep it in scale and robust Agency decals: I'm sure licensing and permissions are in order here. But it shouldn't be too bad, considering Hawk/Lindberg is issuing about 6 different state agencies in their reissue of the 1996 Crown Victoria. A CHP version is a must, this would negate the need for roof lights, too, as they ran most of these with no roof lights and dual spotlights, the driver's side being red. The CHP would also have two flashers, one red and one amber, on the back package shelf, both on the left side, facing rear. However, the 1969 Polaras were used all over the country, and offering different versions or including different agencies in the one kit (like the Jo-Han Plymouth) would be great. The tooling could be used for modified reissues of any C-body MoPar from 1969-77 as the chassis were virtually unchanged except for the yearly addition of annual emissions upgrades (or downgrades, if you will). The ultimate choice would be the 74 Monaco for its wide use in movies (Blues Brothers) and its very wide use in police and taxi work. - Box-Art: I really like the way Sean Svendsen handled the Model King box designs of the ’70 Wildcat and Camaro Funny Cars. He really knows how to present a built model, so I would put him in charge of that (hopefully his fees are reasonable). for the box top however, I also like the art work of Jairus Watson and know he would do a good job of a CHP unit burning sideways (showing off the "Wolfs Head" graphics on the door) through a corner on Mulholland drive, in hot pursuit of some bad boys. The size of the box would be like the "Accurate Miniatures" Corvette kits, to show off the artwork and the neatly displayed contents when removing the box top. - Packaging of the parts: chrome, clear parts, tires, packed separately in poly bags, same for the white plastic parts, decals by Cartograph covered with a protective paper and bagged too. - Instruction sheet: I like the approach AMT/ERTL took in the mid 1990s, which was very detailed and every part was clearly identified. - Consumer support: On our company website I would post a whole range of photos taken when the engineers of product development were measuring up the cruiser, together with anecdotes, facts and fiction of the subject and the agency it served with. Also a photo composing as per instruction sheet sequence would be available on line together with tips on how to build a perfect model. For photo's and the original article of the restoration of this unique vehicle click on the link below. Note: The book "Dodge, Plymouth & Chrysler POLICE CARS, 1956-1978" by Edwin Sanow and John Bellah, Motorbooks International was used for reference. http://www.hemmings...._feature15.html Tom Sheehy & Luc Janssens

A new Corvette maybe?

Thanks Derick

Hi, I'm building an Mpc 4x4 Ford Van and was wondering what color the engine should be. Also I asume the underbody is red primer with color overspray and the chassis, black, right? Thanks inadvance for your help.

Tom, I'm working on the Van already, dunno what happened, I just digged into it 'bout the Dodge Van's, the tool in the state it's in now, is worthless, dead capital, so I'm hopeful that somewhere don the line they will rework it, not that I need one, got a whole slew of those kits, beginning with both the Window versions and ending with the Wanted edition..

I'm posting this, to give hope to all the guys and gals here, who are looking for something specific, which always seems to slip away, due to too being to late or too darn expensive.... Almost ten years ago, I won an auction on a original Mpc 4x4 Ford Van, but when I got it, it was a mix of two kits, all except the chassis was Mpc Van, the rolling chassis was Amt Ford pickup. The purchase wasn't a total loss, due to having a Amt pickup, with a glue bomb chassis, but I really wanted a complete van. Now fast forward to the present times, a week or two ago, on ebay I found an Mpc van with a body which seemed twisted beyond repair, I asked the seller if the kit contained a complete rolling chassis, he said yes. I waited for the last seconds of the auction to put in my bid, which was under $10, and to my surprise won the auction. Picked up my parts kit at the PO last Saturday, so now have a complete MPC 4X4 Van, and it didn't cost me an arm and a leg (I'm sure you all have seen that expensive parts-seller on ebay ;^) The original purchase: The parts kit:

I have a vague recollection they were made in France like the 2nd gen Tigra a few decades later, but could be that the coach builder only did the body... Anyway found this website, which may be helpfull to those interested in the GT http://www.opelclub.com/html/opel_gt___faqs.html

Oh...I was 2 decades too late to work on them and in the wrong country as they were made in France.

I'll pull it out of the stack and include it in this post sometime later today..

Reverse engineering can also be used to aid in the design of all new model kits. We all know that there are newly tooled kits on the market, of vintage subjects which were ones available as Promo's and annual kits. And while the underpinnings of those new tooled kits, are state of the art, some of the times the body fails (grossly) in the accuracy department when compared to the 1/1 subject and even to the old annual/promo of which the tooling was altered or scrapped a long time ago. I think most of us here have seen the Moebius Ford Pickup Tooling models in the Truck kit section, of this forum,(http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=64836&p=906721 ) which were generated from CAD files ( http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=64836&p=910019 ), so IMHO the good parts of "accurate" classic kits can be used, scanned and morphed with all the newly generated data into the CAD design process, along the way updating it, adding panel lines and other details like clear headlamp lenses, features old annuals often lacked. Thats why I keep yelling off rooftops that IMHO the tooling from Jo-Han can be scrapped, but that the rights to the name and past designs are only of value,To get hold of those rights, is probably a legal nighmare, but it sure would be nice to bring back to life some of the interesting and economic viable albeit updated subjects they had in their catalog, like their '70 Roadrunner or '70 Deville (modified into i a convert to replicate Boss Hog's ride ;^)