ChrisBcritter

Did Palmer ever release that 1/25 '40 Ford? I've never seen an image of a Palmer-boxed version. I've only seen the 1/32 '40 Ford sedan that they sort-of-cloned from the AMT All Stars kit.

Same here (40/40) - confirmed a couple things I wasn't too clear on.

I would imagine Cadillacs, Continentals and Imperials had more attention paid to fit and finish back then as opposed to your usual Corvair, Falcon or Valiant. Occasionally a "special" customer would get preferential treatment. I've seen and ridden in Fred Astaire's '81 Imperial and that car was supposed to have been specially hand-rubbed at the factory to give it a deep smooth look (for sure it's the best I've seen on a malaise-era Imperial).

Cycle fenders, if that's the kit you have - then buy a reissue and build it full-fendered.

Art, can you confirm or deny the story about the AMT '59 Buick tooling having been picked up in England by another company, and if so was it the same type of deal?

'64 Pontiac Catalina 2+2 convertible. I'd have to cut up two very expensive kits - a Bonneville 'vert and a Grand Prix - and scratchbuild a trunk trim panel, plus recreate the upholstery patterns. Doable but more than I want to take on right now with all the other stuff ahead of it.

Good luck with it! I have a vintage builtup that was done nicely so I may leave well enough alone. Is your kit molded in dark maroon?

You mean like 35 years? So nice to see that car finished. (It gives me hope.) Did you have any trouble fitting the chrome insert in the taillight lens? I have an original plus a Modelhaus replacement and they both curve slightly; they fit the lens better upside down!

I used to have a '64 V8 wagon in mine:

Excellent update, Tim! I remember when the Lindberg Dodge came out I realized I'd have to take the cowl, A-pillars, windshield and part of the roof from a Jo-Han Dodge to make it look good (and the more accurate Jo-Han grille, while I was at it).

The General and his evil twin!

I can see some influence for the '33 Ford here, especially in the side view - the shape of the door openings and hood louvers.

A lot of the engines in use there now are Hyundai, Mercedes, Ford, and Toyota diesels - are there any kits that have them? Of course, Revolico is a great source of photos: http://www.revolico.com/autos/carros/search.html?q=&min_price=&max_price=&images=on A hint: Don't bother searching it by car names - the spelling in Revolico ads is usually just as bad as it is in Craigslist ads!

Maybe start with a Revell Thunderbolt roof since it's more readily available?

I did a little "photoshop modeling" the other day to try out an idea. This started out as a couple photos of a stock '77 Matador on an eBay listing; the result I like to call tongue-in-cheek "the Bertone Matador": Just might build this someday.

I'll go from left field and suggest a vintage travel trailer, like a Shasta or small Airstream - or maybe even a 2-in-1 version of the Open Road camper that could be also built as a trailer.

Just for esses and giggles, since we're showing off our '58 Fords, here's my hardtop so far: Lost the focus on this one, but you can see the '57 engine compartment and the modified back seat (cut out the 'vert bolsters and widened it): And this is sort of the look I'm going for: Before the purists chime in, this was a combination of a passable convertible with a lot of stuff glued to it and a really hopeless hardtop - its roof was the only good panel left and even then three of the pillars were broken.

Don't think it's the same guy - the seller is in New York, not Poland, and the box in the eBay listing is damaged.

OK. Reversed the top image (but kept the quarter panel emblem as it was) and lined them up. What do you think? Maybe the top of the rear wheel opening could be slightly flatter and aligned more with the body crease, but that's it for me. I'm assuming the windshield will be molded with the trim around it. And again, will the rectangular trim on the grille be a separate part?

Oh boy. I emailed them just after they reopened asking about the rear bumper for the Cox 1/20 Riviera. That and a '56 Plymouth interior are all I need now. Knew I should have ordered them immediately... Hope I can get those items before the end.

I really could use one several like that. Was this a one-off deal or someone who has an eBay business selling them?

But it wouldn't be an original Hettick! A friend of mine owns a charcoal line drawing of Mickey Mouse. I could probably do as good a sketch but since his is by Andy Warhol, well...

Even better, Studebaker wanted to import the Facel-Vega and rebrand it as a new Packard; Mercedes said "Nein" and that was the end of that. Too bad; that big Excellence sedan would have made a sweet '59 Patrician; just imagine the vertical louvered Packard grille added and the hexagons on the wheelcovers in red:

Rule #6: There is NO rule #6! (Someone had to say it eventually.)

And his bidders really know how to spend money.