Motor City

that one isn't even a woodie

There was a thread on this recently. It has good detail for the era in which it was originally released. According to some, the doors are incorrect for the roadster. My Dad built the original as a roadster, and it looks nice . I plan to build it as a 3-window coupe. It's a nice kit.

I wonder why the AMT '64 Bonneville and Grand Prix kits have never been reissued.

That's correct, the re-issue used bucket seats in the pattern of the '67 Cadillac. The original promos from '63-'70 all had a bench seat. It's still a great model and the '67-'68 Cadillacs have great styling.

The '69 and '70 have the same rear end. The '68 is the one with a pair of dual round taillights. I bought the '70 promo in '74 for a whopping $4.00.

I started using Elmer's white glue in 1965 (yikes!) for assembly. It dries clear and parts can be easily taken apart by soaking in water. For repairs to cracked plastic, I use a super glue.

How come the July issue is arriving in late September? Usually with magazines, the issues are mailed a few months prior to the date listed on the cover.

The Grand Am wasn't available until the 1973 model year.

Fender skirts were optional on the full-size Pontiacs that didn't have them standard. Why anyone would put them on a 2+2 is beyond me. I've seen a '66 2+2 at Greenfield Village in Dearborn with skirts. Regarding the '65 Bonneville kit being converted into a 2+2, I thought they would have been better off to correct the driver's side roofline than spent all that tooling expense trying to convert it to the shorter wheelbase 2+2. I don't know why they don't re-issue the '65 Bonneville convertible kit.

A good test of market demand for the pace cars would be AMT's '64 Mustang. I think the '69 Camaro SS kit did well. I know the '68 Torino GT kit goes for a high price when listed on Ebay. The Camaro pace car promos of '67 and '69 go for high prices in excellent condition. Regarding the Skylark, AMT could re-issue the '54. I have a nice die cast '53 Skylark in probably 1/28th scale. I think it's the same scale as the '53 Eldorado I have. A '53 Skylark would be a great Moebius kit in 1/25th, along with the Olds Fiesta and '53-'56 Packard Caribbeans, '57 Bonneville, and '56-'57 Fury and Desoto Adventurer. Going back further, why isn't any '41 Buick or Cadillac, '40 LaSalle, or Chrysler Town & Country being done?

If the rumor regarding the '59 Dodge is true, then Moebius could work with Okey Spalding to bring back some of the other Jo-Han models. From reading the Forum, it appears that many like modified vehicles, trucks, drag cars, cartoonish vehicles, as well as the 3-in-1 kits. Moebius would do well to continue producing cars and trucks that were never done before. Niche vehicles such as a '67 Marlin or '64 Starfire would be great, but the market demand is probably small. The '66-'79 Ranchero is something that wasn't done: the '66-'71 could yield a few variations, the '72-'76 look pretty much the same except for the grille and bumpers, and the '77-'79 look alike. Car and truck enthusiasts would buy these. It's the same for the '70-'72 El Camino, '71-'72 GMC Sprint, and '73-'77 El Camino. A series of Indy 500 Pace Car models representing the '50s through '70s would do well. A lot of these models could be made into low riders, lead sleds, Donks, and also be built stock.

Scott is correct. The Gran Torino Sport had the scooped hood and was available as a notchback (like the later Starsky & Hutch) or sportsroof. The sportsroof was dropped after '73. The Montego GT of '72-'73 came only with the sportsroof. It would also make a nice model.

The real '66 Wildcat had a different dash, side panels and seats. The seats were the strato-bench or buckets with slim seat backs. The model has the '65 interior, but it's still a good model. There was supposed to be a promo. I don't know what happened between Buick and AMT on this, but I saw a form that could be mailed in to AMT to purchase one. It ended up that only the Skylark GS and Riviera were available as promos that year.

As far as GM intermediates go, the '64-'72 are considered the most desirable because of their styling and performance. The '73-'77 models have better handling, and the '78-'87 (and '88 Monte Carlo) handle even better. I agree that cars from the '70s and '80s would appeal to younger modelers as this is the era they grew up in. I would start with a '73 442, '74 GS, '76 Regal or Century coupe, '77 Can Am, '78 Magnum, '77-'79 Ranchero GT, and a Ranchero GT from '70 or '72. I would also think a Mark III, IV or V would do well. For the '80s, a Monte Carlo SS in 1/25th would sell. Most of the '80s cars were forgettable, though I own two from that decade (El Camino and Riviera).

I've been lucky to have 1/25th models made of five of the cars I've owned or still own, but none of the following. Has anyone made any of these in resin? 1976 Regal coupe 1977 Eldorado Biarritz 1989 Riviera 2000-2005 Monte Carlo SS

1964 Bonneville 1967 Camaro SS Indy Pace Car 1967 Cougar 1968 GTO 1968 Torino GT Indy Pace Car

I went to a lecture sponsored by the Dearborn Historical Museum a number of years ago (ten or so). The guest speaker was the designer of the Levacar. It was interesting, but I would never want the model.

the grilles are different

Regarding the earlier comments about the Rouge plant, it's located in Dearborn. The Rouge River runs alongside of it. River Rouge is also a community near the plant. The plant was originally in Springwells, which then changed its name in the '20s to Fordson in honor of Henry and Edsel. Fordson and Dearborn consolidated as one city in 1929. The 1928 Model A was the first car produced there.

Kevin, I'll email you. I've been to the Macomb C.C. show a few times. Thanks. Jim

I didn't know it was available as I hadn't seen an update on this forum and it wasn't on the website. How much does it cost? Thanks.

Here is the 1904 Ford plant in Detroit that still survives (Ford rented a building for the early models). The Model T was developed here. Production moved to Highland Park on Jan. 1, 1910. http://fordpiquetteavenueplant.org The neighborhood isn't great, but it's worth seeing if you're visiting the Detroit area.

Kevin, Any update on this? Thanks.

I thank all of you so much for the great advice and suggestions. Jim

I haven't bought an airbrush yet, and am confused about the use of primers. I know on real cars that you could paint enamel over lacquer, but could not paint lacquer over enamel since you would get a horrible reaction. I've read that you could paint lacquer over BAKED enamel (I never tried that as all of the cars I worked on were sprayed in lacquer from the factory). I have had spray can lacquer paint eat into plastic models on occasion. Is the primer people are referring to here from a spray can or air brush? Is it lacquer or enamel?