John Goschke

I keep coming back to the fact that the majority of models and kits of American cars are 1/25th scale and have been since the early '50s. A builder of American car models in Europe, Asia or anywhere else in the world is going to be building those models from the same 1/25th scale kits we're building here in the U.S. and would rather have a new kit of an early '70s Mopar to be in scale with their other models of Chrysler products from that period.

I guess it comes down to whether they think they're going to sell more kits of American cars; in the U.S. or the rest of the world.

Very impressive! Nice work fitting that roof. Love all the little details, especially those vent window deflectors. Forgot all about those things; don't think I've ever seen them in scale before!

The ever-popular Revell snap kit with an early '60s Larry Watson-style treatment....

This level of cooperation between a kit manufacturer and a resin caster is very exciting! Kudos to the team at Revell and to Tom Coolidge. Oh, and while you're at it, send him a '57 Ford Custom so he can do a Custom 300!

The large majority of kits of American cars are to 1/25th scale and has been since the early 1950s (with Monogram being the exception in the U.S.) That's the reason that 1/24th is often a deal-breaker. As an example, Revell is due to release their new kit of the '57 Ford Custom Tudor sedan in 1/25th, which is great, not only because that car's never been kitted before, but because it will theoretically be compatible with AMT's 1962-vintage Trophy Series 1/25th scale kit of the '57 Ford Fairlane 500 Club Victoria, which, in turn was compatible with their even earlier kit of the 1958 Fairlane 500, and all the other myriad kits and models released by AMT, SMP, MPC, Revell and Johan going back to the early '50s. While each model I build is an individual work on its own, it's important to me that it fit in with my collection of other 1/25th scale models. I do have a small group of 1/24th scale models based on old Monogram kits. Because of the noticeable difference in proportion, they are not displayed with the stuff in 1/25th, anymore than I would display a 1/48th Spitfire next to a 1/72nd Hurricane.

Incredibly realistic!

Outstanding work on the VeeDub and the T-bird!

The problem with using the Badman kit to build more accurate '55 gassers might be that it is 24th scale and virtually all the other '55 Chevy kits are 25th. As inaccurate as it is, I do have a soft spot for this kit and it's predecessor, Monogram's '55 BelAir Customizing Kit from the early '60s. One thing that I think would help the look of the body on the Badman is some careful reshaping of the side window opening.

For me it's a combination of the subject matter: if you want a model of a '58 Ford Fairlane 500, or any number of now-obscure vehicles, you better be prepared to build an old kit. Also the challenge of taking a simple kit, making it a bit more accurate, and adding a little more detail to enhance the original kit. There is virtue in simplicity. While I buy most of the new full-detail kits, almost everything I've got in the queue to be finished is an old kit from the late '50s or early '60s. Give me four screws, two wire axles, and reasonably accurate body and I'm happy! In some cases the new "full detail" kits have been very disappointing, most notably AMT's horrible '58 Plymouth. What I wouldn't give for a straight repro in styrene from Johan's long lost molds of that same car! Then there's the Trumpeter Falcon and '60 Pontiac; two convincing arguments for seeking out a clean, rebuildable AMT kit of the same cars.

Nicely built '34 Ford pickup from the early '60s in a terrific color. I think this is either a Pactra or Testors color from the period if anybody knows, please chime in. ebay seller states that he got this and bunch of other well preserved built ups out of a storage unit. Smells like it came from a house where everybody smoked two packs of Lucky Strikes per day! This is pretty much how I received it, though I did clean the nicotine stain off the tonneau cover. Plans are for a tear down, cleanup, adjustments to stance and new rolling stock. Maybe a different engine and new bumpers. Rub out and polish the old paint. Reassemble. Check it out.... Chrome is pretty tired. Tonneau cover, interior, and inner fenders are brush painted white over the original red plastic. Some nice detail painting in the bed. Exhaust stacks didn't survive the mail. Deuce bumper attaches to extensions made from bit of chrome sprue. The all-chrome 401hp 390 is under the hood. Deuce bumper in the front, too. The best side. Definitely needs to have the wheelbase adjusted. Tires are rare Revell Parts Pack U.S. Royal Masters! For some reason the chassis is brush painted flat red over the red plastic. Cab's going to need to be removed and reattached to fix this problem! Looks great with an original issue box!

Very clean job! Good call on painting after the roof was blended in; that's the only way to do this one right!

I love the color and the weathered peeling paint on this as well as the washes on the wheels and engine! But, just because everything else is so nicely done, what happened to the paint or foil on the windshield frame?

Best of the best!

Outstanding craftsmanship! Excellent photos as well.

The damage to the rear is very realistic! Great to see something cool built out of this old turkey of a kit!

Kitbashed '57 Corvette 283 in '55 Chevy...

Outstanding build! Looks very authentic.

That's pretty darn nice, Mr. Cruz!

Nice clean build of a great old kit!

Thanks for blowing my mind yet again! Wow!

Beautiful color! Nice build.

Outstanding! Very authentic weathering and detailing.

Great weathering and detailing.

The paint on that model is just amazing, Marcos!