John Goschke

While I've owned and built some truly horrible kits in my time, the worst ones were not only poorly molded and engineered, they were also lousy replicas of the original. For consistently useless kits you just can't beat the flock of turkeys released under the Palmer brand! As an example, I submit the following built-up Porsche that was part of a small collection I purchased to get a '58 Ford convertible. As I recall this kit has the same chassis, reversed, that was in the Palmer '60 Olds convertible I had when I was a little kid. At the tender age of seven years old, the Palmer Olds was my first experience with scale modeling disappointment. At least the "Porsche" has a one piece body! Is this goofy, or what?

That's is really cool! The Tudor looks much better with a chop and this is the definitive example. Great work!

I'm glad to see that not all of us are geezers like me who started building in the '50s or early '60s! The first car model I remember building was an AMT '61 Pontiac Bonneville convertible my Grandmother bought for me at the G.C.Murphy 5 & 10 in New Castle, Pa, when I was about eight. She set up the card table for me to build on and I used a paring knife from the kitchen to cut the parts off the sprues, and a tube of Aurora cement to assemble it. Skipped the engine 'cuz it was just too complicated. But did use the up-top and fender skirts. Brush-painted it with un-stirred Testors metallic blue for a spectacularly disappointing finish!

Thanks, James. The rear slicks are from an original 1959 issue AMT '32 Roadster. They were standard issue in AMT's Trophy Series kits (including the '32 5-window coupe, both '40 Fords, '25 T, and '36 Ford) into the early '60s. They were later replaced by the narrow Firestone "Gum-Dipped" pie-crust style slick, perhaps around the time the '32 Victoria kit came out.

Matt, that's absolutely awesome!

Very nice Galaxies! Really like the '59 Dodge Lancer wheelcovers on the '60!

Love it! Just perfect.

That is great! Has a nice aggressive stance. The early Model A grill shell is unusual on a '32 and definitely works!

Oh, man, that is neat! Looks great with the chop and the low-key color!

Very cool stuff! I especially like the custom version. Gotta get me one of the old Vicky kits.

Amazing!

AMT '32 Roadster, with Hemi from the first issue (1959) with headers from the second (1960) issue. Other bits include front wheels, carbs, and dropped axle (on the '32 spring) from AMT '40 Ford, steering wheel from '59 Ford annual, side pipes from '60 Corvette annual, plus the little headlight from the the Revell '32. No added detail. Just some adjustments to get a crazy rake angle, plus a sheet plastic firewall. My first attempt at painting flames (masked and sprayed Tamiya lacquers, outlined with One Shot enamel). Used Future acrylic as a barrier over the graphic before overcoating with Tamiya clear. Hope you like it!

That's looking great! Nice color and I love the WW slicks! Very impressive engine, too. The out-of-scale spokes on the front wire wheels don't help, maybe some spindle-mount Halibrands, instead?

That is really cool! Great color combo and unique approach!

Lyle, that came out really great! Did you have to tweak the Nomad taillights to fit?

Wow! I absolutely love this! I remember Bill's articles in the original Scale Auto Enthusiast in the early '80s. Was just looking the other day at the one from, what 1980 or so, on building the Johan '60 Dodge Dart. Great stuff then and now.

That looks really sharp, Lyle! Super engine detail and all the correct period touches. Anxious to see it done!

Very nice! I really like the way it sits and the wheel/tire combo.

Most excellent, Lyle! Fantastic engine compartment. I like your idea for the trim rings, too and will give it a try.

Bill, just to add my voice to everyone else... This build is terrific! Plus your documentation provides a real tutorial, plus inspiration, on how to tackle a challenging build on one of the greatest old kits.

That is really cool, Lyle! Nice period look, plus Pontiac power... you can't go wrong! The p'etch wire wheels and banjo steering wheel are spectacular.

Very classy looking!

Mean & Nasty Looking! I like it!

Nice job, Jason, on the model and the write up! The car sure "sits" right!

Thanks for the compliments, guys. Sorry no "before" pix though. Wasn't much to look at anyway. Just a disassembled old build in a box. Fortunately, Not a total glue bomb and almost no paint except for blue enamel on the seat (thank you Easy Off!) A little more disassembly was required on the engine and the fenders. The latter I might have noticed BEFORE I painted them, put them on the car and installed the front wheels, if I'd READ THE INSTRUCTIONS (or at least looked at the pictures!)