Ragtop Man

As mentioned earlier, this is the "recipe card" developed when the MK AFX re-releases of the crude-but-classic AMT Funny Cars were finally hitting shelves in the late 00's. Now, the kits are quite common, and bag kits of the Falcon (thanks to the drag team re-release) are very common. As a word of caution/warning, time has not been kind to the charming '57 tool, but, we are not replicating a Grand National Roadster Show champion, either. It's clear to me looking at the list that the team tasked with pumping life into the ancient '57 T-Bird tool (in 1969, 8 years was a lifetime) just rummaged a stack of then-current drag kits to build a mockup for the pitch meeting, knowing the inserts could either be separated or cloned quickly and easily. For a while, bagged Comet/Mustang/Falcon kits were common online and at club nights, as the builders would strip out the bodies for hardbody slot cars. Reading down the list, looks to me like a surplus falcon from a Drag Team re-issue gets you nearly all the way home. Good luck, and build on! Here Come De Judge Replica List Many parts for this rare and classic kit were sourced from existing AMT kit parts, but some were created specifically for HCDJ. You will need to fabricate these parts or substitute from parts box or scratch build. Falcon, Comet and Mustang Tempest and Nova all refer to the AMT Funny Car versions Engine: Block/trans: Included latest R2 57 T-Bird release. If building HCDJ from a non-R2 release, Comet/Falcon/Mustang is close with slight tailshaft trim. Willys gasser has a very accurate C-6 which would be more realistic. Heads/valve covers: Ohio George 33 Willys Manifold/Injectors: Falcon/Mustang, ‘69 Galaxie most releases Cam Cover: Falcon/Mustang Magneto: Comet/Falcon/Mustang Headers: Included current release. If building HCDJ from a non-R2 issue, Comet headers are correct. Falcon/Mustang are more common, but 2-pc. Not in kits: Breathers (circular in HCDJ, ’66 Galaxie may be close; Megaphones for headers, two-pulley fan belt – substituted with similar scrap box parts.) Chassis: Front Springs: Comet semi elliptic Front Axle: Nova / Tempest; Mustang/Falcon close if cross spring removed.Traction bars: AMT ’55 Nomad, Mustang Wheelie Bars: Comet, Falcon Shocks: Mustang, Falcon (close, need slight mods) Rear Wheels: Annual and RC2 (‘open gates’) releases of the ‘69 Galaxie have deep rings to go with stock 'open wheel' centers Tires: AMT “Bluestreak” 1-pc. Vinyl, many kits ; 2-pc AMT piecrust type many kits. Decals: MK 1969 “Judge” Funny Car

Thanks for pointing out the headers and engine block. Any Ford freak will have the rest of the SOHC parts in abundance, throw in some decent wheels, bingo. Would like to have seen the HCDJ parts make a return, but I get it there just isn't a lot of coin to chase that project. About 15 years ago, when the FX kits were coming back into circulation, I compiled a list of AMT "FX" kit sources for Judge parts. If the patience of the board is not overtaxed, I will look it up and share. I can't help but wonder if one of the AMT engineers or planners was at Detroit Dragway watching Bill Coon take 'em down with his '57 Cammer T-Bird, and said, "hey, we could do that." (Ditto the Modified Stockers, at least the first wave, esp the Galaxie.) Seems like a miss that they did not add the well-rendered HCDJ reproduced decal sheet from the '69 GTO F/C. If I could get any parts back in the kit, it would be the nicely rendered chrome outer wheel rings that turned the standard open wheel backing plates into handsome chrome reverse. Given those parts are made with a radial cutter, should not be rocket surgery to replicate. Failing that, your build should be the box art for the next release, with the whites and wires and/or the parts pack chrome reverse that go perfectly with the T-Bird. One slight addenda to Mark B's concise history of the '57: At some point in the history of the HCDJ, AMT started cutting costs and corners inside the box. I have a release purchased from the estate of the toy distributor representative, (his son is was/is a nice guy,long story) with an instruction sheet printed at half-size, and if I'm remembering correctly, an abbreviated version of the original HCDJ decal sheet.

The Cougar can be harvested for parts to upgrade the accuracy of your AMT '69 Cougars. Want a convertible? Whack the roof and re-scribe the trunklid opening, the re-release should have the '70 convertible boot. Main issue with the ex-MPC Cat is the 'dumped the clutch with traction masters and pinion snubber on 8" tire" front nose attitude. Have been somewhat successful sectioning about 3/32 from the bottom of the engine compartment 'ring', which helps to get the nose down to a more moderate level. I can't help but think the resin industry will come up with the '71 and '72 front/rear bumpers, and pop the excellent comp handling 5-slot Ford wheels found in the Cyclone GN kit (they were in the last issue) which also look killer on other '70 and select '71 FoMoCo iron, including the Cyclone, Torino and '70 Mach 1. Ultimately the best bash to get a 'correct' Cougar will be the Revell B351 chassis and engine compartment, or the CJ 429 "Bond" Mach 1, unless the guy doing 3D '71-73 Mustang engine compartments on FB actually sells his work (which was quite good, my wallet awaits.)

As a native Dearbornite, Ford brat and lifelong big car fan, Galaxie love is forever, but splits into two camps, pre- and post-'64. For the former, my chips are on the '61 Starliner all the way, assuming the '65 GTO / '64 Malibu style re-release engineering would carry forward. Bashes with every single pre-64 in the lineup (Mod Stock and Craftsman '64; Marauder, '63 XL, new tool '60), so one can sell the others, depending on what your specific kink such asGN/Permatex, drags, restomod, rivet-counter, etc. Calling anything a slam dunk is premature, but if my employment was on the line, that would be my unhesitating recommendation. Post-64, I'd need a few shells at Miller's to pick between '67 and '68. I have a ton of heart for both, they look great on the shelf. Tilting to '67, simply because of the GN box art and the custom version which is likely what Mike Alexander wanted to build while customizing show cars for Ford. It really fulfills the brief of the "Interceptor" show car, taking it the next logical step. That said, having recently scored a perfect sealed '68, if history is any guide, that will be announced in January. #fml

To the original post: I honestly doubt a new interior would create any meaningful incremental demand for the '66 Wildcat. However, fixing the notable flaws in the new-tool kits that did not get the final finessing from the original design team (due to poor decision making at the old RC at crucial junctures) would be well worth investigating. There are several kits where attentive enthusiasts (not even the 2-percenter rivet counters) would be seriously re-energized for the subject with the obvious issues fully corrected.

I doubt they sink any money into the '61 Boxtop - it works fine as-is as a kit. Good news is that all the chrome, IP and steering wheel and front windshield will work with any Sunliner/Starliner kits lingering in your to-do pile. While my little casting side hustle is going into hibernation with our house move to SW MI, I cast the '61 annual kit hood, so converting a curbside to a reasonably detailed kit is doable with a cast-off '63 Galaxie or '64 Marauder, or '64 Galaxie modified stock car. As noted earlier in the thread, the new-tool Starliner chassis will fit with some urging from the dremel - in fact IIRC there was a Car Modeler (?) story many years ago about that exact swap. The comment by bobss396 is right on - when the Galaxie was released in late '59, there were several states prepared to make Ford install truck style clearance lights due to the excess width.

Related to the inability to page advance? Timeline is about right for stuff not working as it should.

I know how much admins love it when everyone piles on, but, I'm having the exact problem as the OP. Shoulda read farther into the posts before venting my issue. Regardless, it is the same thing and a dadgum shame there is no answer for it. I will download another browser this PM and give it a rip, but I'm pretty much out until there is a fix.

I would be mildly astounded to learn the forum does not work on Chrome - but stranger things have happened. What platforms is it supposed to work on, or designed to work on? Just tried to like something that another member posted, but that bounced back. I did a fairly extensive cleanup of the browser, cookies, etc, and still having the issues. Thanks for the help so far, there has to be a solution of some type. IIRC, it was working a few weeks ago. Did something change?

Not sure if this is a cookie thing, so bear with me. There is a very good thread on the Mach Won that I'd like to follow, but, when I click on the "2", or "next" - nothing happens. Even tried manually selecting the page, but no-go. Ideas for why this is happening? Have a fairly recent MacBook Pro mid-2015, with Monterey 12.6.7 updates. Thanks in advance!

'64 Galaxie Mod Stocker, at least in the last pass, had several 'stock' parts in the box that were not listed, including the larger air cleaner, a few of the custom items, and even the switch lever for the annual kit working headlights. Easy kitbash with common Craftsman Plus/Pro Shop curbsides to either make a replica stocker, or, to make a GN '64 NASCAR stocker. Have no doubt the resin world will fill any gaps

Clarification / context: The additional parts that appear in the new release of the Galaxie are a win for anyone fortunate enough to own a '67 -'68 builder kit. They are often mangled or broken, will take any freebies available to get one on the shelf intact. Engraved scripts are a legacy of the very first kits - adhesive foils were unknown at the time, and chrome silver flowed like water. Adhesive transfers would be a great addition to select modern kits, but they have two issues - one, making them in scale and still removable from the backing without damage; two for more novice builders, they are not forgiving to mistakes in placement. Greg Tufford designed a series of outstanding dimensional metal adhesive emblem transfers in the 90's, which I had the good fortune to hoard. His supply chain became unreliable, and he ended up discontinuing the parts. He would have excellent insight on how practical those would be. If a kit company (Revell, Round 2) were to come forward with an order of sufficient size to amortize the development, and the kit could land at the desired retail price point, it could be done. My guess about RoG and Tamiya (and others) is that worldwide distribution and production makes the per-kit investment much more digestible vs a domestic-only order of 5-10,000 kits that Moby or AMT would have to chin.

Easy chassis swap for the '65 GTO is the recently re-issued '67 Chevelle (new tool AMT version) - with a few light dremel passes in the 'hips' over the rear wheel wells it fits great. Trans tunnel is a touch shallow, so plan to use the Chevelle kit 4-speed with the Pontiac engine of your choice. The under hood firewall and core support fit well with this swap, too .

Not sure if anyone else noticed, but it looks like some of the gates used in the '67-8 Galaxies were opened, including the exhaust system. That's a win for builders right there. The C-stripes are great, wish they would have added the gold as well, which would be striking on a black body. For future reference, posting clear shots of the decal sheets and part breakdowns should be a mandatory. As for the lack of detail in the '69 Galaxie annual (and subsequent releases) ... By 1968 (when 1969 kits were in development) AMT was in free fall, despite the mythology of "we couldn't keep up with the business..." Promo contracts were shrinking rapidly and orders were plummeting, while competitors. like MPC were ramping up. AMT was also digesting significant financial losses from their slot car adventure with Dynamic, which took on water nearly as soon as the ink was dry on the deal. Societal trends of the late '50s became giant headwinds a decade later. Net: Where once the Galaxie kit was a flagship of AMT annuals, by the '69 model year they were cutting part count and scaling back tool development as fast as possible. So... no 385-series engine, no deluxe wheel covers, just a one-piece promo interior shell, one-piece chassis, two wire axles and four screws. To be fair, this was happening across the line - compare the '66 Rivvi annual to the '69 in parts count and accessories.

I've had really good luck with file card and water thin CA. First, cut and shape the card until it lays flat, and don't be afraid to try several until you get it laying flat and smooth Tack the card down with the usual mid-cure (don't glue your fingers to it)CA. When all is snug, use the water thin blue-top CA to saturate the card (as you would with matte glass) It will make the card very stiff and give the joint good backing that will not come loose easily. Dries quickly, and even sands pretty easily. However, to repeat some of the comments from earlier, you have to sort out how the joint can fail. Will it twist? Want to fold on iteself? Be in tension or compression? Each of those calls for a different solution. Good luck!

Not a build, exactly, but trying to sort a Red Alert "box-full-o'-junque" so the parts can go to their rightful homes. Searched the Drastic Plastics site, and incredibly, it didn't have this in the Chevrolet or Drag sections (!) even though this kit was in the catalog since dinosaurs walked the earth and all phones had rotary dials. Believe it or not, I walked past this kit and the Old Pro Nova about a jillion times at every dime store and hobby shop in the 70's, and never bought either one. If it helps, you can email it to me, or just put it here. Whatever. Many thanks in advance.