Ragtop Man

To

This is the best issue of MCM I've read in a while. Tim's FC story is terrific and the photos do a great job of telling the tale of the FC kits. Some day, one of those El Toros will turn up for me! I'm overdue for a Nebraska visit to the family farm operation, I know I will be in the Lincoln area for an extended stay, now. But I'm heaving all the laurels on the MPC '67 GTO-LeMans convertible build and the clear, common sense build suggestions in the story... and oh wait... why ELSE would I love this story? FWIW, I'm a news stand buyer, not a subscriber, so it is an hour drive, minimum to the LHS where MCM is on the shelf. Worth every penny to chase it down this issue!

Well, hell yes. This is one I missed, superb buld and the roof really does look better. Wondering if the '64 Falcon might have a better roof? Honestly, I really never noticed the annual/Craftsman, but now that I see it, it's like people clicking dentures or cracking gum. I can't NOT see it. Great job.

I would be very surprised to learn there had been much remastering of the '64; Moby has been pretty clear that if there's something close in the kit world, they're going to copy it ('61 Catalina is virtually identical to the AMT '62, etc.) Bet the AMT and this are very close... FWIW, though, as we have discussued quite a bit in the past, a "K-" engine code in the Comet for 1964 or 1965 does not mean it is the Hi-Performance version of the 289. I'll spare the bandwidth, but it is very confusing to know what is a true original car with the HP engine bits - they WERE built - because so few actual survivors are available to reference with solid docs to day one.

Digging the '32 Sedan - wondering if they actually found that tool, or just knocked out a new one?

Oh damn! Simple and perfectly executed! Really nice job on that, would really get the nods at NNL.

That is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo it. Wow. Nice work.

Tim's comments are right on the money from what I've observed or suspected for a while. Knowing a few builders, they are INTO the drags and will research the daylights out of the project/era to get them just right. I'll theorize that it is possible to exhaust the build possiblities when the subject is a very specialized or specific (TJ Taxi, f'rinstance) vs. a generalized subject that can be harvested for parts in any number of ways (MPC Bantam, Miss Deal, etc.) Moby has been pretty smart this way, IMO. The ability to reconfigure tooling for stock, S/S, AWB in their Mopar line is impressive. Not sure if I have ALL of them, but there is a good stack going waiting for the shop to be completed.

I'd be very surprised to learn a stock hood was not in the offing at some point for a version of the kit (Daytona Durability Run, anyone? E. African Safari?) I sure wouldn't let one of these get away for that reason.

I wouldn't put it past them - but there would have to be a pretty solid business case for the one-off. Pro Stock had advanced light years from the original Dyno Don car to the TJ Taxi. The innards would not be correct for an 'early' car, so the crossover work done with the F-Series is pretty well off the table. Drag kits always do well, maybe not as crazy as it would seem.

If the Revell "watchers" are in the house, please accept my sincere compliments on the outstanding box art streak you've been running lately. The '64 and '68 GTOs are superb, as well as the '68 Firebird and '70 Torino Cobra, now the L88 Corvette can be added to that pantheon of "we get it" merchandising. I'll add the '57 Bel Air 2D post to that group, as well as some others that appear to be the work of people who - WOW! - actually have heart for the subject.

Are the Butch Leal mags the correct ones for the actual car? And are they the same that came in the kit? Tripped over a bagged orange plastic Leal Duster prior to turn of the miilenia and it has just been sitting, it was missing wheels and tires and have not really pinned down what it was a.) originally molded with or b.) what the actual car used. Hoping the Moby Mavericks BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH the bubble of JoHan pricing so the excellent pro stock bits from that era become a little more accessible.

Excellent build, the new release of the Torino is on my hit list for DAAM. What is the tire source? They look interesting - an actual, in-scale T/A. The MPC T/As are poo; these look quite nice.

My neighbor restored a 1:1 Alpine for his daughter's 16th birthday backinnaday. IIRC he found a Tiger (!) parts car that was a worn out SCCA racer for parts... thought the V8 was no bueno, he loved the little high winding engines.

Dumb question, but: This is the new "Stranger Things" Camaro... correct? Innaday, my HS friend was helping a rich kid (neighbor to his brother's farm) who had a new 1:1 Z-28 but wanted more suds. Suggested that he tell the kid make tracks to the Chevy dealer for an LS6 crate and accoutrements for a BB install. Never saw the finished product, but had heard second hand it was a very stout machine when complete.

Madonn!

Trivia freeks will also note the Mach 2 show car (one of two, IIRC, need to re-read the book) is still intact behind the Maverick at Kar Kraft as late as this pic was taken, approximately 1971. MUCH speculation about what happened to it.

I had not noticed the wheels - they look as if they have a Motor Wheel center cap; wondering if there wasn't a project afoot ....?? Would love to know what the nomenclature under the "BOSS" on the fender is.

Thank you !!!!!! Those are the exact two that I was recalling from the Charlie Henry book. Both would be fun builds that don't crush the workload on the bench.

Use the Nova body on a cut down throwaway RC GM NA$CAR chassis from the early '90s give it a touch of the dremel and tune it a skosh, presto, BGN car. With all the colors and decals on the body, it hides the hideous proportions. With dremel work (more than I'd anticipated frankly) the much-better MPC X-Body chasis sit nicely on the pro-whateveryacallit chassis.

The Fuller Brush man... or a Babtis' minister come to call on Sunday to see how come Maw and Paw were not in the first row.

We moved to the west side of the state almost two years ago (!) so whenever I do get back and wander around, I'm a bit shocked at the changes. While we are on the topic, do you recall a hobby shop on Outer Drive at Pelham in the little strip mall... next the Jensen's pharmacy? My grandparents were only a few blocks from there, I'd go with my grandparents if I was there for a weekend and out of stuff to do. They carried mostly planes / military IIRC.

LP Sears had an excellent toy department. Thier 1:1 tool department was paid on straight commission - and those guys knew their stuff. Sears' customer base in the area was the Arsenal of Democracy, guys who worked with their hands since they could stand, and read a blueprinprint with one eye closed. Looking back, the manufacturing in the SW Detroit area was mind-boggling. My dad (a Ford engineer) who grew up the same way was always impressed that he got exactly what he needed, every time. I still have a few of the tools, at least those that did not get burglarized in the garage break in of '81. Back in the late 60's early 70's this time of year was rough- the pediatrican was about two miles away from Sears, so middle August we got shots and went back-to-school shopping (read: bore-doom) in the same kick. Mom could be a soft touch, tho. The bag of cashews were obiligatory, and after all wardrobe fitting, we'd head back to sporting goods or the model aisle to pick something out, and maybe a stop for lunch at Sanders.

LP Sears had an excellent toy department. Thier 1:1 tool department was paid on straight commission - and those guys knew their stuff. Sears' customer base in the area was the Arsenal of Democracy, guys who worked with their hands since they could stand, and read a blueprinprint with one eye closed. Looking back, the manufacturing in the SW Detroit area was mind-boggling. My dad (a Ford engineer) who grew up the same way was always impressed that he got exactly what he needed, every time. I still have a few of the tools, at least those that did not get burglarized in the garage break in of '81. Back in the late 60's early 70's this time of year was rough- the pediatrican was about two miles away from Sears, so middle August we got shots and went back-to-school shopping (read: bore-doom) in the same kick. Mom could be a soft touch, tho. The bag of cashews were obiligatory, and after all wardrobe fitting, we'd head back to sporting goods or the model aisle to pick something out, and maybe a stop for lunch at Sanders.

Jumping in here - for de-bonding styrene, as long as there is a seam to work with, hardware store mineral sprit and a medium sized water color brush will do just fine. Score the seam with the Xacto to create a fracture line, then brush in the spirits. Object is to keep flowing it so the seam stays wet. The faint crackling means it is working. Be patient, this can take a little while. After 5-10 minutes, the seam can be 'tickled' with a small pry tool. Keep going with the solvent. Brush, wait, tickle, repeat. Even if this only gets half a seam, now more drastic means - cotton thread, a photo etch cutter blade, etc. - need less grunt work to remove.