Robberbaron

Stopped by my local HL after work the other day. Was able to snap up the one and only MPC Warlock that they had on the shelf. Never seen that one before. (And with the way my store functions, there's a good chance I'll never see it again.) Even more surprising was that it was only $31.99 before the 40% off.

You wouldn't know it from the current retro gasser trends, but plenty of gassers were raced back in the sixties WITHOUT straight axles. So it is by no means a necessity in order to build a "period style" gasser. In fact, it looks like the 55 in the pic you posted above doesn't have a straight axle. Couple more random vintage and modern pics:

I used to be a diehard GM loyalist. Truly believe that, for the most part, GM products were better engineered and more durable than Ford/Mopar back when I was growing up. That's progressively gone out the window over the last 15 years owing to "new" GM's standard operating procedure. I started hearing horror stories from coworkers of their Chevy/GMC 6-speed transmissions blowing up (which replaced the long lived 4L60E/4L65E). That was only available for a short time before they replaced it with the "more reliable" 8-speeds. Didn't take long to start hearing about class action lawsuits due to those steaming piles. Lately the auto review "media" has been claiming that these new 10-speeds would be so much more reliable than those 8-speeds. Why am I not surprised to see this? And didn't Ford and GM supposedly tag team the basic design on these? (I understand there are quite a few differences in the final product for each brand).

Depends on how untrained the eye is. In my view both the leading edge and the top contours are totally different.

I'm no expert on these trucks, but I seem to recall hearing that the 67-68 fenders are contoured slightly differently compared to the 69-72. Sure isn't obvious to a casual observer. Even if that is true, I suspect you could cheat it in 1/25 scale and not hear TOO many complaints. Regarding the '67 small window, seems like it would be more practical to just mold the cabs with the big back windows. However, Erik Solie has dropped at least one bread crumb that a '67 small window could be in the works: Maybe they can do it with just a tooling insert, like the 65 Comet body sides without the front fender trim?

Dunno, this is the RC2 F&F issue. Don't see a single thing that looks right on this body. At least the taillights/backend of the Monogram looks kinda/sorta okay. By the way, the above was built by our own late, great Snake45, who knew a few things about first gen Camaros. According to him, each reissue of the old MPC got progressively worse/more deformed. Let's just say the Monogram and MPC Camaros are each different flavors of hot garbage.

This might be the nicest build of the '40 sedan kit that I've seen.

Wow, surprised you were able to get one of those Monogram '32s. Those disappeared from my local Ollies ages ago. (Unless they're getting new shipments?) Even the new Revell '32s came and went in a blink.

No Ollies on the west coast, and wouldn't bet on that changing anytime soon. Currently the furthest west they go is Texas/Oklahoma/Kansas/Nebraska.

This is exactly what I did a couple weeks ago. My local HL still had the standard "Trophy Series" 1953 Ford truck (gold truck on box art) stickered at $29.99, while the truck/trailer combo was $40.99. With the 40% off, the truck/trailer combo ends up $24.59 vs. $17.99 for just the truck, so I really only spent $6.60 for that trailer (pre-tax). If you have any interest in this, I strongly encourage you to go this week (July 21 to 26) since it's a 40% off week. Recently, every time I go I see a couple more kits that have gotten price bumps, so these are likely to get the treatment in the near future as well. Most stuff seems to be jumping $6 to $10 list.

If the box art is accurate, looks like this one has a different grille without the extra trim piece that was in the factory stock '65 version. I didn't buy the AF/X versions, but from pictures I've seen online, I think those also had the same grille with the added trim. So this may be the first time this grille has been offered by Moebius? Looking at pictures of 1:1's online, that grille trim seems to be hit or miss. But I think it may have been standard only on Cyclones. But I also see quite few pictures of Cyclones without it, so I'm guessing it's easily removed in 1:1. Maybe someone more familiar with these cars can chime in.

Agreed, one of my favorite "true" Monogram kits. I especially like that it offers the builder the option to build it either as a sedan ("post car") or a hardtop. Looks like the larger rear tires are treaded, not slicks. Looks like they're the same tires that were offered previously: now smooth-sided versions of what used to be the classic Goodyear GT Radials. Over the years I've heard lots of people claim this kit has proportional problems, but to me it's always looked "right". Seems like by this point in the eighties Monogram was hitting their stride and getting dimensions/proportions pretty much correct. Definitely no MAJOR problems like the '71 Cuda from a couple years earlier, or some of their severely distorted seventies releases. Also, like most classic Monogram kits I seem to recall it basically failing together with zero drama when I built it in my youth.

This one is a dead ringer for the one my buddy owned: Ended up trading it in for a Charger R/T when those were released. What was that, about 2006?

In my experience, at least in the Chicago area, the single cab regular bed (slab side) Xtremes were the most common, by far. A buddy of mine bought a black one new in 2000, 4.3/auto. I recall him saying at the time that most of the ones on dealer lots were 4-bangers. Not sure if they couldn't keep the 4.3's in stock because everyone wanted them, or if they were loaded up on the 4-bangers because that's where the demand was? Not sure if you had them in Canada, but the 2-door Blazer Xtremes were also pretty popular down here. Another friend got a black Blazer Xtreme shortly after our friend got his S-10. His Blazer was also a 4.3/auto. I don't know enough about those to know if that was the standard power train. I suspect it might have been - I knew several people with "normal" 2nd generation S-10 Blazers, and they all were 4.3 /auto.

Stopped at my local HL on the way home from work. FINALLY had the AMT '64 Chevelle, so picked up a pair of those with the 40% off this week. Glad to see sticker price was only $29.99. A lot more price increases are showing up on their shelves now. $40.99 now for the Revell (Monogram) '70 Roadrunner? Wasn't interested even at the previous $3X.XX price.

Watched the video when it was first posted, dont feel like sitting through the whole thing again. Didn't the guy admit he was riding the brakes pretty much the whole time?

Discussion on cometcentral.com: https://www.cometcentral.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17013 These guys are saying only 20-21 of the "A/FX" style hoods were made later in the '64 racing season and given to the teams that were campaigning the A/FX Comets. Apparently the A/FX cars were all originally shipped from Dearborn Steel Tubing with the Thunderbolt-style teardrop hoods. I'm sure no expert on these cars, but the guys posting in the above thread seem pretty legit. Hemmings article also mentions the same thing regarding the hoods: https://www.hemmings.com/stories/x-marks-the-spot-1964-mercury-comet-calliente/ So no, doesn't seem like the dual-scoop hood could be correct for a true factory stock build.

What the world needs now is the Bear Bait Chevette...

This thread brings back memories for me of the Super Charger that got away. I recall being in a local store in the late eighties, think it was probab!y Child World. (remember those?) Looking through the model kit aisle, I was seeing the typical stuff you would find anywhere. Then suddenly I saw a single, solitary MPC Super Charger kit. I picked it up and looked over the box art. I wasn't familiar with this kit at all. All I knew is that I hadn't seen it anywhere else. From the box art style, it was obviously an older release that was now out of production. Think it must have been hidden in a corner in a warehouse for years before suddenly getting discovered and put out for sale. Since I was completely unfamiliar with the kit, I recall looking at the box art and trying to figure out if I could build it stock. I could live with the custom wheels on the box art, but I was worried that the hood would be molded open for the big scoop. I also didn't care for the window tabs on the box art model (although it's so heavily retouched it's more of a painting than a photo). I hesitantly put it back on the shelf and walked away. Never saw one again in the flesh after that. Really appreciate all the pics and other good info posted here. I'd definitely be in for one or two of these if they repopped them. As for the wheel arches, the shape and size is so close to stock that personally I could happily live with them as-is. And I had the same thoughts when I saw the SSlasher Chevelle: "Hey, if they're bringing that back, maybe they could do the Super Charger too?"

Getting a chuckle out of this. Don't forget that whether you're talking about the Atomic City "Johan USA Oldies" company or the Okey Spaulding "Johan" company, both currently exist only as resin/aftermarket companies. Yet this thread and others remain in this section instead of the Aftermarket / Resin / 3D Printed section, simply because of the magical power of the Johan name.

I ran across a YouTube video on this one a year or two ago. Assuming it is legit, it's also noteworthy for the way it's optioned (besides the color obviously). AMT's '71 Charger kit came in for a lot of criticism for its bench seat interior and lack of body color sport mirrors. I'm no expert, but lots of folks claimed that those items were standard on an R/T. Again, if this car is legit, it would demonstrate that it was at least possible to obtain a '71 R/T with that configuration. (Don't know if it would maybe need to be delete options, etc.) Full wheel covers had to also be an unusual selection on an R/T. I totally understand the reasoning that AMT/Ertl should have configured their kit to match the options on the vast majority of 1:1 '71 R/T's that were built.

Very glad to see the updated S-10. Always seemed strange that AMT never did the 1998 updates when those trucks were new. Hopefully the updates include a proper 1998+ style rear bumper too. Don't see one on the display model. As noted, would be nice to see the dash/interior updates, but I admit I'd be happy enough with just a correct exterior. Those Xtremes (both S-10 and Blazer versions) were EVERYWHERE 25 years ago. I had several friends with them. I seriously considered getting one also, but just couldn't get past the lack of a V8.

Very well done! You just don't see these LT1 getting built very often nowadays.

Stopped in at the Hobart, IN store tonight. Was pleasantly surprised to see a pair of the '32 Fords, plus a half dozen of the F&F '71 GTX's which weren't there last time. Snagged both of the '32s and one GTX.