Robberbaron

In the last month, I was systematically checking the three Walmarts in my orbit. Never found anything. I think it's dependent on individual store managers. When I previously found them in 2021, it was only at one store, and quite a bit later than most other people had encountered them.

Just curious: how do you know when it's "kit restock day" at your HL? Do you have someone on the inside that tips you off? Or does yours restock on a regular schedule? Seems like there's no rhyme or reason to mine. I stopped in 2 different times in the week before Christmas, and it was obvious they hadn't restocked recently. Stopped in again today since I was running errands nearby. Still basically the same stuff from before Christmas, with the shelves 3/4 empty (for automotive kits).

Highly impressive, probably the best build I've seen of this kit.

Very impressive work, as usual! While following your build, I wasn't sure about that co!or choice, but I think the gunmetal on the wheels really ties it all together. I also keep looking at that grill - I wouldn't have had the courage to open it up like that. Super clean work!

Steve, awesome work as usual. Love the color choice - really lends to the "feel" of this being a real mid-sixties mild custom. I've always thought these Bullet Birds look better as hardtops vs. convertibles. Too bad the final '63 version of this tooling seems gone forever (barring a cloning, which seems unlikely). When AMT/Ertl brought out their new tool '62 Sports Roadster, I was disappointed that there was no hardtop follow up.

Nice buildmJohn. I also remember that orchid hardtop from when you posted it on that "other" forum many years ago...

OK, I know we're side tracking a little bit, but if you want a postal Jeep, there is a very nice diecast one that I found at CVS. I think the brand is Kinsmart? All lenses are clear and it has sliding doors. Steel wheels are weird-looking 4-lugs, but its easy enough to swap some parts box 5-lugs onto it. Main demerit is that it is 1:26, but I think I paid $7.99 for mine, so can't complain too much. My store only had undecorated versions (no postal markings). I got plain white, and they also had solid black and red. But Google searching shows that there are versions available with the USPS graphics.

Just FYI, that body has warped and shrunk due to the unstable plastic that was used to manufacture these at that time, probably not from anything being placed on top of it. That being said, I've seen many that were in much worse condition than yours. (Do a quick Google image search and you will see what I'm talking about) Just be aware that it MAY continue to warp further after you have finished modifying it. Seeing as this is an unstable type of plastic (acetate or something similar), I would also be quite cautious regarding the type of paint I would use. Primers/paints that might be fine on normal polystyrene could react with this plastic and/or possibly accelerate additional warpage. Good luck!

Pretty much the grandma Christmas present attitude: Wanting a Revell '69 Boss 302 kit, receiving the old 1/24 '71 Hemi Cuda: "Well, you wanted a model car, didn't you?"

When I bought my black Formula, I quickly learned that 9 out of 10 people believe that any type of black Firebird is automatically a "Trans Am". ? After a year or two, I just gave up trying to correct them.

Really hoped that the next time they brought back the '34 Ford Coupe, they would reissue it as a 2 in 1. However, based on Spotlight's description above, I'm not optimistic. One of the few good things that Racing Champions/RC2 did during their ownership was to reissue this kit with all the stock parts and street rod parts together in one box. Since the stock kit also has some speed parts for the flathead, it was really almost a 3 in 1. I've often thought that Round 2 could even do Retro-style trophy series box art for such a release. Since the current trends in the 1:1 hot rod world lean towards the traditional, I think this would broaden the appeal immensely. Lots of folks would prefer an alternative to the '90s style independent suspension.

Would your guess start with a "Super" and end with a "Bee"? ?

Not sure why people keep posting about Ollies in this thread for HL? There's a separate Ollies thread:

Seems like HL gives their individual store managers quite a bit of leeway as far as what they can do. I haven't seen that at mine - seems like they've been leaving the pricing as-is until stuff sells and the new stuff rotates in. I stopped in today, and they still had a fair amount of kits at the old prices. Got another AMT '55 Bel Air for $17.99 after the 40% off. Also got an AMT Wild Hoss Bronco, which was stickered at $32.99. 40% off still gets it below $20 before tax, which is a deal. Seems like most of the prices on the new AMT kits are more reasonable vs. the Revell. I haven't seen the Revell '29 roadsters at my local HL for months. They finally had them back in stock today, but stickered at $39.99. I've got plenty already, so hard pass on those. If it had been the '30 coupe, I might have bit and got ONE.

My, how time flies...shown at the 2014 iHobby Expo: Don't forget that Okey managed to produce a run of the Rambler wagons with luggage, etc. Not too familiar with it since I never got my hands on one. I think that's the only actual new product he managed to crank out. Wasn't there a sob story shortly thereafter about the tooling being "held hostage"? The fact that he's now trying to hock 3D-printed Powell trucks should tell you everything you need to know... ?

This is the first time in several years that mine has advertised having auto model kits (I think the last time was pre-Covid). Occasionally I would stop in to see if they had anything, and nada. So eventually I pretty much stopped checking. Regarding the old Monogram '56 Chevy, it does suffer from some proportional issues, like the majority of vintage Monogram kits. I personally have no use for anything shown in the add, which so far seems to match what people are finding in store. Now, if they also get some of the old Monogram '32 Ford Classic Cruiser kits, I'd probably get several for parts.

Here's the flyer for my area from their website. Mine is the Merrillville, IN store. Also got the hardcopy flyer in the mailbox today. Technically, says that the sale starts tomorrow, but obviously many stores already have these out on the floor. Interesting that they list the dual pricing with 1/24 cheaper (at least for my store). Will be interesting to see if they get any other old Monogram besides the '56 Chevy.

I used to think that the taillights in this kit depicted a car ordered with no backup lights, but apparently all '55 Chevys got both the red and clear lenses. According to what I've read, it was more common for '55s to NOT have the backup light option, so the clear lenses were just dummies with plugs where the lamp sockets would otherwise go. On some forums, people claim that the BU lights were only available as a dealer-installed kit, but I find it hard to believe that Chevy didn't offer the wiring, etc. from the factory. Sure seems like the lights in the kit depict an aftermarket lens like the 1:1 in the B/W pic that you posted above.

? Someone already mentioned that the tires looked like Fireball's, guess this confirms that Joseph's kit was the master for all of the new F-250 pieces. Would have been nice if they at least discussed it with him - as he said, he could have helped them make it more accurate. Considering how much of the F-150's guts were copied from the AMT F-150 kit, and the '65 Comet's underhood was copied (incorrectly) from the AMT '67 kit, this shouldn't be a surprise.

Already answered:

Think it's the same reason that they leave the vent window frames body color.

Steve, very glad to see the poverty caps included. Of course there's no pleasing everyone, but I agree that those offer more appeal overall. Since Pontiac used these same hubcaps through the early '70s (I think?), they can be used for many other years of GTO's. I believe they were also used on 1st gen Firebirds, so lots of possible uses beyond just the '65 Goat.

Assuming you're talking about the '64 "Resto Mod"? In the pics of the built-up and the box art mock up, the only new parts I see are the cowl hood and the rally wheels. I confirmed that the stock '64 hardtop already has the mesh air cleaner and the slapper traction bars. It also has a whole 2nd custom exhaust system and a couple sets of aftermarket valve covers. So I suspect all that stuff will carry over into the Resto Mod.

I second all of the above. That linked example is a Silverado Sport with aftermarket 350 SS decals. LOL at "Not a clone" statement: I guess it can't be a clone, since a factory 350 SS never existed. From what I recall seeing driving around back in the day, I think the Sport package was only available in black, white, or red.