Robberbaron

Awesome build! I wore out our VHS copy of Ghostbusters back in the '80s from watching it constantly. I always thought this original version of Ecto 1 looked cool when it first appears in the movie. From everything I remember, you nailed it, down to that one green light on the roof! Think I might pop that DVD in tonight for a little nostalgia!

Looks like you have one of the infamous RC2 era kits (i.e. Racing Champions, NOT Round 2) that mixed together the chrome tree from the '68 Roadrunner with the body for the '69 GTX. Impressive job making it look this, good considering the issues with the taillights. Most people write these kits off as unbuildable due to those issues, and view them only as a parts source.

Not that I expect a separate grill/bumper assembly, but if they DID do an open light version of the grill, at least it would eliminate the R/T vs. non-R/T issue, since the R/T badge is on the headlight door. Maybe that's Revell's reasoning with the R/T grill? The really ambitious who want to duplicate the original F&F Charger can cut the doors out of the grill and install a set of lights, and this also eliminates the R/T badge...

Just to show how much better these cars look without the hump-backed rear ends, here's one with the conventional rear styling. Supposedly this is one of the last cars built by Auto Fab (outside contractor that did the 2+2 conversions for Pontiac), and the thinking is that they had already used up all the specialized rear windows, yet still had some of the noses. Regardless of whether it was really built this way, I think if Pontiac had offered this for public consumption (maybe with optional TPI engines?) they could have had a hit...

For whatever reason, the Gran Prix seems to be the red-headed step-child among the '80s G-bodies. Think they had the lowest sales among the 4 brands when new, and seems like there's less current interest among enthusiast, too. Probably has a lot to do with the fact that they never had a true performance version like the other brands (even the 2+2 used the standard 305 SBC instead of the H.O. version like the Monte SS). Never could understand why Pontiac (We Build Excitement?) never attempted to do more with these cars. It almost seemed like they were ashamed of it (don't recall seeing advertisements for these GP's like they did for the Firebirds/Trans Ams, Bonnevilles, and Grand Ams at the time. Maybe they thought a performance GP would just cannibilize sales from the Trans Am? Its too bad, because I always thought the GP had nice styling, and the best interior of the 4 when it was optioned out with buckets, console, gauge package, etc. I also had a couple friends with these back in HS, and would definitely buy a kit version, even though I don't expect one for the reasons stated above. I agree that the roof and trunk/rear spoiler profile is ungainly, but it was form following function. I always thought the nose design itself was pretty sharp, and Pontiac missed an opportunity by not offering it on cars without the back end aero styling. Correct, Bill. The Monte Aerocoupe window doesn't stretch back nearly as much as the 2+2, and has pronounced corners that are very similar to the design of the 77-79 Impala/Caprice coupes (which interestingly also had some brief use in NASCAR). The 2+2 window is much more bubble-like, and extends much further back. In fact, the window contour continues into the 2+2 rear spoiler on top of the shortened trunk, basically creating almost a full fastback profile. Almost a little hint of the boattail Rivieras in the way they did the rear window...

I'd be in for several if they did a 78-81 Malibu coupe. I agree that the main appeal would mostly be as a street machine and/or drag car, similar to the 1:1 enthusiasts. I think the main reason one of these hasn't been done yet is that there was no factory "performance" version of these cars. One plus is that the basic body shell and bumpers didn't change between model years, so it would be fairly simple to do different model years. Grills and taillights are unique each model year, 78-81. 78-79 header panel is different from 80-81. If they molded the header panel separately (like the nose on the new Cutlass/Hurst Olds), that would allow more variations. Also some interior changes between years. 1978-79 share a dash, 1980 dash is unique, then the 1981+ style. Not sure, but I'm guessing upholstery patterns probably changed between some years, as well. My personal vote would be for an '81 coupe, since IMHO that has the cleanest front/rear end styling of the 4 years, but any of the 4 would be fine with me. Honestly, about the only thing they could reuse from that 1/24 El Camino would be the grill, headlights, bumpers, and dash. The 1978+ Malibu wagons shared the 108" (IIRC) wheelbase with the coupes and sedans, the El Caminos had a stretched 117" wheelbase, so even a new chassis plate would be required, in addition to body, interior tub, glass, etc. The plus is that if they did a new tool coupe, that chassis could be shared with a wagon version, which are also pretty popular as drag cars in 1:1.

I had a similar vintage Revell 1/25 Z28 snap kit, probably released about the same time. The Camaro did have an opening hood and some basic engine detail, think it might also have had a separate rear axle/spring assembly. It was definitely a step above your typical snap kit, and I wouldn't mind having one again to make a nice shelf model. Didn't know there was a similar Trans Am, with a CHiPs tie-in, no less...

Stopped at my local HL the other day, seems like they're partway through their "reset" also (fiinally!). Got the MPC Fuzz Duster Volare (was a toss up between this and the MPC '60 Vette). About half the ones listed above were on the shelves, but there were a lot of open spaces tagged with upcoming new kits. Was really itching to get the Revell '30 Ford coupe, but wasn't on the shelves (not sure if they hadn't stocked them yet, or they did but they all got snatched up already).

I'd love to lay my hands on one of those Skylarks! Kills me every time I see one of those Modified Stocker kits, seeing how they butchered that tool. Too bad the 1:1 Skylarks aren't as popular as most of the other midsizers, otherwise maybe it would have been restored like the '65 GTO and the '69 Cobra (Torino), although the '65 GTO is kind of deficient as far as the headlights...

Liking everything about this build - looking forward to following the updates.

I remember when Round 2 first announced that they were purchasing Lindberg, they specifically mentioned that they planned to reissue (eventually) the '34 Ford truck as an AMT again. From the time Lindberg first released it in 1991, I think they pretty much manufactured it continuously, at least until Round 2 bought them. My local Hobby Lobby still stocks it. It's one of their lower priced kits, but it's one of the few that they carry continuously. They never seem to put them on clearance, which tells me it must be a steady seller. I agree, Round 2 is going to need to wait for all that glut to get bought up and probably then wait a few years for interest to generate again. Then they will need to go their Retro Deluxe route with some retooled original parts. Obvously the custom wheel covers are currently MIA, not sure what else if anything has been lost to time. About a year ago I got to thinking I should probably get another of the Lindberg versions from HL while they still have them. Think the list price was $16.99. With the trusty 40% coupon that knocks it down to $10 and change. Just remember, look past the awful 90s box art and bad custom wheels and remember you're really getting a 3 in 1 AMT Trophy Series kit for that price, and easily at least 90% of the original parts are still intact. Oh yeah - my newer version was molded in white, unlike my version from the nineties that was molded in bright yellow, as shown in that article.

Anyone notice that the grille texture for the Bronco is molded open? Didn't expect that. Looks like a pretty well detailed kit. I'll let others comment regarding accuracy, body shape, etc. since I have no direct experience with these trucks.

Clean build of an unusual subject I think there's lots of little things combining together to give the body that "off" look. I agree about the grill, and the windshield extends all the way to the top of the roof. Also, even though the 1:1 has some pretty long front and rear overhangs, it seems like the resin body's are a bit too long, especially the front. With a subject like this, I guess this is the only game in town, but you're not getting Modelhaus/Motor City/Missing Link quality. Looking on Blvd. Resin's Facebook page, it looks like their Mark V also has some proportional issues.

Nice clean build - I like it.

Very nice! Thank you for posting this build, I've been anxious to see how this kit builds up box stock. Even though this kit has been out for a while now, amazingly this is the first one I've seen built strictly box stock.

Buick offered it at least through 76 or 77 in their midsizers. I remember running across quite a few Century Special Landau coupes during my junkyard crawling in the '90s that had that upholstery. Remember seeing them in white/black and white/blue, not sure if they offered any other color variations...

John G with Round 2 discussed this very issue a couple months ago in the following link: http://www.collectormodel.com/round2-models/2554-the-inside-scoop-on-amts-1929-ford-model-a-mod-rod-reissue/#sthash.FdMfUiYW.dpbs Doesn't give a definitive answer, but at least it confirms that Round 2 seems well aware of the shortcomings of the new tool Ala Kart.

The Hot Wheels yellow/orange coupe with the Torque Thrusts was the very first model I built with my stepson. Think he was about 10 years old at the time, so that would make it about 7 years ago. Haven't seen it on shelves anywhere for at least the last couple years. He liked it well enough that we later ended up getting the '57 Bel Air and '69 Camaro for him too. All go together easily, and I personally was pretty impressed with the proportions as well. (Same goes for the '77 Montes, which I've purchased about 6 times for myself) Seems like all those Revell snappers from that era are nice little kits.

Nice job, especially on the conversion to a mainstreamer with an I-6.

Nice save. A friend of mine had a 1:1 '72 Impala Custom coupe, metallic blue. Ordered by his dad with the 400 small block, very sharp car.

I had the same thought, seems like it would be easy enough to tool up different wheels and wheel backs to fit some of the current tires that Revell already produces. No telling how much of the tooling they might still have for which of the '62 Mopars, and what condition it is in. I thought someone (Art Anderson maybe?) stated that they lent a windshield unit from their '62 Chrysler kit to Revell to allow them to get dimensions, presumably to possibly reverse engineer new tooling. This would imply that they at least have the '62 Chrysler tooling, minus the windshield glass tooling. We do know that the body for the '62 Dodge Dart got hacked and turned into the Revellion funny car, but even that hasn't been reissued since the '70s, I believe? Even with the modifications, most of the details on the body remained intact, including the 4-door hardtop doorlines and front fender scripts: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/88319-two-of-the-craziest-funny-cars-ever-kitted-by-revell/

Another impressive build as usual, Yuri! Really like the vinyl top and the fact that you went with a blue interior vs. the typical black that is used too often. Once again top notch photography, too.

Huh, never knew such a kit existed. Body actually looks pretty accurate. Nice job.

Main problem with the'56 is the angle of the fins/taillights is too vertical.

New tool Revell releases would be tougher to predict, but here's some they SHOULD do: Really wish they'd get on the stick and bring out a 1970 442 W-30 hardtop based on the '72 H/O tool. This one's a no brainer. Speaking of 1970 A-bodies, how about a 1970 GTO Judge? The MPC hasn't been available since, what, late '80s maybe? A '27 Ford T Roadster would be a heck of a follow up to the new Model A's they just released. Just sayin...