StevenGuthmiller

Always a nice find! I picked up a fairly nice built "flat box" kit a little while back. The original with the correct Polara side trim are getting very difficult to find. Steve

I didn't get this one from you, did I? I don't exactly remember how much this one set me back, but it was only a couple of years ago, so I highly doubt that it was free! Steve

It is, or at least should be, all about discussion on these forums. We don't always need to be in agreement, but we can always be civilized & open to others opinions. Steve

I can agree with that. Don't get me wrong, I would absolutely love to see a full detail Tamiya 1958 Pontiac Bonneville, or anything of the like, & I have no issue with paying $50.00 for it. Tamiya produces terrific kits from what I have seen, but I don't hold much hope that it will take place. There is a substantial possibility that the Japanese companies would likely "throw us a few bones" if most of the American manufacturers went belly up, but I doubt that it would ever be anything of the scale that we see today. I don't think that very many of us "old American car" enthusiasts would be pleased with a dozen options or so of the types of subject matter that we desire. Steve

And we all have different expectations from the hobby. Some of us need everything to be perfect to meet our expectations, & some of us have lesser expectations. I for one just strive to recreate a "reasonable representation" of a particular subject. As my father would say, "that's good enough for the girls that I go with". Steve

As long as your standards are low enough! Steve

I'm pretty sure that we can agree that the possibility that a Japanese company will likely miraculously start pumping out dozens of American car kits any time in the near future are zero to none. I for one do not have much confidence that there is much hope that they would fill any void left by any failing American companies. At least not to our satisfaction. Steve

Well, whatever you may think that Lee's point was, I cannot think of any older American car subjects being currently produced by a Japanese company, can you? Steve

Well, that makes perfect sense because I'm a pretty "stock" kind of guy! I'm just being realistic in my realization that most of these old kits are never going to be re-tooled or improved & either we need to find our own ways to improve upon them, or learn to live with them. I, for one, will not rule out building a great old AMT or MPC Pontiac Bonneville kit just because there is no suitable chassis for them. There has not been a new tool full sized Poncho kit tooled since 1970 & everyone of them has a slab chassis. The only option for a modern tool chassis to go under them is either the AMT '62 Catalina, or the Moebius '61. I have resigned myself to the fact that the likelihood of a new tool '58-'70 Bonneville kit being released in my lifetime are virtually non existent, so rather than pretend that these wonderful old kits don't exist, I will learn to live with what is available. Steve

Or there are people like me who have basically no talent for taking photos at all! Please cut us some slack. We can't be good at everything! Steve

Bingo! Steve

No, you're wrong Snake. They are all horrible!! The first one may have some possibilities with a color change, but it's hard to tell without a front end shot. Steve

Only one logical answer to that. So you can boast to your neighbors about how much money you have to waste! Steve

I believe in getting as many shots from as many angles and elevations as possible. A model is a 3 dimensional subject. Why make it 1 dimensional by only taking photos from belly level. Steve

All I can tell you is to wish in one hand, and defecate in the other & see which one fills up faster! We can't expect that every "iconic" car, (and there are a boat load of them) is going to be revisited with brand new tooling just because some of us would like it, especially with the condition that the kit companies are in today. Personally, I have very little interest in either one of these cars & would likely not buy them even with new chassis. As a matter of fact, I was not even aware of what type of chassis these kits had! So you see, not everyone is going to be as enthusiastic about your choices, or mine, or anyone elses, and the kit producers will not plow headlong into a new tooling until they are assured that they will sell. As far as those "horrible chassis" go, as far as I'm concerned, they are not the be all, end all of a model. I've gotten some pretty positive feedback & have won several awards for old kits that have those chassis. I'll probably never win a "best in show" at one of the big contests, but seriously, ask me if I care! They look great to me sitting on my shelf & I get lots of comments on them, so who cares about chassis! Steve

So, there are zero Japanese companies making American cars. You just made Lee's point. Steve

Ok, now you're just playing with us, right? I think I just threw up in my mouth a little! Steve

I find it a little humorous that they build a radical modern car like this & still try to incorporate the classic Bugatti grille. It doesn't work in my opinion. It looks like it can't decide if it's a super car, or a vacuum cleaner. Yeah.........no. Steve

I don't think I need a "boat load" Bill, but I would absolutely appreciate any help that you can give. I did a little checking and discovered that the Johan '63 Fury has a shorter wheelbase than the Johan '63 Dodge! Seemed a little odd to me, but that being the case, the Lawman chassis would drop right into the Dodge! I had to do some minor alterations to shorten the wheel base to fit the '64 Plymouth chassis to the '63. Would you happen to know if the Color me gone kit has the same wheelbase as the Lawman Plymouth? If it's shorter, then I would need to lengthen them to fit the remaining Johan '63 & '64 Dodges & the Johan '64 Plymouth. I'm not sure how that would work, but I would surely like to round up as many of the engine, chassis & engine compartment parts from these kits as I can for these projects. I really appreciate your repeated selflessness & support! Thank you Bill! Steve

Yeah, I know, I've been very schizophrenic lately when it comes to getting going on a build & continuing with it, but I think I've finally found one, or I should say, a couple that I'm pretty excited about. After disassembling an old built-up Johan '63 Dodge Polara convertible that I had, I started to look it over & the juices began flowing again. Then I remembered a '63 Plymouth Fury that I acquired in a trade with Bill, (gtx6970) and I thought that I had waited long enough. Once I started to fool around with it a little, the excitement began to rise & now I think that I'm committed........ Hopefully! I started messing with some parts swapping from the Lindberg '64 Plymouth kit, & before I knew it, I was propelled head long into a full chassis swap. To my surprise, the '64 chassis dropped in fairly nicely with a little grinding & shuffling & the engine bay parts look like they will work very nicely as well. The only issue is the wheel base. The '64 is a little longer than the '63, but with a little rear spring shortening, everything should go together very well. Now I'm beginning a search for a 426 with the cross ram engine. Can anyone tell me what engines are included in the AMT '64 Lawman kit & the '64 Color Me Gone Dodge. I'm thinking that being as I have several '63 & '64 Johan Mopars to build in the hopefully near future, that it might be worth the expense for me to purchase a couple of these kits to raid for chassis & engine parts. Also, does anyone know if the Belvedere & Dodge 330 kits have the same wheel base? It would save a little work if the 330 was a little shorter for my '63s. Steve

I'm using a jar of MCW 1957 Chevrolet/Corvette "Coppertone". Strangely enough it's the same code & color name as what was available for the '63 Plymouth! Steve

That's nice! Really like the color! Steve

Yup, going with copper on the Plymouth. The Dodge will most likely be black with a red interior. Looks like the copper wasn't an option on the '63 Dodge. Steve

That has become standard operating procedure with the Johan & MPC B-bodies. I have yet to try it with a Johan kit, but it was a pretty simple procedure with the MPC Dodges. Steve

Oooo! I don't envy you in the least! Been there, done that just last spring! Except, like a dope, I waded deeper into the frozen tundra! Take your time Bill. The '63 Dodge will be coming up, but I've really had my eye on the '63 Plymouth that I traded off of you a while back. I was contemplating the same wheel treatment on that one, but I'm beginning to think of going a little more "street racer" with that one and going with some fatter tires & some bare steelies. Still thinking about it, but I've already begun prepping the body, finding an engine, & picking a color. I think I've decided on something along the lines of "Coppertone". Steve