mikemodeler

Yup, my comments were intended to add to your information as to the availability of the 4.3, starting around 1985 in the fullsize pickups and Astro/Safari vans as well as rwd passenger cars.

might have made it's way into a few passenger cars like the 86/87 Monte Carlo and Caprice, will have to double check for sure. Just checked, they were available in the Monte and Caprice, as well as the El Camino, basically any light duty rwd Chevy platform starting around 1984/85. The 4.3 was first offered in the S-10 line in mid 1988 model year pickups and Blazers.

My thoughts exactly. Sure wish it could be built with a stock front end.

Don't recall making it to the movies last year. Something about paying ridiculous high prices to watch some actor make obscene amounts of money doing something so easy and then lecture me later about politics kinda turns me off.

Now that right there made me chuckle and laugh out loud! Thanks for the humor!

Very nice Chuck, love the camo paint! Are those the kit wheels and tires? I figured you were going to go full on rust job with a snow plow for this one, you surprised me!

Nice work on this one Chuck! One of my cousins had a 2wd Ramcharger that had been customized on the inside, called it his Shaggin Wagon!

That looks like most Broncos and Blazers from that era that I would see around the Chicago area after a few winters! Nice job on the weathering and very realistic. Happy New Year!

Nice work on all of them, the T/A and Honcho are my favorites. All have clean building and detailing, much to be proud of.

nice variety and love the many different models. Harry would be proud of you for putting the mirrors on!

Nice variety and definitely not the usual subjects. Clean building and nice details.

Nice bunch of models, very nicely detailed and variety.

It's my understanding, based on comments made here and elsewhere, that companies like Model King and Stevens International, paid to have molds fixed and kits produced. I get that the new ownership of AMT has a better insight into the business, but other than some new promo style late model cars, they have not invested in new tooling like Moebius and Revell and leave many of us wondering why they don't either develop new kits or do more to repair older kits. RC2 had a lot more at stake at Wal-Mart besides some plastic model kits and probably asked WM to offer them along with all of the die cast product they produced. RC2 started to fade in popularity as the die cast market did, sealing their fate. In the end, it comes down to making money as that is what these companies are in business for. If Round2 can be successful without having to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in new tooling, then good for them. At some point though they will run out of customers for the same old kits, regardless of what decals are in the box.

I think this is as much to blame for the demise of LHS as the internet is. Hard to find someone willing to invest their money in a business that has a shrinking/aging customer base that competes with online retailers and rising rent/utilities/taxes/labor costs.

Any more news on these kits? When will the 4x4 '70 kit be out? Will we see the 65/66 kits in 2018?

Hmmm. going to have to mull this over before making a purchase. Lack of engine doesn't bother me, the molded colors are an interesting choice I must say. I do see a nice kit, just have to decide if I want to build a modern Jeep. Thanks for sharing the contents Jonathan!

Could it be the snap together 76 Chevy Blazer from AMT?

I have the Honcho version of this kit that is completely molded in black. There is no chrome and the instructions are very basic with no indication to paint any parts. The box art does say " To assemble this model kit, you will need Plastic Model Cement. If you wish to paint this model kit, the following colors are recommended: white, silver, red" Looking at the box art one would be excited to build this kit but once you open it up, you would see how basic it is and how much painting would be necessary to replicate the box model.

The Modelhaus had a ton of parts for these trucks but unfortunately they are no longer. Would be nice if someone could somehow buy their molds and continue their line.

It is shown on his website and has a price of $15.00. From what I have heard from someone who has one of these beds, it is a very nice piece but is heavy due to the casting.

Nice work as always and the paint colors look period perfect!

If the model companies could do this cheaply and easily, don't you think they would have already done it? If the magic number is 5,000 units to make money, surely they must have an idea of which kits they could manufacture to satisfy our desires, no? It isn't as simple as one would think. I have no insider information nor do I pretend to know the inner workings of the model car business, but if fixing some tooling and running 5,000 kits down a production line is all it takes (oh, and the money upfront to make this happen!) why haven't they done it already? Dave Burket (Model King) stepped up over the last 10 years and did just that and while I appreciate his hard work for bringing me kits that hadn't been around for some time, I have noticed that he isn't doing as many as he once did. That begs the question- did he get the return on his investment (ROI) that is crucial to justifying a business decision?

Not sure I have completed 42 models in my lifetime of building since the mid 70's! I, too, build for myself and have yet to post any on here, mostly out of not having a photo hosting site and decent camera to take pictures with. I love this community and going to shows to see other's builds and also the buying/selling/swapping that goes with it.

Nice work on all of them! Great job in getting so many completed.

That is probably my lifetime total and half the number of WIPs on my bench! LOL! Nice job, I really liked the BMW 2002, drove a few of them back in the early 80's, sweet cars!