mikemodeler

I see some potential kits for me, will have to see when they hit the shelves. Gotta agree that the iHobby show is not about plastic model cars, and without Revell, there is very little to see there. I enjoyed walking around the show back when it was in Chicago, but figured out years ago it was about many hobbies and not just my addiction to plastic models.

And the Bears get the weekend off while the Green Bean Crackers travel to Houston, who happens to be undefeated.

Harry, All sprays have gone up in price quite a bit lately. Tamiya sprays are $7 & up at most of the LHS around here. At least HL has the coupon.

I was in my local HobbyTown USA yesterday and they had red dots on many kits and I noticed they tended to be older kits that have been mentioned in this topic. The good news is that there are a bunch of new kits coming and we haven't heard from Round 2 yet!

Jeff, that there is just plain funny! You have some very nice stuff, any thing new to report?

While I understand the disappointment expressed by many here, I am with the minority and say that the completed model does look like the 1:1 finished version. I may or may not buy this kit, but it won't be because of the wheels or the stance of the model when completed. If there is one thing I have learned it is this- No matter how hard the model companies try, whatever they release will be subjected to intense criticism. Whether or not Revell "misled" or "intentionally deceived" us builders, most of us have been around long enough to know how these companies work. If you like the subject matter, buy it. If you don't, don't. At some point the model companies will figure out if their strategy works.

Last time I looked at Hobby Lobby, they did not make a space for the GMC pickup kit. They did have a spot for the 50 Olds and the 57 Ford though. They better watch out if the make a spot for those Mobeius Ford Pickups, I will be buying them like crazy with my 40% off coupon!

I thought that TPI fuel systems did not come about until the 350 TPI engine in 87? Until then I thought they were TBI , or as we called them at the dealership- Toilet Bowl Induction.

It has been stated before that the unions have made it difficult for shows in the Chicago area. I understand their rules, I just don't think they are relevant when you have a show like iHobby that does not have the deep pocket exhibitors like other shows do and you have to pay $100 for an union electrician to plug in an extension cord. I think maybe Revell has struck upon something by not attending the show and using social media to announce their 2013 lineup.

I work in the Automotive Aftermarket field and have done so for the last 26 years. Before that I spent some time figuring out life and working at several auto dealerships (Buick, Mazda, Mercedes, BMW, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo). I currently work for NAPA as a regional sales rep for their line of import replacement parts. The territory takes me from Washington DC to Augusta GA and all the way over to the Atlantic Ocean. I got out of the auto parts business for nearly a year back in 2000 and worked in motorsports but it was a stressful and hectic life and I came back to the auto parts business. Some days are spent on the computer, some days are behind the wheel of my Camry, and others are spent working with customers either in their store or visiting their customers. Nice to see how many others here work in the parts business.

There could also be that cost thing- those booths aren't free! If Revell didn't spring for a booth, I don't blame Gregg. Kalmbach Publishing (Scale Auto, Fine Scale Modeler, Model Railroader) has a broader appeal for the whole show than MCM does. And if I remember correctly, Gregg's back is not up for that long distance flight.

I will be ordering some more resin cinder blocks from Danny at Scenes Unlimited to put in the bed of one of the trucks I am building. I also have a couple of engine blocks from the AMT '66 Nova that will be weathered and tossed in the back of another one. If you are adding the hydraulic lines and cables, make sure you add the wires from the lights too. I may try my hand at making a tailgate mounted salt spreader, just depends on time.

Maynard, Not sure where in Illinois you are located but there should be a truck with a plow nearby that you can look at to get a better idea of what you will need to do to get a good representation. To answer some of your questions: 1. The chain is factory installed on Western Plows and a decent replica can be found in the jewelry section of a Michaels or Hobby Lobby. 2. The hydraulic lines can be replicated using some black colored wire or small diameter hose. The lines should run from the two power rams or hydraulic cylinders to the pump assembly that is on the front of the truck. 3. The control cables would run from the pump/motor assembly on the front of the truck to the floor or dash mounted control box. 4. The control box is about 4 inch square in 1:1 size and a smaller shifter would be close in size to replicate one. Older control boxes were red with T handles and newer ones (like the picture in your post) were black with a more rounded type handle. If you want to further add realism to the plow assembly, it is missing the skid shoes on each end of the blade. These were installed to raise the plow up slightly to keep the wear bar on the bottom of the plows from wearing out prematurely. A simple search should yield a quality picture from which to build them. I need to get my butt in gear and get my plows built and you have given me some ideas for added details.

Happy Birthday Bill, hope the plastic Gods were kind to you this year! Here's to many more birthdays!

Roger, In most cases, Dave had to get the tooling fixed in order to run these kits. Add in the fact that he had to pay upfront and THEN sell them and hopefully you will understand why the prices were what they were. Yes, it wasn't fun to buy a Bronco and Funny Car kit to get the Bronco, but I lucked out and found people to trade with to make it even for both sides. There was a considerable financial risk taken by Dave, RC/Round 2 was not going to release these kits, and he made many modelers happy by doing so. The reality of life is that new model kits will not be $10 anymore and given the current economy, I am extremely surprised at the number of new tools and re-issues that have been announced! I will be buying a bunch more kits, these Ford trucks among them, partly to support the efforts of these companies but more so to satisfy my wants for subject matter not offered before. Like many things in life, consumers vote with their pocketbooks and if the prices are too much for you and others, then the product won't sell. But I have a good feeling these will be very popular and good sellers.

So true Brian! My wife is not pleased with the 400+ models, but is quite happy that I am spend time at the model desk and not the local bar.

I was all set to book a ticket to the auction to buy this car and then noticed it was an automatic, a deal killer for me!

I too remember the Friday night to Saturday afternoon build marathons that I used to do as a youngster. All that mattered was whether or not I could get it built fast! The spray paints I had typically were whatever Dad had laying around in the shed or garage and the weather was rarely considered when painting unless it was raining! I didn't worry about dirt in the paint, I built for me and me only. Today it takes me forever to finish a model, partly due to my hectic schedule but also due to my need to add details and everchanging ideas for the completed model. Now that cooler,less humid weather is here, I need to set up some paint time in order to get a couple of kits ready for the winter assembly season. I think we all strive to build a nice, show winner quality model, in part due to the number of contests we are all aware of plus the online community and ability to post them for the whole world to see. While I have yet to post any of my builds here (laziness mostly), I build for me and not others and am my own worst critic of how they turn out. Great topic and interesting responses!

I am not worried about the price, I support Dave and his Model King business as he has brought some models to our hobby that would have otherwise not been around. Do I like to pay $25-30 for a model kit? No, but I will because it is a subject matter that I want to have. What I have found is that with the rise in the cost of model kits, I am no longer just buying a kit for the sake of buying a kit. I would rather pass on a couple of kits on the clearance shelf at Hobby Lobby and put that money towards something I will definitely build, like these Ford Pickups. I have over 100 kits that I thought made sense at one time to buy and now I am faced with selling them off at shows! I hope that viscious rumor about a first generation Bronco becomes a fact, because then I will be spending my lunch money faster than I can save it!

I will be lined up to buy multiples of these kits! Now, if there are any resin casters out there, some 4wd conversion parts would be a perfect addition to this offering!

I would say that based on the comments here, you will never have enough of these in stock to meet demand! Those are very nice and I will be ordering multiple sets! Anxiously awaiting the release date........................

I'm gonna be in Indy that weekend, unfortunately I will be working and unable to attend.

That engine sure looks clean for a truck with no inner fenders! Very nice and well detailed. Sure wish there was a way to get this truck re-issued.

The Midnight Cowboy wrecker bed is a close representative to the 60's era. You could start with that and make changes based upon your research. You would need to source some '60s era 1 ton wheels.

Those wheels are too much for that truck. They belong on an '88 Crown Vic with a 6" lift kit!