RancheroSteve

Could be! Interestingly enough maybe, the '66 Falcon Modified Stocker probably has the most accurate Falcon/Mustang shock towers available in kit form.

I'm sure the Revell engineers never intended a "street version" when they tooled this kit. It's a very fine kit and builds into an excellent Thunderbolt, but to make it close to an accurate stock Fairlane, you'd have to change the engine and make extensive modifications to the kit chassis.

NHRA rules for the class required a stock exhaust system (muffler & tailpipe) be in place - but they didn't specify that it had to be hooked up! So there was small gap between the stock exhaust and the Thunderbolt's big tube headers. Lots of other modifications went into making a Thunderbolt out of a stock Fairlane - in fact, it's pretty far from anything you'd drive on the street.

As far as I know, the fiberglass was always brown. I'm more of a Ford guy here, but I always liked the Chaparrals - it was very exciting at the time to see what innovations they would come up with next. I can still remember the buzz when the high wing 2E made its debut at Bridgehampton in 1966.

Really sorry to hear the news. I never met Ed in person, but we corresponded several times a few years ago about our shared interest in '60s road racing cars and our collections. He seemed like a fine gentleman - condolences to his family and friends. He'll be missed here.

Sorry I never made it out there - looks like they had some good stuff.

Yeah, I guess I'm lucky - just a bike ride away for me. https://www.relive.cc/view/1150575143

According to their website, until January 10, 2018.

I visited the "Gurney's Eagles" show at the Petersen Museum a few days ago. Ten cars, a motorcycle and some cool ephemera from Gurney's career as a constructor. Full album here (60 photos), which also includes a couple of Eagles that were in the lobby when I visited a few months back: Gurney's Eagles

Progress is kinda slow - I'm not able to get much time at the bench these days and I want to get this as right as I can. The front suspension is now complete. Probably some unnecessary detail in here that will never be seen once it's all together but that's how we do it, right? Lower suspension, steering and spindles are from the Mustang; upper control arms from the Comet; springs, shocks, and spring covers are scratchbuilt. Next up: getting the engine finished and installed.

I do think it looks better in Ed Newton's drawing:

Yes, that is what Roth says in the book "Hot Rods by Ed Big Daddy Roth" and he also mentions that Revell was pressuring him to finish the car so they could model it, but model sales dropped drastically with the rise of The Beatles and that all fell apart. It's also interesting to note that the car looked quite a bit better in the drawings, but lost something in the translation to reality. By the way, the idea behind the three multi-colored headlights was that they would all focus together to form a white beam. I also agree that the asymmetrical cars pictured above all look pretty good - especially the Mantaray! I don't think asymmetry was the Orbitron's main problem.

I love that the guy built "both" versions! The story of the re-discovery of the car is pretty remarkable. A lot of people (myself included) feel that the Obitron was Roth's first less than successful car, after he had a good run with The Outlaw, Beatnik Bandit, Road Agent, and Mysterion, but it does have a certain historical charm at this point for me.

Sorry - not lately. Real life has been taking too much of a bite out of my modelling time, but I haven't forgotten it! Hoping to get back to it soon.

Yes, that's always been my idea, too. I've never test-fitted it, but my thought is to combine it with the front end from the Monogram '39 coupe.

Just my opinion maybe, but they're a lot better looking now than they were back in 2006.

Yes, I think if you're going with the "original intent" of the builder you need to use the scoop! Here are some shots of what that rear pillar and trim look like in the real word, if you're interested in going for that. AMT got this part of the car pretty wrong.

Oh yes - front discs for sure. They make a huge difference! If we had kept our '65 Comet, it's one of the first things I would have done.

Thanks guys. This is going to be an auto trans car and even though it's a resto-mod, I decided to keep it original in regard to the shifter location, as I believe the '65 Comet automatics only came with column shifters. I also like to throw in a little bit of something different and fun.

Finished the interior: Added a few bits: column shifter with "one ball" knob, turn signal stalk, pedals, heater/vent boxes under the dash, heater controls on the dash, side mirror adjusting knob, and seat belts. Carpet is my first use of embossing powder - a mix of gold and some sparkly black.

That's for clarifying - make sense. (I really should pay closer attention.)

Ah OK, got it. That makes what you do even more extraordinary - I don't know how I'd build without an airbrush!

MCW carries a Chantilly Beige Metallic - # 6441. http://www.mcwautomotivefinishes.com/paint/ford.html And so does Scale Finishes: http://www.scalefinishes.com/1964Ford.html

Yes, Mike is correct. In fact "in the real world" the battery probably wouldn't fit the other way, given the angle of the inner fender apron and the proximity of the shock towers. Side note: when Ford started installing the V8 in the Falcon in late '63, they had to hammer a big dent in the shock tower for generator clearance. It's tight in there!

Ha, it never left - it's just me finding time to work on it that's been a bit scarce! Body is going to be some sort of black, maybe with a little metallic to it.