RancheroSteve

Well, I'll revise that slightly - I just read that the fiberglass twin scoop hood was available as a mid-year "limited option". But to reiterate, it wasn't the standard Cyclone hood.

The two scoop fiberglass hood was a drag race part and wasn't originally used on street cars. Cyclones had the same hood as the other Comet models.

I don't believe there is any difference between the roof of a Cyclone and a Caliente - both are 2 door hardtops. There were 202 and 404 two door sedans.

Wow, looking pretty darn nice from what I can see! Thanks for the update.

Some more progress - the front and rear bumpers are taking shape: And I finally figured out a way to make the DuVall windshield. I made a paper template, then a plastic template. Once I get the fit a little more refined, I'll photo-etch a brass frame and add some kind of channel for the glass.

Oh right! Thanks for clarifying the chronology - I had missed that distinction.

Yeah, that's the "flip top" Cobra. Bob Peeples was working on a very detailed and correct version before he passed.

Check out the Amos Milburn (1953) and John Lee Hooker (1966) versions if you get a chance.

That's Windward Avenue in Venice, California! http://www.kcet.org/socal/departures/fieldguides/venice/architecturehistory/windward-avenue.html

The FIA Roadster is my favorite Cobra!

I believe you have to enter your card data for your order to be placed (if you're placing it online). Once your order is placed you'll receive a conformation email with details of your order. Keep in mind that The Modelhaus is a small operation that has probably been deluged with orders since their retirement announcement, but Don & Carol are some of the finest and most ethical people in the hobby. In my experience, they always deliver and their products are first-rate. The most recent order I placed took about three months and was well worth the wait. No hurry on my end - I've got plenty to work on.

Part of the problem you may run across trying to transplant detail into the IMC kit is due to its under-sized nature. I haven't measured one out, but I've heard people say it's more like 1/27 scale! Sounds like you have it covered, but this might be another option: HRM makes a detail kit for the GT40 that contains some of the parts you'd need: http://www.stradasportsstore.com/product783.html But again, it's 1/24 scale, so it's going to be a squeeze into the IMC kit. Years ago MiniExotics made a Lola T-70 resin kit in both curbside and full detail versions that I think was based on the K&B slot car body. Not easy or cheap to find these days I'm afraid. In any case, good luck on the project and please keep us posted.

That's right! I sourced the appropriate wheel from the Modelhaus and cut it down when I built my Deora:

Thanks for the detailed info and excellent photos, Tim - I might have to buy it just for the tires and booklet alone!

Looks like the racing scenes were filmed at Ascot Park in Gardena, which closed in 1990. I saw the World of Outlaws race there not too long before they shut down.

Lots of info, trivia, and opinions here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064819/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_11

I've already built two Deoras and have several boxes full of complete and partial Deoras - including an original - so I probably won't be buying this one, but I'd be interested to see a detailed "what's in the box". Glad to see in back in a nice presentation with the original parts and artwork, as well as the new tires. That's right, Bill - the Deora kit has never had a center console, but it does have an overhead console. The interior is one of the many inaccuracies of the kit, which leads me to speculate that the kit was probably tooled up before much of the real car was finished, perhaps due to deadline/promotional pressures. Just guessing here. Having said that, it's a cool vintage kit of an iconic custom - just nowhere near 100% accurate out of the box. I know it's not your usual subject matter Bill, but I'd love to see what you could do with this one!

I'm building a 1/9 scale Protar Raleigh bicycle and it needs a better chain than what's in the kit. I saw the Top Studio chain and figured it might scale out about right, so I bought one for a reasonable price off Ebay. Looks like a crazy thing to put together, but I think I've finally worked up the nerve to tackle it. Report soon!

Yes, a re-build for sure. By the way, Ford Corporate Blue for blocks didn't come in until 1966. The block would have originally been black with blue or gold valve covers depending on the engine options. Red was used on the valve covers and air cleaners of other engines over the years (the 260 in my Ranchero, for example). http://www.mustangandfords.com/how-to/paint-body/mump-0308-select-correct-vintage-mustang-engine-paint/

Here's a shot of the #0 test car:

I turned this: Into this: And I've got a few more in the works: http://public.fotki.com/Roullier/model_cars-1/restoration_projects/

Yes, like I said - I don't consider this un-buildable by any means (especially considering the lengths I'm currently going to in order to build a Kurtis Sport Car), but it makes all the difference when it's the only game in town. A few years ago when it didn't look like there was much of a possibility of getting a well detailed styrene kit of a '65 Comet I happily snapped this up when I had the chance. Not sure what I'll do with it now, but those are the breaks.

Just as a point of reference, here's a resin '65 Comet Caliente that I bought off EBay a few years back. There's also an interior (identical to the AMT '64 Comet I believe), a primitive chassis plate, and vacu-formed glass. Not completely terrible or un-buildable, but it was obviously going to take A LOT of work to look decent. I'll wait very patiently for the Moebius instead.

Best forgotten regardless.

I believe you are correct here, Scott, including the '64 and '65 models. (I had to look this stuff up myself, but I think I've got it now.) Seems a little counter intuitive maybe to think that Comet wagons had shorter wheelbases that the sedans, but it seems to be the fact. I'm leaving out any reference to the '66 cars because they're a pretty different animal in my book, based on overall parts interchangeability. Also, here's a very extensive article about "The Falcon Platform" and its many variations. Notice it groups the '60-'65 Falcons and '60-'65 Comets together: http://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/automotive-history-fords-falcon-platform-from-falcon-to-versailles-in-18-different-wheelbase-lengthtrack-width-variations/ A small quote: "Unibodies are assembled from many stampings, and as such lend themselves quite readily to stretching. A slightly longer piece here, a slightly wider one there…cut and paste." For example, I'm told that the Ranchero shares a lot of the same stampings with the 2 door wagon, which accounts for the void under the bed behind the cab - often a common area for rust due to its propensity to trap debris and water.