Mark

Our IPMS chapter has been kicking around the notion of dropping Out of Box categories lately, due to the disparity in the level of detail between older tool kits and newer ones, also that some newer aircraft and tank kits contain advanced parts like photoetch and even resin. Also, a lot of (clearly) more advanced modelers enter these categories in hopes of increasing their trophy haul for the day, again leaving the beginners out in the cold.

Parts packs have always been somewhat high in proportion to the cost of a complete kit. About the same amount of labor is used in the making and packaging of a parts pack (essentially a portion of a kit) as is used for a complete kit. The manufacturer gets a bigger return on the complete kit, so that's where they tend to allocate their resources.

Theoretically, you could melt down the parts and sprues that you don't want to use, and shoot the plastic into a tool for some other kit that has the parts you want. How far should the rules be stretched? The general interpretation is that all of the parts used in the build should be recognizable as having come from that kit. To me, stretched sprue wouldn't even fit that interpretation, let alone parts reshaped from other parts or the sprues in the box.

I do check the color called out on the lid, regardless of where it is on the rack. Sometimes people looking at the paint don't put it back where it belongs. Those same folks look at the kits on your swap meet table, and 99 times out of 100 they put it back with the price tag facing IN...

Is anyone positive all of the spray cans are discontinued? I was at a Hobby Lobby today, there are fewer Testors racks but they do have spray cans. They have the Wet Look Clear back in stock. The automotive replica stock colors are gone, but the Tropical Turquoise from that line is still there, now branded as a Extreme Lacquer color.

That kit looks like the old Sunny kit to me. Many of the parts are cribbed from the later issues of the AMT 260 Cobra, even the tires. Isn't this one listed as 1/25 scale? That would be the tipoff right there; if the "new" Revell were to tool an all-new kit, they would do it in 1/24 to be consistent with their ex-Monogram 427 variants. The Sunny kit isn't awful, but it isn't 100% accurate as any one variant. I'm not sure I have one now...I'd pick them up cheap, then someone would find out I had it and offer me stupid money for it!

'69 Coronet hardtop may have had the trailer, the (Mission: Impossible) convertible did not. There was no annual '69 convertible kit, the M:I could be built stock. I don't think any MPC Charger kit ever included that, or any other, trailer.

Too, check the paint section...every so often they have automotive sandpaper. 3M, made in Canada or USA, not the offshore stuff that falls apart when you dip it in water...

They are a closeout store, they get what they get. Even if these items are produced specifically for them, at the prices they pay for their stock they likely don't have a say in the choice of items.

Back in those days, AMT and MPC were competing companies (though somewhat friendly the first few years), so the trailers were different in each company's kit. The Nova wagon's trailer and display engine was from the Buick wagon. Budd Anderson said so in his magazine column. The Nova's display engine is nearly all plated though, the Buick's not so much.

That is probably a molding issue. Shouldn't be hard to fix, just shave or sand the back side of the insert flat. I won't be getting this kit (already have one 1/16 funny car, and that's one more than I have built) but if I did, I'd probably scrounge a pair of original Revell front tires.

The hoarders likely already have them (re)sold, maybe on Facebook Marketplace, or are going to try their luck on eBay. I'd bet you will see a ton of the kits mentioned on eBay in the coming weeks, and I'm betting on seeing a bunch of them at the first post-Covid automotive swap meet here at the end of the month. It's like these guys think they are the only ones who know about those stores...

Can you go to the PO and pick them up? I'd bet that, in your area, whoever delivers the mail may have had to bid on the right to do so, so any trip they view as "extra" costs them more time and money with no return on either. Covid is going to be used as a blanket excuse by a lot of people and businesses for a long time to come.

Over the years, a lot of standup comedians have had in their act a routine about going to the dentist, so the dislike of it is a pretty universal thing.

Ford initially promised that the broom-pusher special (base model/no options) might sneak in under $20k. But between the dealers not wanting to stock those "because nobody buys them", and the first ones shipped likely being more loaded ones, expect to see the first ones sticker for around $30k. Still, they should do pretty well with it. The big trucks are way too big for a lot of people, and even the Ranger is way bigger than the last one. This will be a more affordable alternative to a Honda Ridgeline, especially after the Honda dealers get done marking those up.

Early issues of the Impala (annual, first issue Heavy Chevy, and the Barris issue) have those wheels. That version is the second best set ever. Jo-Han did the absolute best set, but only included them in one kit ever, the Eddie Schartman Maverick (not the Comet). And, those fit only Jo-Han tires without help from you, the builder. But all four wheels were the same (no "deep" or "narrow" ones). But because they were only used in that one kit (unusual for Jo-Han), they are extremely difficult to find.

I would think the frame kits would sell better if the companion accessory kits were offered alongside. In fact, those would probably sell better than the frames, just like they did first time around. But Atlantis is probably still in the stage of figuring out what they have or don't have, and what is ready to run and what is not.

The paint cases are probably a store by store call, based on prior experience.

First non-eBay buy in about a year and a half. One of my friends bought a collection a while back, ID'd and packaged everything in preparation for the next shows whenever those are. The Monogram '55 Chevy is just parts, but important parts including the front suspension, stock front seat, stock wheels, and stock exterior trim parts. Between this stuff, some other parts I already have, and a Badman body already "in stock", I should be able to piece together a stock '55. The Capri II is complete with some duplicate parts, but is parts of two issues. Those fender flares aren't from the issue that the box and other parts are from. I've wanted to build one with those flares. They're on the body straight and the two sides match, so they are probably on where they should be. That green putty is probably on there forty years plus, so it's safe to say it's fully cured. I'll sand some of it first to see if I can get away with leaving it instead of soaking it off. The bagged stuff includes a SMP '60 Chevy pickup (rough, no glass, will probably become ramp truck material), '64 Falcon convertible (windshield glass welded in with glue) that might get mashed with a Ranchero roof and bed, or maybe an early Comet sedan roof, '64 Buick hardtop (roof cut off but lower body has all trim intact). I have a junk body with a good convertible windshield frame, between these and some leftover custom parts I think I have enough for an out of box custom version. The little stuff includes some unused taillight lenses ('66 Cyclone, '60 Ford annual, and first issue Revell '56 Ford pickup), also some '65 Fairlane custom parts that I wanted but aren't in the Modified Stocker reissue. More stuff to play with, I like fixing junk better than tearing into a new kit.

If Carrera has done a Cheetah body in 1/24 scale, maybe all of you who want a kit could start asking Revell to make the slot car body into a curbside kit, or at least sell the body as a separate item...

-The commercials for medications...after hearing about all of the side effects, I just figure I'll put up with the headache for another hour or two and see if it goes away on its own. -The beverage commercials all end with "drink responsibly". Drink responsibly, but drink! -All of the insurance companies are going to save me money. So, apparently, if I switch from State Farm to GEICO, then to Liberty Mutual, then to Farmers, then back to State Farm, I should start getting checks in the mail at some point. -The state lottery commercials. Again, "wager responsibly" at the end. If they wanted to be truthful, they'd just tell you straight out that lotteries are basically a tax on the inability to comprehend the concept of odds...

You should not have to do any trimming to get the shell to fit with the fenders. I'd make sure nothing is warped and everything fits as it should, fenders first.

The Hemi is probably sitting lower in the chassis than it would in a typical swap in a 1:1 Deuce. A fair number of these swaps have been, and continue to be, done in full scale. So it's certainly feasible in scale.

I don't think the headers for the Hemi go outside the frame rails, so you should be able to use the fenders. I'd assemble the long block and test fit everything to make sure.

The slot could be an alteration made when the parts packs were consolidated into double car kits.