Mark

The (excellent) Ramchargers book includes a partial reproduction of the "manual" used by the ambulance company that built the "factory" AWB Mopars. A lot of the privateer cars were built to the same specs. I'd like to see Moebius do a companion AWB Dodge, but I'm not holding my breath. I've got one in the works based on a Polar Lights Coronet, and have some MPC parts stashed, so I guess I won't be disappointed.

The couple of times I had packages lost but noted as "delivered", I ran into The Wall with USPS. After being frustrated with it, I chalked it up to either (a) protecting their own, and/or (b) going along to get along. On occasion I get mail for the house on the next street over (same house number); I just take it over and stick it in the right mailbox. What happens to my mail on those days I don't know, as the next street over in the other direction is a main drag with different numbering.

The article doesn't specify which Vega this is, but I'm pretty certain it is Toy IX, the first Vega. It has stock front suspension (except for a Pinto steering rack, not mentioned) and the roll cage and rear subframe is described as being tied in to the rocker panels. IX was not a full-chassis car as originally built. The underside shots are tough to come by for any Pro Stock car of that period.

What an item sells for on eBay and how well it would sell if reissued are two entirely different things. A handful of people outbidding one another for a single item does not translate to thousands of sales.

And that they may not be as interested in automotive subject matter as in the movie/TV/sci-fi stuff. They can probably release already-tooled variations on the Ford pickups, '65 Plymouth, and '65 Cyclone for the next two years, giving the impression that more "new" car kits are still in development.

Trumpeter screwed up by trying to reinvent everything. The Pontiacs have too-thin hood and trunk lid outer panels, the Novas have that gimmicky working steering (to accomodate that, they put the exhaust system on the wrong side). Then there's that goofy plating, again different from how everyone else does plating for car kits. The Falcon chassis details are a bit on the abstract side. Had they gotten the body shapes correct, skipped the gimmicks, and used conventional plating, they'd have been able to keep prices within reason and sell a lot more of each kit.

Dave isn't too wild about large scale stuff in general. A couple of years ago at NNL East, he gave me a great deal on a then-new Revell of Germany 1/16 scale VW bus kit. I don't know if he had to take it in order to get some other items, but he seemed to be on a mission to sell it.

There weren't as many AWB Cyclones as there were Mopars. We'll likely see the FX version with the 289 engine, but I wouldn't bet on any other versions.

Discrimination includes employers selecting where to post job availability information...some of them favor online and social media which they assume some older applicants won't use. But there are enough employers out there using old-school methods too, or even instead of newer media because they want an older employee that they can more safely assume will show up every day. I had to do a job search last year at 59. I knew it was coming for about a year. I didn't send any resumes out, nor did I call any agencies, until after my last day of work. I was only off six weeks, and had a job locked up before my two months' insurance at my former employer ended. Fortunately I landed the right job, as I don't particularly feel like looking for a job again under any circumstances.

Some have optional lights in those areas, others don't. Count the number of cross bars in those areas to figure out which version the kit piece represents, and detail accordingly. Being an SS427, it does have the correct SS427 emblem in the center of the grille. SS cars with other engines (all were available, even the straight six) had the offset emblem, and flat hood.

I'd first find a photo of the 1:1 car that has no connection to the kit box art. The manufacturers are notorious for retouching photos to more closely match the contents of the box. The kit could be closer to the 1:1 car (or further off from it) than you might think.

If it was bought online or at a show, that throws a wrench into things. Some local hobby shops don't do returns either, they direct buyers to go to the manufacturer...

Round 2 isn't going to do it, but someone wanting a stock body could probably use this one as a starting point. It would be easier and probably cheaper to search out an original kit or promo though.

The length reduction makes the roof look a bit large. As I recall, the '61 and '62 are more obvious in that respect.

The reasoning behind those kits, at that time, was to wring one more use out of an item then thought to have little or no value in the years ahead. One more hit, then on to the scrap pile. Nobody involved thought there would be any interest in this stuff forty or fifty years down the road.

No. Fonzie never drove the ex-Monkeemobile on Happy Days, and the Vampire Van never appeared on Dark Shadows either...

The Coffin is 1/24, but as I recall the engine is almost exactly the same size as the 1/25 scale mill in the Ford pickup kit. I have not made a part-by-part comparison however.

The Sizzler kit had an early Chrysler Hemi in addition to the small-block Chevy.

The Jo-Han Cadillacs (the early ones at least) were "cheated" a bit, to look correct with the same tires that were used on other cars, and to fit in the promotional model boxes that the other cars used also. Actual scale might even differ in one aspect versus another (wheelbase, length, width).

Nope, the Ala Kart has a Dodge Red Ram (different engine, smaller than the Firedome and the Chrysler Fire Power engines). Chrysler made three series of Hemi engines, few parts interchange between them. The Monogram Li'l Coffin kit also has a Firedome engine. That's the only other one I know of.

Just one thing...the original 1973 kit did include side glass. MPC was hit and miss with that...the Vegas, Pintos, and Mustangs (the '72 as well as the Mustang IIs) had side glass. The '72 Butch Leal Duster doesn't have it, not sure about the other Dusters. The '73 Landy Challenger didn't have side glass either.

Nope...he got the message...the Great Unloading has begun...

No, the Sizzler (original version) was larger than the Slingster kit, closer to 1/20 scale. Monogram is said to have deliberately scrapped a number of early kit tools in the Seventies, thinking the subject matter was no longer saleable or the products no longer up to their standards for quality or detail. Kits mentioned included the Sizzler dragster, 1/20 scale '56 Cadillac, Uncertain T, Futurista, Ford Sport Coupe hot rod, among others. Not sure if this was done before the Aurora purchase or possibly around the same time, to clear storage space for the incoming Aurora kit tooling.

The Cougar chassis WAS used under the Color Me Gone early Charger, but the one in the Charger was slightly longer. The tooling for the chassis side pieces had a section spliced in to change the length. The Unswitchable GTO funny car used that chassis also, but it isn't correct for that car. The '68 and '69 GTO (but not the '70) used it also. Body interior parts are specific to each kit. I pieced together a Color Me Gone Charger from two incomplete built ones, was going to raid a Cougar for some small chassis parts but between the two Chargers I have all of the needed parts in good condition. I sold off the leftover body a long time ago, so no spare parts left.

MPC did reissue it once, in the early Eighties. Molded in black with different wheels, and minus the trailer. It was called "Demon Vette". The pinkish graphics didn't look particularly demonic, though...