Mark

Anyone else remember the Hot Wheels club in 1970? You sent Mattel a buck or two, and got a chrome finish Mustang fastback. You also got a sheet of Hot Wheels logo decals (too big for model cars, but just right for bicycles!) and a catalog. There may have been an iron-on T shirt transfer too. A few months later they had a club package that was sold in stores. Those had one of three or four different cars included, still chrome finish. I got one of those packages too, that one had a Camaro in it.

I've got a de-chopped coupe that someone did starting with two early issue bodies. The box it came in had some sedan delivery parts too. The guy bought one of those for the windshield frame, in part to determine how much to un-chop it. I cleaned up the bodywork a bit--not much was needed though. I'm planning to set it on MPC snap delivery fenders as they have running boards.

After fixing the rear wheel openings, the AWB body is WAY better than the newer one. The Ertl body looks like the car got a bad Bondo job after being sideswiped on both sides. The grille from the Ertl Cyclone has the potential to fit the older body. The headlight spacing seems to match up well, but some material needs to be removed to get it to fit. Not sure if the newer stock hood fits the old body, but it should, with probably adding or removing a bit of material at the sides and back.

The top two are '65s. But there were a couple '66 Impalas in NASCAR. The Chevy guys were usually mid-pack or back-benchers in that period, so pictures and info are sometimes hard to find.

Did you receive the items? I too placed an order for PE parts with the same vendor. This was exactly one week ago, and they arrived today.

As I recall, the old Revell 1/25 scale Type 2 isn't much different size-wise from other manufacturers' 1/24 scale kits.

Multiple piece body (separate side panels, doors, roof) that must be assembled to the floor platform. But that makes sense for this kit: Revell Germany tooled their all-new VW bus and van kits pretty much the same way. In both 1/24 and 1/16 scale. The Roller started out as a stock 23 window deluxe passenger version. It was first issued in 1958 or 1959. In 1967 it was revised to the later 21 window version. A couple of years later it became the Bed Bug, a few years after that it was reworked a bit to become the CB radio themed Rubber Duck. The last transformation was to the Roller. The Roller has no plated parts by the way.

The Chrysler Atlantic concept (Lindberg did a kit, no engine detail though) was powered by a straight eight made by linking two Neon engines. Guys have been doing it forever; I've seen photos and stories about Model T-based straight eights.

The shelf space at the store here was labeled "TV and movie car assortment". I'm not sure what other items Round 2 is currently producing, but when a SN '67 Impala comes off of the shelf, it may not necessarily be replaced with another one right away.

With the shape of the front wheel openings on the '60, moving the front wheels forward within the opening is to a degree desirable. If you lower the '60 with the wheels kept in the same location fore-and-aft, the lowered position will create an optical illusion that makes the wheel look like it has shifted rearward. I noticed this when I started putting the Foose chassis under a '63 pickup.

The Bob-Tailed Cat is featured in the first issue of CAR MODEL, building instructions included.

I'd probably cut the body off just a bit further back (like, even with the rear of the roof)...that would save all of that messing around with the interior and glass.

With nothing to lose, I'd try the Future with a drop of smoke gray acrylic, or maybe gray Tamiya panel line highlighter mixed in. Just one drop...I've done this with clear resin, it doesn't take much at all. If it's not to your liking, take it off and start over.

Maybe you could give the glass a light smoke tint, just enough to lose the yellowing?

I checked the first couple of years' worth of CAR MODEL magazine; none contained an article on the Deuce pickup. The instructions may have been originally planned as a magazine article but not used. That said, the build seems to be all parts from early issues of the coupe kit, with the body altered to add a scratchbuilt pickup bed. Where to cut the body looks pretty obvious...just cut it, close off the back of the body, get it to set on the chassis at the right height, then scratch a bed to resemble the picture.

AMT and MPC both had '74-'77 kits. MPC only for '78. MPC had the promo model deal, they did promos for '74 and '75. Besides the hood and grille, '74 has the gas cap below the styling crease on the quarter panel. It was moved up for '75.

Revell '64 Impala engine probably has more correct accessories like exhaust manifolds and air cleaner. The later Nova engine is a 350 with later external parts.

If the original builder used cheap off-brand glue, early/ineffective "non-toxic" cement, or something not intended for plastic, it may peel off. Otherwise, you are cutting and grinding. If the clear parts have whitened in the areas where cement was applied, you're out of luck and will have to replace the parts. The van looks like an early one with separate hood and side panel inserts. With that one, I would make saving the body top priority. You can pick up a more recent reissue to get new windows, chassis parts, and chrome. With the Chevelle, again save the body and chrome parts if you must prioritize. A later issue '70 or '72 kit uses the same chassis, engine, glass, and interior.

Roger Waters' father was killed in battle in 1944, never having seen his son. From what I have read, he was never found.

HL does not stock every currently available car kit from any manufacturer. Like any other store, someone there makes decisions regarding which items to carry and which will not be stocked...model kits are no exception.

The pickup version of the Willys wasn't available until 1969; by then the Deuce coupe kit was out of production. The bed might be from a kit or could be scratchbuilt. Sheet plastic wasn't common back then, so it could be balsa or even cardboard. If you haven't got the article to follow, just scratch one, nobody will know the difference.

Someone ought to be horsewhipped for this...

The pickup version appears to use mostly parts from the '32 coupe kit. The engine is a small-block Chevy with six carbs and curved intake stacks. The Moon discs and chromed rear wheels are in early (pre-1976) issues of the coupe kit. The '34 pickup was first issued in 1962, but that bed does not look like even a modified version of what came in the pickup. I'm not sure if this build was covered in an early issue of CAR MODEL. I'd scratch the bed, it would be easy enough to do.

Auto World included building instructions for the Shamrock with every Styline Corvair kit they sold. They did that with several other cars featured in CAR MODEL magazine early on.

Nope, no bucket seats in the Impala, other than the SS. The Caprice had something called a "strato-bench" which appears to have a fold-down center arm rest. Impalas were limited to a bench seat. Since the rear seat has to be altered anyway, may as well rework both seats at once and make them match. The Caprice conversion is a no-go, no Caprice unique wheel covers and no photoetch emblems either.