stavanzer

Thanks for the kind words, Tony. I have no choice. I'm too stubborn to just give up. I just switch to a lower gear, and keep going. I may not be the fastest, but I'm always moving forward.

So, Monday the 3rd, I had a brand new experience. About 10 am, I came in to prepare some supplies for a job I was about to start in the backyard. It was about 92 Deg outside, but I hadn't been out but a few minutes, and those in the shade. I was in the kitchen, to get parts ready, and was headed out back. Wham! Next thing I know, I'm on the floor, glasses knocked off, and starting to hurt. I had passed out and fallen. Hit my forehead a good one (1" long gash) and scraped up the outer edge of my right eyelid. (but, Thankfully not the eye itself. (One more Millimetre to the left though...) I eventually got up on my hands and stumbled into the office where my wife was. After same garbled explanation from me (I was not making much sense) we called my Adult Daughter (who lives across the street) and I get hauled to the E.R. I got admitted and held overnight for "Observation" and got 2 CAT Scans and 3 MRI's. (35 minutes in an MRI scanner is about more than I could handle) Spent Monday Night in Hospital, and got home about 1pm yesterday afternoon. Enjoyed the 4th, but was tired and cranky. So, what happened? Doctors have no clue. All test results are good. I had "Ménière's disease" about 26 years ago, and there is some thought that it might be a re-occurrence of that. But, no one really knows. It is all guess work at this point, and the ER doctor admitted that I could have many more tests and still not get an answer. I'm off work until next Tuesday, and will spend tomorrow morning trying to arrange follow up tests. But, No Concussion, No Heart Issues, nothing wrong with the Brain, or Nerves. It just happened. Which leads to my last Irk. I am (as my wife says "Durable!" I have been hit of the head, crushed my fingers in a Roll-Up garage door, survived a Retinal Detachment that can cause blindness, and suffered other small things. I get sick, but never as sick as others, and bounce back much faster than most folks. All of this is a Huge Blessing, one that I am very aware of, and profoundly Grateful for. However the trade-off for this is that when I do have medical problems, they are seldom, if ever found. Weakness in my legs, sufficient to cause stumbling falls? No Answer! Finally went away on it's own. (Mostly. Still happens but not as bad or as often). Back Pain, Leg Numbness, Sciatic nerves? All went (mostly) away on their own. I've spent hours being tested for one thing or another, over the last 25 years. Most of the time, I'm sent home, where the pain goes away by itself weeks to months later. But, I'm not a hypochondriac. The pain is there, Doctors can find find it, and I'm not hallucinating. This "Hard to Diagnose" bit, gets more and more frustrating as I get older. I've spent a lot of good money trying things that never help. Then, my medical problem just goes away. Weeks or Months later, a new one takes it's place. I Grow tired of having a "Durable" yet hard to fix body. Better than the alternative, but still very frustrating. Thanks for letting me vent.

Really Neat Build. And, Handsomely Finished. What Kit/Scale?

Wow! The Falcon and the '69 Ford. Great Kits from Round2!

Beautiful Build, Tim. Another example of why you are one of the most talented Muscle Car builders. Hits all the right notes. Stock Finish, Day 2 Wheels, great looks.

This is the one I will hunt down when I am ready to build one. Thanks for sharing the box art.

Did you shorten the Italeri LWB Kit? It sure looks nice!

Didn't this kit out come once with some Faux '68 Parts, to make a "Street Machine" with engine options and an extra set of wheels? Had a Yellow Box or Yellow car on the box?

Did this Body Style ever have a Big Block engine? What other versions might be done after this to stretch the tooling? Revell has to have planned some options for this tooling to get more out of it.

Thanks for all of these pics. Helps me out in a big way.

Dean Milano did a write up on it for SAE 25-30 years ago.

Ya Know? Without the Sprite Logos, those green stripes will make a very Sharp Looking rig! I like it!

Awesome Set Up. Looks like an above average, "Saturday Night Special" race team with a bit of extra money and a whole lot of pride! Perfect weathering on the truck, too.

How Horrible! I've not done that, but moving around in the dark has hurt me too, in the past. Get better soon.

AWesome Build! Thanks for Sharing. I'm glad Round2 tooled this kit.

No, they did not and never will sell in large enough numbers to justify (or Amortize) the tooling costs. It is the Mustangs and Camaros (or their equivalent) that pays the bills.

Iron City gets my Vote. (or the much-missed, Olympia)

If you get a new kit, I'd love to see a side-by-side photo of the old and new chrome trees!

LA Speeds can be quite scary. 35 mph on the freeway is normal now.

And, In California (where they are always screaming about higher gas mileage) these things are virtually banned. A possible source of fuel sipping trucks, and they don't want them.

Yes, Yes they were. And not from someplace with a name you would recognize. And "Teens"? 17-18-19 I believe.

Looks Good! I like the Jungle Camo.

Okay. So what do you suggest. I'm using the Duck, and have been unhappy with it for awhile.

This is exactly what I was looking for! Thanks!

Tim , I echo what Scott has to say. Thank You for doing such a great build and taking such wonderful pics! I have to say also, that this article (even if late) helps to put to rest any desire to ever own or build one of these kits. It looks like an awkward, fussy build, of a frankly, Unique, but Not Really Attractive Car. If Monogram had continued making and selling these kits thru the 1980's, most likely, you would not be able to give them away. The only things that I see that would be usable are the engine and wheels. The only thing, in my opinion that makes this a grail, is the Back Story and subsequent Issues with both the kit, and it's owner. Absent that, It would be an "Also-Ran". P.S. I hope to live long enough to see the real car dragged out of a One Car garage in Burbank, Pasadena, or some other 1950's suburb in L.A. someday, when the guy who owns it now, passes on, and his kids dispose of the thing.