stavanzer

Squad Rod & Fuzz Duster. What a pair from days gone by. I had both and really enjoyed the Squad Rod. Put out Smokey the Convoy Chaser, and the set is complete. Of course, I'll need that '80 Volare RR to complete the Collection. Maybe I can do something Cop themed with the Volare too.

Greg, I'll go $2.50 each for those poor old Monogram 1/24 scale kits. And I'm in Cali,, so the shipping will be cheaper.

Monty. Look at the third post in this thread. Mr Sexton said "All New Tool". Not Revised Die Cast tool. I'm pretty sure he'd know the difference. I'm equally sure he would not have called it an all new tool if it was a warmed over diecast. I could very easily been wrong, but Revell does not seem to be in the habit of shading the truth when discussing new kits.

You, Know, that will look really nice next the the S&H Torino. Sort of a "Best of the Malaise" era vibe.

I hear to complaints of the 'stock-only' guys. Despite the fact that Revell is probably leading off with the F&F Charger because it is not aimed at modelers, I have no doubt the "stock" kit will be coming. As with the Starsky 'Red Tomato', the primary market for the F&F kit is going to to be the Movie Fans and Collectors. Modelers (I suspect) are secondary to the sales numbers for the F&F machine. The stock kit will come later, and most likely be aimed more squarely at "us". That said, I have no doubt that another hit will be made off the tool. It seems to be a pattern with Revell lately. I can't wait to see if Revell 'extends' the S&H Torino tool. I'll bet that by 2020, we will have some other kit to build based on that tooling, however. Revell seems to be playing a sharp, solid game recently so I look forward to good things.

Your Critique makes much more sense now, Dave. The rivets don't bother me since they refer to the WW2/Bomber 'vibe' that the Olive Drab car is pushing. I think that is the Tie-in that Revell is trying for. The White Walls don't bother me as much either. I've seen period photos from the forties of German, American and Soviet equipment with WW's. Oddest was the German Bomb Loading cart, with a 10" front tire with WW's and a Soviet Artillery piece with them too. I've seen several pics of P-51 Mustangs with Whites on the Main Tires, Tail Wheel Tires or all three. It was very much a "Style" thing for some of the pilots.

Those decals are not loud enough. I might have to get one just to build as a Slammer.

Tim, I wonder how difficult it will be to sub in a suitable Blower on this engine? I can't (offhand) think of a kit that would supply a Blower for the 312 T-Bird motor. Strange that both AMT and Revell do make blown versions of the 312, but neither is the Classic GM 6-71 set-up. Alan

Brian, there are some posts on page four of this thread that deal with the engine question. There is a detail shot of the engine, in the lower left corner of the box art photo that has been posted here. Given Revell's "maximization of the tool" track record, I will guess that the only engine changes will be Headers and Valve covers. Edit: Brett beat me to it. What Brett says is probably as close as we'll get to knowing until the kit hits the shelves.

Well, after buying the dreadful AMT Dukes/F&F mashup, this Revell thing has to be better. I am guessing that even if there is no 2n1 now, there will be in the future. I will buy both the first and second hits from this tool.

Those Wheels and that blown Small Block are going on my '29 Roadster.

So, If I'm buying only One BB Revell Nova, I should get the COPO car? I already have one of the Nova SS w/ the 350 small block.

I think the Vette Van is MPC, Dave.

Bill Jay. I agree about Foose and others Ruining Stock cars. Read a Column in Car Culture Deluxe a couple years ago, advising guys to look for Museums selling off excess vehicles, to get fresh Sheet metal to chop & hot rod. At the Current rate, I fully expect to see two Billionaire Rodders, spending millions to buy the last "un-Chopped" 32 Deuce Coupe, so they can chop it. Because after all, Just because every Deuce Coupe built has been chopped, THEIR vision requires virgin factory sheet metal to cut, rather than re-doing some other already altered car, or using reproduction sheet metal. "It's NOT the same!" they'll cry. Only the REAL thing will work for MY idea! Even if the last Genuine Car has to be ruined, to do something that has been done to death in the last 50 years...... Lets face it. Even guys as "Talented" as Foose can only do so much before the laws of physics, and the need to sit in, and operate the car, take over. The AMBR winners get more expensive, and more derivative every year. The AMBR & Riddler awards have long been ceded to "Check Book Rodders" and professional Rod Shops and so-called Designers. The ordinary car guy does not need to anything but pay admission fees, and posters. How dare he try to build one himself? After only the "Pros" can compete at this level now. As for the WHY Revell is doing this, it comes down to sales and money. Revell believes (I think, correctly) that these new Foose kits will reach a new market and sell well. Given how little the Modern high level reveres 'stock bodied' cars, I'm not hold my breath for stock versions of either kit, although I'd happily purchase multiple copies of the Caddy.. YMMV Alan

And I'm OK with Completely Custom. If it sells really well, then Maybe we'll get a stock one. And If not, there is still the custom to try to take back to stock as I expect some enterprising resin caster will do, about a week after the kit hits the shelves. So far Revell has been on a roll lately with their kit choices, so I'm good with what they bring out. I am going to hold off on getting the 67 Camaro until the inevitable 2'n'1 kit comes out someday. I am betting that there will be one eventually.

Tim, I'm all "Veruca Salt" about the Ranchero. "I want it NOW!" But, I'll wait like everybody else.

I remember seeing photos of Vans with the gullwing doors in some of the Custom Magazines back in the day. You are right, it was very period correct to do so. Alan

And remember that the 1930 A phaeton was refreshed in 2009, by Revell. They added some great wire wheels to the kit. It should be kinda easy to find. Yellow car on the box, part of the "Custom Car Show" line.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to getting mine done. (eventually-sigh) Alan

Dennis, Did I say anything about Buying Pristine complete kits? Those are reserved for collectors. And the whole Two Complete Models bit is a bit rich, when It will be on the shelf next to Round2 Tall T and Chopped T kits, for under $25.00. Lastly, the Mod Rod is not what I'd choose to hang a 2 Cars in One Box kit on. But that is me. But we'll see.

I started mine when the Model King kit with the boat came out. The engine is fiddly and hard to get square, because those old MPC molds even when new, when not very square. That said the rest of the work I did on it before I lost interest fit nicely. I'd say it should go together decently, if not Tamiya.

Sorry, Dennis, I don't buy your reasoning. I'm fully aware that the days of $10.00 kits are long gone. But, frankly, knowing that the Mod Rod is only a mutilated Ala Kart, with a '32 grille, I'm NOT impressed. Especially since It has been announced that Round2 WILL spend scare tooling dollars to restore parts that don't matter to the kit. Tooling the Missing Ala Kart parts, or don't bother. Do it right or don't do it at all. What the Bleep is a Mod Rod anyway? I have at least two of the original Boxings of that kit anyway, so I know what's in it. Don't need another. The constant "A little here, a little there" price increases would not be such a big deal, if the weren't aleady on the shelf with other older releases at the lower prices. Even worse, with a bit of luck, one can get the "New" kit on clearance for about 2/3 cost when the Big Box store closes them out. So It's a wash in the end. I echo Dave Van's comment about "Kiling the Golden Goose" Round2 needs to make Money. I know that. Round2's whole team here would not fill a Football scrimmage. I know that too. Round2 is a showstring operation. I know that as well. But, I'm getting tired of getting Re-warmed kits, that were last available 10 years ago, much cheaper, with only a new decal sheet and new box art as "improvements". Robert J. Barron has the right of it when he mentions the whimsical apperaing way that decisions on what excatly to retool are made. And, Yes, I know that those decisions appear random only to use the consumers who have to but the stuff that keeps the comapny going. I've read enough of the blog posts over at Round2's blog to have a genearl idea, why many of the choices are made the way they are. I do not, for a second, doubt the good will and sincerity of Tom L, and John G. I'm still left puzzled by some of the choices they make. Some that don't seem (to me) to move the brand forward, or be a good investment of effort. As for the Mod Rod, I can purchase Ala Kart kits with excatly the parts I need, from any of the three versions of the tool before it was modified, from eBay all day long, for a total cost not much more than the New Kit, will cost me, and get the parts I need. Sorry Round2, No Sale on the Mod Rod. Retool the missing parts to restore the original Ala Kart, and get back to me, I'll buy the very first Case of them with Cash on camera. Heck, You can video me doing it!! Alan Alexis

Greg, that's a seriously great collection you have there. I have about 2/3rds of the Suzuki someplace in the stash. Wish I could find the rest. I'll be buying one of these sets. Maybe I can find the little Zuk and finish it with parts from the Yamaha.

I remember no chrome on the MPC bikes. How I remember is that I was so frustrated with the Square Bottle Testor's silver not looking chrome. I had to hand paint all teh "Chrome" and it was sloppy. I hated it. Hope this helps. Edit: Well, I hopped on over to the Drastic Plastic archives. Seems my 30 year old memories betrayed me. If you look up the 1976 Dodge P/U sheet, you'll see both bikes. They are clearly shown with Chrome Forks, Handlebars, and oddly Kickstands. What is truly odd to me is that the tool shown on the first post in this thread, shows no way for those parts to be plated? Everything is on one tree. Strange............ I stll want one. Maybe if sales are brisk enough, we'll get the other bike later.

Preach It, Brother Snake! I see many builds at contests, where basics are forgotten in the attempt to use P/E and resin aftermarket bits. As you say it seems to happen more often with the Plane/Armour guys, but Car builds are not immune. All the weathering or shiny paint won't hide unfilled seams or ejector pin marks. As ALL the Model Magazines (SA, FSM, SAMI, & others make clear in the hundreds of articles about "How-To-Build-Contest-Winning-Kits" published over the last 25 years, get the Basics right, and THEN step up to the Resin,P/E, or other goodies.