Dave Darby

If you've got 'em, run 'em. I think it's been a while since the 69 Cougar was out last, and if that's what it takes to get Hobby Lobby to carry it, so be it. Unless you want to loan Round a quarter million plus to cut a new tool.

He meant Photoshopped. That's a 66 Nova Wagon on his box art. Neat idea.

Has RoG killed off the Monogram label?

Pretty cool Pyro grab. The red and green ones might look nice with polished plastic and the necessary detail painting, such as chrome details, and black tires with whitewalls when appropriate. I built a bunch of the old Chevy and Ford Pyro kits as a kid. Pyro really shined with their brass era kits. I had a Pyro Renault Town Car when I was around 9 or 10, back in 70-71 when they were still in stores. Mine was molded in blue, and I recall it being a really nice kit. Someday, I'd like to take another stab at one.

At one time, Revell made a seriously understatement 34 Ford Coupe (with a rare roadster variant) based off of the John Buttera T sedan chassis. I seem to recall someone sitting building one with the Fiat body on it. While the fenders aren't prototypically correct, it did fit pretty well. If I had more convenient access to my stash, I'd pull my parts out, and grab a pic of the combination for you.

Other than a dual 4 barrel carb intake from the 57 300C, I don't think there's ever been a stock intake kitted for that engine. You might try modifying that one, or the AlaKart/Mod Rod Manifold to a single 4 barrel version.

Depending on how close to stock it is, the 66 Fairlane chassis would be more correct. The Revell 70 Torino would be even better, as it's more accurately done. The 60-65 Falcon/Comet architecture wasn't designed to accommodate a big block.

Are you sure that 260 was the original engine?

But I think there is a big difference between sales at a locally owned hobby shop and big box stores such as Hobby Lobby. Locally owned hobby shops cannot compete price-wise with big box stores, due to their volume discount pricing, and the fact that they also don't depend solely on model kits to keep their lights on. The crowd that buys those clone tools isn't going to the locally owned hobby shop, when they can buy the same kit at Hobby Lobby with the 40 percent discount, The guys chasing Tamiya kits can't find them at Hobby Lobby, so they buy local. So quite honestly, you may well be comparing apples to oranges. It's kind of like saying such and such rare kit is going for 300 dollars on eBay, so it's sure to be a big seller if you reissue or retool it. Most of the time, those kits were rare because nobody was buying them. I'm pretty sure both Hobby Lobby and Round 2 know who their customer base is. You know what sells at your shop, but the big box stores and kit companies know what sells on the overall level. I'll finish with a reminder that the model car industry isn't what it used to be, and tools with a high parts count are expensive. That's why, when the the 71 Demon finally came out, it was a clone, instead of a new high detailed tool. It was the only way it could financially happen. It sure beats going without. The same applies to those old Johan kits.

Very cool pair of "Revivors".

While I'm pretty sure the Thunderbird was the only Ford you could get a 430 in, the concept, and the execution are first rate, and the only thing I'd change is the zip code of the shelf it's sitting on. It looks factory, and the detailing is first rate. I love it.

Most of these guys never go into that kind of detail. They just say "Nothing fits on this thing". Such and such's kits are all junk. Typically, it's a kit that's been around a long time, and has built successfully by both kids and adults for generations. So the question of are you a builder or are you an assembler, might be better articulated by the Henry Ford quote: "Don't find fault, find a remedy."

Looks like right out of the 70s. Love it!

Looks great!

AMEN, brother! TB My point was actually aimed at the complainers, not judging one building style or process over another. Take the bumps in stride, instead of damning the kit or the manufacturer. I have some builds that are just polished bare plastic. It's all good. In a way, you did make my point though. Your average Johan kit is basically an unassembled promo with an engine. The person I was responding to said that new tools have to have modern level details to be worth producing. I'd take extra options over extra complexity. Anyway, I'd love to see this come back.