Dave Darby

I wish everybody would do that. Threads aren't much good without the supporting photos. Thank you for doing that.

I started this AMT 29 Model A over 25 years ago, shortly after Testors came out with their now long defunct Colors by Boyd paint line. I stepped the frame, and cut out the stock center section from the rear axle, and added a Halibrand Quick Change from the 25 T kit. The front axle from a Revell 32 Ford brings up the front, and the body got doused with some Dusty Rose Pearl. And that is as far as it got for a very long time. I traced this out in Adobe Illustrator over a photo of a stock frame to show how to step the frame. (A little confession - I used two frames on mine.) And then I got bored with it. I couldn't decide how I wanted to finish it. What engine to use, etc. Over the years I did a little experimenting with different wheel and tire combinations, until I hit on these. (Along with the interior tub from the old tool Ala Kart.) All of the above photos are 15-20 years old. Now we are getting somewhere. The rear wheels are the chrome reversed from the AMT 57 Chevy, with the Parts Pack Whitewall Cheater slicks. The fronts are a little less obvious... The tires are from the new tool Ala Kart, but turned inside out because it allowed me to not only use the front wheels from the AMT 49 Ford (chromed with a Molotow marker), but I was also able paint on my own larger whitewalls. The Revell 57 Chevy 283 is a filler, but the the early Ford Toploader, along with the bellhousing adapter will end up being mated to the rest of the engine from a Revell Tweedy Pie. Next up, to do something about that interior tub fit. Better, but there is still a gap on the back of the seat. That ends up getting filled in with Milliput putty. Yes, that's the same paint. Looking better here, but there's more to come. Here you can see where I started smoothing that frame down, and a not so common 1/25th scale tripower set-up from a Revell 56 Chevy that Larry Moore graciously donated. Thank you Larry! (Wait'll he sees what I did to that manifold!) The engine and transmission setup in this car are all vintage Revell, designed by Jim Keeler. The detail and scale fidelity of these parts is even more impressive considering he designed them in the early 60s. And all the parts interchange nicely. Bottom side of that chassis showing the Ala Kart center cross-member and new front engine mount. Here's where we take a break, but I will leave you with a teaser photo - a now painted chassis mockup with the assembled and painted Tweedy Pie 283 Chevy engine.

Looking good! Love the way you personalized it and gave it a unique and realistic character. Well done.

I concur. Forgot the Bullhorn was a larger scale. My bad. Either way, definitely copied.

OK, 2 bucks says Pyro scaled that engine up from the Monogram SBC, including the Weiand 6 carb intake. The body and nose look suspiciously like the XR6. I should have looked at the box closer. I was only looking at the parts.

2 bucks says Lindberg scaled that engine up from the Monogram SBC, including the Weiand 6 carb intake. The body and nose look suspiciously like the XR6. Wouldn't be the first time for Lindberg.

Really nice take on an iconic roadster.

Great color. I like it.

I like them both.

I got to the bottom of the loose tire situation. Round 2 recently retooled their Firestone Supreme tires. They are in the 60 Chevy truck as well as the 64 F85. You can identify them by the lack of raised lettering, and a flatter sidewall crown. These new Firestone Supreme tires have a larger inner diameter than do the older tires by roughly .040". If you have some of the older ones floating around, give them a try.

AMT wheel and inner tire diameter has varied quite a bit through the years, even in the same kits, at times. In the case of the 64 F85, I think it's a matter of not matching the tire to the inner wheel. I think the Firestone Supremes were tooled in 1965, replacing the annual tires that were used from 60-64. It's hard to say. Either way, somebody dropped the ball.

Looking at this build is almost like reading an epic novel. What a gorgeous, immaculately detailed beauty. You mentioned the wheels were pieced together. Can you share some details on that? A link to the build thread for those of us who missed it the first time around?

I have to agree with you, Steve does super nice work. And that GP is pure gorgeous.

Wow that's cool. I like it!

Looking good, Sir!

You did a beautiful job on this one. The engine looks great!

Nice, but where's the model? ? Seriously though, super nice job on both the build and the photography. Miuras are my favorite Lambos, and you did this one proud.

To the best of my knowledge, it was updated annually, like the 63-67 that preceded it was. I always liked those old shark bodied Vettes.

From what I've read, Ertl could not find the sedan body insert. Then again, they also at one point couldn't find the 40 Ford Sedan Delivery body insert either. My guess is that the 32 Sedan body insert is in the 1940 Willys tool, where it originated.

Holy Moly. Just when I thought they couldn't get any better. These are gorgeous, and the colors knock them straight out of the park. The perfect frosting on the cake of excellent bodywork. What colors are those?

Paint looks decent to me. Mask off the sharp character lines to protect from rub through, and polish that bad boy up, maybe.

My guess is the only thing new in this issue will be the box art and decals. AMT/Ertl redid the wheels and tires (not for the best), and added a pair of engraved emblems for the Pro Shop/Promo issue during the 1990s, so it will likely be running the same promo tires it had from those issues. I'd like to see the old wheels returned to the kit, as the engraving was vastly superior to the current ones. Either way, I want one. Or more. Curbside or not.

Too many pictures? poppycock. Looks great Gary! A nice save, great melding of the old and new kits, period correct to a tee, and another lovely paint job. I hope we can meet again at the next "Hope It Don't (get cancelled again) Snow show in Spartanburg next year. Always love seeing your work in person.

I'm sending some solid kudos to both of you, Tom and Dennis.

Ding ding ding, we have a winnah! Love this one. Everything about it. It's modern, yet classic at the same time. The engine detail is icing on the cake. Love the other "El Co's" in this thread too. But this one had me at hello.