Dave Darby

BTW. Looking good! Can't wait to see it finished.

No. As he posted it's a 1960 Comet. The Comet was originally supposed to be part of the Edsel line and not receive a Mercury nameplate until 1963.

Tulip I don't open every post I see here but when I see yours I always check in and am never disappointed. Here is a cloudmist gray example built from the AMT coupe and sedan kits long before Revell did a 40. Started it 25 years ago. I really should finish it someday. The one in the back is a left over from the spray paint process. (I kept stripping and repainting until I was happy with the paint job.)

Another one out of the park. I am a bit curious why you stripped the playing from the radiator. It doesn't match the box art or the real car. Always love seeing your builds.

Nice clean build. Love the color.

Love the precise plastic surgery. Way cool phantom 5 window with the suicide doors and 3 window front door lines. The color scheme and details add character and realism. I like it.

Just do a little kit bashing with the Blue Bandito.

Not likely it was damaged in the train wreck as much as it duplicated Monogram existing 34 Ford (which was probably the best made) and was scrapped with most of the other tools. https://culttvman.com/main/aurora-faq-6-what-is-the-story-about-the-aurora-train-wreck/

That is off the hook with coolness.

Nailed it.

I'll second that!

Not a complaint. Just statement of fact. Look at the photo of the real one above. The rocker panels come down below the front bumper. On the new tool kit they are almost even - as if it were sectioned. The front bumpers are too tall. Compare the engine in that kit to any other FE series kit and you can see how seriously undersized it is. The rear axle shares the same shortcomings. And I own several copies of the thing. I built this pre paint for my brother. The Edsel kit isnt as bad as Trumpeter 64 Falcon, but it's not as good as the 60 Starliner or 57 300C.

No on both counts. There was a chopped Victoria roof, a Carson top, and stock convertible up top. No other roof options ever. The Carson top was re-worked into the half top that's in all of the kits subsequent to the Showboat issue.

I'm glad you replaced the photos. Very cool build just like the cover of the 1963 Petersen's Custom Cars annual. I also like how you put a nailhead buick in just like he originally built it.

Funny you mention that. I have an old survivor in my collection just like that...

Hi Craig. Yep, a straight axle (not plated). That and the plastic slicks are the additions (and probably why the Victoria roof, skirts and fins are gone forever). Looks like they opened a couple gates On the chrome tree as a couple dividers and possibly the rear glass for the Vicky are present. On the negative side they ruined the two rear Cragar mag wheels. BTW, for anyone curious about the Carson top, the half top is what's left of it. You can see traces of the pleats on the ejector pin marks on the underside.

Basically a straight axle and plastic drag slicks. Also the rear pair of Cragar mags has been replaced with some generic 5 spokes. New expanded decal sheet. Nothing removed.

My bigger issue with the Buttera 289 is the oddly shaped valve covers. The overall scale doesn't really jump out at me. That said, we are way overdue for a 26-27 T Roadster and a 30-31 A roadster. When John Mueller told me about the Model A hot rod project he was working on back in 2013, I was really surprised they didn't do the 30-31 A Roadster. After all, there's already a 29 out there that to me is still the gold standard. But they still have time. Could be another variant on that tool. Love your T, Tim!

Actually Ford changed their frame design in 1965, doing away with the cow belly frame and leaf spring suspension in favor of a perimeter style frame with coil springs. It was a NASCAR favorite, and was used almost universally in the latter years. That said, the new tool Edsel has a ton of scale and proportion issues. The engine and rear axle are undersized, and the body isn't tall enough between the rocker panels and the beltline. Other than that it's a pretty cool kit. And yes the chassis would make a nifty donor for the 57 Fairlane.

Well like I said, it's not the Petty kit anymore. It's a factory stock Road Runner. But I'll still bet the tool is just fine. I think that's why the Petty car didn't come out. Karen Sands at Ertl said years ago the 34 Ford truck tool was damaged too, but we saw what really happened to it later.

Here is my guess. In 1995 AMT/Ertl planned on reissuing the Petty Roadrunner. Then they figured out that the tool had been backdated to a stock 71 RR so they abandoned the idea as they would have to undo that work. Meanwhile Ertl changes hands. Zero or miss communication ensues. I'll bet that 71 Roadrunner tool is ready to roll possibly short of having the chassis and dashboard borrowed for the 74 RR.

Blue Bandito definitely was a flash in the pan. I bought 5 of them. Used parts from one to make this.... Paint is Testers Flame Red Lacquer and Tamiya Flat Tan. Next one (Sold this s one in a pinch on eBay) will have wheel spinners from the Predicta.

These would make a dandy Faux-vivor Friday post on the Scale Survivor Facebook page. Waaaaay Cool!

My prediction is it will be released with the same parts it had pre Boyd, with pad printed tires, extra set of the same glass tinted green and an expanded decal sheet. BTW, somewhere along the line the original clear tool was lost. Compare an old original to a newer Ertl kit and you can see the newer custom grill is not as thick and the head lights have no engraving.

A work of art! Not too much pun intended...