Danno

Oh yes, your retirement has been really good for us! Keep the eye candy coming.

Over the years, many of you may have seen the work of Chuck Granger, a street rod afficionado and gasser expert. He has posted here in the past, and many of his models appear in the Contest pages of Moonlightmodelers.com. His models have been seen at area shows where he won many awards, at GSL, and in major magazines, most recently in the Feb 2012 issue of Model Cars Magazine. We're deeply saddened by Chuck's sudden and untimely passing Wednesday, December 19, 2012. He was 63. He suffered an aneurysm and massive stroke at home. He was an active member of Moonlight Modelers (of Phoenix) since 1995. He will be missed. Chuck is survived by his loving wife, Kathy, two daughters, and four grandchildren. Memorial Services will be held Saturday, December 22, 2012, at 3:00 PM, at A Wise Choice Desert View Chapel, 9702 E. Apache Trail, Mesa, AZ 85207.

Your write. Me and my frenz feel the same weigh. You're grip sez it awl.

Well put, Tom. Also one of my pet peeves.

Sweet!! Looks great.

Wow. Thanks. I had never heard of it before. Figured there was a story ...

We had an Otis-type drunk ... multiple DUIs. He was a big guy and he gave some of the other officers a bad time, but he liked me and was always "happy" it was me arresting him ... or at least that's what he always said. He once offered to buy me a drink if I'd stop at a bar on the way to jail. I picked him up another time with a .359 BA (anybody else would have been clinically dead, but he had amazing tolerance; I think he blew a .150 when he was sober!). He was in the back seat of a big-azz Ford they bought off the lot (no police package) that we had to use as a real police car. Curvy road to the jail. That Ford was waggin' its booty all over the road. My "guest" offered to drive ... said he couldn't do much worse! I laughed all the way to the hoosegow. That arrest resulted in his 9th DUI conviction ... which happened to be the first DUI conviction in Colorado after they enacted a "habitual DUI" statute ... he was the first person in Colorado history to be sentenced to state prison for a driving/traffic violation. Most drunk driver arrestees were not that jovial.

That was my point. Back seat & cage? Way preferable to front seat. But some agencies just don't spend the money on the cage (divider shield) and without it, no way a prisoner I mean 'guest' goes in the back seat.

Not entirely true. I've had combatative "guests" in the back seat who kicked out side windows (hence the invention of those bar guards), kicked out the back window, and one huge overstressed and hyperpizzed farmboy on PCP who kicked the divider/shield loose. Sometimes you still have to persuade someone to settle down. But, I agree ... the back seat, strapped in (seatbelt/shoulder belt) tightly, and a hefty divider shield and barred windows is the preferred way to fly. Some agencies, however, (largely for cost-saving reasons) just don't offer their law enforcement officers the preferred way to fly.

Hey, Charlie & Tom, I perused that website ... very interesting photos! Thanks for sharing it. But, I have a question ... not being from MA ... What are they referring to when they noted that "Metro" cars were a different color and had different lighting schemes, etc., before being repainted to MSP colors "in the merger." What was "Metro?" Thanks

Thanks!

LOL. Probably . . .

Nope. Ford didn't use the "Mainline" name in 1957.

The early Federal beacon, the fender-mounted sirenlight, and the spotlight shown on the box art are indicated as kit parts. In addition, talk has it there will be a Low-Range VHF whip antenna, a period-correct radio control head, a shotgun, and perhaps some additional interior goodies. We're waiting for a "sneak peak" pic from someone who knows for sure ... hint, hint, hint.

Actually, in the 50's, far more police cars were 2-door sedans than 4-door sedans. Besides, the body & roof were the same. If you really need a 4-door, you can move the B-pillar and rescribe the doors ... voila! 4-door sedan. Or, just wait for the inevitable resin body.

Not aware of any websites taking pre-orders yet, although Spotllight would be a good bet. {I'm plugged into a secret direct-smuggling ring. Vito and Vinnie and the South-Siders sneak a few cases outta da trucks. }

Nice!

Nice job, Sven! Looking forward to the arrival of the case or so* I've ordered. (*Option on additional.) Question: What are the agency names on (1) the 7-point start with balled tips in the upper right corner (next to "BORDER PATROL"), (2) the "POLICE" shield under the Mayberry-style Sheriff stars, and (3) the fire department maltese crosses? {PS: You are probably already aware that "BATTALION" is misspelled, right? I presume that's being fixed before production.} Thanks for a great job!

Not a problem, Jim. By the way ... Happy Birthday! (a day or so late). Glad to see you're staying just ahead of me. This is one thing I wouldn't want to catch up on.

Sweet!!

Jim, In the earlier days, there were more 2-door police cars than 4-door police cars. They were cheaper and officer safety in the event of a prisoner transport had not yet become a big concern. It wasn't until the 60's that 4-door sedans became more common in law enforcement service. Paddy wagons were still very common, so prisoners in cities were usually transported in the back of the big van. And, yes. If a bad guy was to be hauled in where a paddy wagon wasn't available, he/she would usually be carried in the front passenger seat. They just weren't allowed to drive! The '57 Ford 300 was very popular in law enforcement in its day. This should prove to be a huge seller.

As usual ... perfect! By the way, Happy Birthday Jim! {Glad you're staying ahead of me.}

If my name is Miller and I have a window, does that make it a Miller Light?

Oh, Wow! You just never disappoint, Bill! Great build. Thanks for taking us along.

x3