Brian Austin

Pyro's VW Beetle kit went through several iterations. https://www.scalemates.com/kits/pyro-329-volkswagen--1094633

This is the first I've heard of #1242, sounds interesting. IIRC the Polar Lights Ectomobile was a different from the older AMT version. The respective movie cars were slightly different. It would be nice to see the AMT kit again, even in modified form, since I'd only toss out the Ecto-stuff anyway.

The ARII/IMEX kits have their share of issues. The chassis and mechanicals seem very close to the Revell 1959 in size, at 1:25. The body, bumpers, windshields, interior, etc., however are way, way too wide. Note these kits represent the regular Cadillac Eldorado models. The old Revell kit in question represented a premium Cadillac, handbuilt. These were unrelated to the regular production models except for the chassis. Period promo info regarding the '57 Eldorado Brougham: http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Cadillac/1957_Cadillac/1957_Cadillac_Eldorado_Brougham_Press_Release/dirindex.html. http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Cadillac/1957_Cadillac/1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham Salesmen's Data Book/index1.html

Sometimes airport limos get rebuilt into novelty rental limos. One example of a '57 can be found on this page: http://my.net-link.net/~dcline/l_s_own1.htm

Funny I remember watching IROC racing decades ago, and they were identically-prepared cars. I'm a bit disappointed that I saw the hype surrounding the dirt race for weeks, but in the end it got moved to a day I had to work and so I missed it. The race got further publicity when Richard Petty made some public comments that were less than positive.

I just went to a HL in my area for the first time. Got a Revell snap '57 Chevy and a can of Testors spray paint for a touch less than $20 total.

The "Paper" commercial reminded me of this classic:

TV Guide, 1981 & Readers Digest (date lost, from the same era). Note the crushed MG at the end of the article.

Esquire magazine, 1978. Interestingly the article touches upon the use of computer graphics in this field, though perhaps it is not remembered. Do any of you remember the Pacer wagon?

I was reminded of some old magazine clippings I've had for a long while. I'd love to find these commercials on YouTube. These two from TV Guide (Citation article dates from 1980).

Tom, the funny thing is I had presumed the Tech Toys signage was made up by the production company, because I thought I had read in a discussion somewhere that storefronts were altered in other commercials in the series.

That's just part of the humor. We'd never suspect that from Jamie.

Somewhere in my pile of VHS tapes (some digitized) is a behind-the-scenes TV segment from the '90s showing the work behind the first commercial shown below. Miniature props were utilized.

As of yet he's posted seven or so videos of this build. He stated he was initially going to stockpile the entire contents of the subscription segments before starting, but he figured while in a lockdown situation he might as well start now. So we won't see the finished project for a long while yet. It would be fun to build the kit as a stock Miller-Meteor hearse or ambulance, but at the price these go for I'll pass. :-)

Fire trucks are pretty much custom-built, and builders did often "borrow" cabs from major truck builders. Too bad there are no markings on the cab to further research.

Thanks!

Some good info regarding the kit's origin here. Note the scale of the crane is stated at 1:60. https://www.tandem-associates.com/lionel/lionel_trains_6828_flat_car.htm Also included two pictures from a past auction showing a typical example to compare against my modifications.

Note the boom is designed to fold, but my model is permanently set up in the raised position.

How it looks today. Interestingly, the seamless backdrop is the same sheet of grey mat board seen in the previous set, though perhaps the color has shifted some. Light stand is the same, a hot old incandescent photo lamp. The older pictures were shot on film, so that much is different. :-) The letters that make the P&H logo on the counterweight, standing in relief, were cut from styrene sheet. Thankfully the logos on the boom were already molded in relief and so I only had to pick them out with paint. They do make a nice contrast to the sea of black. Hook and all sheaves (pulleys) were cut and shaped from styrene.

This truck crane was completed around 2005. The kit was a simplified snap kit intended as a model railroad accessory. Lionel also offered a P&H excavator. Both were initially offered in 1960 and reissued from time to time over the years. Mine dated from 1995. I found reference material online and modified the kit to suit. Were I to find another kit I'd build it as a three-axle early version. I made the mistake of posing the front wheels turned, compounding that with not making metal stub axles. I ended up breaking one wheel off. It will be a tricky repair if I attempt it. It just added to the general frustration of this project. Some time after completion at a model show while removing it from its box the hook caught on something and yanked the cable (black heavy thread) off the pulleys, causing a major tangle. Threading the cable in the first place had been a headache itself, and so I was rather disgusted by the turn of events. I also should have glued the sliding door in, as it was always loose and I often forgot to pop it in place at shows. So you may happen to have pictures of it from, say, NNL East with the door missing. On the other hand, I am pleased with the weathering, particularly the counterweight. This first series of pictures is from 2005 or so...

Very nicely done. The brick pattern is unusual, not one I'm familiar with. Definitely a break from the "common bond" pattern usually seen in dioramas.

I've liked some past commercials with Flo and Jamie, but lately the characters seem just annoying. "In universe" they seem obnoxious with other characters, particularly Jamie's ride with a woman in her car in a current commercial. Quirky characters are fine, but this is beyond that. I don't understand the reason behind the Emu. Farmers Insurance commercials have used quite a few miniature props and sets. I've seen behind the scenes pictures, including a 1:25 pickup. https://foncostudios.com/fabrication

The March 1921 issue of Popular Mechanics ran an article on another camping car.

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