TECHMAN

JON First, I am NOT an expert, but from what I've seen, the '69 model was the last kit that was produced, and from what I've seen, seem to be the most affordable..... I've built that kit, and really, wasn't all that bad of fitment..... Not really certain if any of the earlier releases had much in the way of accessory parts, but the greater amount of the "non-stock" parts were custom body parts in the kit I built...... Look forward to seeing your build. DJ

I went by our Walmart this morning, model display has been getting a workout!!!! Good to see, maybe help the "powers-that-be" decide to get in more models...... Anyhow, went ahead and grabbed one of the 71 Duster kits (wife used to drive one, way back when) and look thru the rest of the kits. And to try to be more accurate: CRAIG is correct, kits were all AMT and MPC, no REVELL. I stand corrected, guess I was day-dreaming when I thought there were Revell kits too...... (that or WISHFUL thinking)😊 DJ

Our local Walmart has "skipped" the past couple of years because of the large amount of kits they had to put on their clearance shelves when they received two displays in a row that were overloaded with 41 Plymouth "Coke kits"....... ( I bought 4 of them for less than $20 including tax, didn't need them, but at that price)...... At least this year, lots of choices here!!!! 😊 DJ

In defense of our USPS: To borrow a few words, "As of late", our local PO has been doing GREAT (hope I haven't jinxed things😉), last things sent/received was to/from Chicago (and we're here in South Central Kentucky). Both packages were mailed on Friday, and both packages showed up at their destinations on Monday morning. The exchange went smoothly THANKS to USPS...... Not always perfect, but for the money, not-so-bad. DJ

Was at our local Walmart yesterday, and they were setting up a new display for the Christmas season, so decided to run back by there this morning to see "what" was going to be in the display. Was pleasantly surprised!!!!! NO COKE KITS, but rather, a really NICE assortment of kits. Would take a page to attempt to list them all, but were mainly the newer (and newest) AMT/MPC/REVELL kits, all priced at $19.97........ Some of the kits that have been out for a bit, but, all in all, a nice enough assortment that most hobby shops would do well with. It's a shame they don't do that year-round...... (it's either 45 miles, 55 miles, or 70 miles from here to buy a model kit, normally)..... DJ

Talked with our local store manager, and after the last two times of their handling models (they came in on a "display pallet" and were OVERLOADED with Coke-41-Plymouths) where the management weren't left with a "pick-and-choose" inventory, a HUGE AMOUNT of the display (primarily those Plymouths) were stuck on the Clearance-Shelf (not a money maker for their store). Thus, management told me, (as kindly as he could) that as long as he had anything to say about it, they would not be handling any more models.......😒 I can understand, I bought a half a dozen of those 41's just because they got down to $4 each..... DJ

Just came in from the garage ("the play-pen") where my rescue cat (POKY) lives, was waiting on a propane tank to run out....... Outside temp right now 1:00am, is 26 degrees 😒 Temperature inside the playpen= 64 degrees 😊 Happy cat!!! 😉 Changed out propane bottle, turned heater back on. Radio said 19 for low tonight, and MIGHT get up to 32 for the high tomorrow....... I'm already waiting on warm weather!!!!! DJ

Would also love to see other "old" trucks brought out..... I.E.: GMC "Cannonball" c.o.e., "Crackerbox" GMC, "Needle-nose" KW & Pete, etc. As was all the "early/vintage" car-kits {T's, 32's, 34's, 36's, 40's), I would think that the truck builders would be thrilled to see "vintage trucks" kitted also..... JMO DJ

I use Evergreen "solid" tubing, heat the area that is going to have any bend beyond 45 degree, and use a simple "jig" that has movable pins to replicate one angle to the next (not so different from the tool shown). The Evergreen can be bent and will hold it's shape quite well, but I find that heating it before bending, than letting it cool back down at the angle I want, sets it permanently at the angle desired. Most Evergreen packs have quite a few pieces of plastic per bag, and are about 3.50 a bag at the local hobby shop...... DJ

Also, RON COON RESINS does both resin and 3D printed carbs, the newest 3D printed Holley (without air horn) is really pretty nice (have a stash of them)' DJ

STEVE My apologies!!!! Went brain dead!!!! YES, ABSOLUTELY!!!! Fireball has some of the VERY BEST looking carbs available on the market, and in both 1/24 and 1/25 scales, THANKS for bringing that to light, will probably be one of the best sources. I thought his was 3D printed?????? DJ

LES I've built a 1955 GMC (1/25) AITM truck, a 1956 Mack LT (1/25) AITM, and have a GMC 950 & B61 Mack cab, all AITM..... For those of us that build 1/25 scale, the prospect of a 1/25 scale Kit of such an iconic truck is exciting, to say the least...... Cool thing about the B61, it was built from 1953 to 1966, so will offer the builders quite a few year spread if they're trying to do a "period build".... DJ ps- What 1955 truck are you building, and in what scale?????

WILLIAM Right off hand, I don't remember any "decent" 1/25 scale 4779 Holley 750 carbs in any of the kits, there was a "reasonably decent" replica in the old Revell ASA kits, but if I'm remembering correctly, those were 1/24 (not that it's very noticeable on a 1/25 engine)...... Downside: OOP kits, not too cheap now, and availability not so good either, only to get a carb......... There are several GOOD outlets available (and members here) that provide 3D printed versions (since you're opposed to resin}, Texas 3D for one. Hope that helps...... DJ

Our USPS went "thru-a-spell" last year, that REALLY tested what little patience I have left....... Was NOT our local help, but, had one package that musta had the proverbial 100K miles on it, before it finally showed up, and the actual distance is only about 300 miles..... "To error is human, to really foul-up requires computer assistance".......😉 DJ

Well sure!!!! Someplace in the old photo albums are pictures of Dad pulling lowboys with B-Model Macks. That's one of the "four combos" I have on my bucket list....😉 DJ

Will watch to see the trucks you build, we moved here to central Kentucky, so don't have much "oil field activity" around here, but we moved here from East Texas, and were only about 15 miles from the "World's Richest Acre" in Kilgore, Texas. Saw a LOT of oil field trucks back then...... DJ

From a kid's show in the early 60's, see if you recognize it (if you do you are O L D like me!!!!!} "Be what you is, not what-you-is-not, folks what does this, are the happiest lot!" Stumped? Wheels turning??? from TUDOR TURTLE (cartoon character, when cartoons even had a "moral story"} 😊 DJ

With the news about the release of a NEW kit coming next fall, I wonder about this: How many of the kits do each of you plan to buy, and WHAT are you planning to build out of each of them?????? I have pictures of my Dad with his logging trucks, lumber trucks, and trucks pulling lowboys, plus pulling belly-dump trailer. So, I guess that my future plans are gonna require four, hope they don't "break the bank"!!!!! 😉 Anyhow, whatcha got planned???? DJ

Also respectfully disagree: Like BILL, I always LOVED my work, took PRIDE in what I did, strove to do BETTER, all the cliches that many people "make fun of"....... Enjoyed a LOT of successes, and A L W A Y S tried my best to be the type of boss/employer that I would have wanted to work for. POSITIVE BUILDS, Negative destroys, a PROVEN fact...... NO "name calling", everyone is entitled to their opinion, whether I am on that "side of the fence" or not, neither carries any weight nor any importance, but, (another old cliche') "The proof is in the pudding" (meaning very simply, "The results speak for themselves") DJ

Another saying that I was "raised with": If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. 😊 DJ

Obviously you ain't ever been kicked by one of those horseshoes....... but, I was referring to the game "Horseshoes" DJ

And was stated before: You can't fix "stupid" with duct tape, but you can muffle it!!!!! 😊 DJ

CLOSE counts in "horse-shoes & hand-grenades"!!!!!! 😉 DJ

First, thanks BILL for the previous post, second, GREG, what comes in the kit is a VERY poorly done excuse for a "LA" series Mopar small block (273-318-340-360), more simply i.d.'d by the bolt pattern of the valve covers, BUT, confused by the incorrect spacing of the exhaust ports. To "correct" this "lump" (as you pretty well described it) fill in the two center holes with round stock, "pinch" the two center tubes of their "headers" together and glue them to get an exhaust port pattern similar to the small block Chevy O--OO--O then you have a (basically) usable small block mopar. And YES, over the years, have built a basket-load of Mopars, as well as Fords, GM's, AMC's, and a F E W "exotics" like British Leyland built examples. During the "early years" even built several old flatheads, & 6-bangers...... Remember: I'm an old ______ !!!!!! 😊 And, back to the original issue: I have not seen, in any kit that I can remember (NOT saying they don't exist) that included "some rendering" of a Poly-head engine either. Seems it would be a product that one of the better 3-d guys could come up with.......????? DJ

AGREE 100% DJ