Arjay 396

I've been flogging this '64 Impala Super Sport for a while now. It's Revell's pre-painted die-cast and plastic version in Daytona Blue, part of their "American Dreams" series of kits. As furnished the model features a 327/Powerglide combo which I've altered to the dual-quad 409/425 with 4-speed configuration. A relatively easy powertrain swap requiring only some modifications to the exhaust headers so they match up with the manifolds. The kit's generic blackwall rubber was ditched in favor of a set of period-correct whitewalls of unknown pedigree. The motor itself is basically stock though I upgraded the ignition system via a Parts By Park distributor, spark coil, and plug wires. Giddyup, giddyup, giddyup......

The CMW GTO is a nice model but beware: despite the markings on the box, it (like their '66 Chevelles and their various iterations of the '69 Camaro) is most definitely 1/25th scale. Not a bad thing mind you but it should be noted. Many of Welly's releases are the same: advertised as 1/24th but actually 1/25th (or even smaller in the case of their otherwise excellent '65 Impala Super Sport). I have the CMW GTO in Twilight Turquoise and though it's a nice replica, the First Gear model eclipses it in several areas. But love the teal color so it's staying in the collection.

The CAR versions are rare as hen's teeth -- I've only seen two since the Fairlane's initial release a couple of years ago, both of them Parts Plus promos. But the Signal Flare Red and Black editions are pretty prolific, as is a NAPA promo in their corporate colors. The black edition features a maroon interior. If First Gear ever re-pops this model I hope they send it out wearing Wimbleton White (with the maroon innards). BTW if you haven't already, check out FG's '66 GTO in Barrier Blue. I just picked one up about a week ago, a real nice model!

Needs a sunburst Strat and a blackface Fender Vibroverb for real credibility. Seriously though, that's a nice collection and the sub-set vignettes are quite eye-catching. RAWK ON!

You folks are too kind -- thanks so much for the warm greetings. I've already gotten some great modeling tips from Geno and Snake 45 and I'm looking forward to improving my modeling skill set with each visit.

Thanks, Geno! I've got two of the First Gear Fairlanes thus far -- one in Signal Flare Red (a near dead-nuts stand-in for Calypso Coral) and the other in Candy Apple Red (the CAR edition was a Parts Plus promo). The model looks good generally but the wheels seem rather anemic. I swapped them out on the CAR car with more appropriate looking rims and repainted the interior in saddle tan. I do wish that First Gear had chosen to release the replica as a GTA (with the chrome hood inserts) but hey, beggars can't be choosers. Anyway, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I believe it is. I've only built a few choppers thus far and I'm working my way up to trying an old Aurora H-21 Shawnee that I picked up on the cheap from Ebay. Here's a UH-60 I finished a few years back, wearing "dust off" markings......

The Fathom Green Chevelle can often be found on Ebay -- in fact all of them turn up there eventually. I've got a second unmolested example that is now surplus to my needs. PM me if there's any interest. As I re-examine my Revell Charger I think you may be right about the grill being a bit shallow. None the less it "rides" well with the rest of my 1/25th scale collection......

Kowalski's Challenger R/T did not have the blacked-out backlite or the sport-style outside mirror. As R/T's go, it was a pretty lightly-optioned car. It didn't even have the console.

I've never been a fan of the P02 hubcap but those turned out exceptionally well. I'd say the time and effort you put into the model's entire "tune up" was well worth the effort.

Just......stunning!

+1! First Gear picks up the slack where a lot of the "big guns" have totally fumbled the ball. Their '69 Z28 Camaro, like their Chevelle, is simply superb. The only egg they've laid so far (that I've found) was their '69 Charger. That thing was hopelessly hosed. For the big Dodge B body I settled on Revell's "Bullitt" model. I wasn't interested in a movie car so I built it as a fully-dressed R/T with red graphics around the back end, Magnum 500 wheels, and tampo'd AMT Polyglas GT's......

I was never totally at peace with either DM's or FM's 68/69 Chevelles even though I bought multiples of both (go figure!). From my vantage it looks like Danbury wins the nod from the front bumper to the A pillar but Franklin's back end carries the day. Franklin's wheels are also superior to those from Danbury, being fully plated with dark recess painting and better looking depictions of the trim rings. I have a quartet of the FM wheels (with Polyglas RWL tires) that I hope to someday swap onto my Butternut Yellow '69 DM. Regardless, I still think the First Gear rendition is superior to both. I have a NAPA promo version that I one day intend to repaint in LeMans Blue. I've already stripped off the yellow corporate stripes from the hood and deck lid and added a black vinyl roof. It'll make a nice companion for my First Gear Z28 in Marina Blue......

I picked up a few manufacturers promos recently to plug some holes in my 1/25th scale die-cast collection, among them this red Plymouth E-body. To call it a Cuda is a bit of a misnomer since it lacks the requisite rally hood. What it really is, is a Barracuda with a dual-exhaust V8 powerplant. I plan to buff and polish the red plastic and accent the chrome trim with BMF. I upgraded the front end with a grill insert from the Johan kit and drafted some rectangular fog lamps to serve as turn signals. At the rear I added a polished aluminum molding around the backlite, rebuilt the license-plate mount, and sleeved the taillights with some polished K&S aluminum tubing. The wheels got the usual detailing via paint.

That windshield glass is pretty thick. You might ditch those stock wing vents altogether and replace them with some .010" clear sheet styrene. Thanks for the tip about the nail-polish remover -- I might need that someday.

The F-104 also made a brief appearance in the original "Star Trek" franchise......

That's a swell looking model, Jim! It reminds me of the aircraft on the flightline at Fort Rucker back in the '60s (the orange-and-white training colors). I learned to fly in a Hughes TH-55A Osage (we called it the "Mattel Messerschmitt") painted in that same scheme.

That's a possibility, Geno. Here's the First Gear model (Big O Tire promo in Hugger Orange) apposed with Danbury Mint's Grecian Green '68 coupe. The cars are aligned at the rear bumper. The DM is roughly 3/16" longer.

Based on Chevrolet's published dimensions for the 1969 Chevelle, First Gear's replica is indeed 1/25th scale. I have several of these models and while excellent in most respects, the car is in *serious* need of a ride-height adjustment. The stance is fine but it's too high overall. Corporate logos can be removed from the windows of promo editions by gentle sanding and polishing with Novus or Bare Metal Compound. Here's two Fathom Green versions, one of them tuned up via a set of Fred Cady side stripes......

I'm retired military and now somewhat disabled, with plenty of time on my hands (or however much the Good Lord decides I deserve as one of Uncle Sam's out-to-pasture slaughter dogs). I've been building models and miniatures of all types since I was six years old. I got into seriously collecting die-cast cars a few years back then decided to try my hand at modifying existing vehicles and building a few new ones from kits. My primary automotive interests are muscle cars from the '60s and early '70s, with a special emphasis on the 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T (a car I once owned as a young airman). I think I've got every credible die-cast of this vehicle that's ever been made in either 1/24th or 1/25th scale plus a B5 Blue 1/18th scale T/A version. My secondary hobbies include collecting military firearms and restoring vintage Fender guitar amps. To satisfy my visceral automotive urges I own and drive a restored '69 SS396 Chevelle coupe -- LeMans Blue with a black vinyl roof, black side stripes, and black interior. I look forward to visiting this forum often and learning the tricks to make my modeling pursuits that much more enjoyable.