Oldcarfan27

I have no doubt that they are.

I agree whole heartedly with what you said and I'm in for these kits just like I got multiples of the Olds conv and 442 and the Nova wagon Can't wait! My sentiments EXACTLY! I also was building back when Racing Champions owned AMT/ERTL and the lack of care or passion for their kit market left me cold. They invested nothing in improving old tooling and didn't know what to do with new tooling, so their inventory was mostly dull - same reissues over and over. But now we have a company that not only likes it's job, but cares about it's history and it's market, it's a win-win as far as I'm concerned.

They didn't have GPS when these rigs were new in the 80s.

They didn't have GPS when these rigs were new in the 80s.

Oh I've drooled over this build in the past, but seeing all the details reminds me of how good this kit can look when done right! I'm hoping R2 brings out this kit in 2wd soon.

Thank You Steve. It's good to have great photos of your builds saved here for posterity. I don't think I've gotten to see all your builds yet.

That's the way to do it. Take three junk heaps and make one good scene. That's "repurposing" in it's purest sense! I'd say, the Challenge was not only met, but exceeded!

That's a good idea, it'll definitely work better as a load cover than it does at blocking weeds! Ask me how I know.

Not sure, but I think those "things" on the top of the sleeper are clearance lights. Maybe the truckers in this group can say for sure.

I'd be willing to bet that many of the complainers aren't even interested in the subject matter anyway, they just want every box to include the 350+ parts, photoetch, accurate hinges and perfect rubber tires. And then they complain about the $100 cost and that WalMart or Hobby Lobby don't carry it! Steve Guthmiller proved what can be done with an old, original annual kit like this. If you want that kind of detail, there is the standard - go live up to it! Otherwise, go start your own model company and see how easy it is to make subjects the way you expect others to do! For a kit that hasn't been produced for almost 55 years, I'll take anything I can get. And if it's a NEW copy of that annual, then it's at least as good as anything else available and I'll make it better if I want to. Better than waiting for someone else to come out with a multi-media unicorn that doesn't exist. There, end of rant.

Well done. Those decals and wheels really improved the kit!

I didn't know people still used hair spray?

Guess it's time to start shooting it up! ?

Or our merchandise logistics are delivered by big rigs, airplanes and locomotives that have extremely loooong electric cords! Can you imagine the shortouts we'd have when those electric transatlantic container ships touch water? ?

Nobody is saying the EVs shouldn't exist, it's that they are just not the "be all/end all" solution for everybody's driving needs that certain groups try to make us believe they are! Another point to bring up is that we as consumers are being FORCED to comply with this current thinking, whether we like it or not! I personally have issue with being made to buy anything just because others want to make choices obsolete. I was under the impression that it was about finding an ALTERNATIVE, clean burning means of transportation, not eliminating it! For decades, we were told catalytic converters were cleaner, then it was fuel injection, then direct injection, then ethanol, natural gas, propane, solar, wind, and finally - hybrids. Now none of that is good enough, it's got to be electric and only electric! Forget that our suppliers and economic infrastructures are not ready for the overload that would happen if everybody suddenly went EV. Somehow, the mantra went from "If you build it, they will come" to "Do what we say, because we know better, don't worry if it's not ready"! Couple that with the fact that my income does not make buying a 50-75 thousand dollar status symbol an option. Conversely, I also don't believe that buying somebody else's used problems to be an acceptable solution for this technology either.

That Joe Dirt?

I just saw on Scalemates that the "Street Rat" version was last available in 1995. Take it for what it's worth, but at least there were two reissues since it was originally released. So at least we know it wasn't a "once and done" version. Hopefully the insert still exists - be it Revell or Atlantis.

I'm thinking the body wasn't this bad until it was shot up and beat on (look at the hood). The car still had it's original numbers matching engine. The article said that the property owners had interests in Mopars, so I'm guessing anything else was fair game.

Growing up, I remember this livery! There's a bunch of unusual companies that I think would be great to match up with these vintage rigs and trailers. I can remember Bekins, Branch, Mayflower, 3m, Sears, Navajo, Yellow Freight Systems, TC TransCon, P.I.E, Alpha Beta and Lucky Stores. They may not have been nationwide, but they were around a lot when I was a kid. And they had unusual color schemes to go on the rigs.

That'll buff right out!! That and a few gallons of Bondo and it'll look like new!

Generally speaking, anyone who knows that they're going to be driving out far enough into the wild where there is no AAA, will be smart enough to make sure their vehicle is in good enough shape not to leave them stranded. If it's not starting or has mechanical problems to begin with, probably not a good idea to go on a freestyle adventure out to nowhere. Rock Crawlers don't drive to their locations as they're probably not street legal, so they get trailered. As far as punctured oil pans, don't crash over rocks! That is something trail drivers don't have to do. They're also smart enough to carry extra fuel and not drive any farther than they can get back! None of these scenarios should be surprises with proper planning, so I'm not understanding how you could say driving off-road could be so unpredictable? However, I too have wondered how people can make impulsive long distance trips when the electric car only gets as much as 350 miles on average per charge. Not every stop across the country has charging stations and average is 1-6 hours per charge. Not a quick trip by any means and it sure doesn't take an hour or more to fill up a tank with dinosaur juice.

Don't forget the AMT 55 Nomad. Also keep an eye out for diecast cars. I have a 57 Chevy wagon labelled "West Coast Customs" and a 56 Chevy Suburban in flat black.

I suggest laying a piece of tape along the line you want to recreate, then build up a thin layer of putty next to it. Sand the area with 150 grit sandpaper while the tape is in place. Following that, remove the tape and lay a new piece on the same line over the area you just built-up, then putty the opposite side and sand. This will build a ridge that can be used to recreate the crease that was previously lost. A line of tape can also be used to protect a styling line when you have to sand off trim that is close to it. Use the tape as a shield to keep the sanding from obliterating it.

Nice color. Kinda looks like a candy orange metallic.