Plowboy

I like the '63 just because they aren't, or don't seem to be as common as the '64. The '64 is much easier to obtain as Revell has done a few issues with it. I just built a '63 recently. I think they can make a pretty wicked looking little car. I may be a little biased though.

Even back when I was kid and set my models on whatever piece of furniture was available, shelves that were hung by eyesight, I've never had a model roll off. I honestly don't see how it can happen. A shelf would have to be way out of level for a model to just roll off.

Out of curiosity, I pulled this kit out of the stash to check it out. I'll admit that the only reason I bought it was for the engine and Ralley wheels. Not a '69 Firebird fan. The inaccuracies on the body are pretty evident. To me, the biggest offender is the side glass opening. The tail light panel also doesn’t look quite right at first glance. But, that area would need to be studied closer to determine one way or the other. I have serious doubts about it being converted from a '68. The inside of the body on mine shows no evidence of being changed. No weld marks. Nothing. It's smooth everywhere. Bodywise, the only thing the '68 and '69 share is the roof. But, there's also no way to prove it one way or the other. It would make about as much sense to take the '68 Impala and turn it into a '69. '69 to a '70? Sure. We've never seen the '68 reissued. But, I doubt it's because it was turned into a '69. I think they just got it wrong. Something that still happens today.

I do it both ways. Just depends. Neither way is right or wrong.

It should be a simple roof swap between the two. Get the cuts right and you could have a '55 sedan and a '56 hardtop.

I don't know how strict the rules are with your club challenge. But, if the cutoff year is '64, the '68 El Camino suspension parts wouldn't be eligible. I suggest checking out the TRaK and HAMB forums for ideas etc. to learn what is and isn't considered traditional. I would suggest using the entire chassis from the Revell '48 Ford custom.

Above and beyond excellent!!

This is the first Phaeton I've seen that I actually like! I especially like the trunk and the fog lights! Those are perfect touches and really make the model. Nice work!

I did the same swap some years ago on the El Camino. I recall the lower side sculpture issue. But, that was it. I can't remember how I did the cuts. But, I later put the '66 front on the '67 body and converted it to a '66 sedan.

Haven't done it. But, if I build another one, I'll use a nice Y block from an AMT or Revell '57. Now that I think about it, I may jerk the DeSoto engine out of the one I have built and swap in a Y block.

About all the AMT kit needs is a better chassis and dress the front end up a bit. The head lights, turn signals, tail lights and grille from the Revell kit will fit the AMT kit easily and makes a big difference. I would rather do that than deal with the separate body chrome on the Revell kit and having to do a roof swap.

The recently reissued '77 Pinto should have what you need.

He did say that he took them from a '67 Chevelle. So, I think he knows.

Very nice looking Supra!! Great work on the decals!

Did you see the photo etch wipers in the second post? They don't get more dimensional than those.

I would choose option 3 and do it up right with the parts from the Revell kit. How many chances will you get to work on something like this? Do it the way you want and enjoy it.

If you can use 1/24 scale, the old Monogram '70 Chevelle has a decent blown big block. I'm thinking the last issue that's a B/M comes with headers.

Really nice looking Mercedes! I'm usually not interested in these types of cars. But, I really like this!! Nice work!

Thanx again everyone for the comments! I appreciate it! Someday, I want to do a nice shiney paint job with this color. The Tamiya Mica colors have a deep, rich look that is unmatched by any other paints IMO.

I built one way back when I was a teenager. Had the same issue. I left the breather loose so I could remove it to put the hood hood on and place it back on with the hood off. With the hood on, you can't see that the breather isn't there.

Rustoleum is actually too hot for styrene. I primered a model with Rustoleum and a week later, it still wasn't dry. So, I stripped it. When I did, it was immediately evident that the primer had etched into the styrene. It didn't craze it badly. But, I couldn't sand all of it away. I'll never use Rustoleum on styrene again.

Really nice looking Max Wedge! Nicely detailed and that paint really sets it off! Nice work!

I would swap the tail panels between the '70 Boss and '69 Shelby. Cut right along the quarter panel cap lines and across the trunk. Any scale difference could easily be worked out. IIRC, the quarter panel vents on the Shelby are separate pieces and could be left off.

While I have no interest in this particular kit, I do have to commend Academy for producing this kit for those that are excited about it. It gives me hope that they'll produce something later on that I will be interested in. It looks dead on regarding proportions. I'll take a simplified accurate kit over an ill proportioned detailed kit any day.

Nice looking D-100! I like the '72 grille! Years ago, I bought an LRE and an eight foot bed that was missing the tail lights. The plan was to build a short bed. But, I never got around to it.