Metalbeast

Looks like I picked a good time to get back into the hobby! I've only built a handful of Tamiya kits but each one was a pure pleasure every time. That was 20 odd years back now. I'm guessing their new stuff is even better than that.

I may be in the minority as far as the Testors version, but years and years ago I painted about five or six models with the same can of Ford Jade green metallic with a can of PlastiKote touch up paint from my uncle's shop.

I have friends in St.Johns, so I'm aware of the area. I'm originally from the Grand Rapids area.

Personally, I get everything straight and square and then glue them in place. Had a finished model I was fond off roll off of a shelf once and shatter into a billion pieces. Fortunately I was able to repair it but from there on I glued my wheels solid. Starting with the one that took a tumble! I think of it as a parking brake for the shelf, lol.

Years and years ago I built their Hyundai Excel kit- it was a motorized kit with glass molded in this weird bluish green. I mean the windows, headlights, everything. Didn't seem too bad at the time but I'm sure if I got that same kit today I'd be horrified. I'm really interested in this, though. I love seeing kits of ordinary, everyday cars and this fits the bill to a T. I even have a little experience with a 1:1 Santa Fe- I drove a 2003 version years ago as a body shop loaner!

A Y-block would be an easy swap, in the kit and real life. The real trucks got the Y block for '54. Years ago I built one with a Y block, I want to say I used one from a Revell '56 and fitted a supercharger from an AMT '57 Ford. The Buick would be interesting. Never having built the 62 Buick I know nothing about that particular enine but I seem to remember the AMT '66 Riv had a really nice dual-quad Nail head. The custom grille you refer to always reminded me of a '65 Studebaker front end.

My name's Kevin. Well, I go by Kevin. It's actually my middle name. Let's just say my parents reached way back into my family history and pulled out a first name that never really worked for me. After bouncing around the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan I finally settled back in the last one, my home state. It's been quite a while since I last built a model, but once I get settled in I plan to get back into the hobby. The new place is an old two-story farmhouse and I think there's a room upstairs which will serve well as a workshop. My interests are all over the place, as I get things unboxed and dusted off I will share some of the stuff I've built. For now I'm just going to poke around and see what's what. Have a great evening!