tim boyd

Wow Dave,,,,,best picture I have ever seen of the Y-Block fuel injection setup. Gotta put this one in the file......TIM

I've been reading the commentary here and wanted to comment. I think Luc is to be commended for his efforts to inform the model car building community on some of the considerations kit manufacturers must address in deciding which topics to commit to scale models. The key takeaway from Luc's project? Yes, it is a ton of work to put together a viable model kit topic proposal. About giving away your work for free? Yes, I struggle with that one as well. I've been going through my model car files archive this last week in week in preparation for a model car book project I was commissioned to write and photograph (it will be coming out about this time next year). In going through this stuff, I've been surprisingly reminded about how often I was contacted by the model companies for "advice" on future kit topics and my feedback on their ideas during the last two decades. And believe it or not, a surprising number of those ideas have eventually become reality. Was I paid for any of this? Not a single dime. (The only model project I've been paid for since the mid to late 1970's work I did for AMT was a project for Revell to assemble and document the issues out of the first test shots of the Revell Model A project several years ago.) Now that I am retired, I could use the extra money that would come from my currently unpaid "consulting" work for Revell, Round 2, and Moebius. But you know what? Given the economics of the model car kit business these days, it ain't gonna happen. ( I know the model companies also have others they contact for this type of feedback, and while I don't know the individual arrangements, I suspect that they went unpaid for ideas as well..) So are we better off sharing our ideas and thoughts "for free" and having the possibility of an actual kit result in the years to come? Or not making the effort and never seeing a kit of our idea? That's a decision each of us must make ourselves, and I have no issue with those who decide it's not worth the effort. After all, our first priority here is to build and enjoy model car kits, not put together business proposals....right? Still, I really, really encourage those of you who haven't yet read Luc's project posting on FB to read it and digest it. It will give you a much better idea of why certain kit topics actually get produced, while others somehow never seem to see the light of the day. TIM

Steve....that is one gorgeous model you built there.....TIM

Dave's post here includes some new news that I think has not been previously announced. Note that he said Comet B/FX as well as A/FX. We've seen photos of the A/FX test shot build and I think most people were very impressed. Quite some time ago, Dave shared his B/FX early test shots with me....that version is pretty differentiated vs the A/FX and seems to me to be a very interesting future derivative of the Comet series. Of course, what I saw was very early test shots, and lots can change from then to production. But yet another very exciting potential product from Dave and the Moebius team......TIM

The info above on the origins of the Ford CD4 platform is wrong. The Ford CD4 platform was all-new from the ground up from what I recall as retired Ford employee. While new, it built primarily on the lessons of the prior European Mondeo/S-Max/Galaxy platform that was also used for the Volvo S80, not the prior shared Fusion/Mazda platform of 2005-2012. I see that one source you quoted has flagged this info as lacking attribution on their website. The info posted at that website is misleading in this case. While I am not entirely sure of the following, my understanding is that the current Mazda 6 is also a new from the ground up platform, not one derived from the prior shared Mazda/Ford platform of the prior decade. For one thing, the vehicle architecture (dash to axle and such) is entirely different than the prior generation Mazda 6. Having said all this, I concede that it's not really relevant to our enjoyment of the new Revell NASCAR kit, so probably best that I leave it to sit at this point. Best regards...TIM

Actually the current generation Fusion is built on the Ford Global CD platform; it shares nothing with Mazda. (It was developed after Ford sold its share in Mazda). The current Fusion is sold in most of the rest of the world as the Mondeo, but they are the same car, developed and styled as one global program. It's the prior (first) generation Fusion that shared its platform with Mazda. TIM

That's really interesting. I'm trying to recall what happened with my factory ordered E58 '74 Road Runner I ordered it with the Radio Delete option because the only factory radios did not include eight tracks, were prohibitively expensive (vs the aftermarket), and on the'71-'74 B-Bodies had a strange setup with both the tuning and volume dials on the left, which as I recall prevented a straight swap into the bezel of an aftermarket radio (with the knobs on either side of the tuning screen). Plus the B-Bodies only had only a single front and rear speaker setup for "stereo" , as opposed to the 2--3 front and 2-rear speaker setup in the Mopar C and E Bodies with factory stereos, and the rear speaker was a puny 5x7 vs. the 6x9 it should have been. Right after I took delivery I hung an aftermarket (Pioneer?) AM/FM Stereo 8-Track unit below the dash, wired it to two Utah 6x9 two way bass reflex speakers mounted on the back package shelf, and rocked away. Until the stereo got stolen (twice) Still....it was far, far better than the factory stereo at less coast. And the Rallye instrument Cluster looked far cooler without the radio/dial setup. What I can't recall is ordering a radio setup package, nor paying the dealer to install a radio antenna. I wonder if by 1974 they had added the R20 equipment as standard for all cars? TIM

Sam....that looks really sharp! Thanks for posting.....TIM

Just to reconfirm, a number of authoritative books on the Three Hundred Series all confirm that Copper Brown Metallic was one of the five factory color choices for '57 Chrysler 300C's. MCW's paint matches the color chip manual perfectly. It's the color I painted my own partially completed 300 C kit. Really sharp job building that kit, Geoff. Congrats....TIM

Rodney.....that came out great! Superb choice to use the Ardun engine, too. TIM

x2.....just what I was going to suggest. Either grille/radiator shell approach would be "correct" as far as I am concerned, but whichever it is, my view is that the top of the grille/radiator shell should be no higher than a line drawn forward from the cowl area of the body. Depending on how much you've channeled the body, a sectioned grille might be the only way to achieve this alignment. Sounds like a very cool project.....TIM ;

Jonathon....thanks. I wondered if you remembered my earlier note. Full disclosure - I knew the announcement was coming but didn't have even a clue about the Nascar kits. When I saw the announcement earlier Friday (before it was posted here), I did a double take and had to study the graphics layout around the Nascar kits to see if they supported what appeared to be a full detail kit. Then I thought of you and smiled. Needless to say I hope these kits live up to your and others' expectations. Best....TIM

Yeah Baby!!!! TIM

And now for some real news..TIM

big news....Revell sent out a brief notice today to their distributors that the Model A Coupe and Roadster kits will return later this year. New ship dates and kit numbers to be announced later. Great news for serious adult model builders and scale hot rod enthusiasts everywhere. And no, I don't know any more about the new releases than the above.... TIM

This kit can be built three ways and has a Chris Craft engine (relatively few parts, but very detailed engraving). As stated above, from what I recall it was available once or twice in the 1990's as part of AMT=Ertl's "Buyer's Choice" project. I doubt it will be a great seller but it is neat to have it back....

I never met Harry personally but I worked very closely with him via distance business methods over the last ten years or so. Harry was a much larger presence in the production, content, and look of the magazine than I think most people realize. He was always fair and was a straight shooter to the nnnth degree, and I thoroughly enjoyed working with him at every step of the way. It was only after I retired and had the time to devote to reading this forum that I became aware of Harry's many other talents, not the least of which were his fabulous big scale historic models. Like many of you, I was hoping and praying that Harry would come through his sickness, but it was not to be. I believe he is in a better place now, and I add my condolences to his family and friends, as well as those that worked with him in his role here at the forum and the magazine. TIM

I had heard that at least one of the model companies was at one point looking at late 1960's AMC product among possible subjects for future kit series. This was quite some time ago but then again these projects do typically take years to materialize... don't know what the current status is....or even if it is still on the consideration list. But at least there did seem to be some consideration of the business proposition at that time. So bottom line, always good to make your kit preferences known.... TIM PS - personally the ''71 Javelin AMX with a (truly accurate) 401 Ram Air would be at the top of my want list. But as a business consideration it would probably be well down the list due to all the reissued JoHan '71-'74 (mostly '73-'74) kits out there in eBay-ville and other locations.

Exactly my thoughts too. Very, very sharp model there, James. Would love to see some of the other many talented builders on this Forum attempt a drag racing Street Roadster or two....TIM

Eric.....Tom Woodruff sent me pictures of your car that he took at the contest....it looked great there, and it looks great here. Seldom do we see such creativity combined with such attention to detail and craftsmanship. Congratulations....and I can't wait to see what you come up with next....TIM

For those who have not seen it. two prior reviews - Full detail review of the basic Round 2 AMT 2016 Camaro Full Detail Kit - http://public.fotki.com/funman1712/first-look-at-all-n/first-look-amt-full/first-look-amt-full/ (45 pictures and captions) - "What's different" review of the "Fifty" kit - http://public.fotki.com/funman1712/first-look-at-all-n/first-look-amts-cam/first-look-amts-cam/ (15 images and captions) There is a little bit of overlap of overlap in content between Mike's review those links listed here.... but much of Mike's info posted at the start of this thread is fresh insight from another perspective. But for anyone considering buying the kit, recommend you look at all info three sources to get the broadest view possible.....TIM

Thanks again guys for the feedback.....glad to have helped out. Best to you all...TIM

Agreed!!! TIM

James, I don't work for Revell so it is safe to say that I do not know. It's a guess. Time will tell. TIM

Replicas and Miniatures has a catalog offer that includes essentially everything here but the crossmember and wheels/tires....and it includes both the Model A and Model T style leaf springs....TIM PS: Kit - Lookin' good progress! TB