tim boyd

The Police car / third issue of the '57 Ford was a joint project with Model King, not a Revell-only effort. According to other posters on this Board and elsewhere, the Model King version tooling (the Police version parts) and the run itself was funded by Model King. If this info is true, that puts it in a different situation than the 'cuda kit. Time will tell all, I suppose, if we eventually get an AAR, and if so, when. TIM

Re Lee's comment directly above (I can't get the reply function to work on this Windows 8 laptop).... The replica stock and Sox and Martin 'cuda kits were tooled together as one complete project, so once the stock version came out, it was ready for the other version right off the bat, resulting in both versions hitting the market within a 12 month period. I am not aware that any other version of this basic kit tool was done when the tool was originally created (not to say this is definitive news, just that if such a third version existed, I didn't know anything of it). I would imagine that an AAR is on their list of potential future projects, but it would need to be weighed/prioritized against other future projects before it would be tooled for production. Again, no 'insider' knowledge here, just an opinion based on past experience working with model companies. . TIM

Tim...been following this for some time now, and others have also sent me links expressing their amazement which I share. This is truly exceptional work, and it's cool to see how much you enjoy each phase of the build process. Congrats and best wishes....TIM

Tyrone....great work so far! TIM

Brad...what an adventure and inspiration your project is. Particularly inspired by your tie rod/steering linkage and knuckle setup. While I don't personally have the patience to work at this level any more (I did do so, in a way, at one time, in the late 1960's/very early 1970's, recognizing at the primitive state of car modeling detailing/scratchbuilding back then), I just find it fascinating to see how you and the other builders here who fabricate at your level, tackle and resolve each step of the building process. And of course, I am inspired by your choice of subject matter. Great progress to date, will be watching with everyone else as you post further updates. TIM

Gene and all others reading this thread....why is it that sometimes a complete tear down and reconstruction of a kit (such as you are doing here) is so much more interesting than than a straight build of one of the reissues of a kit like this? I can't figure it out, but I know I am enjoying watching your project come together.... This was always one of my favorite old kits....I helped a neighbor friend build this very kit back around 1967....Pactra metallic green body, Testors Competition Orange engine....flat black elsewhere....and later on back in the 1980's I secured an already-built example not unlike the one we are watching here to do a rebuild myself but didn't happen....I'd never built the kit for myself until I completed the Corvair CheZOOM version myself a couple of weeks ago. Anyway....sure enjoying your build thread so far... TIM

Gene....the Bob Shelton/Bill Coulter Directory of Model Car Kits with price guide, v6 lists: Hemi Under Glass as a 1966 intro kit # 6776. The Hemi Hustler first issue is listed as 1967, #6752. Next is the "Barracuda Funny Car", 1968, #F-152 Then a "Hemi Hustler" rebob reissue, 1969, #T152 Followed by the "Mad Mackerel" release, 1975, #T160, as part of the "Street Freaks" series. Also reissues in 2004 and 2006 during the dark days at Learning Curve, the earlier one (I think) being the notorious incorrect MPC '68 HUG box art with the '66 AMT kit innards. My experience is that the Value Guide is usually correct, but occasionally omits a kit or gets a date wrong, so consider this info as directional but not guaranteed. Best..>TIm

Rob...congrats on pulling this one out of the box and getting after it again...just ran across this thread, and will now be watching with considerable interest. In case you are interested, here's a link to my Fotki file with two similarly themed builds, one I did in 1970-71, the other about ten years ago. The latter was a two parter article in Model Cars mag a couple of years ago (let me know if you need the exact issue numbers/dates). http://public.fotki.com/funman1712/tim-boyds-124th--12/boyd-1950s1960searl/page3.html Best regards and good luck with your project! TIM

The entire chassis/suspension/interior is identical between the Hemi Hustler and the new CheZoom corvair reissue. Also, the rocker covers show upside down in the instructions, but if you follow the locaters, they install correctly because the engine is essentially a second gen 426 Hemi (with its attendance rocker cover design), but with a first gen 392 Hemi distributor/magneto location. . In fact, the original kit design mostly apes the first Tom McEwen mid engine California Plymouth Dealers funny car from late 1965, which was not originally planned as a wheelstander. This is the car that went airborn during early testing. If you look up chassis/engine pictures of this car, you'll note the similarities in most every design area (other than AMT's strange location for the magneto). And you'll also note that the unusual oil breathers location low on the rocker covers shown in the pictures above, is an exact match for the McEwen car. Hope that helps and good luck with the resto! TIM

Wow..yet another one. Stephen - Really nicely done!!!. Beyond the two race car combos posted here in the last few days (Stephen's combo, and the one from John Morrow), and my own from the recent covers of Model Cars magazine, there was a really nice C800 Transporter and Trailer done by another builder and posted on the Forum here, about a year and a half ago. It was a really well done replica of the 1/1 scale 1969 Ford Drag Team truck, trailer, and the two Mustang race cars. Perhaps someone can find it and repost it here. UPDATE: - the one I am referring to here, is the one by Steve Prideaux posted directly below....thanks Steve - great model! Anyone else build one or have one underway? TIM

John....great job! Your model set looks super sharp, and I also like what you did with your race cars. I presume you saw my own C800 Race Car Transport/Trailer project built with a very similar theme? Or maybe not? In any case, super cool to see what you did with your build. Congratulations....TIM .

Steve...just saw your post tonight. Loved your story. Your model looks great, especially considering the time that has elapsed over the years. Thanks so much for posting this, and thanks to you back for your kudos on my articles. Best regards....TIM

One other not mentioned above was the AMT Trophy Series Double Kit King T/Wild Dream designed and manufactured by MPC. After the initial release under the AMT label, MPC's second production run of this tool was separated into two kits in individual boxes with MPC labeling, marketed in 1966. Pieces of both kit tools were reused many times in other MPC kits of the late 1960's, (some of which have been reissued through the first decade of this century), but to my knowledge the King T and Wild Dream were never reissued again in their original AMT & MPC form. (Mark I'm sure you'll correct me if I'm wrong). I liked the MPC kits that AMT marketed first, and built several of them, but I was disappointed in the box art, and particularly with the instruction sheets, which featured typical MPC line art vs, the gorgeous AMT Art Deparment instructions with shading, unique fonts, etc, etc. TIM

Bill....congrats...I am a 100% Ford guy now but I was 100% Mopar back in the 1960's/70's, so I can sure share your excitement. Looks like you found a really good edition, too! TIM

A 1970 (not 1969) GTO Judge Ram Air IV hardtop or convert is at the very top of my suggestion list for new muscle car era kits, and has been communicated to the model companies accordingly. It sure seems like with the topics Revell has been doing that it would be a logical choice for them. And it would be cool to see Moebius extend from their present 1965 model year limit to 1970. If we got a 1970, one could reasonably expect a 1971 GTO Judge derivative, and later on, a 1968 and 1969 version (the latter two obviously requiring a new bodyside tool, but largely carrying over the rest). I am picking the 1970 to start with as that is the biggest gap in present/past lineups, and in my view would probably have the largest initial commercial appeal. Once that kit is tooled and paid for, the derivatives become affordable on less volume. But as of right now, I personally know of no plans in that direction from the model companies...TIM

The original issue stock AMT-Ertl Duster 340 kit had both a four barrel and a non-stock (for a factory Duster340) Six Barrel option. But if you want to do the Revell '70 'cuda as an AAR, you need the AMT-Ertl Duster 340 (for the 340 six barrel setup) AND the AMT-Ertl Duster Street Machine (for the non A/C fan belt in that kit). This will result in a very accurate engine. Don't have my photo research library and kit references in front of me right now, but if you need a new air clearer decal specific to the AAR, I would think one would be in the old (2nd try) Revell 1/24th scale 'Cuda AAR kit. For non- AAR '70 'cudas, the 340 Four Barrel Air Cleaner Decal WAS a generic "340 Four Barrel" graphic for both the 'cuda and Challenger that year but I can't recall for sure what was used on the six barrel. A quick google image search should tell all....TIM

Sam - can we see more, please? Looks really righteous so far...TIM

Casey....fun....I'd long forgotten about that post. As for the crystal ball being clear...well...sometimes yes, sometimes no. BTW....yes I had made this '70 'cuda proposal to Revell, actually several times ...but at the time I wrote this post, it was not really under serious consideration from what I was able to tell. That had to wait for at least another 2 to 3 years.....during that period, others were proposing the same idea, as well. TIM

Most excellent....particularly with the matching van (which is uber-cool as well) and the interior detail! TIM

Another source is the MPC "Mummy Machine" kit (itself a reissue of the Carl Casper "Phone Booth T"), which has been reissued several times, most recently in the early 2000's by AMT-Ertl. The same wheels are in the MPC "Paul Revere and the Raiders Coach", which was also reissued under the AMT-Ertl label in the early 2000's. These are the very best I've found for the "shallow and deep" Cragar S/S wheels used on funny cars (such as the original Nelson Carter Super Chief Charger from the cover of Car Craft magazine) and other period drag racers from the late 1960's/early 1970's with narrow tires up front and wide slicks out back. Several photos of these wheels on completed models.... ...and the first usage on this model circa December 1969-January 1970 (the chassis - with a different body - won "Best Detail" at the 1970 Detroit Cobo Autorama MPC Model Car Contest, billed at the time by Car Model Magazine as "The World's Largest Model Car Contest".....but I digress....sorry. Hope this helps...TIM

Me too! TIM

Gorgeous! TIM

No slip....sorry....TB

Dave...thanks for the excellent explanation of the model development process. This post should become a "must read" for anyone who wishes to critique a newly-developed model kit. For the rest of us: Dave's explanation is a good summary of the issues faced by most model car kit development organizations, at least the ones I have dealt with. It also helps to remember that these companies are all businesses - they have to generate a financial return on the investment they make in these kits, otherwise they will no longer be in business. Sometimes, that is the most difficult issue faced by model company development personnel - who in many cases, are also model builders themselves. Most that I have dealt with over the years are much like Dave is - a highly enthusiastic ambassador for our wants, who is dedicated to trying to do the right thing for us. Many times, the most difficult decisions they face are over when to stop refining/correcting and "push the button and publish". The economics involved are also a huge issue to manage. As is the issue of asking the dedicated artisans in China (and they are artisans), to recreate a miniature replica of an artifact that they have never seen in real life. You can always keep correcting and refining, but if the kit never comes out at all, then nobody wins. So big thanks again, Dave, for taking the time to educate this audience on some of the challenges involved in producing model kits. TIM

Steve and Jesse: While I don't know the particulars in this case, I do know that Moebius is generally tooling 3-5 kit versions of each new tool, right out of the box (that is, the tooling for all versions of a specific kit tool - like the '65 Satellite - is done up front, at one time). So you can pretty well surmise that there will eventually be other versions of the '65 Satellite, probably spread a year or so apart for each version. If the Satellite is done similarly to the way they are approaching the different versions of the '67-'72 Ford Bumpside, the '61 Pontiac Ventura and Catalina, and at least one other kit yet to be mentioned in this level of detail, I suspect that there will be much to love, eventually, about various future versions of this Satellite kit. TIM