tim boyd

Steve Perry at Calnaga Castings was working on a super-accurate 427 cammer resin kit...you may want to check out his website for details....TIM

Greg...to answer your question above: The same basic kit was updated to the 1969 body shell, Boss 429 engine (if memory serves correctly), new Ohio George "Mr. Gasket" graphics, and a one-piece clear body shell. It was available in two different box arts during 1969 & 1970, but never reissued after that. A couple of years ago, Round 2 hinted in one of their newsletters that this second 1969 version might be under consideration for reissue as well, but nothing further has developed to date that I have heard about. TIM

Tim Ahlborn posted pictures of his build of a test shot on another forum this evening. It's the original circa 1969 T500 kit, without the sleeper (as it was in the original box art issue). Looks terrific. I would imagine that Tim will cover this in his column in the mag in due time. TB

Just to reaffirm BigMerc's comments here...the FE series, Ford "335 Series" (351 Cleveland, 351M, 400) and the Ford "385 Series" (429, Boss 429, and 460) were each separate engine families. The "335" and "385" series engines used a similar design approach, but were still different engines series and did not share parts between them. The "FE" series is an entirely different design, having been engineered 10 years prior to the "385" and 12 years prior to the "335" engine families and using the different engine design principles common to V8's in the domestic industry at that point in time. I also agree with Bill that the best way to a 351M or 400 would be to start with the 351 Cleveland in the Revell '70 Mustang Mach 1 first issued in the 2000's. TIM PS - also wanted to note here that the Ford SuperDuty engine family, which comprised engine displacements in three sizes including a 534 cubic inch version, was yet another Ford engine family separate and apart from the 3 above. To my knowledge, the only Ford SuperDuty engine in scale is the outstanding example in the AMT Ford C-600 (really a C800 or 900 due to the engine) Stake, Tractor, and Van kits. This engine was correctly identified on the box art of some versions of this kit, but also misidentified as a 361 on some others such as the Stake Truck, which was the "displacement" for the Heavy Duty version of the Ford 360 truck motor in the FE engine family.

Chris...thanks for this latest kit history and for all your prior threads on truck kits... I never realized that the Formula One Team Bronco had its roots in these early 1980's Revell kits...I always assumed it was based on the old Monogram Bronco tool.... On this one, I wanted to point out that the "Six Wheeler" version pictured above is really one of the "Phantom" (Imaginary) kits, as the "Ram" era (internal Ford development name for the 1980-96 F-Series) Effies that were Dual Rear Wheels were only on the LWB (133") Chassis, not the 117" SWB chassis reflected in the Revell kit. Still, until Monogram's kits in the 1990's, this kit was the only choice for someone who wanted to kitbash the DRW pickup bed, albeit with splicing in sections of another bed both in front and behind the Revell bed to get the correct length. Will be looking forward to seeing this thread develop further. Thanks again...TIM

Casey...couldn't agree more....in a mass production environment. some of these tags will inevitably be trimmed a little too close. I'd much rather have control over it myself. Five seconds with a Razor Saw - the result - trimmed to my specs! TIM

A great collection of widely varied subjects and building techniques, and a super-clean building style. Great job, Pete! TIM

One more very, very strong vote for Model Cave. It's been decades since SE Michigan has had a store that caters to model car builders like this one does. TIM

This reply is in danger of getting way off topic, but briefly, the 1949 Mercury flathead is a different design from other Ford flatheads; one that Revell has never tooled up before. The AMT '49 Merc flathead is a very accurate substitute. TB

Very creative build concept and shows superb workmanship....congratulations...TIM

285 photos from yesterday posted at this link.... http://public.fotki.com/funman1712/11-scale-automotive/2014-cobo-autorama-/ and (NEW)....260 more photos from today are at this link.... http://public.fotki.com/funman1712/11-scale-automotive/2014-cobo-autorama--1/ here's just one photo for your enjoyment....and thanks in advance for looking....TIM

Interestingly, on the original and the reissue instruction sheet, Step 4 of Section 7 "Final Assemblies", upper right corner of page, reads "NOTE: Rear doors may be trimmed out of body and hinged with cloth tape". TB

Thanks Casey! I'm not an expert on 3rd gen Chevy vans, but I know that at some point (around 1977 IIRC) a bodyside strengthening rib was added to the metal stampings for the van bodysides. It runs about a foot or so above the separately engraved bodyside rub stripes on early 3rd gen Chevy vans. I wonder if the roof rib engraving you mention was added as well at that time, or was it a feature of all 3rd Gen Chevy minivans? TIM

I've just posted a full review of the kit contents of Round 2's reissue of this 1971 Chevy G30 "Rescue Van", along with a comparison to the original 1971 "T516" issue of the kit. 28 photos and commentary at the link (you may want to use the "roll" feature view the pictures and text as one continuous presentation). Thanks for looking...TIM http://public.fotki.com/funman1712/first-look-at-all-n/amts-chevy-rescue-v/

Art....just ran across this thread this morning. Your chassis detailing is just stunning. Great work....really looking forward to seeing it completed! TIM

JB - if you are referring to the test shot I showed, the red styrene was used just for test shot purposes. The actual kit should be a more neutral color, presumably similar to that used in previous Galaxie kits...TIM

Wild...you are SO correct....now that he has the basic body casting for the Coupe ( which includes the '41 doors under the separate added '48 fender extensions), this '41 Chevy variant is more possible than ever before. TB

Tom has just posted additional images showing progress on his diorama with accompanying text.... http://public.fotki.com/misterNNL/indian-service-stat/page4.html Best regards...TIM

Bob, here's a shot of the Cragars: They still have the "Cragar" lettering with the surrounding border, although it is a little faint. And I just checked, the tire jack parts are definitely in the new release. For those that haven't seen it, here's my OnLine Review of this new reissue, with 34 pictures and text: http://public.fotki.com/funman1712/first-look-at-all-n/new-round-2-amt-65-/new-round-2-amt-65-/ Be sure to click on each picture, or use the slide show feature, so you can see my commentary on each picture..... Hope this helps....TIM

Here's a link to photos of the test shot... http://public.fotki.com/funman1712/first-look-at-all-n/new-galaxie-limited-1/new-galaxie-limited/ And a photo of the new parts.... Best regards...TIM

According to the instructions, it's still in there....and (update 22 Feb) I just checked the kit to confirm that these parts are indeed part of the updated release. TB

From what Gary told me a couple of weeks ago, the Coupe is scheduled to start production,very very soon. For the entire production run to be completed and then be shipped over, it sounds like we're probably talking Junish-Julyish for hobby store availability. TIM

From what I recall of the AMT plant in Troy, the majority of the assembly plant workers (e.g, those working on the molding machines), were women. TB

Wow...this is an interesting thread, to say the least! A couple of comments from this end... * I suggested to Revell that they base the first version of this tool on the '70 Hemi 'cuda because I thought that this would have the broadest appeal in the overall hobby kit market. I backed this up with the popularity of the car in today's collector circles, the level of magazine coverage, and the ever-growing auction values of '70 Hemi 'cudas. Once the basic kit is out there, and if it sells (as the original versions of Revell's '32 Ford Street Rode series sold), I think it would be pretty safe to expect that over the ensuing years, Revell would offer additional kit variations of the 'cuda tool, including the 340 small block (my next choice), and/or the B/RB engines. Most important, from my POV, would be to pick a first topic for the tool that is going to rack up the most sales, the soonest. And in my view, that would have to be the Hemi. * Second comment - in my suggestions to Revell for this kit topic, I emphasized including choices, in this first kit, that would allow the builder plenty of build alternatives. Others who were contacting Revell about this topic for a kit also emphasized this point. That's in part why you see this kit include both the Shaker and the double bubble hood, both plated and Elastomeric bumpers (including the different shape of the front E. bumper), a shifter that allows both console and non-console applications, side body stripe options in three factory Job 1 and mid-year addition correct colors, etc. Swapping an LA or B./RB engine in a model car is pretty simple these days, while having to scratch that 'cuda double bubble hood would challenge some builders. The point is, many of the building blocks have been included in this kit. * Last point - many of the Mopar kits engineered since the mid 1990's have included the non-Hemi powertrains as their base choices. The current issue of the other model car magazine out there has an extensive article on 1/25th scale Mopar powertrains, and most of the editorial coverage is on the non-Hemi powertrains in Mopar model car kits. I'm sure I could think of more to say, but that should do it for now. Cool topic, and interesting comments by everyone! TIM

Chuck...that would be a great project, whether a load for the C800 stake bed or the basis of a 1/25th scale boat model. TIM .