tim boyd

Actually the MPC Fiat Altered was based on our highly desired Don Garlits FE frame, not the Ramchargers frame. I too was mis-informed on this and probably even contributed to the misinformation in print at one time or another. I finally secured one of these Fiat kits last year, albeit at a price, though well below what I would have had to pay for a mint Don Garlits MPC FE kit. I've also picked up a few of the "Young American" kits as glue bombs, none of which are usable on their own, but by combining a the few unmolested parts from each kit box I'm close to having a buildable project as a semi-reasonable price....TIM PS the kit is called "Fiat Rail Rod Slingshot" and it is MPC #1-0715, issued in 1978 and may have been reissued but I sure don't remember such an event. PPS I would love to see the MPC Don Garlits kit reissued in any form - the Slingshot (which appears to be the final form the tool took), the All American, or the Garlits version. I believe this would be an incredibly popular kit. TIM BOYD PPPS The '32 Altered "Jambreaker" which uses the Ramchargers frame has a really cool set of "up and over the tires" headers which I had long forgot about.....TIM

Brent that is one fine model. Great theme, and a really clean build to go with it. Your Allison also looks really sharp. Congratulations....TIM

Bud I am seriously digging on this model! Please keep us informed as you progress it! Best Regards....TIM

Jeremy I completely agree with you. Mine was one of the finest box stock builds I have ever experienced. TIM BOYD

About that tranny....alot of rodders use C4's behind flatheads....as a matter of fact, that's what our own modeler/journalist Drew Hierwater has in his 1/1 scale Track Roadster, IIRC> R-M had to put in a new driveshaft for the Flathead/C4 anyway so that was not a factor in the decision to use the C4. I realize some of you would have preferred a more "true to form" vintage speed version but given that tRM chose to retain the 5.0L version (100% correct decision in my form), they then choose to make the Flathead alternative a "modern" build rather that a "restored 1950;'s build". and stocked the parts needed for that. Besides, there are very nice Flatheads with traditional tranny's in Revell's '40 Ford and '48 Ford kits, they should be easily swappable into this kit. Just my view....TIM

I finally picked up a copy of this kit today....now I understand why everyone is so positive on the kit. My instruction booklet had a major error in printing - entire sections were missing and others were printed twice. Has anyone else run into this? I'll call the 1-800 number on Monday so I'll be OK, but hope this is a one-off error! TIM

Jeffbo and Rat Rod: Thanks for posting those pix....these are great kits and the work each of you did with them just takes them several levels beyond....great pix too! Thanks again...TIM BOYD

Jeff, that's one bad Trike! Can you shoot a few more pix? Also. what's that other trike hiding behind the first one....and that Greent '71 GTX looks pretty interesting too.....TIM BOYD

Man you guys have some impressive rides! Mine is an '07 Mustang GT Convertible, Grabber Orange, no stripes, spoiler delete, 18" flat faced five spokes, optional axle ratio, cloth top, loaded with vritually every option you can get. It's a fantastic car - does the quarter in the high 13's, yet averages right at 21.0MPG. Is that incredible or what? Not to mention a killer soundtrack (exhaust note) and the fun of having the top down 90% of the time (at least during the summer). TIM BOYD

Gregg will be running an article on a buildup of this kit very soon....TIM BOYD

Guys, just putting the finishing touches on a kit review and buildup of this kit for Gregg....it should be out pretty quickly. I think you'll like it....TIM BOYD