A modeler named mike

1. Just watching the morning news is enough to get my britches in an uproar! 2. Dealing with my dementia riddled dad and watching him slowly fade from normalcy. 3. Buying a sealed model kit that's no longer available and finding that the factory sealed chrome tree is missing the grille! See attached photo. Other than these... Life is usually good

I like the kit and I will more than likely purchase one when I find a good deal on one. What gets me is the price of the curbside kits... like the new AMT Surf Shark caddie wagon and the AMT Mercury comet Caliente' when they first came out they were pricey, now that the hype is over they've come down substantially. I'm sure the same will go with this kit too.

The box art on the vetted and the cougar are what really drove me to purchase those two kits. Still hunting to score an amt candidate corvette Gasser kit or just an empty box ? that is without giving up an arm or leg for one. Love the old box art.

When I was looking to purchase this kit I did some searching for info on it. Didn't find much but some kits pictured had the custom tail light and some not. It's not shown on the instruction sheet as an option.

Wow.. So many cool kits. Not sure just how rare but these are a few kits I've been able to score. I just picked up the '65 Chrysler this week on eBay for what I thought was a pretty good deal for a nice quality complete kit.

While being held captive by an aunt who insisted on a 3 hour tour of grave yards where some family members reside I spotted this gem at a restoration specialist shop.

Love the VW combo. I saw a 1:1 photo of a similar concept. On my list of future projects. Good job!

Yes.. That's how I've been comparing so far. The problem is that not all model kits are accurate to scale so 1:1 specs doesn't always help with paring kits. For now its a continuation of homework, guessing and trial and error. No complaints just thinking outside of the box for a possible solution.

Hence.. The reason for the existence of such a database, to help alleviate some of the homework as to which kits are possible or not by comparing the data on each kit that may be listed. You'll know it's buy it time or head to the stash time. I know many would say that's just fricken lazy or that's half the fun of the build, rifling through your kits looking for usable parts. It's sorta on the lines of what I think Andy (1930fordpickup) made reference too with Drastic Plastics posted instruction sheets. Another good tool for making comparisons in my eyes. All this being said I believe thus far my best bet for my project is the AMT vega wagon FC kit with some chassis alterations. I need to dig it out to verify..time will tell.. This will be my my first attempt at using a 3-D printed body instead of kit body as well as a first to scratch building the tin works and whatever else comes up. For now this project is in the planning and gathering stage till time is on my side...

That could be another viable candidate for this project. I don't have one in my stash yet but it's on my want list. I looked at the instruction sheet online. It's not the style chassis I want to use even though I'm using VW body..

Well that counts out the Mono FC kits for my VW, that 1/1 WB is 94.5". That's 30.5" of chassis more than I need. Best I go smaller, I'll have to dig out the Vega wagon kit or possibly the Chezoom Corvair kit? to follow up on the chassis and axles lengths to see if I'm on the right track.

I appreciate the wealth of information that's offered on this forum by you and fellow modelers. As I said earlier I'm currently not able to build but when that changes I'll come a knocking for sure! One of those projects will be a 1/25th 3-D printed '62 VW type 3 1600 squareback wagon turned FC. From what I've read the AMT vega wagon kit is close with a WB of 3.75"/ 96mm compared to the 3-D body which WB is 3.625"/ 93mm. Not sure of the widths on the Vega rear and front axles. But that's why they make plastic stock, glue and razor saws if needed.

Thank you for the heads up on SAE magazine article I'll have to check that out. It might be worthwhile. As for keeping the dimensions accurate ? yeah that could be the biggest problems. Not everyone can follow directions, some can't read a ruler and than there's those individuals who suffer with dyslexia. Not good odds.. Its a good idea but I'm guessing I can lay this notion of such a database to rest. I appreciate the input, valid points or observation from you all. Time to move on.. Thanks.. Mike ✌?

Thanks for your input on the idea Les.. I figured it would be a long shot that such a database exist..but it would be a great tool to have. Even if it did exist, more likely than not you'd still have to modify or alter the donor kit to fit your needs but it would be a great starting point for a project in mind. Yes it would take an army of Modelers and a sergeant with the knowledge of how to manage such valuable data. ?°° Maybe it would be a groundbreaking idea that would sweep the modeling world and it could only be found here! ? IDK.. Maybe??

Hello fellow modelers.. I have been looking for some type of database which would contain model kit specs such as wheelbase dimensions and other general info about each kit listed. I have found nothing. I have a few future projects in mind, some being 3-D printed bodies which are not created to be used with a specific donor kit. Some are dealer stock kits that I wish to build as funny cars. I think such a database could be somewhat of a helpful tool for other modelers. Heck it could be a modelers collaboration of information from owned kits posted. Currently I'm not building at this point in life due to caring 24/7 for my dad with dementia, so I've been collecting kits from my wish, want and must have to have list to add to the collection along with paring up these future projects with their donor kits. I'd love to hear some input on this idea of a database or any suggestions on how to go about comparing or finding a donor kit. Thanks...Mike

Good Morning Pete.. I'm sure you got a notification this morning from eBay too if you still have The One-Armed Bandit kit notifications still on. Decals look like trash but all else looks good with only a few painted parts. Complete.. Let the bidding begin! ?

I'll be watching!! Meanwhile I've got some sloppy old paint to remove from my Bandit kit that arrived by mail today. It's like Christmas all over again.. Thanks again for entertaining questions... Look squirrel!! ? sorry I couldn't resist. Mike..✌?

?shame on me for twisting your arm..? No seriously I can relate to the time consumed in your artwork and your builds just by your Masterpiece builds in the gallery. Top notch!! Your attention to detail is phenomenal. Way beyond my abilities! If you happen to accidentally make to many copies of those Bandit decals I'd be eager to hear your suggestions, as long as its not "go pound sand" ?°° well I guess that would be acceptable too...

Hey Pete.. Thank you for taking the time to showing your work, they look pretty professional! Bravo.. This decal printing might be something I need to look into, I've got a few older kits with questionable decals. ?°°squirrel.. ? I'm the there goes the shiny ball guy. Thanks again for sharing. Mike

Hello Pete.. I mistakenly mention in an earlier post that the kit I scored had a set of good decals, I was wrong that was another kit prior, there is no decals. So I'll be looking to buy a set ?, like that will ever happen or possibly hand painting the decals. I loved to know how you make out with your final results. Mike

I think you're right about Round 2 crushing future fortunes of greedy people. I like what Round 2 is doing, it's definitely helping keep the model hobby alive. It just seems like more of the same with some of their subject matter selections. The Chevy dually pick up is a cool simple kit but it would've been nice to offer it with the slicks and wide rims as in the original kit. That original dually kit is another kit that has crazy bids when they come up for auction, it's a snap kit for Pete's sake..? However I am looking forward to picking up a few of the '65 Chevelle altered WB kits.

Thanks Bob.. I'm hoping that the painted parts clean up as well as other kits have in the past. I'm gonna enjoy every second of this build when I finally get to it.

So true.. Yes I know I'm a couple of years past this conversation but I wanted to join in because this particular MPC kit THE ONE ARMED BANDIT holds near and dear memories for me. I built one as a kid when it first came out. It was purchased for me by my Grandmother who I spent the summers months with. Each weekend we would go into town to shop. I would always end up with a model kit to build. I've been trying to score one but they always seem to go for an ungodly amount. The last one I bid on at eBay went for $156.00 and it was not in that great of shape. Last week I got a hit from eBay that another kit came up at $249.99 buy now. Not long after it was posted I received an offer of $$219.00 for the kit. Before I could jump on it it was gone. To me the memories this kit brings is priceless to me but I'm not a rich man and recently retired. I did finally score one! and it was on eBay. The kit was all there with some parts painted but complete with good decals. It was buy now at $199.99. I contacted the seller to thank them for the reduction of price but because of the painted parts I'd only be interested in paying $150.00 for the kit. I was amazed that the seller messaged me that he had reduced the price once again so I could purchase it at my offered price. Some may say I'm silly for paying that much for a kit. I don't. You can't put a price on something that brings back found memories. As for eBay.. I've gotten some killer deals and yes I too have seen some asinine prices on kits there too. Thanks for listen to my ramblings..

Not sure what the heck is going on but some how I've repeated the same thing over and over after the site tells me to verify myself? Sorry guys!

Smoked up Windows? Maybe Cheech and Chong have turned to being lifeguards at the local beach..? I was pretty excited when I first ran across the announcement of this kit but that initial luster has faded...but I'll probably twist my own arm and pick one up anyway. I'd love to see a reissued version of the aurora meat wagon or '39 La Salle hearse model kit in a one piece bodies. Wishful thinking?