Casey

The 1/16 AMT slicks?

Passenger's side, where the firewall and framerail meet, by chance? If so, extremely common on the F/M/J bodies, due to all the detritus getting trapped there, then allowing the water to sit...plugged firewall flapper vents are very common, too.

Are you looking for mesh style BBS, wheel, like so?: 15" in the MPC '84 Vette: And 16" in the Revell Trans AM GTA:

Correct, they look like tri-bar wheel covers of some sort.

What else would be different from the original '49 Custom Merc kit? And would the parts be different enough to justify a third version? I have my doubts, especially since the original Revell chopped coupe included two sets of wheels, three grilles, two different styles of bumpers right from the start. I think this subject was limited from the start, but since the '49 Mercury coupe is so iconic as a custom, it was probably leaning closer to a safe than risky when it came time to decide whether or not to proceed with creating an all new kit. I think this was discussed in the original Revell '49 Merc topic found HERE , but IMHO a chopped top right out of the box is a huge plus to most potential customers, and is probably the #1 reason Revell decided to proceed even when AMT's '49 Coupe will always be available. I just feel Revell could spend its Hobbico allowance on other subjects, subjects with better and more bankable future sales potential.

I suspect there will be no next version, and this Woody is the end. This kit is already a custom based on the engine, so I don't think they'd try to squeeze another period custom out of the tooling, as it'd be too close to this kit. A stock coupe is out of the question with the Cadillac engine, and I'm not sure I've seen more than a handful of stock coupes built from the AMT kit, so I can understand the decision not to go that route. Shoebox Fords are a different width and wheelbase, so those are out, too. If Revell wasn't wiling to change the engine to a Flathead, I don't see them wanting to change the wheelbase, body, interior, etc. I don't really see any other viable option for this tooling to be honest. I suspect the original custom has done very well, and this recent Woody, too, so maybe that was the plan (and the hope) from the start-- two good selling kits which will be in and out of the lineup for years to come.

They have been available for a few months, and are listed on Round2's website: http://www.round2models.com/models/amt/goodyear-polyglas

Please post specific questions in the Model Building Questions and Answers section. I would recommend the Cragar S/S wheels (assuming those are the specific model of Cragar wheels you want) in the Monogram (and now labelled as Revell) El Camino Camper/3'n1 kit, and you could get by with the Goodyear Rally GT big 'n' little tires which are included in that very same kit.

Ah well, keep on rockin' in the Spree world!

Early Years Resin makes wide five wheels/hubs like that: http://earlyyearsresin.webs.com/wheelstires.htm

That appears to be a dark tint band at the top edge of the windshield when you zoom in:

I hope the lead singer(?)'s name is Harry.

That's the "feed" area, where the plastic for the body is injected into the mold's body cavity, but cutting it off near flush with a razor saw isn't too hard when it's located on a nice, straight edge at the bottom of a rocker panel. I'd rather it be left for me to cut than cut or bent off via back and forth bending at the packaging stage.

You didn't. Sorry, "corner-cutting" didn't translated to "cost cutting" after I read it. Yes, but you can choose the "Use full editor" option and change the title of any post you created, too.

Maybe it has been reissued twice since the "Skip's Fiesta Drive In" version?:

I don't think it's strictly due to cost. Complexity is an issue, too, as once you decide to mold four additional pieces (one leaf spring shackle bracket per side, per leaf spring), you then have to decide if you should mold each spring leaf, both front leaf spring eye brackets, both shock plates, leaf spring clamps, etc. separately. Someone has to decide "we're molding all five spring leaves as one piece with the front leaf spring eye bracket and the rear shackles," and while I'm sure cost is a factor to some degree, I also thin it has a complex relationship with parts count/skill level of the target builder, the physical size of each part, as well as the ability of the part to withstand the target customer's, um, finesse and dexterity. Sure, two .010" thick leaf spring shackles would probably be able to support a model without collapsing, but would those shackles survive the assembly phase without being bent, damaged or lost altogether? A one-piece molded leaf spring and shackle loses some detail and scale fidelity no question, but is that loss is countered by easier assembly and a sturdier finished model, so where's the balance point? I'm sure Ken is familiar with the Monogram 1/25 S-10 kit, which includes both a locating pin and semi-independent leaf spring shackles for each rear leaf spring end, like so: How exactly would a mass produced kit manufacturer ensure that those two tiny shackle pieces, if molded separately, align perfectly and without fuss, and what would the kit manufacturer supply with the kit for use as the leaf spring eye and shackle bushing bolts? Metal pins? Leaf springs in any mass produced 1/25 scale kit are going to be a compromise. To get true, accurate shapes for each leaf you need to make them yourself to capture all the details.

They didn't. See below.

I see all the images you posted in this recently updated topic: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=79329&page=2 so I think it's just a case of the link never got pasted into the body of your restaurant fire post.

Let's not even resuscitate that argument again. We've been there and done that in the original LX notchback topic, and it didn't end well, at all. Thanks for those pics, Jesse.

That's going to render the kit useless for anything but a custom. Can anyone who saw the body shell at MASScar can confirm if the beltline has the correct dip or not now?

I assume you've been to VCVC.org and Vintage-vans.com ? Lots of specific info an help for the early '64-'70 Chevy/GMC vans at those two 'sites. I would also suggest picking up a factory service manual on eBay, as it will be great reference material. I've never seen those dog dish hubcaps in kit form, though. Are you planning to make both long and short wheelbases?

You might find them split up and sold individually, but I believe these came only as a set.

Not sure if a '97 'Vette engine is of the LS family, but this is as close as I think you'll be able to find:

The straight six in the AMT '60 Chevy pickup kits would probably be the closest, and best, engine/trans donor. You could probably use the 10-bolt rearend from the '60 Chevy, too, though you'd need to source parallel leaf spring elsewhere. The IMC/Lindberg Little Red Wagon Dodge A-100 pickup is the only cab-forward van/pickup kit besides the 1/40(?) scale Mini Lindy Chevy Van, so you might be able to source a few things (front suspension) from it, but the level of detail isn't stellar.