Casey

I guess there's a first time for everything. I know the XKE is considered a classic by many, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I'm not beholding this thing: Slide that greenhouse forward 24" and we might have something. As for the skinny wheels, I think the thing I dislike the most is how deeply "tucked" the wheels and tires are. I realize that wasn't unusual (at least until '59 when Pontiac touted its "Wide Track" cars), but this borders on silly. Maybe it's for tire clearance with the low ride height, but I don't find the tucked, skinny tire look all that beautiful: To each their own.

It looks like you had no trouble posting pics from your fotki account three days ago?: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=72506#entry903402

They have free shipping for orders over $40 this week, and the 40% off one regular priced item seems to be a permanent thing now, too.

Manny, click on the "Share" tab, then using the link icon in the header of the rely box here, post the link, and you should get this: http://youtu.be/ryugIt1NbTs As far as not watching videos, it depends upon what the subject is, how well the video is made.edited, and the content. I prefer videos without any sound as most people tend to ramble and "uh" and "ah" too much, so I'd rather hear no sound or some background music which doesn't overpower the video, i.e., no death metal please. I've found this channel to be very helpful a few times, and while I would prefer still images for viewing, you can at least pause the video and see clear shots of the kit parts:

I don't think most people want to see the company revived, but it would be nice to have some of the kits back. Now granted, some of the existing kits sell for $30-$50 ('62 Dodge convertible seems to be one on the lower end of the price scale), so that's only $10 more than what IMC planned to retail the '74 Olds for. I've said it before, but JO-HAN's promo style chassis' and interiors really never appealed to me, but the bodies sure were gorgeous and well-proportioned, and it's clear the JO-HAN name still has a lot of recognition. Not sure who "markdoo" (Mark Taylor, maybe?) and "Promo 55" are on the SA forum, but here's more fuel for the JO-HAN fire: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/sca/general_discussion/f/13/t/106783.aspx

Yes, once modified they fit the Goodyear Blue Streak Sports Car Special tires well, but you need to remove the inner "stop." They aren't to difficult to modify, but it's not easy to keep the chrome plating perfect while you remove the outer ribs. I'm working on some modified versions of the kit wheels, so when they are ready I will post here.

Ah, that would make sense. I recall the '59 El Camino kit included 'em, too. Here's a real '60-'62 Vette with what appear to be Lucas headlights:

While true that the JO-HAN story is rather entertaining, it never ended, and that's what makes it so fascinating to me. I don't hold out any hope there will be a storage locker in Romeo filled with JO-HAN tooling inserts, but some of the tooling does still exist, and it came oh so close to being put back to work. Besides, you never know what you might find on the internet... The building at the Romeo, MI address is still there, but is now "Plastic Products". Not sure when and what all changed after the Seville Enterprises court dealings were settled, but I have some more digging to do.

It's back, this time with a Mickey Thompson figure: The previous reissue, as part of the Selected Subjects Program (SSP): The "Monster Machines" combo kit under the HOT ROD label, from 1987 or so?: Original issue:

I always thought the original XKE was ill-proportioned, with the hood/fenders too long, the rearend too stubby, and those pizza-thin (sorry, Harry, not Chicago style) tires and spoked wheels always looked so old fashioned. Maybe it'd look better if someone shortened it a foot?

I don't know much beyond what I posted above, but Sean Stacey is a member here, so maybe try sending him a PM?: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showuser=7830 I have seen a '60-'66 Chevy longbed at the last two swap meets I attended, and I MAY have seen the GMC conversion you're looking for, but not totally sure. I know the longbed was a Modelhaus part and it was in darker brown colored resin. PM me you contact info, please, and if I see it next time and it is what you're looking for, I'll get the vendor's info so you can contact him.

Worked for me, too: http://vcgresin.atspace.com/

Interesting...the instruction sheet for the 2013 reissue shows clear headlight lenses and chrome bases with a center "stem" for the custom build option.

Does Round2 do that, too, or only Revell? May is coming up quickly.

Yes, and two for the trailer.

Problem is, I don't think he told anyone EXACTLY what he acquired from SeVille after that all got hashed out in court. As Rob said, we will probably never know exactly what happened to everything JO-HAN created, but I think the IMC story at least gives some of us hope there's more to be found. FWIW, there's a seller on eBay who's been listing printed JO-HAN box lids(??I'm not really sure what these are called in this pre-folded state. Proof sheets? Test prints?):

How close in length/size are the 1:1 CJ-5 and Rubicon?

I wouldn't be crazy enough to buy any of those. the box art.

I know I didn't save these for nuthin'!

http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20855&hl=

IMC (Illinois Model Company) put forth a great effort to bring the JO-HAN '59 Rambler Wagon, Chrysler Turbine Car, and '74 Olds Cutlass back for us, but it didn't pan out, at least for now. Full details here: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=49120 That said, there must still be a few JO-HAN molds still in existence, or at least there were as recently as 1997, since Testors produced the '71 'Cuda Pro Stock, '70 Olds Cutlass 442, Comet Pro Stock, '69 Hurst SC/Rambler and the '69 AMX in their Hobby Shop Only line. These kits included pewter wheels, matching low profile tires, and a small photoetched sheet, but apparently the tires weren't very good. Previously posted info on these kits here: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=27370 Here's a Testors ad from 1997 advertising the '70 Olds and '71 'Cuda kits:

I think The Modelhaus' parts are the only game in town. Shawn Carpenter did a mid-'50s ('56?) GMC conversion for the AMT '55(?) Cameo kit, and Frontier currently does a '56 heavy duty-type cab, but I don't know of any others.