Casey

I thought the p/e set came up in this topic, but I didn't see it. So that this info doesn't get lost, here's the original post by Len Woodruff: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=25667&hl=c600

I love this shot. I don't even think the fence is need for scale since the truck blocks out the base of the tree behind it. You did some beautiful work on this one Pierre, and the look of the blistered paint has that "we painted it with house paint" look.

Spray it as it is if it looks like the correct consistency. You will be able to tell if it needs to be thinned more once you start spraying it.

The Civic Tuner kits from Revell have three sets of wheels per kit.

Better be a Canadian only 4-speed...or did that end in '80?

Bill, you know exactly how this happens. Say in your shop you and a co-worker are told to copy a Deuce grille shell apron, based on a genuine part on a Deuce in your shop. You can't tell me you both will end up with the exact same piece when you're both finished. How exactly, without any high-tech computerized measuring to you measure and recreate the exact shape of the part? You can take measurements for 24 hours straight, and even share measurements with your co-worker, but the two finished parts will never be identical, and it's simply not realistic to think you can measure every single point on a surface as complex as an apron, or harder yet, a crowned roof on a '56 Chrysler 300. I get your point and I understand the frustration of seeing about gross errors being missed along the way, but scale model masters (at least at Revell, and it appears Moebius, too) are made by humans, then scaled down (one of the circa 2000 issues of SA had an article with images covering this very topic), and yes, pantographs were still being used for this process. I recall Lindberg's '66 Chevelle SS and Revell's '40 Ford coupe were two of the featured models. Let's say for discussion's sake Revell has the ability and opportunity to 3D scan an original '32 Ford Phaeton in Jay Leno's collection (no idea if he has one, just an example), then your shop is contacted because it also has a gennie '32 Phaeton. Let's say Rad Rides by Troy has a third original '32 Phaeton, which Revell will also 3D scan, so they have three original cars from which they will obtain 3D data. There is NO WAY all three will share the exact same coordinates in the X, Y and Z planes, so which measurements do they use? Car A's LR fender has a 1/4" larger wheel arch radius than Car B's, and Car C's is 1/16" smaller, Car B's cowl's max width is 3/16" wider than Car A's, and Car C's is the same width as Car A's, but has 3/32" less crown, and so on. There HAS to be a human element involved when these models are designed, and that means interpretation on the designer's/model maker's part. No single "perfect" example of a mass produced car exists in the real world, therefore, there can never be a perfect model, especially when the model is viewed and interpreted by many different people, each of whom sees things differently than the next person. We also have to consider the effect of proportionately decreasing the measurements, such as when a 3/32" drip molding radius is shrunk down 25 times times to .00375". That type of precision isn't possible at 1/25 scale, neither by injection molding nor 3D printing, so again, there's going to be a compromise. They add enough thickness to allow the detail to appear on the 1/25 scale model, but that scale incorrect drip rail trim may make the roof look flatter to someone's eyes since the model's drip rail trim to roof proportion is no longer true to the real car's. Again, I understand how things should be in an ideal world, and gross errors should not be tolerated, but human involvement can never be eliminated at all points from idea to finished product, so for that reason alone, perfection is not possible.

It's actually a magic wand, and ahem, Harry, stop bogarting it.

It's interesting to see how this kit has evolved, and while the newest wheels are much more modern compared to previous offerings (sorry, those K-H style spoked wheels do nothing for me), it sure would be nice to see this kit fully backdated to its original form.

Something went wrong with Adam's offsite link, so I added the correct link, which you can click on to read the review. Nice review, Adam.

None too shabby a builder, this Richard Carroll:

Should there come a day when the bottoms of our feet get really cold and a kit of Chili Catallo's Deuce is released, I hope it's not with these wheel covers! I do like the "recipe" idea for calling out which kits and parts one needs to build a replica of the real thing, though.

Naming the new division "Edsel" was definitely a mistake, and the name sure doesn't fit with Ford, Mercury, nor Lincoln. I never thought the grille was as horrible as it was made out to be, but as mentioned in the linked article, with all the hype leading up to the car's debut, it was bound to fail. Didn't FoMoCo try the separate division thing with the Continental before it was re-named what it really was all along, a Lincoln?

Just look at the most recent American "enthusiast" kits and how they fared- R-M's Pro Modeler series and Accurate Miniatures Grand Sport 'Vettes and McLaren Can Am cars. Granted, there were some fit issues with the Grand Sports, but many of the P-M kits are still in the Revell lineup, though with a bit less inside the box and selling at a slightly lower price. I'm going on memory here, but I want to say Ed Sexton stated $25-$30 is the most their core customers would spend on a kit in the interview he and Roger Harney of Revell did with the Scale Modelers Radio Hour Show a few months ago. They know their core customers well, know what they will spend, and provide kits which match that price point and an acceptable level of quality.

Ah, those were made by Detail Master and Pats by Parks, and they show up on ebay regularly, too. I didn't see any listed at Scale Dreams' 'site nor Detail Masters' own 'site, but they are out there.

The early AMT/SMP annual kits have value, more as condition improves. Search through Completed Items on ebay an you'll get a good idea what the built up and parts are worth: http://www.ebay.com/csc/Automotive-/2580/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=1961+Pontiac+Bonneville&LH_Complete=1&rt=nc

I would avoid using both Testors Stop Light Red and Turn Signal Amber metallic paints. Have you ever seen a red or amber lens which was metallic?? I haven't. Tamiya's clear amber and red are better choices IMHO.

This F-B Chrysler Imperial kit should give you a good idea of how "awesome" kits were in the 1950s. Nice box, contents well protected. There shouldn't be any breakage or warpage with this one! : Oh yeah, nice illustrated instruction sheet. I'm gonna love building this kit! : Open it up a bit further and-

I'm guessing they got wind of Revell's nearly exact same kit and didn't follow through with theirs. Maybe whatever MPC had started turned into the Action Snaps kits, so at least they got something out of their effort? Fascinating stuff, these "ghost" kits.

The 1/24 Revell re-boxed Monogram kit? Not much, really, other than the addition of the lowrider parts, paints, and paintbrush. I would be perfectly happy if any and all of the 1/25 and 1/24 Revell and Monogram '53/4 Chevy kits never saw the light of day again, echoing Nick's feelings above. These aren't great kits being totally honest, and all of them, including reissues, are still easy to find, and not very expensive.

Whaaaaa??!?? I would love to see a scan of those catalog pages!

This is not the trading section, Chris. If you want something, post a Wanted ad in the appropriate forum section, but don't expect people to do your shopping for you.

The Revell 1/25 scale '70 Challenger T/A-R/T kit is diecast based. The ex-Monogram (now under the Revell label) 1/24 scale kit was never diecast based. The AMT kit is really a convertible with a hardtop which you must attach to the body, so the roof ends up looking funky IMHO.

Pro Tech, maybe? http://www.protechmodelparts.com/ Maybe Futurattraction for the p/e brackets? http://www.futurattraction.com/

I saw it on eBay, but have looked at many similar '60 and '61 Studebaker Lark promos. One of the vintage Car Model mags I recently bought has an ad mentioning Cycolac, so I'll have to scan and post it.