Junkman

May I remind you, gentlemen, that it didn't happen as long as there are no pics?

I wouldn't say there isn't much interest. I would say the model makers are not responding to the widespread interest. Considering the tooling costs, I can see to it to an extend. It is a crying shame though.

I use toilet cleaner, i.e. thick bleach, which contains sodium hypochloride. You must use an air-tight container though, because the stuff is gassing out quite quickly if you don't and therefore loses its 'bite'. It's available everywhere and dirt cheap.

The answer to your question is in this sheet, provided you don't use the stock engine. The entire front axle assembly, i.e. parts 23, 71, 37 and all the drive train parts that go with it, are attached to the front of the body. On the real car, this assembly was attached with a mere four bolts so the entire unit, including the engine and gearbox, could be pulled forward from the car for servicing. Now, on the model, there are no locator pins whatsoever, so you can attach this assembly at any level you like. Whooshbonk, the front is lowered. Since the original Engine would travel up with the suspension assy, it wouldn't fit underneath the bonnet (hood) anymore. You hence need an engine, which is overall lower than the upright I-6 and can be lowered into the car behind the front axle assy, so it can sit low enough to clear the bonnet. For this, imho only a V8 will do, which you mount backwards, i.e. with the bellhousing to the front of the car. To this you mate either the gearbox/differential unit of the Cit, or you adapt a Toronado/Eldorado transmission/diff unit. Or a Gurney-Weslake from a GT40. Or even a VW Beetle Bug. Why I know this? Because it HAS been done on real cars! To lower the car in the rear is easy. You attach the trailing links at an angle, like the torsion bars would be turned two-three notches in their anchors. Actually, if you mount the rear axle assy and let the car rest on its wheels before the glue sets, it will lower itself.

I truly appreciate this smooth transition from modelling to art every time I see it.

Oh, I definately second that. I found a few images on the net which may be helpful in establishing the correct location of the fenders: I think they illustrate nicely, how low slung the car really is. Here is a pic of the engine, if you want to build it stock: The body of the cars was actually developped by Ambi Budd in America and it was indeed very advanced for its time, like the rest of the car. The real weakness of these Citroens has always been the gearbox. Initially they were supposed to have an automatic transmission, but the prototypes turned out to be a disaster. Hence they rushed the development of a manual gearbox and cut corners in the process. This wasn't really rectified throughout the production run of these cars, which lasted - believe it or not - until 1957!

It's going to wake up pretty soon. I'm currently working on my Jag MKII, which is nearing completion. All things considered, there should be an update here next weekend. If you build your Heller 15/6, make sure you attach the front wings in the correct position. There is nothing to aid locating them, nothing at all, so it's entirely up to you eyeballing it. Most I have seen are mounted too low.

I have a stack of these lying around: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MONOGRAM-LINCOLN-CONTINENTAL-VINTAGE-/350256844084?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item518cef4d34 And this one, too: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Monogram-1940-Ford-PICKUP-4in1-ORIGINAL-64-Vintage-KIT-/190389433328?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c541833f0

This looks fantastic. Can't find anything on Frontier Design on teh Interweb. Do you have a link by any chance?

Just one thing: It would be nice to have a showcase and WIP section in the big scale section too. Or whould the finished big scales also go into the 'regular' showcase?

Samantha, you are not only an excellent modeller, but also a model and a scholar. I've shown the photos of your build to my daugher, and she asked me whether I could provide her with a model to build. You should be very proud of yourself. And hey, thank you so much for sharing it with us!

A 78 GM car would have HEI, hence 8mm HT leads. In scale, the difference is marginal though.

Well, it was end of the tax year and full moon after all...

I think only in 1955 and 1956 and only in certain markets. Where is Dennis Doty when we need him? I was never able to get the whole story about this partnership and its subsequent break-up, but what I've heard is, that there was a law suit instituted by Revell, when AMT started making model kits without the OK from Revell. Revell was successful to the tune of 6 million Dollars iirc (in 195x money!). It was the money won from this law suit that enabled Revell to make a quantum leap in the idustry shortly afterwards. It was at this time that Revell expanded into 1/25 scale, namely the Corvette, the '59 Ford retractable hardtop, the 190 Mercedes, the Porsche Speedster, the Microbus, to name just a few. The box should be considered a collectors item by itself, by virtue of the logo. Revell/AMT boxes are very rare.

See, I didn't even know they made that slot car. I of course meant PC-1. It is my understanding, that this kit was initially 'sold' through Kellogg's. You had to send in a certain amount of tokens from your Kellogg's boxes and they sent you the kit. It was bagged, not boxed. I have this kit less box with the Kellogg's instructions. Not sure whether they started to market this kit as a regular boxed kit via the toy trade after the Kellogg's deal was filled, or at the same time. Nevertheless, those 1/25 Revell midgets AND their trailers look entirely new to me.

There was also the Chrysler New Yorker: And a stock Continental MKII: Initially the models were offered only in stock form and there was a 1955 and a 1956 lineup, all in 1/32. These kits can be considered the very first annual kits. Available were the following kits: 1955 Ford Fairlane Cvt 1955 Mercury Monterrey HT 1955 Buick Roadmaster HT 1955 Cadillac Eldorado 1955 Chrysler New Yorker HT 1956 Ford Fairlane Cvt 1956 Mercury Phaeton 4dr HT 1956 Buick Roadmaster HT 1956 Cadillac Eldorado 1956 Chrysler New Yorker HT 1956 Continental MKII A few of the 1956 models were then revamped into these 'customizing kits' and released in 1958. I'm not sure whether the entire 1956 lineup made it, but I doubt it (I only ever saw the Mercurys and the Chryslers). I will stand corrected if they did. The kits are collectable and can command comparatively stiff money considering they are 1/32. 75$ for a customizing kit in the condition yours is in is not unheard of. The stock models, especially the much rarer 1955 models, can easily set you back three digits.

Those midgets are a dream come true for me. They will perfectly complement the Etzel Speed Classics multimedia of a Solar I have here for ages. They cannot be the old Monogram, which was not only slightly larger than 1/25. It was at least 1/20 if not 1/18.

The good news: there are kits of those in abundance. The bad news: None have an engine.

I have a late 60s Nichimo Mark II Hardtop by Nichimo in 1/20 scale. It has a beautiful full detail engine and drivetrain. It was not intended for being motorized.

"Blowsperior" Variable Type to be precise. The Aoshima kit is better than the IMAI one.

Are you talking about MY trophy?

Can you please specify the year? The Mark II was built over three decades.

Have you tried, or is this mere speculation?

I would be very hesitant in blaming anyone for anything. This is a rare kit in good condition and some people very obviously want to intagrate it into their collections. this is a collectable kit for collectors, period. If you want to build a model of a '65 Chevelle on a trailer towed by a '63 Impala, there is plenty of material out there for very reasonable money and in better quality.

Sorry, tuffone20 and Terror, but I don't get your points, so could you please elaborate? - The photo of the decal sheet in the auction is part of the auction and there to describe the article. If a decal maker can work with it, good. But the seller is not obliged to provide a better picture to someone just asking for it. - The seller did not list the kit for 500$. Bidders bid it to this amount.