Junkman

My mother had an HY for her fashion house. Actually a succession of them. Simca 1100 and Opel C-Rekord kits are long overdue, let alone their commercial variants. One can only hope Emhar will continue their Bedford Programme with an S type and TK. Until then, let's strengthen Heller as much as we can by doing H vans galore.

That's right, the '61 Starliner only ever existed as an annual "Customizing Kit" and that was it. If that tool still exists, it must be mint! I think Jimmy Flintstone makes a Starliner body and interior tub to use with the Styline kit. There was a batch of "error" models of the original. Initially it had "Sunliner" on the front fenders, not "Starliner".

It's unacceptable. Equally unacceptable is that Ebbro's website is only in Japanese.

Agree wholehartedly. Some of the more modern kits are somewhat heavy handed in the body department. One can always try to modernize an old annual or snapper with more recent interiors and/or chassises. For me, it's mostly about the cars themselves. I want those cars.

You can't compare them with modern kits, or you must consider them total tosh. But in many cases, they are the only game in town!

Well, if there is something available in Europe that you fancy, just let me know.

The '64 and '65 weren't fastbacks, like the '66 was. Also, they were available at the same time. So IMO, one of them must still be intact, if existant at all.

EFA That'll be a Kopi Luwak and a Macaroon for me, please...

That would be oof! All one would have to do then is convert the instrument panel so the steering wheel is on the correct side.

I see 77 Euros wasted. For someone, who isn't rich, that's not a laughing matter. To say I'm rather p/()3) off is an understatement of downright British proportions.

Just for completeness (the promo-based AMT "Junior" serieses I mean), there was the Jr. Trophy series, and the Craftsman series, which are often mixed up. At least I mix them up often. Jr. Trophy: 1957 Ford Thunderbird w/hardtop (note: this is made from the promo tool and differs significantly from the Trophy series kit) 1959 Ford Galaxie hardtop 1959 Edsel hardtop 1959 Buick Invicta hardtop 1960 Chevrolet wagon 1963 Chevrolet Nova wagon 1963 Ford Falcon convertible Craftsman: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente hardtop 1959 Mercury Park Lane convertible 1965 Chevy II hardtop 1960 Ford Starliner hardtop 1963 (?) Mercury Comet convertible 1960 Pontiac Bonneville hardtop 1964 Ford Galaxie hardtop 1964 Valiant Signet hardtop 1965 Valiant Signet hardtop 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu hardtop 1959 Chevrolet Impala convertible 1960 Lincoln Continental hardtop (has separate roof and IIRC convertible cover included) 1963 Chevrolet Corvair Monza convertible 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza hardtop 1963 Chevrolet Impala hardtop 1957 Ford Thunderbird w/hardtop I'm pretty sure this is incomplete/incorrect and hope someone in the know will correct it soon. However, would assume that most of the tooling could still be around, although in what condition is anybody's guess. Especially the later "laugh in" editions were hopeless rescue attempts of an ailing company on the brink of bankrupcy. I've heard rumours of tooling being sold for scrap to generate some cash, but this sounds to me like selling one's last coat and pair of boots at the beginning of Winter. Also note how some of those tools got dusted off more often than others. Especially the '64 Comet appears to have nine lives. Entirely btw, who would have thought the '59 Imperial tool is still alive and well?

That was in the Cuba series and I think those weren't made from promo tools, but full kits made from annual tools. Che Riviera - 1965 Buick Riviera Havana Banana - 1965 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 hardtop Beard of Paradise - 1965 Lincoln convertible/custom wagon

You will be delighted.

I think it's ironically more popular in Europe.

Ultra Violet - 1961 Ford Galaxie hardtop Peony Pony - 1964 Ford Mustang hardtop Sunflower Power - 1962 Buick Electra 225 hardtop Buttercup Bomb - 1960 Pontiac Bonneville hardtop Magnolia Mauler - 1960 Mercury Park Lane hardtop Bird Of Paradise - 1960 Ford Thunderbird hardtop Anyway, I screwed up. The '62 Galaxie's last iteration was as the Turista Turismo in the Mexico series, together with these: Caliente Bandido - 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente hardtop Mexicali Mudlark - 1966 Buick Skylark hardtop Tequila Mockingbird - 1963 Ford Thunderbird hardtop Boondock Bomber - 1959 Buick Invicta hardtop AMT El Ranchero Grande - 1961 Ford Ranchero Yeah. And I want them all. Now!

But my reviews suck, wheras others write such good ones. There is not much bad to say about the kit. If you were really picky, you could lament that the various doors and lids aren't hinged. You can attach them in either open or closed positions. Only the sliding door on the RH side is moveable. Anyway. Despite the newfangled clamshell box is the same size as the Renault 4 and Citroen Mehari boxes, and not nearly as big as mentioned on the Heller website, there is lots of air: During the production run of the H van, which lasted from 1947 to 1981, there were of course countless detail changes, and a few major ones. Heller paid them tribute by providing parts for a post 1954 and then again a post 1965 version. These two years marked major externally visible changes. Thus you get the split windshield vs. one piece windshield option, the upper tailgate with a small or a large window, and the two different engine compartment surrounds, one with the corrugated upper surface, one with the fluted one. These are all furnished as clear parts: The tires appear to be newly tooled and have the correct Michelin thread. Note that the underfloor has structural detail: The main body parts sprue contains the options for the rear wheel arches. The older ones are radiused, the later ones squared off: The currugation is repeated on the inside of the body panels, which also have the reinforcement beams. Also note early and late bumpers, as well as early and late grilles: According to the instructions, there are also early and late heater units for the dashboard. You also get a nice decal sheet: Real men don't need this: Note that this is in fact a hemi engine. And the back of the box: You really do get a lot of kit for your money from Heller, despite they are 100% made in France, which kind of proves my point, that we don't need China.

Is this customary?

AMT: The '64 Comet Caliente and '64 Galaxie were actually in the Craftsman series and have seemingly survived unscathed. My holy grails of the Craftsman series are the wagons - '60 Chevy and '63 Nova. I'd like to see the entire series back, though. I'd also like to see all the other "Junior" series of kits that were based on promo tools, including the Flower Power series. I think it was in the latter we last saw a '62 Galaxie? I want those cars, I don't care about engines, let alone correctly positioned, true to scale throttle return springs. Also, the '67 and '68 Galaxies and all other annuals which might have survived intact. 1/16 T'birds and Chevies 1/12 Cord MPC: 70-76 Firebirds/Trans Ams. 7X Camaro Late 60s - early 70s Jeep Commando/Jeepster 7X Dodge Pick Up '65/'66 Dodge Monaco '74 Dodge Challenger Dodge Charger III show car '71/'72 Plymouth Satellite (Roadrunner) All* the Cudas/Barracudas '69 Impala Whatever Caprices have survived (possibly only the '76 anyway) '7X Chevy Vega All* the El Caminos All* the post '73 Chevy Pick Ups and Blazers (Fall Guy anyone?) Ford Pinto and Pinto Wagon All* the Bonnevilles '75 Pontiac Sprint Cosma Ray Mannix Roadster Harry Bradley "The Californian" All* Toronados 1970 Mercury Cyclone 1st Gen. Cougar 1/8 Schwinn bicycles, Honda ATC 90, Bronson Hardly Dangerous, 1/12 Fonz and his bike, Ski Doo, Shaker Trike, 3+3 Chopper, Boss Bike Do they still have the 1/24 Airfix tools for the Aston Martin DB5/DB6? Same for the Toyota 2000GT roadster? *With "All", I mean for which the tooling still exists/is useable. Did I forget anything?

Exactly what you'd expect from a €65.00 kit:

A '60 Mercury hardtop, now that I spent a lot of money on a builder with a cracked roof pillar.

Ironically, they had it right in their initial illustration: Assumption: It would have been impossible to get it out of the mould this way, but they didn't want to tool it as a separate part.

If you still want to get rid of one of your Avantis, please PM me.

Well, I'm certainly going to correct it on mine, because it isn't straight down on the real ones.

That one is clearly bent forward by accident. Note how it is ripped at the ends. Show me one single other photo where it is straight down.