Ron Hamilton

Bill, Before you go any further on this one, I suggest that you address the rear window shape. For some reason, AMT missed the shape of the rear window on the '64 Cutlass and GTO, with the lower corners being rounded, where on the real car, it was a hard corner, like what is on the Revell '65 Chevelle.

Very Nice Bruce. Your build made me get out an old restoration that has been languishing in my basement for the past 15 or so years. I was going to sell it, but after looking at yours, I have to work on it.

Go get 'em, Mike!!!!

Beautiful!

I remember the original kit from when I was a kid. My next door neighbor built one. I preferred the "Streaker Vette" myself, as I have one to build one of these days. I know you will do this one justice.

I built one of those when the kit came out back in the 1980's, as I had no idea of where to get a MPC '66. I found a built-up MPC '66 Bonneville at the NNL east, and finished it off with some Modelhaus chrome, and some MCW paint. The Hasegawa body was in the "For Sale" pile, until I tried to get a MPC '66 Bonneville convertible. Even the worst glue-bombs are going close to $100, so I am going to get a Modelhaus interior and boot, and convert it into a convertible.

You're getting there, Bruce. When I do mine, I am going to fab a set of headrests too.

I did this one when the convertible kit first came out.

Jairus, I am with you about life getting in the way of fun. I am digging that '58 wagon. I recently picked up a Jimmy Flintstone '57 Ford Country Sedan, and even though I have a Revell Ranchero Chassis to work with, I may have to go the AMT '58 Edsel chassis and underhood route to get the additional detail and ability to change the ride height. I am now thinking of doing a pair of wagons, owned by the same person. One being a perfectly restored Country Squire, and one a hot rodded Country Sedan, with a 427, 4-speed, Raders and Half Whites. Built sixties style in the same color family, with the Country Sedan being 2-Toned to make up for the wood grain. I hope life allows you to get back to the model, but in the mean time enjoy the one-to-one '58.

I like the shaved look of that car better than the "Talladega" Torino roof.

This is the one I'm going to build. I crawled all over this one (with the owner's permission) at Carlisle several years ago. This has to be the best looking version of this car I have ever seen. I have all of the available Jo Han, AMT, and MPC Toronado kits from the 1966 through 1972 era. Those cars just are so cool.

I have to dispute your statement, but that rear quarter trim on the louvers WAS part of the Z28 package, no matter if the car was a Rally Sport, Style Trim Group, or Base. Why Chevy had it on all of them was beyond me. That was one of the ways we were able to spot a "Fake" Z28 on the street, without having the build sheet. back in the day. Revell missed that trim on the '69 Z28 kit. When I built mine, I made that trim out of thin plastic rod. Model Car Garage included it with their excellent Photetch Detail Set. Revell did not include the trim on the 1/25 nor the 1/12 scale '69 Camaros. In my opinion, the Revell '69 Camaro kits were among the best ones available. I built 6 of them over the years, and have several more.

That has to be one of the best '68 Road Runners I have seen on these pages. Go get 'em Mike.

Why yes, I do!!!

Bill, Go ahead, I dare ya!!!!! Ron

Excellent workmanship and concept.

I love this topic. One thing I have noticed over the years, is that quite a few modelers assume that what the kit manufacturers put in that box is an accurate representation of the real thing. Nothing is further from the truth IMHO. There are allowances made for tooling, as some angles of the real car make it impossible to remove the thing out of the mould. I take a lot of time doing reasearch on the real subject, and I also take a lot of time test fitting, and "massaging" the bodies on my builds (removing mould lines, deepening door and trunk lines, block sanding the model before and after priming, etc. (Thank you Darin Bastado for showing the work you are putting into that Firebirsd!!!) Most modelers do not research the model they are building against the real thing, therefore unless it is a full custom, a junker, or heavilly modified race car, unless they do a lot of prep work, their efforts will be passed over in the contest world. Gloss paint used in the interior of a car is quite silly to me, unless it is a race car where the real one used a gloss finish in places. Bad paint jobs often hurt one's chances of winning anything in the contest world. I once judged a contest where the modeler, clear coated the colored plastic on the model with a heavy coat of clear, represented an "up" convertible top with masking tape, painted gloss black, and used Testors Silver to represent the chrome on the car, over the kit's moulded in hardtop. He was quite proud of his effort, as his friends told him that his model was the most accurate rendition of the subject they have ever seen as a model. The modeler who built this "gem" was not a child, but a full grown adult. On the other hand I saw a built up model with NO exterior paint, just the polished out plastic, and Bare Metaled detail painted and decaled, and let me tell ya, it was beautiful. We all have various skill levels, and I compensate for my declining skills by just taking my time. I do not profess myself to be the best modeler here on the board, but I know a well built model when I see it, and I am happy to offer my assistance to any modeler who needs it.

That model looks great!!!!!

Purplelicious!!!!!

Go get 'em Cruz!!! I have built 3 of those kits, and I have several more, and I love them. I cannot wait for the finished model.

Beautiful build. Makes me want a Orange Float!!!