whale392

I agree Raul, and might just have to dig this kit out of its' DEEPLY buried state and mess with it just to see if I can correct my percieved areas of poor kit design judgement.

Heck Brian, building the models kept you sane during your unemployed stint, and we enjoyed looking at the finished builds and going along for the rides on the build-ups. Why would we mind about the posting?.....that's what we're here for. Good to here you'll be back to work, good on you and on your model-buying cashflow! Continue to keep us posted on your builds; I know this isn't quite your living room, but it is like a home.

Base model engine for the 'Bee was the 383, followed by the 440, 440+6 and Hemi (in that order). Personally, if you already have a set of Ralleys (also an extra-cost option) handy and the kit comes with the Hemi, it would be a no-brainer to build the BronzeBee. However, there is something to be said for the uniqueness of the WhiteBees color combo. Source a 383 from the Revell 69 Dart GTS kit and you will be set (plus, you could drop the Hemi or the 440+6 into the Dart!). Your call Cliff, but either way you go I am sure it will look killer (based on your 'Cuda and GTX builds).

It is funny just how astetics can either make or break a kit. The chassis is a great piece, along with the engine....I just can't get over how mis-shapen and fugly the overall look of the kit has. Swapping wheels helps, and color selection can do some; but the headlights, the fact that it looks like it is outrunning it's woodgrain paneling, and the chunkiness of the wheels just kill it for me. Seeing the headlights fixed on this build gives hope to a poor kit, and by swapping wheels, I think it has a shot at looking good. Keep us posted, I am eager to see if the kit I have stashed away just might have a shot at being built, or if it will suffer the fate a few of its' brothers did.

To me, it also looks like it could use a slight pie-sectioning to bring the hood side profile in line with the new headlight position. Also, if you are retaining the woodside look, bring it up to start at the front fender/door meeting line, versus halfway back on the body. It always looked like a half-azzed attempt at a Woody to me with that styling.

Much nicer than body color. They would even look good with the lips polished (clear flat removed).

Never say no to a Hemi, no matter the pedigree! The 354 heads are the best flowing of the bunch (if I remember right), and I know Hot Heads makes some killer stuff for the whale motor. Then again, I guess my screen name gives my parciality to these motors away huh?!

Very nice save!

Eric is right; with 3 Mustangs from 1983-86, I can definately set you up with references for that year grouping, as well as my ties to a certain online establishment that caters to the 1979-86 Mustangs, Capris, SVOs, TurboCoupes, and all other FoxChassis cars in that year group. I also have my 1991GT base model to draw from as well. If you do decide to build another Fox (or 3), I am sure Eric and I will be more than willing to help out where we can. And I agree on the taillight thing; I hate the 87-93 'Cheese Grater' taillights, which is why my 91GT has the 83-86 tails (think 93 Cobra tails without the stripes).

I have always thought of this kit as ugly, ill-looking, and in general a good donor for the drivetrain/interior. I am interested to see this sows ear become a silk purse.

Either Gunmetal, or satin coat the spokes. Even an Antique Bronze color would go well with the Blue hue you have on the car now (of course, these are merely the opinions of a raving madman!).

Looks good. The taillights are a horror at best to paint on this kit, and I think you found a good way to do them. The '05 wheels should look very nice on the car.

Interesting.......I too would rather see some modern heavy trailers and some 53' units. However, I think there is room in the hobby for both of these options. Even thought I vote 'not my thing' on this one, I don't quite believe in the 'no' portion of it.

Very nice retouches on the engine, and the interior looks pretty close to most 'Stangs I know of! Keep this up and my real cars will be jealous of your build.

Does the club that used to be run by Bob Knowles still Meet in St.Cloud? MANY moons ago, I belonged to it, and was wondering the same thing...anything still going on in the Orlando/Kissimmee/St.Cloud area?

Hey Zuk........that Dodge Crew cab you got, is that a 1964-65 cab? If so, you just made my day and if they have a regular cab coming you just made my dads life! With that and some scratchbuilding, I can build a model of his 1968-71 trucks. Does the same caster have the beds as well? I'll have to copy and paste the link you show.

Yes, the Garlits kit is a mighty fine kit, and the real car is as well (I lived an hour and a half from Garlits). However, as mentioned above, the Hippie Hemi used a god-aweful body cladding that could only come from the ill-begotton marriage of drugs and gayness. As to the real car and the respect it is due (Jairus); having a real 150" rail and growing up around these cars and people who drove them, I have tons of respect for them (both man and machine).

The Mag in the pic looks like a Vertex unit. Dad had one on his Hemi......I will see if dda still has it and see if he can remember some info on it. I still do drag race, and every now and then road race (HPDE). I also set up most of my street cars for cornering prowess as straight line has very limited use on the street! Your rail is coming along nicely, I look forward to seeing it completed.

I currently own 4 Fox 'Stangs, and all of them are 5 lug swapped and on bigger rubber/rims. I have an 83GLX vert on 17" ADR Designs Black meshes with the polished lips, an 84 TurboGT on 18" FR500s with Black spokes and polished lips, an 86GT TTop on 17" 94-95 Tri-Bars, and my 91GT on 17" 1996 Cobras. All 4 are lowered 1&1/2" to 2". As I said, I am willing to offer any help I can; PM me or grab me when I am online and I will see what I can do. I am starting to resin cast again and one thing on my list are the 16" Ponies from the 1992GT Vert (original issue).

While the dark side may have cookies, making your own and using skill has KUDOS! Besides, with cookies, you'll have to end up fighting a blue shag rug with a bad attitude some day for the last one. To each his own, and in the spirit of the original post, I suggested drilling your own distributors. As to the 'any monkey' comment........well? How many people (a lot here) hate the real pocketbook hot-rodder or the 'rat rod' with $50,000.00 in parts? See my point? I have nothing against pre-made parts, and sometimes they are the only way to go to get something in scale.

And these are Hot Wheels sized? VERY nice indeed!

Shame to hide such nice detail with a plain Black wrapper! She looks real nice, better than I can do (then again, I don't have the first clue on detailing semi tractors) and I would be proud to call it mine.

Back when my dad drove, adjustment of the tandems was achieved by chocking the trailer tires, pulling the pin lever (thus releasing the pins from their locking holes in the slider frame/cradle), and using the tractor to either pull or push the trailer over the tandems to achieve desired position. Release the lever (allowing the pins to re-engage the locking holes) and un-chock the tires and you were ready to go.

Well Charles, it is a matter of personal opinion and everyone is entitled to theirs. I will state (and for the record) that several of my builds have pre-wired distributors, BUT my dad wanted me to learn detailing with skill instead of money (he is/was poorer, and all of his projects; real or otherwise, were built by him,...as little pocketbook as possible). It was from these excersises in frugality that I learned attention to detail (both in planning and execution) and patience, not to mention hand-eye coordination and proper tool care. As to the question of aging/paint detailing....exhaust gets rusty pretty quickly, so you could pre-paint the manifolds either steel or cast iron, then drybrush/weather them with various shades of browns/oranges to simulate rust. , ......not only did I drill and wire it, but I BUILT the distributor for this one......and it is 1/25th scale and I DO NOT own a magnifying glass (that is the basis for my soapbox).

Bringing it from the crypt to the ballroom floor nicely.