ZTony8

Nicely done rendition of a less than great kit. I'm seriously considering gluing the hood shut on mine because of the poor engine.The turbocharger's not even connected to the exhaust manifold!

I almost bought one of those cars.I had admired the seats in the sport version,could live with the styling,and the price wasn't too terrible.Then I got a chance to drive one and was disappointed with the acceleration.I bought my '84 Z-28 H.O. instead.

My buddy and I used to play "Demo Derby" with them and would smash them head on into each other,often while watching the demo derbies on television.I now cringe when I think of the models that got broken.But I never doused them with flammables or put explosives in them.

Trumpeter seems to have issues doing their car kit's engines properly.To call the Monte Carlo engine "generic" would be doing it a favor.The Falcon engine's intake manifold only has 5 passages(!) and it too is rather featureless.The '60 Pontiac has poor engraving and is rather shapeless.The '63 Nova has about the best engine but it still isn't as good as most domestic kit engines.Then you factor in the other problems their kits have with accuracy and the builds will be quite a challenge.I've decided to do a gasser from the '65 Ranchero I have.I'll swap out the engine and eliminate the most serious flaw of the kit.

Motor City NNL #9-November 24th,2013.Macomb County Community College activities building,12 Mile and Hayes campus,Roseville,Michigan 48066.9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 251 vendor tables(that's more than in the Sylvania,Ohio show!).Still only $5 admission -that's for the NNL AND the toy show combined.

I was 10 years old when that movie debuted.My buddy's parents took us to the local theatre to see it.When we exited the place after the end of the movie there was one of the real turbine cars parked at the curb!We thought that was SO cool! Oh yeah-even at 10 years of age I thought Pamela Tiffin was HOT!I found out later that she got an advanced degree and quit acting after only a handful of films.

Yeah,the kit is a dog.But if you only want a shelf model it's alright.But you'll have to decide which car(chassis#) you want to build-early or late.There were some differences in side window shape(see above pics),brake cooling slot placement on the competition cars,gas filler cap placement,and some other details.Consult as many references as you can find for all the differences and build accordingly.Good luck!

I've managed to complete 2 kits this year.I have approximately 1150 more unbuilt( some in varying degrees of being started) so my percentage is an embarrassing .001739 per cent.But I plan to live to be 400 so I can finish them all.So far,so good.

I hear you,Greg.I've missed out on the Tamiya Williams FW24 and the Fujimi 250 GTO.But I've been picking up other kits when I've found them cheap even though I might already have an example or two-like the Fujimi Enthusiast Model Ferrari Daytona convertible. I still haven't bought the Revell Mustang LX or the reissued AMT '62 Vette or '49 Mercury or '56 Ford or a bunch of others.I might have to sell off some of the duplicates in my stash for those- but I don't want to do that! Full styrene junkie here!

When GM made the H Special cars from the basic Vega platform they had to do some major bandaging in of strengthening pieces to be able to support the weight of the 231 v-6 and 305 v-8 engines.It was so extensive that the reinforcements they installed even had to have braces.If you ever get a chance,take a look at the exploded view of the engine compartment structure in the parts catalog for those cars-it's a nightmare. The Chevette was a flimsy little car that,once they aged,liked to shed floorpans and the tops of the front shock absorber towers.

Re the separate hood with no engine.I have the opposite situation with a Fujimi Datsun Fairlady ZG kit.It has a complete engine but the hood is molded to the body.Strange.

Mark,you do bring up a point for discussion about a modeler entering a model built years ago.Where SHOULD it go if it was built when the entrant was age appropriate for a younger builder's class?My feeling is that it would go into the younger age class since it reflects the modeler's ability at that age,not the present age.

Best method I've found is to obtain one of those mug/candle warmers from a craft store(like Michael's).It's cheap-about $5 with a discount coupon.The can seems to retain it's heat longer this way versus dunking it in water.I've inadvertently left a can on the warmer until it was uncomfortable to hold and it didn't burst so it's reasonably safe to use.

Back around 1979-80 the carbureted turbo v-6 was available in the Monte Carlos from G.M.Few were made.

I can't see the helmet very well to identify it as Andretti's silver helmet.Could this livery possibly represent Robert Lappalainen who also drove in the Trans Am series with that JPS sponsorship?

If you're in the Metro Detroit area,get a gift certificate from either Great Lakes Hobby in Utica,the Model Cave in Ypsilanti,Nankin's in Farmington,Whistle Stop in Saint Clair Shores,or P&D in Roseville.

I wonder if there was an earlier thread about the windshield height and/or the shape of the raised top.They both look "off" to me-the windshield looks too tall(like the Trumpeter Nova) and the top looks too tall and too rounded. This looks to be a nicely done example of the kit.Congratulations.

OK,I'll toss my two cents in on this old thread.I've got both the versions in my kit stash.The Martini car is missing the decals,the Vaillant car is complete.I think I paid $10 each for them.That green plastic of the Vaillant car is reallllllly ugly.I might have to do the white version of the car just to save my eyes!Studio 27 made a few different decal versions for these kits but for the most part they're unavailable.I'm hoping to be lucky and find a set.

Since the original doors aren't substituted for something else you should be fine. I've always been a proponent for Box Stock of being able to use(and modify) for the model whatever came in the box-sprue,instruction sheets,etcetera and be able to use imagination to build whatever comes to mind.I saw a beautifully done Honda Civic years ago at the NNL in Toledo that was built using sprue to make some of the parts. Think of an original issue AMT 1957 Ford Fairlane kit-the one with all the custom parts in it.Technically,a full custom is box stock for that kit.

Outside of Box Stock(or Out of Box) class,the field's open.Change things if you desire.You certainly wouldn't get knocked down for the changes unless they were done badly.

I have a weakness for the Tamiya Lotus 99T kit(really,all of their F-1 kits).I built one several years ago,bought two other built ups cheap,now have two or three of the early version and one of the modified reissued version.It's a relatively simple kit,goes together well and looks good when finished.I wish I could find the Leyton House March kits like I find the Lotus kits. There are other kits of which I have more examples( like the current edition '57 Chevy 150 sedan)but I have enough of those others to satisfy me(unless I hit upon an irresistible deal).

Yesterday I picked up a set of Fujimi figures and a VW GTI and an early version Tamiya Lotus 99T.

I go for subject.No one maker produces everything I want to build.

I found a convertible version of this car at the swap meet in Hershey,Pa. back in 2001.Mine was customized in the popular method of the time-Use as much of what's in the box as possible!It's saving grace is that it's chrome is great,it wasn't ever painted, and remains so today.It's one of those models that,every once in a while,I think I'm going to disassemble and rebuild but then I remember that it's a piece of early modeling history so back into it's original box(!) it goes.

It's the same basic design block whether it's a 350 or a 400 or a 455.For model purposes just paint the engine the correct color and it'll suffice.