charlie8575

I've never run across them either at any store in Massachusetts. Next time I'm in Brooklyn, if you're around, Joe, I'd love to do lunch or dinner. You know the good places and I have a feeling the company will be most enjoyable. Charlie Larkin

I'll stop there for lunch next time I'm passing through. Sounds good. Charlie Larkin

I would LOVE to see that Newport convertible return. I'd buy at least two. Charlie Larkin

Two very nice builds. Charlie Larkin

Nice job. Those are salvageable, I see. What modifications, if any, did you have to make to the kit to make it stock? Charlie Larkin

You can get Code 26 Lt. Blue Met. mixed at any paint jobber that offers touch-up bottles or custom-mixed spray cans. There are several on the Internet as well. Single-stage paints and lacquers are around $12-14 for a two-ounce bottle. The headlight set-up is very, very accurate. The 1980-'85 Impalas had a very flat header panel and grille with the lights almost dead-ahead. Trust me, I've owned a lot of B-Bodies and am very familiar with the cars. I will agree the chrome lenses need to be addressed. That can be done with a coat of aluminum paint, followed by Testors clear parts cement or white glue; it adds dimension to the lights. Charlie Larkin

I still have reports of people having problems with Ultra-Bright at the store. I've been trying to convince the boss to stock more of the New & Improved...no soap; One or two sheets isn't enough. We could go with 6-10 sheets of the original thin stuff and solve most of our sales problems. Charlie Larkin

Very nice dio. Welcome aboard. Charlie Larkin

More proof, along with the platypus, that God does have a rather strange sense of humor. I wonder if the undercarriage, etc., or at least portions of it, could be the basis for a new stock '56 F-100? Charlie Larkin

I wouldn't object to a fresh run of Lincolns and Imperials, either. Charlie Larkin

Not really, good one's about $30. The TVs are what you keep an eye on the sales for. Charlie Larkin

I suspect a Vega will be coming from AMT. A stock Matador is possible, too. I wouldn't be shocked if we at least had an announcement for a 1957 Ranchero; I'd be a bit surprised if we got a Country Squire. I think we'll be getting at least one more pickup from the vintage side- I'm going to go out on a limb and say a 1960s Dodge. I'm guessing within the next year or two we will see a 1955-'57 Olds 88. The Monogram capital-C Classics are WAY overdue for a re-issue. I wouldn't be shocked to see one or two of those. Charlie Larkin

No surge protector? That's saved my stuff a couple of times. Cheap insurance. Keep an eye on the sales; with back-to-college coming up, there will be some deals, and in many cases, six months same-as-cash financing. Charlie Larkin

There are decent people out there. Sometimes, you don't even have to look that hard. They find you. Charlie Larkin

Got some parts replaced on the front end of my car Tuesday. No big deal, other than it probably shouldn't have been needed- last guy to do the alignment made a mess of the parts. Bending a tie-rod and cracking the tie-rod sleeve takes a special breed of dumb. My mechanic doens't have an alignment rack. No biggie, there are a couple of places a couple miles away that do, so I drove the car over. First place: We don't have the tools for your car- the other alignment guy quit yesterday, and took the right sockets with him because they were his. Really- you're that badly-equipped, I asked, more with surprise than upset? Company sends us tools that are garbage, on a big, heavy car like yours, those parts will snap them. Not a good way to do business. Went around the corner to another shop I had been told about- kind of buried, couldn't find them, so I went to another tire shop around the corner. Nice people, said leave it overnight, we'll get to it tomorrow, very reasonable price, drove me back to my garage to grab my other car, headed to MassCar's meeting. Got a call this afternoon. "We couldn't do your alignment." "Why?" "Our machine uses four drums, and they won't fit up around the covered (skirted) wheels in the back." "Who was the moron that designed this?" "Don't know. We called every alignment shop nearby, nobody could do it. There's a guy in a little side-alley here in Clinton that has a laser machine, that'll work." So now I have to find him- and I think he was the guy I was looking for originally. Oy vey... Charlie Larkin

That dawn-shot is worth a fortune, Ed. You could probably sell rights to use that one as a stock photo and make a nice royalty. Stunning. Charlie Larkin

Please tell me this is a joke....please? Charlie Larkin

Eye surgery has come leaps and bounds in the last few years, and this is a pretty common problem. With good care and reasonable effort to follow instructions for post-op care, I am confident all will be well. Feel better soon, Bill! Charlie Larkin

Excellent work all in all. Those figures look great. Charlie Larkin

Thanks, Alan. I might give this stuff a shot and see how it works. Charlie Larkin

There have been problems with K&S distribution lately. Part of it is caused by K&S. They moved packaging to cards with a cellophane-type overwrap, and it's making merchandising the stuff hard; it's not like it was before when you'd get a box of 12/18/24/36 pieces that were easy to work with. K&S, I guess, has also been having trouble getting stuff to the distributors, regardless of packaging. Charlie Larkin

Got anything that'll help un-freeze a lock cylinder? Graphite powder was a no-go. I remember a locksmith used some kind of spray stuff on another lock that worked decently, but I've never been able to get the brand of stuff- wasn't anything common like WD-40 or PB Blaster. Charlie Larkin

Great photos, Ed. Made me happy today: watching an 8-year-old come into the store and actually want to build stuff. There is hope. Charlie Larkin

I like the mint ones. Charlie Larkin

I'm laughing right now. And, yet, even a girl that hideous would still probably refuse a date with me. It's a conspiracy to keep me single. Although, after watching so many of my friend's problems, I really wonder if it's for the worse. Charlie Larkin