charlie8575

I don't think any of the re-issues I have have the dog. Cool. Charlie Larkin

That would be great, Andy. Thank you. Charlie Larkin

I've seen some pictures of Oldsmobiles, which had a similar fin treatment, done like this. I don't recall seeing any Pontiacs like it, but it is sharp, and like Art said, the dealers would do things like this to please their customers. Charlie Larkin

After reading the last several pages a few times over the last couple of evenings, I've been considering very carefully how, or even if, I want to add to this discussion. I've decided I'm going to add something because I wish to be heard. Or read, depending on how you look at the exact phraseology and how literal you wish to be. For the record, I intend to buy this kit, even with some errors that might need correcting. While I will never expect a perfect product- as I have often said, to expect a product of man, who is an imperfect being, to be completely flawless, is unreasonable. I like wagons, and simply, there aren't enough of them available for me to be TOO picky. If it was a flawed, completely mis-shapen lump, no way. This isn't that bad, some problems, but this kit, when built, is still a reasonable facsimilie of the car it's intended to depict. That said, I have seen that the most vocal of people- Chuck, Bill and Andy, merely call for Revell's design and machining departments to do their job better before asking us to spend money on something that doesn't quite make the mark in terms of accuracy. Is that really that bad a thing? I don't think so, and I am in total agreement with their stances. While perfection is an unreasonable, although laudable, pursuit, and one we should strive for, we are not necessarily looking for perfection. Rather, we're looking for a well-done, accurate model. "We're modelers" is true. Here's the problem- not all of us can fix the problems created by not paying closer attention to product design and execution. And when I'm being asked to spend nearly $30 for a product that's intended to be a medium of creativity and relaxation, I really do agree I should not have to engage in several hours' worth of fixing problems that could have been avoided in the first place with extra time to do the tool right. As Tom pointed out, some deadlines occur, and occasionally a little futzing around to get the job, say, 95% done, at least enough so the fundamental deadline and objective is met, is also well-taken, and a point I also agree with fully. Reality does dictate what happens sometimes, and, unfortunately, it can mean a less-than-desirable outcome. Tom's major point, however, and one I think has a lot of salience, however, is that there are times that "good enough" really is "good enough," and we, as rational, thinking beings, should be able to discern those times between "good is good" and "excellence is necessary." Not flubbing the most visible part of the entire model, in my opinion, falls into the latter category. Again, notice not "perfect," but maximum effort must be expended, and if it's a six-month delay to revise a tool, I'm OKAY with that. Really. And I think most of the die-hards here would be, too, because a better product will result. And Revell, being I would estimate the third or fourth largest kit manufacturer, has the resources to absorb that, I would think. If not, then I think there is in fact some serious mis-management. Moebius, to me, still holds the record for stepping up with fixing that '53 Hudson. They were rewarded with a very high sales return. That, in and of itself, made the business case for an expensive, time-consuming re-do of an entire mold. Sales resulted, along with many very appreciative customers, who keep coming back. I'm one of them. That being said, errors like missing or mal-formed body-lines are something that's not an issue of deadlines to me. To me, that's an issue of someone being asleep at the switch, and people rushing to get a product out the door. Honestly, I never picked up on them, and, to be completely honest, I'm still looking at pictures and comparing the alleged errors. I'm trusting Andy because he has one of these cars in his garage. Andy- would you be willing to post some pictures of your dad's car so we can get a better view of what you're talking about? Those errors, to me, are sloppy. Setting aside locations of engineering and tooling, there is a very obvious breakdown of communication between the two task-forces, and that is not how to run any business. In the years I taught school, if I ever had a kid turn in work that reflected that type of rush-job with glaring omissions/errors, it would almost always be returned for revision. I wasn't aiming for perfection, necessarily. I was aiming for a job done well. "You can do better than this," was heard by my students more than a few times. In this age of CAD/CAM, cameras, 3-D digital scanners and an availability of people who are still skilled in the art of producing manual, pencil-and-paper drawings to ensure that the computer doesn't miss anything, it really does make you wonder how it was done- many times, so much better from an accuracy standpoint in the 1950s-90s, using bass and maple bucks, slide-rules and calculators, and engineers' scales on paper. While factory cooperation did help, I think it was also a case of jobs being done by people who actually cared about their work, and that, sadly, is something that I see less of each and every day. We've all seen "oopses" over the years. The first-run '55 Chevy trucks from AMT with the up-slant side windows that was later corrected, the slightly-high roof on the '66 Fairlane, and of course, the mis-shapen side-spear on the '58 Plymouth that also had some other body issues. The point is that mistakes do happen. Some, like the pickup, aren't too tough to fix, requiring only a file and a few minutes. I recall Jon Cole's thread on correcting that '58 Plymouth, on the other hand, and man-oh-man! No, no kit will ever be perfect, but negligence is something I can't abide by. Mistakes are one thing. What appears to be willfully ignoring photos by design, or, assuming design realized something was wrong, and tooling ignored revision orders, is quite another. I wonder how it would work if the car companies started withholding approvals? That, to me, would be more devastating than all the complaints filed here. The model manufacturers won't pick up their toys and go away, like some people have made the silly allegation of, but, the licensors may take the toys away if more flubs continue and they decide to enforce their right against mis-representation of their products, and that is when we all lose. This, gentlemen, is negligence. No, it doesn't rise to the scale of space disasters or train-wrecks, but the concept is still the same, it's someone willfully failing to do their job right, or management not allowing the job to be done right due to unreasonable actions or time constraints. It besmirches the manufacturer and fails the consumer and licensor. Nobody wins, even if the consumer is happy with their purchase- because it could have been better. I'll still grab one of these wagons, and I'm sure I'll enjoy building it. But it'll be a little less enjoyable knowing it could have been so much better with minimal, if any, extra expenditure in time or capital to get the job done right. Not perfectly, but better. And better is something we should all aim for. Charlie Larkin

"Needs cosmetics." Nice work. Charlie Larkin

I like it. Charlie Larkin

I'd buy a bunch- one in each color. Eric, is that a Sylvan model? They're nice little kits. Charlie Larkin

I don't do Hondas, broadly speaking, but I actually wouldn't object too loudly to an Accord wagon- from what I remember of a few people that had them, they were nice little cars. Can that be built LHD? Charlie Larkin

I like the wires. Consider adding some whitewalls to the tires. I think that will make a very nice model even better. Charlie Larkin

Beautiful, Steve. Those colors are absolutely perfect for this. Charlie Larkin

Spectacular. I LOVE the Union Pacific license plate. I might have to work one of those in someplace on a model. Charlie Larkin

Never apologize for showing your work, Steve, it's great stuff. The 1965-66 Chryslers are among my favorite cars. A junkyard near here had one for sale years ago. I wish I had had the money and a spot for it. I think it was a '66 300 in black with a white interior. Really neat car. The dog-dishes are an interesting touch. I might've gone with something like Astro wheels for that- those look good without looking cheesy. Charlie Larkin

That blue looks good on it, Ray. Charlie Larkin

I know this will be another nice build, Niko. You do some fine work, young man. And yes, the Zona saws are very nice. Charlie Larkin

I like that paint. The VHT paint is nice stuff, I've used the chassis satin black a few times, and it looks good. That matt black looks great. I might try squirting it in the airbrush and doing exactly as you did next time I have rubbery stuff to paint. Charlie Larkin

Another brilliant build underway. Nice color, Steve. Charlie Larkin

Geez. At least you'll still have a cool model. Charlie Larkin

To my eye, Adam, it's a bit too light. GM's green interiors were a bit darker than that. Although this is the Buick brochure, this is the fern interior. http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Buick/1983_Buick/1983%20Buick%20Full%20Line%20Prestige/image8.html Charlie Larkin

Excellent recovery! Were those scripts supplied with the body? I was also wondering who made your trailer? I like it. Charlie Larkin

Very nice work. That's a car I'd like a real one of. Charlie Larkin

Very nice work, Eric. Interesting detail I noticed is that your painted the chassis zinc chromate. Was that Duesenburg's normal procedure? I ask because the couple I've seen appeared to have semi-gloss black frame rails, per more-or-less standard industry procedure. The car is a pretty body-style, and I like the colors, too. Perhaps someday if I ever hit the lottery for a substantial amount... Charlie Larkin

Everything here. Charlie Larkin

I have some stuff I need to order, so I'll get that done. I have a few things I'd like, I'll try to get those in. I REALLY hope someone buys the business. It will not be a cheap proposition, and Heaven knows I'd buy if I had the money. Two very nice people, and two of the people we really do have to thank for the great aftermarket we now have. Charlie Larkin

A very good read, indeed. Charlie Larkin

This is a very nice kit. I'm seriously considering one of these. My AMT kit is nice, too, and I think both will build up very nicely. Tim, I'd like to see that comparison article, too. I think it would be very interesting. Question: what colors did these come in, or were they all bespoke? I've seen red, silver, black, that ivory-white, and I think I remember seeing pictures of a yellow one, too. Charlie Larkin