Carmak

I have a 1:1 71 GTO and it is more of a bugeye or triangle mesh air cleaner on Holley and an aluminum intake day 2 car. Mix in some slots and you are there.

I was just pointing out the missing section of runner contained a couple key elements. I expect (really hope) they will return or re-tool the stock hood and stock buckets. I also expect that they will correct the rear wheel openings and add the windshield back. I am very excited to see this one back. The 64/65 Cutlass is a very clean attractive car.

Take a look at the hanger shot and Casey's un-built kit picture. I looks like the hanger shot has an entire section of runner blocked off (or missing) that has the stock hood, wheel backs, interior retainer rings and the bucket seats.

I had that crusher also. I used to form the cars the night before and paint them with leftover house paint. It was a fun toy. Might still be in my parent's basement. Carmak

My 23 year old daughter just told me today about a brush on chrome nail polish that looks really good. She told me it has to be cured quickly after brushing with a UV light to produce a good clear chrome look. She wants to get some to touch up the faded vacu-chrome on the dash of her 69 Mustang. I can't wait to see how it looks. Carmak

My wife's uncle is Charles (Charlie) Strang (he passed in 2018). He was the senior engineer at Mercury Marine (under Carl Kiekhaefer). He was in charge of building the 55-56 Chryslers run by Kiekhaefer. After Kiekhaefer left NASCAR in 57 Charlie maintained close ties with the France family and many of the greats of NASCAR. He was the national commissioner for NASCAR 1998 to 2008. At Family Christmas parties and other family events Charlie would tell stories about the 55-56 seasons as well as other stories relating to NASCAR. One time while discussing the Dale Earnhardt crash investigation he started talking about crashes that changed NASCAR. He specifically talked about the Don MasTavish crash in 1969 involving a 66 Comet running in the Sportsman series. The Car hit the wall right where an outside gate was and the entire front of the car came off leaving the driver completely exposed. As the car spun to a stop on the track another car hit the Comet head on. The crash was horrific and it was televised. The Comet was not running a full race chassis, it was jut a reinforced unibody. Charlie said this crash got everyone’s attention and it spelled the end of the stock chassis car. I recommend you google Charlie (he also invented the inboard/outboard) and the Don MasTavish crash. Carmak

Does anyone know how to directly contact Vic's resin? The Vic's resin is sold by SMH (and possibly others). They are mostly body kits (body with hood, bumpers, tail lights etc..). I want to see if I can buy some piece parts rather than whole kits. I asked SMH and they do not sell piece parts. Thanks. Carmak

The person to host a weekly model car show would be Steve Magnante. He mentions models every time I see him on TV. If he is half as knowledgeable about models as he is with cars he would do great. Carmak

I wonder how many early builders gave up on models after getting a Revell 55, 56 or 57 Chevy (the 60's-80's version with the opening doors). The 3 in 1 kits (and Craftsman kits) could be quick builds with low skill and look good. The same can also be said for 70's-80's Monogram kits. Think about what a huge percentage of the kits made over the years fall into the "simple build" bucket. Another angle on this: I am a design engineer and I design small detailed ABS plastic parts that are injection molded. If you are not in the business you might not realize how expensive tooling is. The tiny molds I have made (similar in size to engine block sides, heads and intake) are 30K. Carmak

I believe I have the cars from a 1954 3 Car Assembly Kit (Buick Roadmaster 4dr, Ford Sunliner and Pontiac Coupe). They were found 30 years ago by a friend who was surveying a property with a partially collapsed house about to be redeveloped. The attic had collapsed to near ground level and he was able to kid of scoop the models and parts into a suitcase he found. In total there were over a dozen 1/25 scale models all 1960 and earlier. The 54 Buick, Ford and Pontiac were the only three promo type models in the stash, everything else was SMP/AMT 3 in 1. There were bits of the assembly kit box lid in the mix. At the time (pre-internet late 80's) I had no idea what a 3 Car Assembly Kit was and I tossed the bits of the box. The Ford and Pontiac are in fair survivor condition. The Buick is broken in a bad way. None are warped that bad. Carmak

Although my wife is not into model car I am very lucky that she is into (and very skilled in) vintage cars. The 57 Cadillac is her's and she has 100's of hours in the resto. I took the 68 Coronet convertible to prom (back in the 80's) and a friend in high school had the 71 GTO which he sold me about 15 years ago.

Argentina and Brazil have some very interesting cars. Many are based on US designs but with just enough difference to have a very distinct look. For example the Polara R/T is built on the Mopar A-body platform but visually resembles a B-body. Very cool stuff!

That is a neat concept! Looks better than I expected, has a nice factory look to it.

Reminds me of a 70's Polara R/T. Cool build!

These 60's T-birds and the bargain of the vintage car hobby (1:1, kits and promos). My first car was a 62 and I still have the 63 I drove in college when I dated my wife (30 years ago). At one point I had 7 of them (61-63). Cool cars but fairly hard to work on. The wipers were hydraulic (in 63) and there was a special high pressure line to allow the power steering pump to power both the sector and the wipers. I bought a complete (rusty) car just to get the hydraulic line back in the late 80's (before repos became available).

The Phrozen Shuffle XL looks to be one of the "Upside down SLA" machines. So much better for detail and layer blending than the poly jet or spool printers. Nice work so far. Very hard to reverse engineer graceful lines in CAD.

The MPC front bumper/headlights fits the Hasegawa body quite well.

Did anyone else notice in the group picture the 62 Fury has an up-top. Very cool piece!

That is great that your dad also had a green 68 convertible! The green top was a one year only option for all Mopar convertibles. I have seen green, yellow and white 68's in junkyards with the remnants of green tops so I think they pushed then fairly hard when new. Since there are no repo tops in green if you see on it is most likely original.

I went back and looked at your pictures again for color (not distracted by the rear panels) and I can see the pearl off white in the door panels. Your build is really outstanding and I look forward to seeing it complete. My father bought the 1:1 Coronet I have now when I was in High School (I took it to prom in the 80's) and I got it from him a few year later after it was wrecked when my younger brother was rear-ended. I have been slowly restoring it (any looking for parts) for 30ish years. I have noticed how many "high detail" builds are done with 68-69 MPC Coronets and most are done in more period common colors and not the high impact colors.

What is interesting is that I have a few early kits built in the early 60's (All AMT or Johan) that have no tire melt at all while others from the same years/company have melted everything. Also I have never seen an AMT tire go to dust or mush, they melt lots of stuff, but the tires always survive (except Turnpike tires but they are unique) I will try the BMF method and some water-based acrylics. Thanks!! Craig

Does anyone have a time proven method to block the plasticizer migration from 60's AMT tires to the wheels? It goes right through thinner based paint, water based paint and the vacuum metalized "chrome" on wheels. Thanks Craig

Thanks everyone. Now to see if the hoarders have left any 91% rubbing alcohol at the stores around me

As the owner of a 1:1 68 Coronet this is a great build to watch! Love the color choice. My only comment is that you should have integrated the GTX convertible rear interior panels into your 69 R/T sides. The GTX panels very accurately depict the unique 66-70 B-Body convertible rear interior panels. On a white interior car the smooth plastics are solid glossy white and the textured plastics, seats and door cards have a slight pearl effect. Below is a picture of my original white rear interior panels (the armrests and door cards are removed in this picture). Craig

Has anyone painted over a Polar Lights Pre-painted body? I have a YELLOW 64 GTO convertible that I would like to paint any other color. I did a quick test shot on the bottom of the hood (which is pre-painted) using a typically good performing paint and acted like there was wax on it. Thanks!