impcon

I am running XP... oh well....

Holy cow!!!!! Now THAT took my breath away! I wasn't expecting something quite so breath taking when I opened this thread!!!! That paint is incredible.. I cincur with regards to the wheels - they just do not suit the older cars IMHO but having said that, your Fairlane is the nicest one that I have ever seen in plastic form - by far! Can you post some interior shots? Given the quality of the workmanship on the outside, I can only begin to imagine whatthe interior must be like... Man, that is one nice builld!! I simply can't imagine a mo' betta - mo' sweet '64 Fairlane! My hat is sure off to you! AAAAAA++++

Watching the ending of that movie mad me ill.. what a waste of a gorgeous automobile. Does Hollywood have a mad on for old cars or what? The last Fast and Furious that I saw was even worse with the cars that were destroyed in it.. it really made me NOT like the movie and I wont waste my time going to the newest one when it comes to our local theatre. I just don't like seeing old cars needl;essly destroyed. Sort of reminds me of the James Bond movie where they blew up a '57 Ford retractable.. why? I know - I know - it was just an old car when they made that movie but even so, it was still a pretty special old car... My wife and I just finished watching the series "Flash Forward" and in one of the episodes, the one actor repeatedly backs his vehicle into the side of a vintage Thunderbird 0 a '61 or '62 I believe it was.. Now why did they have to use that car? Why not a stinkin' Honda or Toyota? Really ticks me off when I see an old car needlessly destroyed like that. I know that the 'bird could have been a rusted hulk bondo'd up and painted to look mint but still... why not some new piece of modern ######?

Too bad that we can't save the pictures toour hard drive without paying.. oh well.... Yeah - I know - I'm cheap..

Thanks guys. What has been said is pretty much what I thought but I really wanted to ask the opinion of those who probably know a lot more about this than I do. As I said, I have no interest in getting into selling nor would I ever give something to a caster to be copied if I thought for a minute that he would use the castings for profit. I fully agree that IF a person was to want to copy an old casting and sell the copies, he would be morally and ethically bound to contact or at least try to contact the poriginasl caster and I would think it only fair that he ( the original caster ) should be reimbursed perhaps in a commission or percentage for every model sold. It's sad that many casters have gone out of business and their work is no longer available. I wonder how those people would feel if a reputable dealer was to contact them and ask for permission to reproduce their work? Someone said somewhere on this site recently that he has learned that when he sees a resin kit that he really likes, to buy it as quickly as possible because the model could become obsolete and history at any time due to circumstances beyond the caster's control such as a nartural disaster or heaven forbid - his sudden passing. Of course what it all boils down to is just what we can afford. I know that I spend more than enough money of models and I'll never getthem all built but possesion gives one the option of building even when that model is off the market.

I hope that I am asking this question properly so that people don't get the idea that I am out to steal anyone else's hard work and designs. But does anyone know what the legalities are regarding making a mold from an obsolete resin casting? I have a resin 1956 IHC cab over truck body here that is obsolete ( the original caster of it quit many years ago ) and I would like to have someone make me several duplicates of it for myself ONLY! Is this allowed in the modelling community or do people get their knickers all in a knot at the mere idea? And what about recasting a model from an existing casting ( obsolete and out of production ) for resale? I am wanting some castings made for myself and I am not about to get into the marketing business as I have more than enough irons in the fire without getting into that - just a question that came to mind as I was typing my original question..

I don't believe that they are in business any longer and that's a real shame because they produced some really good stuff. AAM resins show up on EBay from time to time .. I'd sure like to get one of Art's '59 Chevy 2 door sedans..

We had a few unique marques here in Canada including the Monarch, Meteor and the Frontenac which was only built for a short period of time. The Monarch was based on the Mercury platform and the Frontenac was a Falcon. I have a thing for Meteors and I have tyo say that they are by and large, quite forgotten today. Email me directly if you want to talk Canadian cars..

The Meteor was offered by Mercury dealers.

The round thing is a trim medallion that Meteor put on the side of the 500's. It had the Meteor crest in it.

The '57's are indeed one of Ford's finest efforts and I think that the styling far surpassed anything that GM or Chrysler fielded. I know that most guys will disagree but I am just stating my opinion. I have watched "Thunder Road" a few times just to drool over that '57 that Robert Mitchum drove - there's the one scene where he is in town talking to a girl and he is sitting in the Ford. When he pulls away, you can hear the exhaust from the Y block - a 312 I am guessing - it always makes me smile. Sure is a pretty car!! Your 2 door looks sweet.. I too had a Trphy Series '57 - I want to get another unbuilt one just to set on the shelf... My best buddy when we were in our teens had a Custom 2 door post with a 223 and a 3 speed standard.. I really liked that old car. Another friend of mine at that time had a red white and gray Rideau 500 2 door imitation hardtop.. that was really a pretty car. Ah, but how I long for those days... *sighs*

Received this a few days ago but have been too busy with life to get the pictures up. I just posted a critique of this model in the Resin section.. for you guys who like something different with more doors, it just don't get a whole lot better than this!!! Here's the real thing.. Here's the resin model that I just bought - made only in Canada..

I have allways had a strong affection for old cars - especially the ones that are different and uncommon. Being a Canadian and recognizing the unique place that the Ford Motor Company's Canadian built Meteors have in our national heritage, I do not have to tell you how amazed and pleased I was when I came across Frontier Resin's casting on Ebay a few weeks ago. I have purchased from Curt before and I was pleased with his product and glad to get my hands on it but I wasn't quite expecting what I found when I opened the box containing the little Meteor. First, it is a four door hardtop which is a welcome departure from the usual mundane top of the line two door sport model hardtops and convertibles that are usually available - although the Rideau 500 was the top of the line for the Meteor. What I liked was that it was a "more door" - but the best part of all is that it is a Meteor! What this is, is a very good, reasonably priced, workable, very decent casting ( IMHO ) of a very low production car that epitimizes the styling of the late '50's with lots of glittering stainless trim and a timeless styling that lends itself well to any form from sedan to convertible and wagon - from dead, bone stock to a tasteful custom. Personally, I have never seen anyone improve on the stock lines of the '57 Ford line up - they are tasteful, sexy and just plain eye candy! A mere 691 Meteor Rideau 500 four door hardtops were built in '57 and while this was not the lowest production model for that year, ( the lowest was the Meteor Victoria 4 door hardtop with a total of 214 units assembled ) less than 700 units is still low by anyone's standards. So for those of you out there who like "something different" with more than two doors, this model is a must have! It will compliment the AMT Fairlane 500 nicely but with it's unique tri tone colour combinations that were available, the Meteor was really much more attention grabbing than the Fairlane. Some would accuse it of having too much glitter but personally, I think that it is just right. I have to say that this casting was much better than I expected and I am in all sincerity, pretty much delighted with it! No pin holes, crisp chrome side trim and molded in fender skirts ( looks like they can easily be removed if the builder so chooses ) make for a pretty respectable model that I would have never thought that I would ever see produced. With some time and a bit of effort, this will be a really nice rendition of a very rare and unique car. As for things that the caster could perhaps ( with all due respect ) consider improving upon - well there are not a lot that my tired old eyes can discern. Perhaps the biggest issue would be the "Rideau 500" rear quarter panel and trunk scripts - they could be sharpened up just a bit and made more crisp.. and the driver's side front fender grille wrap around trim piece could be staightened out but this is a very easy fix - even for me. Personally, I'd have preferred the fender skirts not been cast onto the body but then it's not all about me and what I want, is it? A lot of guys will welcome the skirts.. and I do like them but the next one that I get willl be built sans fender skirts. The model comes with the interior side panels for a four door and I think that they'll work out OK. All in all, I am very happy with my purchase - it was a super clean and pleasant transaction and despite a screw up on my end, Curt was every bit the gentleman and very professional in dealing with the issue which was my fault entirely. Communication was good and prompt and I will definitely be buying more from this seller. I have purchased a number of resin bodies off Ebay lately and this one will hold it's own against any of them. I have not seen any yet that were flawless or couldn't use some tweaking. Curt is apparently planning on releasing a 2 door hardtop version of this car and I know that I will be buying at least a couple more of the four door hardtops and several two doors. A Meteor Ranchero would be nice as would a sedan delivery, a convertible and even a four door sedan.. Below are pictures of a real car in the colours that I intend to build my model and some pictures of the actual model pretty much as I received it. I cleaned the flash out of the window openings and that's about it - it's basically as it came out of the box. I don't know how many of you guys know that this model is available bu5t I am certain that there will be a few of you who will want one. No, I am not being paid or rewarded in any way for what I write - I am just excited and passing this along and the views expressed are totally my own.

Hope all is well Ed... For what ever it is worth, you and your wife are on our hearts.

Dave - you have mail!

Thank you. I'll look into shipping costs to North America.. I like that kit ( the Austin ) as it's different and to me anyways, I like stuff that is different and unique and besides, it's a cutie. I am not very fond of most imports ( to North America ) but I do like a lot of the English cars because of their design which I find charming. I really wouldn't mind having a 1:1 old Morris or Austin and I have owned a couple of late '50's/early 60's Vauxhauls when I was much younger - a Victor I loved them because they were simple to work on and fun to drive. If nothing else, if I can't find the right components, I'll build the Traveler as a curbside but I'd really rather have the hood - oops - I mean, bonnet opening. It's too bad that they don't cast a stock interior, chassis and engine for this model.

Hmmmmmm.. that's a neat model - where do I find one of those???

Holy Cow! I looked at the Sunstar die casts.. I wonder what kind of precious metals those things are cast from? I am not that impressed with some of the 1/18 Sun Star models - I have their '60's F100 pickup.. it's not bad.. but nothing to rave about either IMHO. Maybe they've improved their product with the Morris die casts.. talk about sticker shock!! But thank you for the suggestion - it's appreciated.

Thanks guys. I'll look into those possibilities. I am NOT into imports at all but this little guy and the Austins of this vintage do appeal to me. There is a Morris or Austin panel available too that I would like to get and build but only because they are unique. Toyotas and Datsuns and the like just don't move me at all - but to each his own - right? Any other suggestions as to parts sources will be greatly appreciated. Here's how I envision the little car in model form.. Thanks in advance.

I recently bought a Morris traveller resin body from Bandit Resins off Ebay just like this one.. http://cgi.ebay.com/RESIN-1956-Morris-Traveler-Slammer-Bandit-Resins-/170594093722?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27b8334a9a It's a cutie and a very cute and charming little car. This comes as a body only and I'd really like to build this as close to factory stock as possible. There's lots of reference pictures and information on the web but I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to what kit I can rob a chassis, tires and wheels from? I am thinking that an MG or Triumph sportscar will provide the drive train but I am thinking thatthe chassis will be wrong. Any suggestions???

Hm.. there was a bit of that going around with JoHan - I sent them well over $150.00 for a batch of models some time ago and never got nothing for my money except disapointment. Never again with that name.. just my opinion based on my experience with them.

I just received my resin '57 Ford Country Squire wagon body in resin - NICE BODY!! I am really happy with it! What I need to know is this - does anyone reproduce the old Revell Squire wagon decal sheet or does anyone make woodgrain decals for wagons? Painting the woodgrain to make it look even close to correct will be an effort in frustration, I am sure so I thought that I would post and ask. Maybe seems like a dumb question but I have to ask.. Failing decals being available, does anyone have any suggestions as to how to make the woodgrain look right? The real wagons had lines running through the woodgrain to simulate boards.. I am not that hung up on authenticity but it would be nice to have those lines in the panels. Thanks in advance.

The car looks great!! Nice work and a job VERY well done. I agree with a previous poster thatthey should reissue the '58. I like all three years - '57, '58 and '59 although I can not say that I prefer one year over another. Each one has it's own style and beauty - I really like the side trim on the '58 Fairlane 500 - I just may have to get me a resin one I guess because the old annuals are just too pricey.