Jordan White

Dang, pics aren't showing.

Sucks that they're having it this weekend. Normally they had it the first weekend of June, wonder why they moved it up a couple weeks? Funny thing is I'm in Minnesota now and going to Michigan for a model show this weekend.

I like how it's coming together so far! However, the only issue I have is using the white stripes on a yellow car, especially since you used the black wheels. I think you should have painted a pair of black stripes instead. Wonder why they didn't include other color stripe decals? The 2012 has like 5 different colors overall (red, blue, black, silver, and white.)

Better not have, it took me a whole ten minutes to make that thread!

I have the same kit, so I took a measurement of the body height, which is about 2.5". In the picture, the chair appears to come up to just below the door handle (taking in to account the angle), which is approximately 1.375" high. Converting to 1:1, the body is about 62.5" high, or just over 5 feet. The chair is then approximately 35" tall, or just under 3 feet. That seems a little short to me. What are the dimensions of the actual chair?

As an overall kit, I'd go with the Monogram Bronco. Plowboy mentioned a few of the drawbacks with the kit, but I'd say it has much better detail than the AMT kit. Plus it comes with more extra parts. There is the fact that the AMT kit has a TTB setup that consists of separate pieces, compared to the Monogram kit, though the one-piece setup in the MG kit isn't all that bad.

Tom: It's actually out of a can, Dupli-color "Perfect Match". Found it at the local Advanced Auto Parts. Ken: I'm going to keep it all one color, though I am going to do a gold stripe (or stripes) of some sort.

Well I just picked out the color, it's Chrysler Inferno Red metallic. Here's how it looks on the bumper (the picture doesn't do it justice).

Being a younger builder myself (23) I'll chime in with some points. First, it seems that it's the older crowd who is whining about the prices. "Back in my day, I could get a model for 95 cents and still have change for a candy bar!" If you look at the price of video games, the younger crowd would most likely not be whining as much. New video games generally cost around 60 bucks for the Xbox or PS3. I believe that the main issue is friends. Most kids now would rather play a game with a friend (or multiple friends) online, since it's more likely that they will also have the same game. Building a model is either something you do alone, or maybe with one friend. However if your friends don't have patience, then they aren't gonna build and you won't either. Another issue is getting all the necessary tools and paints for building, whereas video games require one system and one game to be entertained. There could also be the issue of vehicles that they would like to build. I love building some of the more "average" vehicles, rather than muscle cars or cars older than '66.

Wheels are from eBay, and have the more curved face. They were advertised as Torque Thrust Ds, and while they look close, I'm not going to call them that. Rim doesn't have the right step to it, the spokes are too curved, and the wrong center cap are the three main issues. I think they look more like this Wheel Vintiques wheel. However as I said, the casting is excellent and they kit the kit tires almost perfectly, they're just a tad too wide and stick out the back a bit, but it's not too noticeable from the front.

I was thinking of going with an electric fuel pump, however I prefer manual. As for the grille, lemme tell you it was a pain to build! You can't see it from the angle I posted, but the bars actually follow the contours of the bumper and grille piece, and are from sheet styrene. Imagine cutting out several Vs, all at the same angle, but different widths, and they have to all glue evenly to the vertical supports. Boy was I glad when I got done! I had a chance to paint the wheels, decided to go with gold spokes and silver rim. Should contrast nicely with the color I have in mind.

Touche, I forgot that it was larger. I thought both Bronco kits were the same scale. In any case, yes the AMT's front suspension is indeed better, since it comes in pieces which makes making a lifted suspension much easier. However adding it to another kit would require scratchbuilding frame mounts, whereas the Monogram front end could be attached easily since it's all one piece (plus you can see the axleshaft to the non-diff beam, whereas the AMT kit doesn't have that.)

Adding the wipers to the molds wouldn't be difficult since they would just have to mill out the space in the blocks on a free space on the parts tree. However if the body mold is already made, then it's tougher since they can't exactly fill in the spot where the molded in wipers were. I think the main reason is they know there's a chance that the builder will accidentally break the wipers and complain that they should have been molded in. Personally, I think that most regular builders would prefer the separate pieces, but I suppose the companies would rather cater to the more casual crowd.

I think the easiest thing to do for the 4WD system is use the parts from the rereleased Monogram '81 Bronco, since it's the same scale. However you'd have to mock up the parts on the chassis first to make sure that they will work with the AMT kit.

So what color ya gonna paint it?

Well your best bet is to do an image search of whatever vehicle you're working on, and look for the engine pics for ideas of how the wires are run. Also go to the "how stuff works" website, since it provides plenty of good info. I will say though that I would say that 99% of the people who do any sort of extra detailing would have some sort of knowledge of how a vehicle works, and most of the engine parts, since it's that knowledge that helps them know where the parts go. However, there is a degree of being able to just look at a picture and compare it to the physical part you have as well.

It wasn't bad, however I didn't feel like paying for another, nor do I have the space for another.

Now on to the good stuff. Front headlights painted, lenses installed with LEDS mounted from behind. The lenses were fogged with old glue, so I scraped off as much as I could, lightly sanded them, and brushed the lens with Future to make them transparent again. Here's the front grille piece with turn signals installed. Lenses are headlights from a 1/24 kit, and yellow LEDS installed from behind. And here's the grill piece along with scratchbuilt grille mounted to the bumper. Here's what the fog lights will look like, again with LEDs mounted from behind (these aren't permanent yet, I'm going to paint the bumper before I glue them in.) Finally, the rolling stock. I was going to make my own wheels, but I found it was just too hard to do with the crappy wheelbacks they put in the kit. Luckily, I found a guy on eBay who makes 1/12 American Racing Torque Thrust D's. Here they are in the kit tires, with holes drilled for mounting.

Was able to get some pics of the work I've done since my last update. First is the chassis, which was painted black and I've begun work on the suspension, fitting the front crossmember and rear spring perches. I also got the body bondoed, smoothed, and primered/painted with a white basecoat. Here's the dashboard so far. Drilled out the gauges, where I'll add my own that will be lit up with LEDs. Also cut open the glovebox and made an interior to house an aftermarket radio. Here's the steering wheel, all painted up.

Go without and say it's a custom.

Personally I think that they would lend themselves to a wide range of build types. Stock, custom, race/drag, lowrider, DUB, even could be used to make an 80's muscle car. Plus there would be extra parts in the kit. I know that I would buy one of each at least since I'm a fan of the G-body cars.

Eh seems like everyone is slow on adding the 11+ 'Stang. The model companies...most, if not all, racing games... Since it's a pretty good idea that Revell modeled the kit on the computer to produce it, seems like they could just scale everything down by 1/12th to get a 1/24th GT500, which could be modified into a 2012 GT and Boss 302.

Probably 'cause it's not another Mustang or Tri-5.

I really wish Revell would take their Grand National kit and down-date it to a basic Regal, along with making a Cutlass; also take their Monte Carlo kit and allow for a basic Monte. Imagine if you will: 1987 Buick Regal 6 'n 1: -Parts for stock V6 Regal -Parts for stock V8 Regal (use V8 from Monte Carlo kit) -Parts for V8 or Turbo V6 Regal T-Type -Parts for Turbo V6 GN and GNX In essence it would really be more of a 3 'n 1 kit, with only 2 engines, 3 intake assemblies (N/A V6 and V8, Turbo V6), 4 wheel types (wheel covers, stock alloys, GN alloys, GNX alloys), optional chrome trim, chrome bumpers and grille (could be stripped for body color versions), and interior options for column shift/bench seat and floor shift/bucket seats. Also of course there would be two exhaust systems, with two versions of the downpipes for the V6. 1985 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 4 'n 1 -Parts for stock V6 Monte Carlo -Parts for stock V8 Monte Carlo -Parts for Custom V8 Monte Carlo -Parts for SS Monte Carlo Body would have provisions for optional T-top roof, 2 engines, 3 induction systems, 4 wheel types, and 2 interiors (column shift or floor shift); also would have chrome bumpers and grille (which could be stripped) and white molded SS nose, along with optional chrome trim. 1984/1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 4 'n 1 -Parts for stock V6 Cutlass -Parts for stock V8 Cutlass -Parts for 442 Version -Parts for Hurst/Olds Version Basically 2 engines, 3 induction systems, 4 wheel types, and 3 interior types. Also chrome bumpers and grilles, and optional chrome trim. Yes it seems like a lot, but with some clever molding designs, and parts sharing, it wouldn't be that expensive and would provide both G-body fans and customizers alike, the ability to make a large amount of different builds. I honestly think these kits would be admired by many people who build in different styles.

Yup love watching Wheeler Dealers. They show a lot of cars that either were never sold in America, or were brought over as lame versions. While some of the buying and selling can be cheesy at times, I do like watching how Edd does the work on the vehicles, plus they usually give good tips for what to watch out for. Trivia for the day: Edd China, the mechanic on the show, was the guy who built the motorized couch and was featured on one of the older eps of Top Gear.