Chuck Most

The only bashing I am doing regarding this kit is some heavy kit bashing. Come on... how is it I'm the first guy in with THAT comment?

There were a few late '50's early '60's Volvo models that looked like shrunken '47 Ford Tudors with square grilles, so I suppose anything is possible.

My whole issue is this... What, exactly, does perfect mean? I'm assuming for most modelers it means the kit is an unflinchingly accurate representation of the real vehicle. Is such an animal possible? With today's technology, I think it is. In fact, the Moebius Lonestar kit, to me anyway, is 'perfect' in appearance- all you need are basic modeling skills and you'd be hard pressed to tell the model from a real one in a photo. But we've all heard of that iffy 'scale effect' thing, right? Where something IS correct, but just doesn't look right scaled down. That's the human element, and that's the reason there never will be a 'perfect' kit in that respect. Even if this kit, whatever it is, is ever released, the manufacturer can provide all the 3D scans, CAD drawings, photographic overlays, and scientific data they like to prove it is perfect, but someone, somewhere, is still going to look at the model and say "Huh, something just doesn't look right."

Got rid of the mold lines on the body- the rear ones are pretty faint but showed up with primer and a little wet sanding. Not sure if any of the trim or handles will join the Jimmy Hoffa and the mold lines just yet. Guess we'll see shortly.

The ULTIMATE in intensity...

Bottom of the box on the '03 reissue pretty well sums it up-

Love the '56 and '57 Hudsons! Why? Because they're so garish! Those years, like all '55 and later Hudsons, were simply badge-engineered Nashes. That's actually the '54-era Nash body 'redecorated' as a Hudson.

Or how about a flattened rat stuck to one of the tires? Kind of like when a cartoon character gets run over by a steamroller?

Oh, don't worry- I've already devised a way around that.

I'm still in the 'piddling with it' stage- After I removed the 'paddles' from the kit wheels, I test fit one into a resin whitewall I had laying around. Next up is removing the copyright engraving, up over where the rear axle goes- And the other, up on top. Normally, this would not be visible unless you opened the trunk... so there's a clue for you as to one of the modifications I intend to make on mine.

Kind of cool for what it is, but way, way, WAAAAAAAAAAAAY to wedge shaped.

The SC/Rambler or Javelin kits might supply a V8- from what I understand the Jo-Han AMC V8s were all first-generation later half-heartedly 'dolled up' to resemble the second-gen AMC V8s. That and you'd have to fill in the gigantic axle hole. I do hope MK/IMC nixes the green 'bottle glass' for this one.

It's LISTED as 1:25, not sure what scale it 'really' is if it deviates at all.

That '60 Lincoln has a separate upper windshield frame (a posts and header) does it not?

Even when that 'perfect' kit everybody says is possible nowadays comes out, there will be people who don't like it or over analize it. Some people just aren't happy unless they are unhappy. On THIS board, though, I'm pleased to see nothing but constructive criticism on the kit, and more importantly, Dave Metzner taking an active role in producing and improving kits. If you don't like the Hornet, don't worry- Moebius is listening. More importantly, they are ACTING upon the input they are getting from modelers. It can only get better from here.

THe last reissue of this had a few tips and pointers to convert it to a pickup, but no actual parts were supplied. Basically you just got a few guidelines on where to cut the roof- the rest was all up to you. Along with this, there were some breif steps on turning it into a 4-door sedan printed on the box sides.

Don't know if this quailfies, but I've MacGyver'd up a few paint/detailing/drying stands for parts using nothing more than a toothpick and a paint can lid-

That is cool! Almost looks like a painting in the pics.

Don't worry- the rashes and lesions should appear within the next 48 hours, and the all-over itchy/burny senation should kick in any minute...

The door length shouldn't matter- it would just be a simple matter of rescribing a new door line in the coupe kit to use on the convert. I'm about 99% confident that piece will fit the convertible body, if the body is the same length (as far as I know, the 1:1 bodies share similar dimensions), and Revell got the shapes and contours close on the two bodies.

They might look a bit thick because they are all chrome- on the 1:1 the inside part of the grille appears to be painted gray or dark silver.

Hopefully this weekend I'll have some 'test results' to reveal.

I've got all the intense you'll ever need right here-