Chuck Most

Meh...I'm all done holding out on Revell doing any 'alternate' versions. It was,what, a 13 year span between this coupe kit and the original Convert and Woody kits? The Tudor and 5-window Deuce kits were about a decade after the original Roadster and Speedwagon (though the three-window didn't take nearly as long), and the 'no-brainer' hardtop version of the '72 Cutlass that everybody (including me) is chomping at the bit for still hasn't happened. If Revell is doing a stock-height version of this, it won't be until about 2016 before I even begin to think of seeing it on the shelves. But hey, I've been wrong, and for all the guys who want a stock height coupe kit, I really do hope I'm wrong this time. But I'm not holding my breath, that's for sure!

Oh, these puppies will be widespread by the end of the month!

The write-up on Replicas and Miniatures was awesome- he's one of those casters I'm truly ashamed I don't buy more from. Bill and Len's Darts were killer. And the Chrysler sketchpad article was sweet, even though I'm not a huge fan of bubbletop designs. I'm still thumbing through Tim Boyd's trailer article- that one's giving me all sorts of ideas!

Oh, yeah! Build a sweet custom model and still have scads of killer parts box stuff!

Love that Revell DeSoto/Moebius Hornet combo grille treatment! Man, you could stop right there and have a really cool looking ride.

Ah... forgot all about the Lowrider version. That and the Monkeemobile were the only two drop tops I'd seen. In fact, I had the Monkeemobile a few years back as a parts donor.

Didn't Monogram do a drop-top Fox Mustang? I seem to remember one being issued as the 'New Monkeemobile', but that had to have been a good 20 years ago.

Ah, good old Wikipedia. Saying an FE is technically a Y-Block is like saying the inline six in your Trailblazer is technically a Stovebolt!

A couple of questions- (Mike already brought up the temperature issue, and PP does work much better when warm) One, is the Purple Power still purple? Once it's been used on quite a few stripping sessions, it starts to get cloudy and full of particles and loses some of its 'punch'. Filtering it will help in this case ( I just run it through a series of cloth rags), but once it gets to a certain point it just isn't any good anymore and needs replaced, even after filtering. Two, is it in a covered container? I don't have any scientific data, but for me, it always seems to work best in a covered container. A covered container is probably better than an open one when dealing with a solvent like Purple Power anyway. And finally, regarding your question on removing the stubborn stuff. I have had good luck using a nylon-bristle brush. Not an old toothbrush- I use the detailing brushes sold at most auto parts outlets, which come in a package of three with nylon, brass, and steel bristles. Scrubbing off the stubborn stuff and then putting it back in the PP helps. In fact, you can even use the brass brush if you don't go crazy with it- if it is an older plastic kit or resin the material will shrug off the brass. I wouldn't use the steel brush as it will scratch up even the toughest old kit plastic. And sometimes, depending on paint, Purple Power just plain won't get every last speck off the body, no matter what you try.

Nah... that thing would look dinky in that engine bay!

Yeah- this one has pretty much stalled for the time being. The truck (technically I guess it would be a tractor in this case) is done, the trailer is about 90%, but I'm still leaning more toward a camper trailer now. There will be four feet of snow on the ground here pretty shortly and I'll have lots of indoor time- I guess we'll see if I make any more progress on this thing!

How's about an AllisonW-24?

And of course a lot of it has to do with how bad the warp is. I've had a few bodies with a very slight warp or twist in them- merely installing the completed interior and/or chassis introduced enough of a tension fit to hold the body straight.

I've broken a few en route to shows, but so far nothing major. The only ones I've destroyed beyond repair are the ones that never leave the display room. "Dusting Mishaps" mostly.

So.... basically all three notchback bodies are turkeys, even though they all look like Fox Notchbacks to me. I'm not holding my breath for Revell to pop a notchback, personally. And even if they do, who's to say it won't be as flawed as any of the existing resin bodies?

I've heard that kit isn't too tough to assemble IF you ignore the instruction sheet and assemble it in the way that seems logical to YOU. What the guy meant by a way logical to me is a bit unclear, but I do have one of these (1970's Testors issue), and I'm thinking of giving it a go. And yeah- that Perry's Coupe is something I've wanted for a while, but I'm not buying one due to what I've heard about his order turnaround.

The IMC coupe kit? Godspeed to anyone who wants to mess with that thing!

Yeah- those last three letters make me have to bite my tongue every time.

Yep- first the distributors will get them, then they'll send them out to the shops. Could be another month- I hope not, but at least they're hitting the shores!!!!

That's what Dean's, the local hole in the wall shops, and the internet is for!

That's how I feel about contests of all kinds. Don't 'get' them, don't attend them, don't want any part of them.

Modelhaus makes exactly that animal.... downside is $85 bucks a pop.

To be fair, Tom, I think it's looking pretty good without any of the Coupe parts added. Be that as it may, curious to see what you'll do with it.

No kit, but I have seen some 'curbside'-style replicas of it. The company was called 'Hollywood Collectibles'. I know for a fact they did a diorama, but I don't know if they sold the cars individually. I have seen just the cabs, but I can't say if they're made by HC or not. http://hollywood-collectibles.com/fifth_element_cars.html

Saw this a year or two ago headed out to Midland, MI. It's a '45 Federal truck. Looked to have some newer chassis parts, but no engine in it at all.