Chuck Most

Mopar is a nickname for Chrysler products, it comes from the name of their parts organization. I always found it odd that the company's parts department became the nickname for the company's cars (kind of like if you referred to a GM car as a "Goodwrench"), but hey, I guess it works.

Done as a model, that decal scheme doesn't look like it would be too much of a pain to apply either. Always a plus.

I love the idea of cutting the bed bulkhead away from the back of the cab and gluing it to the bed assembly... the way MPC should have done it to begin with. I might have to give that a try- numerous test fits with my kit (and even more with the body from the Mini Monster version) haven't led to satisfactory results but your solution looks like it'll work just fine.

Models like this make me wonder why I even bother. Lovely job on this.

Know what I'd love to have? I'd pay full retail for a first-gen Benz/Freightliner/Dodge Sprinter. That's right. I said it. Resin/3D guys... you hear me???

And I'm probably pickier in that regard than you are- I prefer street vehicles that can be built at least close to USDM. I even snagged a couple of the Build And Play Mustangs and Raptors just to have something 21st-century to build. As much as I love the classics my shelves cry out for late model stuff. Even if it's laughably mundane. I'm still holding out hope that Academy will make a kit of a Veloster.

I don't see how. Revell is on the ropes, but Round 2 and Moebius are pretty active... though Moebius is quite a bit more active in the new material department. I know Round 2 is pretty bad with endless reissues, but every so often they bring back something thought to be long lost, and even the straight reissues at least have nice decals. Revell was relying strongly upon reissues too, while still squeaking in a new kit or two each year. And that's before we get into the resin and 3D printed stuff... both full kits and parts for existing plastic kits. Even if all of the domestic kit manufacturers disappeared tomorrow, there'd still be the aftermarket. Gripe about the prices of that stuff if you like, but come on... you know you'll pony up if you want the subject badly enough, right? The military modeling market went through a period of time with fewer and fewer manufacturers and new realeases, and the aftermarket stepped up. That was about 20 years ago and that segement still thrives... and new plastic kit makers in that area have sprung up since. The loss of the "big guns" might lead in to more diversity in the hobby as far as subject matter goes. There will come a day when a home user can buy scanning equipment, borrow Uncle Bob's old family car to scan, and print out a 1:25 scale '58 Ford two-door post. No, not every modeler will purchase that technology, but the ones who do will make their product available to others. Somebody out there will bring subject matter that lights your fires. As far as having nothing but the Japanese manufacturers... I'd be perfectly happy building nothing but Fujimi and Aoshima kits for the next 80 years or so. But who knows? Even they might step in to fill out the void... prior to Revell's release of the '70 'Cuda, I seem to recall there being interest in a full detail 1:25 kit of that very subject. I guess what I'm trying to say, if there is a market for it, the companies will find a way to bring it to market. The model car hobby/market may not look the same in ten years time, but it'll be around. Ancient Romans built scale model chariots, for Pete's sake... as long as there are transportation devices, people will miniaturize them for fun.

Revell's current caretakers have a bit more to worry about right now than putting out new product. But... yes, I'd be all for some '58 and '59 variants off the '57 Ford tool. I'd even be good for at least a couple more spin-offs from the year '57. (Stock-proportioned Ranchero, anyone?)

Just thought I'd throw my hat in the "I'm not going to build the Foose '56 kit as the Foose '56" ring. To that end, the wheels and tires from the Foose Cadillac were used, the drilled front bumper from an AMT '53 F100 was added, and the truck was powered by a Lincoln 368 made using bits from the AMT '57 Ford hardtop and the Chris Craft boat kit. The Glacier Green paint I used on the Hudson pickup conversion I finished a while ago was still sitting nearby, so it was pressed into service again for this one.

This is the Moebius kit. I started it back when the kit first came out, but I ended up with some nicks and blemishes in the paint, so I left it in the box for a bit. Over time I decided to leave the paint problems on it, as they give the car a kind of "as-is" used car lot appearance. I was going for an old lady's car that was purchased used by a guy who then swapped in the Hemi and added the Keystones. That Hemi came from a Revell '68 Charger, along with the hood scoop, while the wheels are from an MRC parts pack with AMT pad-printed tires. Now that this one is finally finished, I want to do a better version with the pillared coupe body. Or a rattier version with a slant six. I have to say, for a car that doesn't do much for me in 1:1, I like the kit.

Considering what a mess Batman Forever was, it was only fitting that the Batmobile would be a mess as well. Nice job on the model though.

Seriously?

No big deal. The bodies on these cars (both in the models and the real cars) are the interesting part. (No, there's nothing interesting about early Corvette IRS). Unless you display your models on their roofs, I see no problem with poor chassis detail.

Nice! For the amount of money these NASCAR diecasts used to go for when new, it seems odd that it wasn't fully decaled. Seems lazy on the manufacturer's part.

This is the recent AMT reissue, I started on it back when the kit was rereleased. Other than the rear walls being cut away, a '25 T pickup tailgate, radiator cap, engine wiring, and shelving, it is box-stock. The items on the shelves came from various kits and sources, from the Beverly Hillbillies kit to a Bachman G-Scale accessories set. The Fulci Mobile Antiques is a nod to Italian film director Lucio Fulci, who is probably best known for his horror movies, though during the course of his career he directed everything from kid's movies to westerns.

If the decal sheet is intact, often there will be a date printed on the back. This was being done on some kits as far back as the late '60's. Here are the dates on a sheet from an MPC '82 Cavalier (dated 8/81) and an AMT/Ertl Ford Explorer dated 7/95.

Maybe the windows haven't aged well, but the car overall sure has! Other than the wheels it has nothing to "pin" it as an '80's build.

Well... YEAH.

This is the '77 Arctic Cat El Tigre 6000 from the Revell Ice Patrol kit. It's fitted with straight pipes, a pressed steel seat from a Heller Ferguson, and '59 Cadillac bullet tail lights.

That came from a First Gear die cast '38 IH pickup made for Speedway gas stations a few years back. Thanks guys!

Kind of why I'm looking toward an aftermarket firm for such a conversion. I don't even need a complete stock-conversion transkit.

Never thought I'd see a new kit of a Starion... maybe it's time to build that crappy motorized Fujimi version I've had kicking around for a while. Wonder if I should hold my breath for a wide body version, either from Beemax or an aftermarket caster...

This is a Moebius '53 Hornet Club Coupe, with the chopped top body from Morgan Automotive Detail and a Dodge 354 Hemi from an AMT '29 Model A roadster. I used the open steel wheels from one of the NASCAR kits, with hub caps from the AMT '57 Ford hardtop. The grille came from the old AMT custom grille/bumper pack. I haven't done a car in black primer for a while, so that's what I went with here, with Hemi orange accents.

That has to be the manliest ascot I've ever seen.

From what I'm told, drop-top model kits don't sell nearly as well as fixed-roof variants. I'm more surprised that we don't have a good '57 Nomad.