Chuck Most

Sheesh- your work-in-progress frame looks better than 95% of my complete builds!

That kind of sucks, 'cuz it sure looks like you were on the right track! I'd really like to see more 'hot rod' and custom big rigs!

Sorry- can't help much with photos of the kit itself (I've already ripped into it- I'm kind of known for that!), but the decal sheet is still intact- I'll post a photo of that as quickly as possible. On de udder hand, I'm planning to pick up another one tomorrow... yeah, why don't I just photograph the second kit, BEFORE I commence ripping it to shreds, huh? As far as the rest of the kit? Uh... take out any of the '49's you already have on your shelf, but picture the parts inside with slightly better molding quality, and molded in white plastic. Oh, and picture it with a runner marked 'remove' in each of the windsheild panes, something I don't remember from previous issues.

Interior color? I'd be kind of torn between tan, red, or a dark burgundy- I think any three of those would go well with the color you've painted. (Which I love, by the way!) I'd have probably gone with a Cobra Jet-style scoop instead of the kit scoop, but you did a better job integrating the kit-supplied scoop into the hood than most builders I've seen!

If the 'fin' detail was a bit better, they'd work perfectly. Cutting off the original hub and lug nuts and making your own hub and adding some resin acorn nuts is a pretty good idea, I'd never even seen these wheels before today!

Here's one I finished this morning (shortly after midnight, actually). It's just a quick buildup to keep me motivated between bigger projects- It's the AMT Snap Fast Plus Ram 2500 kit, which I converted into a diesel competition puller. The smokestack is a length of slash-cut K&S aluminum tubing, polished with Meguiars Hot Rims polish. The tractor weights are from the old Orange Blossom puller kit, and sit in a scratchbuilt mount. The "Crusader" decals came from a Revell chopper kit. I made a tonneau from .030" styrene, and robbed a set of Dick Cepek paddles from another OB kit. The flag decal is from the Revell Peterbilt 359, and the 'Cummins Powered' decals are from the new reissue of AMT's White-Freightliner COE kit. The rear wheels are from a C1500 kit- I hid the fact they're 5-bolt by blacking out the centers. Eventually, I'll add Moon-type covers, as on the Orange Blossom. It's not the most detailed, or even accurate, representation of a real puller- I'd call it more of a look-alike than an actual replica. But I don't recall ever seeing one built like this, and it did it's job- it kept me movin' when I have so many stagnant projects at the moment!

I'm glad you worked too! It's Testors Deja Blue one coat. Yeah- I think it could sit a touch lower, too, but hey.... lowriders ARE known for having adjustable suspensions!

Thanks- next one I just might plop onto an AMT '67 Impala chassis and add an engine! Or not...

Say you want to build an International Metro van. Nobody does a plastic kit of one, but you can buy it in resin from Motor City Resin casters and plop it onto a Monogram '50 F-1 chassis and have yourself one! Not only can using a resin body net you a rare car that's not available as a tradional plastic kit, you can also save yourself some work. Why chop that AMT '49 Merc's top yourself when you can buy a pre-chopped resin body that'll drop right on? Why spend hours filling and smoothing the hood on a Monogram '50 F-1 when a quick call to Replicas and Miniatures can net you one? And why scour your parts boxes looking for a Caddy/Olds 'Batwing' Air Cleaner when you can just buy one from Bandit resins?

Permatex and 3M make products for repairing rubber and soft-plastic trim pieces on cars, maybe you could try that? I've never run into this problem, but I can't think of anything I've personally used that will bond to the vinyl AND be sandable.

I'm looking for a set of these style wheel covers in 1/24 or 1/25 scale... I'd like to use the AMT/Ertl Ford F-150 longbed to build a model of my 1:1 '94 F-250 (yep, the one in the photo), but without the proper wheel covers, I'm kind of stuck! I'd appreciate any help!

Another thing I've noticed, those big ol' honkin' Super Swamper TSLs may not be the best choice in snow! They tend to kind of ride up on top of the snow. I've had the best luck with somewhat skinny tires. They seem to slice through the snow like a treaded, rubber pizza cutter!

Not ALL AMT's latest reissues are decontented, you know! Case in point- the latest go-round of the venerable 'Shoebox' kit. As far as parts content goes, it's pretty much as we've known it since at least the mid '80's- stock version, plus the custom Cadillac V8, bucket seats, custom grille surround with two inserts, stock or custom taillamps, and the like. It's pretty much status quo from the last reissue, except this time it's done in white plastic, and the castings seem an awful lot cleaner than in past repops. The chrome plating is also very nice, none of that thick, glopped-on junk from the mid-to-late period of the hated RC2/Learning Curve regime! Also, AMT seems to be using a less-glossy vinyl to make it's tires, which helps the tires look quite a bit more realistic. The vinyl seems a bit softer than in the past, too. About the only key difference in content is the decal sheet- you get some somewhat crude period-style flames, and a bonus 'Street Rods' logo adhesive sticker comes with. Two Michigan plates are also included... always a plus in this humble Michiganite's book! If the '33 Willys, '55 Nomad, and '57 reissues lack of all the cool parts you remember got you down, may I suggest this latest '49 offering! I've got one, and I know I'll be obtaining several more in the coming months!

Know what would be REALLY cool? Take some X-ray photos of the finished model! That'll shut up ol' Nancy Naysayer!

I'm afraid I can't say any of the funny names, but my mom works with a lady whose boyfriend is named "Harley Bawls" (Bawls as in 'balls') Tim Allen's real name is Tim Dick. Allen is his middle name. He goes by Tim Allen because when he started out as a comedian, his agent told him people would think he made up the name Tim Dick just to be funny. --------- Osama Bin Laden was hiding out in a cave, when he found an old lamp. He picked it up and rubbed the dust off, and was astonished when a glowing plume of blue smoke erupted from the lamp. When the smoke cleared, a genie appeared. "You have freed me from my prison, and now I must grant you a wish." She said. "You disgusting dog of a woman!" Osama cried out. "Do you know who I am? I don't need your help!" The genie replied: "Master, if you do not allow me to grant you one wish, I shall once again be trapped in my prison!" Osama grumbled. "Alright. Fine. Tomorrow I wish to wake up with three American women in my bed." Annoyed, the genie replied: "Your wish is granted." With that, she and the lamp disappeared in the same mysterious glowing blue smoke cloud from which she'd appeared. The next morining, Osama woke up with Tonya Harding, Lorena Bobbitt, and Hillary Clinton. His knees were broken, his man-junk was missing, and his health insurance wouldn't cover either of his injuries. ---------- An alcoholic, a beggar, and a pervert all died in a car wreck. At the gates of Heaven, St. Peter told them: "You have all lived lives of sin and debauchery, and are not worthy to enter the gates of Heaven. However, if you pass my simple test, I will allow you to enter." In a flash, the three men and St. Peter were in a bar. The alcoholic immediately went to the bar and ordered a beer, and was instantly sent to Hell. Just then, the beggar noticed a $20 bill on the floor. Sensing his intention, the pervert grabbed the beggar's shoulder and said, "If you bend over to grab that, we're both goners!" -----------

A bit out of character for me, but here goes. It's the Model King reissue of the '70 Buford Wildcat, with Sean Svensen's killer lowrider decals, Hopppin' Hydros wheels and tires, and shaved handles.

I've got two of these kits stashed, but this is the first time I've seen anyone building it! Looking great so far!

That was the only way my '81 Lincoln Town Car (can't believe I didn't mention this one earlier) would budge. It didn't matter what tires I had, or how many sandbags I had in the trunk, if I aired the rear tires down a bit, she'd plow though all but the worst drifts. (Oddly, though, I drove my buddy's '81 LTD Crown Vic quite a few times over the winter, and it didn't seem to notice the snow!) I have to wonder about 'proper winter setup', though. (On some vehicles.) My Jeep Cherokee's 4wd crapped out about a year after I bought it, it had crummy all-terrain tires on it, and I never had any weight in the back (not even the spare), and it was a great winter car. I think it may have had more to do with low gearing and a gutless engine (2.5 Iron Duke that bled fluid from every orifice) than anything I could've done to prep it for winter. A good set of tires will help- I've had good luck with the 'Winterforce' tires. My '85 Ranger had much trouble in snow until I had a set of Winterforce tires installed. Poor little truck thought she was 4x4 after that! A local guy drives a Miata all year (true story!), and he runs Winterforce tires on the back all winter and says they're great. "With them, it's no problem. Without them, the car just wants to wiggle sideways.", sez he. I actually saw an '08/09 Challenger R/T out and about a few days ago, in some pretty hairy blizzard conditions. I wasn't too surprised at seeing a RWD muscle car out in such conditions... I was more surprised in seeing a forty thousand dollar RWD muscle car out in such conditions! Wonder what kind of tires he was runnin'? Oh, Aaron... I think they did make an F-85 kit. I think it was a Jo Han kit, so it may not be easy to track down, or cheap once you get it!

I've been told, if I ever decide to embark upon a Pocher build, to get the Bugatti with the solid, cast wheels. Assembly is about half an hour apiece, tops. Again, so I'm told...

It's about damned time somebody did one o' these, Jeff! Two '66 Effies played pretty big roles in my childhood- my dad's '66 F-250 Custom Cab Camper Special (which he drove until he wrecked it in '94), and my Grandfather's F-100 standard cab(he's still got it, though a '91 Ranger is now his primary pickup), which has the same hubcaps found in the new Revell Fairlane reissue of the T-Bolt kit! (They were used on trucks up to '66, in plated and argent silver paint... file that little tidbit away, rep-stockers!) Ed- I believe Twin I Beam actually bowed in '64, the same time the unitized cab/bed bit the dust. I've got that thick James Wagner book on Ford trucks, but I can't find it to back up my hunch. (I hate it when that happens! )

That is sweet! Kinda makes the blocked-up '77 Trans Am with lights strung all over it in MY front yard look crude and amateurish!

I have seen the '70 GTO promo (I passed one up last weekend), and it looks pretty decent, but of course- no engine. I've never seen the '70 Goat kit, but it was probably on about equal footing with the '67 or '72 kits, since it came out about the same period. You know- crude chassis plate, molded-in, plated headlamps, metal axles, and the like.

Or, since Pocher kits are held together by mechanical means, you can always take the whole dam'd thing apart again to see it!

Hulings Hobby House- Alma, Michigan (also sells MCM!) Dean's Hobby Stop- Flushing, Michigan (just TRY and walk out of there with a full pocket- I dare ya!) St. Louis Variety- St.Louis, Michigan Mountian Town Hobby's (sic)- Mt.Pleasant, Michigan (always the LAST place on my list!)

Nice work on the 'Liner Tim! Now I've got to get my stupid build finished! It's still in about the same shape as it was in the photo I posted earlier, except now the front bumper and Luberfiner are in place. And, even though the cab fit nice and square during all the test fits, it's now cocked a bit to the right, and doesn't shut straight! And I still haven't decided on kit mufflers or straight pipes. The plated fuel tanks from a Kenworth 600 didn't pan out, either, but the plated 5th wheel sure did! If I ever finish it, I'll give it it's own post. And I've GOT to finish it now... I finally got my Transtar kit!