Chuck Most

Nice review, Randy! I particularly like the bow-tie wing nut on the new air cleaner lid. And ANY kit with separate whitewall inserts is a must have in my book! I haven't built one of these since they first came out, but I picked up this version today! I don't remember having any real issues putting the first one toghether... must mean it went together well! Guys... back me up or bash me down on this one, but the grille on this truck just doesn't look right to me. It seems a bit to...ah... chunky. Maybe it's too tall, too narrow, or both? The Revell Jeep J10 Honcho (when's THAT one gonna get reissued, huh?) had the same effect. I can't profess to be an expert on this style of Chevy truck, but something about that grille just bothers me!

Alls I gots ta say is- YES!

Nice... Yes! In the 1950's Studebaker-Packard had a hand in MB's US distribution, so maybe this one really isn't all that farfetch... ... wow! Almost made it without laughing! Maybe it IS farfetched, but man is it cool! 'Nuther fun fact... this Mercedes has a slant six... just like your grandma's Duster!

The time they ran those little RC cars up the window behind the newscasters was pretty sweet too! And Jeremy will be the first to tell you he is, indeed, quite fat!

Ah... yeah! I think I'll just agree with George on this one, Harry, since he lives a LOT closer to me than he does to you!

I'm with Bill- I almost exclusively use bead wire and superglue for my plug wires. I have used the aftermarket stuff, and I have no problems with it, except that it's quite pricey for what it is. You can buy a roll of bead wire or bare stem wire (the stuff florists use to tie floral arrangements together) for less than a buck, and have enough wire to do fifty or sixty models. It's also great for fuel line, brake line, etc. Just drill out a hole just slightly larger than the actual wire, and like Bill says, dab the end of the wire in super glue. I've never used a pre-wired distributor, though I've often thought of it- drilling out a kit distributor cap is a pain!

I could EASILY live with any one of these on my shelf- especially the Aero Ace- though I'd also like the '55 version with it's one-year only grille/side trim setup! A few more of my own: Jeep FC cabover '56-'57 Hudson (possibly the ugliest car ever built... and I love it!) And since we mentioned '70's cars: '73-'77 El Camino Chrysler Cordoba Excalibur Phaeton (there is a 1/16 scale version of one, no bi-scale though!) '75 International pickup or Travelall '78 Lincoln Continental Coupe '76-'78 AMC Ambassador

I've never had an Exploder or a Mountaineer (wouldn't mind a 4x4 '01-'04 Explorer Sport, though) but I did have an '84 'Chero that had more breakdowns than Tom Cruise. I'm in no hurry to own another Jeep, unless it's an old J-truck or a CJ. I learned the hard way what JEEP stands for... Just Empty Every Pocket!!!!

You know... that back end DOES look quite a bit like the butt of an early '80's Seville. Looks like the love child of one of those and a Detomaso Mangusta!

Whoa. So that's what heaven looks like... or, if not heaven, at least a place I'd like to spend a few months visiting!

You mean- "What is it... BESIDES the second or third ugliest car I've ever seen?" Looks like a male enhancement product on wheels! Like an Italian sportscar, only not as nice to look at!

The editor of Jp magazine (John Cappa) is building a rat rod based on an old Flatfender, and Hot Rod's David Frieburger says he's kicked the idea around. I've got a '77 CJ-7 rat rod model that's been on the back burner for a while now. So, I guess this idea isn't totally unprecedented! The one on Ebay... uh, I'm not so sure. The proportions all look just plain wrong to me, though I must applaud the builder for at least having his heart in the right place!

The 'Cuda and Merc are my faves. Let us see the end results, for sure!

Wow. Incredible! Just a tad surprised it isn't a fire apparatus...

You don't have to tell me... my '78 is totally rotted out. Sure, I can get a fiberglass tub, but it's about three times the cost of what one for a CJ-series Jeep would be. Add that to the fact that mine is the Nissan-sourced (non-turbo) diesel, and I'm in a bigger world of hurt. Sure, I could just yank the diesel and toss in a 345, but what fun would that be. (I would love to replace the automatic with a four-speed stick, though!) Strangely, though, the doors, front fenders, hoods, and tailgates on these puppies never rot out, but you can NOT find one with a rust-free tub or top!

You can use metal repair tape to do chrome- IF - it's a relatively flat surface with no detail on the section you actually want chromed. It's too thick to use for window moldings and the like. Mylar tape is best suited to flat areas, or areas with only a slight, gentle bend to them. I'd say just stick with the BMF!

Checker Taxicab (Marathon) How could I have forgotten THAT? I'm with the Studebaker guys, we need more of 'em- I'd love to have a '66 Daytona kit! A Stude Transtar pickup wouldn't exactly suck, either!

1966 Olds Cutlass 4-door. It had a factory Hurst floor shifter for the three speed manual, and no radio. I got it when I was 13 (1996), and ended up unloading it about four or five years later, when I got a '71 Charger that ended up being too far gone to save. A buddy bought the Cutlass, then drilled it into a guardrail shortly thereafter. It still sits behind his shop, all twisted and mangled. Main reason I don't stop by his place much these days. The first car I had that I actually drove (legally) was an '81 Lincoln Town car that met an unfortunate end... like most of my vehicles since!

This lovely, overcast day after Labor Day, I put on my best white clothes, hopped into the T-Racer, and made the 80-mile round trip to Dean's Hobby Stop. The haul was a bit smaller than usual but here goes- AMT '65 Pontiac Grand Prix Prestige Series- may end up as a mild custom, but I've always been tempted to try out the 'advanced' custom version of the kit. AMT '56 Mercedes Benz 500SL- I'm thinking a Bonneville car, perhaps the recipient of an early Mopar Hemi, kind of a 'reverse DaimlerChrysler' thing. AMT '69 Chevy Corvair- no particular reason, other than it's been a while since I built one. AMT '63 Studebaker Avanti- same as above, though I can always just pirate the Moon wheel discs and Paxton hair dryers from it! AMT '63 Vette Ragtop- parts donor for a ChevyII AWB car I've been planning, and as a bonus, the kit came with the Drag Strip Acessories Parts Pack (something I wish we'd get more often.) These were all Prestige Series issues, with damaged boxes and some moisture damage. I'll dodge 'collector prices' however I can, thank you! The boxes were all moldy and gunky (still sealed), and were quickly incincerated, the kits are now in Tupperware totes in my upstairs kit cemetery. I also got an AMT Dodge Stealth, which more than likely will donate it's drivetrain to a street rod build. Didn't get the two I wanted, though, an AMT '93 Ranger, or an '82-'92 MPC/AMT Camaro that was NOT molded in red!

Hate to sound like a pessimistic ass, but no. I'm still mad we don't have transporters! If the world does end in 2012, I'll be ready. They all thought I was crazy when I moved into this abandoned missle silo, but we'll see. We'll just see who's crazy... (evil laughter....)

Yeah- I'd love one of these things, too- or what about the bubble topped 'sport' version (which Jeremy unveiled at the end of the episode). Hey... speaking of Top Gear... we're never gonna see a kit of Oliver, are we? Never knew there WASN'T a kit of the Veyron... one more to add to my 'dream on' list!

Is the 'bored' in place of 'board' some kind of subliminal message?

A definite must have! I live on an old farm, and as I sit here, there are no fewer than five old trucks and three old tractors scattered about the property. 1/25 scale tractor stuff is tough to find, but there are some diecast 1/25 promos of stuff like skid loaders that are available at most farm equipment dealerships. I've got a 1/25 Gehl skid loader in my collection that I picked up from the local tractor dealer.

Looks like it used to be a '61-'66 F-series that had a Chrysler-botomy, or maybe a Chrysler with an F-series top welded on. I don't dig the color- but if it were, oh, Inca gold or something like that, I'd totally dig it! And I am not the least bit ashamed of saying that!

Okay- there are plenty of threads on this forum dealing with what kits we think should be produced but never have been. But here's something a bit different. What are the 1:1 subjects that you absolutely, positively, know deep down in your heart-of-hearts that you'll never, ever, see in a scale styrene kit, no matter how much you beg and plead the manufacturers to do one? Here are some of mine: Late '30's early '40's Dodge Truck (with perhaps a spun-off Power Wagon version) '98-'02 Lincoln Navigator Ford Granada Ford Fairmont Futura Chevy Corvair Van/Rampside pickup VW Thing '42-'41 Ford Pickup '57 Pontiac Bonneville '58 Buick Electra '99-'02 Mercury Cougar '93-'98 Lincoln MKVIII '47-'57 Hudson Hornet '03/'04 Mercury Marauder Any late model F-series (Super Duty prefered) '38 Ford DeLuxe coupe '55 Chrysler (any model) '57 Lincoln Premiere ANY Ford Ranchero besides the Revell '57 and AMT '61 (not that they're bad kits- just a little variation!) '66-'77 Ford Bronco First Gen Ranger or Bronco II Nissan Hardbody 2wd Regular cab '06-up Dodge 2500 Power Wagon Any '80 or newer Lincoln Town Car and, finally, three words- International Light Trucks (I would have been happy with ANYTHING, even a heavy retool of the old Scout II kit!) These are a few of the kits I'd love to have but I know I'll never see in a 1/25 styrene kit. Now how's about you?