Chuck Most

I make sure they don't roll. Think of it as a display shelf parking brake. Exception to that may be with an older kit where I might need to position the wheels a bit to get them all to sit flat. Old MPC kits are a great example- seems like the mounting holes for the wheels are always just a touch off-center. But, once all four tires touch the bench- out comes the glue.

Glad I nabbed three.

Thanks guys! I'd like to point out a coupe of things. The instructions have you install the dash, then the steering column. I found it easier to install the column, then dash, then fit the two together (don't use a fast-acting adhesive for this!). Also, there's a tab on top of the grille insert which I removed, so that it would fit into the assembled hood crown/sides more easily. I managed not to break any of the brake actuation rods or pedals, even though they're THIN and held to the sprue by some considerably thick runners. I glued the steering solid for strength. I think on the next one I'll deviate from the assembly sequence by installing the completed front axle at once, rather than adding the beam at one point and the spindles later, as shown in the instructions.

Had a blast building mine. And yes, I did take a few liberties.

I got this kit Thursday- and wrapped it up today. I have to say for a kit with so many delicate, fiddly parts, the actual assembly process is downright pleasant. Haven't had this much fun on a (mostly) box stock build in quite a while. I did take a few liberties. I wired the igniton- kudos to Heller for having enough "meat" on the distributor leads to drill into them for wires! I also used the padded seat for the optional FF-30 building version just because I could, and I left off some of the three-point components, because at this point I'm still not sure what I want to put on the back of it yet. Of course, I weathered mine, but that shouldn't be a shocker, right?

Well, is it still a 320 with a Ford 5.0? Would it be a 500i now? Know what? I don't really care. It's the Revell 320i Rally kit, with the engine and transmission from an AMT '94 Mustang GT. It has been lowered , and the wheels and tires came from a Revell Datsun 510. Note the hood gap- it actually will fit better than in the pics (though there's still a prominent gap toward the front), but as I was taking the pictures I left it the way you see it, because I thought it added to the shabby, rundown look.

Appears it's still available- http://www.paragrafix.biz/product_detail.asp?PPartNum=pgx192

I'll always remember her for the few seconds she was in the beginning of The Naked Gun 1-1/2.

Personally I'd not go larger than 20. The Tamiya acrylic jars are 23ml, and I can typically paint two bodies (and matching related components) with one jar. 15 may work, but I'd like that extra little measure of security the 20ml bottle would have.

The headlight bezels bear an uncanny resemblance to '40 Willys units- particularly the ones in the early 2000's Revell kits. Perhaps those would work, and if so, they'd not be hard to adapt at all. But if you do figure out a way to conjure some up yourself (and I'm certain you can) then by all means- let us see!

Then I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to turn in your avatar photo.

Well, not exactly. He is aware of the situation. I'm sure he'll chime in with the specifics at some point.

Well, yeah, with that kind of attitude it won't.

I picked one up about a month ago- went back to the shop today and he still had the other three. They're out there.

The fender unit and suspension pieces look an awful lot like the ones used in the MPC (later AMT/Ertl) '29 Ford Woody/Pickup kit.

Thanks for this info, Bill- I bought this kit to rob the twin-turbo 'Vair mill for a Volksrod project, and was looking for a little bit more info on how to keep the twin-turbo setup, but get it a little bit more into the realm of a "real world mechanical appearance" (if that makes any sense).

Section it a little and you could have a very interesting Bonneville contender...

I like it. It's kind of shaping up the way the 914 may have, had it been continued to the present day.

Wow- poor choice for a first kit. But you really can't complain about the finished product!

^That's one of the reasons the X-El promos sold for such a high price (for the time). They were selling off a finite number of existing stock. I seem to remember either an editorial or an answer to a reader's letter in SAE years ago that gave a basic outline of what was going on.

Very cool. Interior is kind of a bummer though- not because it looks bad (quite the opposite) but because so many of the details you added are hidden with the body in place.

This one?

Fantastic job on the conversion! I have one of these I started about 10 years ago- so far all I've done is strip the paint and used some scrap strip to make the door spears. Its been kicking around in a box ever since.

If it were at all possible for this kit to make a comeback, I'd be good for a dozen right now.

Eventually, I plan to have at least one of every '61-'65 and '66-'69 variant. I'm hopeful that the tooling for the '69 might turn up some day and Round 2 will see fit to bring it back...