SteveG

Here's the first three Model Car related items to be announced from IMC other then the '59 Rambler already discussed here. The 75 Olds Cutass kit will included all new Olds Rally wheels, sport mirrors and a decal sheet added. The Turbine Car kit will be identical to the last issue except for a new decal sheet. The display case will be available as a single item or in a two pack. List prices on the two kits will be just under $20.00 each and I expect many retailers will do better than that. These items were in the best condition so that's why there being run first. IMC wil also have three 1/48th scale aircraft kits, two watercaft kits (one ship and one submarine) to start as well. There's definately more to come assuming these do well. I've been watching all the comments in the other related posts and I hope to make a lot modelers happy with future releases. Thanks for all your support !!! Steve

The technology is out there to reverse engineer practically any Johan kit ever made so it really doesn't matter if the tooling exist or not. It all comes down to the numbers. What will it cost and how many can you sell? I honestly think the numbers are at least close to do-able although probably in the same range as all new tooling. So which would you rather have? An exact copy of the original Johan 63 Dodge Polara kit or all new tooling of a 65 Plymouth Belvedere ??? (just some random picks ..... I admit I do happen to like B-body Mopars) I bet I got you guys thinking now don't I .......?

Wow ...wouldn't that be something If I could help pull that off !!!! OK so counting Harry, (you're in for one of each right) all I need is another 4,999 or so die-hard and dedicated Johan fans, assuming I got that in the bag and I brought back 6 kits a year, I wonder how long it would take to re-run the whole Jo-han line ??? Do I start with your favorites or from the beginning ? And I thought this job was going to be easy ...... what was I thinking ...... ? Steve

Luc is right, it's going to be a limited production run so if you missed out before this issue will be your best chance. Of course I would love to get another shot at it but there's no guaranties that will happen. I guess I'll have to wait and see how IMC's debut goes at iHobby next week ...... Steve

This is an all new IMC, see my earlier post. Lindberg has the LRW and a few others that didn't disappear in Asia or someother far off place. As far as the 70-72 Olds Cutlass 442 that might be do-able if the tooling could be tracked down and aquired. I seem to recall Testors had it last. As far as the Toronado's go I doubt the tooling is still around. Probably scrapped in 80's or later as the original Jo-han was on their last leg. I can't recall if Seville did any Toro's or not after they got the Jo-han. Anyone know ?

I guess I better clear some things up. IMC is a total separate company not affilated with Okey Spaulding. Okey is still in business, I just saw him at Toledo. Any discussion using the X-el and Johan names was meant for historical reference only. They still belong to thier respective owners. IMC will not be using the Johan or X-el names on any of their products. IMC is based out of Rockford, lL and has a molding facility in the US and plans to use it and supporting US suppliers whenever possible. R&D is being done in Northeast Ohio. As for the tooling I really can't discuss any details regarding the possible future projects. I can say that the Rambler Wagon is being molded here in the US from mostly existing tooling but is was necessary to re-create a few inserts that were missing. -Steve

Thanks for the great response John, (and everyone else) !!! It's clear from what I've seen so far is that you guys would love to see some more Johan re-issues even if it's an old X-el Desoto 4DR (for example) and adding interiors and maybe some optional parts would be like putting icing on a cake. I'm here to tell you that some of those X-el reissues could be brought back with your support. Starting with the annoucements at Hobby coming up next week the future of IMC will be in your hands. Technically the '59 Rambler is already a sell-out for IMC thanks to Dave Burket and Model King but you'll need to support Dave and get them while they last. The next few kits to be offered after that will be the real test. You guys have mentioned some other great kit ideas, with any luck those dreams can become reality too. If any of you are going to be attending iHobby next week, please stop buy the IMC booth and say Hi to Ernie Petit and tell him how you feel about bringing back those old Johan kits. Thanks !! Steve

That's exactly the one I was thinking of and I believe if you dig up the old SAE article on it you'll find he started with the 59 Rambler Wagon. -Steve

Here's a few photos of a typical 55 Pontiac X-el promo for those who don't have one .....

Now that the word is out about the '59 Rambler Wagon kit coming back how many of you would like to see similar releases of the old X-el promos in kit form assuming they could be done. These would be sold with clear glass, an interior, decals and some customizing parts just like the '59 Rambler Wagon will be. In the case where no close interior tool insert could be located a new promo style interior would be tooled up. For bragging rights, who knows how many different models (not including color variances) were sold by X-el without interiors and what were they? -Steve

That's not quite right, here's the quote from the newsletter ...... "Round2, the company that currently owns the licensing rights to AMT properties, has recently clarified that the Gremlin will be restored to a stock hardtop" ..... Fiat-Chrysler owns the rights to license AMC products not Round 2. -Steve

Ken, You nailed it, that exactly why it's done. Nothing beats an automatic sell out, at least as far as Moebius is concerned. Same thing applies to the Model King-IMC 59 Rambler deal. You average kit sits in Revell's, AMT's or Moebius' warehouse until it's ordered by a distributor like Stevens International or mass-retailer like Hobby lobby and the manufacturer get there money one order at time. It could take months, weeks or years to move them all. Selling it all in one lot is a sweat deal and Model King get an exclusive product to sell to whom ever they please. -Steve

The Diecast Chargers started with the same basic CAD design as the Plastic kits, that all they share. RPM is a monster compared to J.Lloyd, there's no connection other than RPM used to own the Lindberg brand. RPM still own the Testors brand. One could speculate that RPM-Testors was the deep pocket when it came to the plastic kit tooling cost. No one will ever know the exact details of how and why the cooperate deal was made other then a few executives, that's the reality of the corporate world. It's fun to speculate but honestly, I don't care how it happened ..... we got some nice kits out of it right ! -Steve

It's pretty simple, all those new Charger plastic kits were made by Lindberg from the same tooling. Look at the boxes, J. Lloyd is the parent Co. of Hawk/Lindberg. Testors and Lindberg had worked out a marketing agreement giving Testors the first two runs, Lindberg got the SRT8 and Testors was supposed to do the Police version. After Testors decided to drop plastic kits, Lindberg obtained the license from Dodge and did the Police car kits. It's happened before, MPC produced kits for AMT in the early days. Johan kits were sold by AMT and so on.... What's the connection between Testors and Lindberg? It's Ernie Petit who had a long career at Testors before retiring, then running Hawk/Lindberg for Jody Keener. Steve

More good news for AMC fans from John Greczula ...... http://wwwboard.spotlighthobbies.com/index.pl?read=1704010 -Steve

I always had a thing for using Fades and Pearls, I got to combine them both on this project ..... I only used two colors for this effect, all the middle shades are just intermixed. -Steve

I'm going to have to dig up that old SAE article where Juha Airio did his magic and made '57 or '58 Rambler Sedan (or something like that) out of an old Johan Rambler Wagon promo. I'm thinking he started with a '56 Chevy chassis but I've killed off many brain cells since that was built. -Steve

I believe the consensus is it that it is 1/25th scale but I never actually measured it.

Actually Lindberg has what's left of the Touch Tone Terror kit as in the "Little Red Wagon" so there's hope. FYI, the new IMC brand has no connection to the old IMC. The new brand is Illinois Model Company. As for the 59 Rambler Wagon, it's a 1/25th scale curbside kit so no engine and the chassis is an early promo "flat plate" style part same as the last issue. Unfortunately I don't believe that there's anything left of the Johan Hearse kit. Of course I would love to be wrong on that point. -Steve

Yes, along with some other surprises from IMC .....

Thanks Chuck !! It's my opinion that that with the exception of the tailgate issue that just about any modeler with basic skills could slap one of these together and get a decent looking model. -Steve

Harry your preaching to the choir, I doubt there are more then a single handful of real executives at the Wasan Plastic Model Co (Trumpeter) and I'd gladly bet you that none of them could tell you a Ford Falcon from bird by the same name before their US distributor suggested they produce one. Even the guys with the good jobs there like R&D, CAD design, Plant Managers .... you name it don't live half as well as Joe Smith working the loading dock at Revell. I'm sure all those mid level guys all work hard and do the best they can with what they get to work with. Your right, the blame should go to the exceutives who run the company. The Falcon kits are at least an improvement over their previous releases which is the right direction. However, based on their history, the only way we're really going to get top quality kits from them is for somebody on this side of the ocean to get tough. Demand proof of quailty through photos or test shots or whatever they have to do. Maybe if they sent a whole boatload back to Zongshan (China) they might get the message.

Not to start a cultural debate but your making the assumption that your average Chinese worker has the same internet freedoms we all take for granted here. Even if he managed the access and found the photos, do you think that same Chinese worker could just go tell his supervisor or another co-worker he's wrong or made a mistake ? ..... My limited contact with the kit industry on that side of the world and my close contacts who deal with them on a regular basis tell me that it's totally different ball game over there. Even with an American company paying the bills getting changes made is like pulling teeth. Trumpeter has no big U.S. company holding on to the cash until it's done right. Just a U.S. distributor with limited input on what we're getting. I wish the situation was different but what can you do ...... ?

My point exactly for doing the online build up was so everyone has a chance to see what you could do with what's in the box and to have a good discussion about this kit on it's own merits. I really wasn't seeking praise or criticism of my workmanship but I certaintly do appreciate the comments. I did notice the lack of "FORD" lettering on the tailgate, same issue as on their other Falcon kit deck lids. I missed the bedside wall issue, good catch Harry ! Price notwithstanding, I think it's still a decent kit worth building ...... It could have been a great kit if Trumpeter had worked closer with their associates here in the US to get the details right. Why they didn't is something I don't understand considering the digital age we live in. For those who still plan to buy and build this kit I would like to challenge you to take it to the next level and work outside the box a little. I would really like to see how it would look with some kit bashed wheels and tires, and apparently some minor corrective surgery could be applied to some areas I didn't address. I may take another shot at it myself down the road ..... -Steve

That works for me Mike, thanks for cutting me some slack ...... If I could do it over again I would swap out the tires and wheels, use some stainless wire for the antenna mast. Maybe use some photo etch scripts assuming they're out there. I would also fix the intake and exhaust to something more realistic. Some plug wires and underhood labels would help it too. I'm thinking of doing one as '64 model using parts from the hardtop kit like the dash, grille and tail lamps ..... -Steve