SteveG

Well you saw all the parts a few days ago, this will the start of the build up. I have to say after comparing this kit to some of Trmpeter's other kits like the 60 Pontiac and the Chevy Monte Carlo. There has been some noticeable improvements. Not to say there isn't room for more, because there is. I will cover the issues that I found concerning as we go. Gladly I haven't found anything I can't get past and that's a good thing. My goal is to work with what's in the box, using basic skills and materials most modelers have. I'll leave the kit bashing and super detailing to someone else. All my builds are done in a similar fashion, I put together as much as I can without paint, checking how things fit together along the way. When I'm satisfied, I'll break it down, add paint and detailing and then put it all back together again. Sounds easy right .... Like building a 1:1 car, I'm starting with the floor pan, interior tub and the bedfloor. The front inner structure is next along with the basic engine parts. The engine is just resting on the subframe for now. I also glued up the bench seat halves while I was at it. All these parts go together without a problem. I went ahead and glued the front suspension to the front sub frame but I'm only dry fitting it to the floor and the inner front sheet metal for now. I'm going use some tape to hold it in place. I'm also going to tape the rear axle housing in place and slip the tire and wheels on, also dry for now. Once that was done I flipped the chassis over and added the basic interior tub and bed using more tape as needed to hold it togther dry. Now it was just a matter of slipping the body over it all by slightly spreading the lower sections. Amazing ! It's looking like a Ranchero already, not bad for a couple hours work. If you look closely I started block sanding the hood, it has some very slight sink marks from the underside details. It's nothing I can't handle though. You may have noticed the engine in not in place yet, thats because I want glue the subfame to the floor and still be able to slide the engine in and out as needed but not so fast. There's a small problem that I caused not following the instructions. Next time I'll show you an easy fix that will let me do that along more of the build .... For all the photos just follow the link. Stay tuned ..... -Steve http://public.fotki.com/SteveG26/trumpeter-65-ford-r/

Was it a 3spd on the column ? Apparently this kit has two shifters as well. I just noticed a column shifter on the parts tree. I guess I'm going to have to choose one or the other. -Steve

That's my bad on the wheels, I thought I had uploaded them but apparently not, so I just added them. They're not the greatest but the steel wheels are in there. No Teardrop hood this issue though.

Good eye on the dual gas caps, glad you caught it before I started painting. I'm going to fill in the right side as you suggested ...... Thanks .

I'm going to be doing a preview build up very soon. Watch the in progress forum to follow along. I'm the mean time here's some of the new parts and a link to my build photos album. -Steve http://public.fotki.com/SteveG26/trumpeter-65-ford-r/

Here's another pic showing the finished engine bay. I think it's one of the highpoints of this kit. Yes, I know the stock intake is missing some runners but the multi-piece generator and power stering pump are super nice. Imagine how it would look with some basic wiring, some well place decals or maybe that Dual-quad manifold shown on the street & strip box art ......

Yes, and I'm sticking to out of the box on this build too. I'm seeing how nice I can make it look with just the basics. I could have kit bashed a more detailed trans for example and I might have modified the dual exhaust to something more flowing behind the mufflers. Here's where I'm at so far ...... Painted and assembled the rear wheel wells don't look all that wide to me anymore. While it's far from pefect but it sure beats that old AMT annual chassis every day of the week and twice on Sunday .... -Steve

On the Trumpeter Falcon HT kit and probably the convertible too the rear wheel wells are a little wide. My guess is to allow for the wider tires that are coming with the street & strip version. Properly detailed and using the optional dual exhaust the chassis still looks pretty good to me. I've got a hardtop kit on the workbench right now. I'll try to post some photos later. Steve

I haven't seen the contents of the Street & Strip version but the '65 Ranchero will have '64 full size Ford style poverty caps like the ones in the Revell '64 Fairlane Special Edition 2n1 version. The Ranchero also comes with the Deluxe wire covers like in the 64 Falcon Hardtop version. -Steve

According to the Spotlighthobbies post the first 6 cars will be : 1/25 scale ’57 Chevy, ’66 Nova, ’70 Camaro Z-28 and ’06 Camaro Concept http://wwwboard.spot...pl?read=1690026 I wonder if they'll be selling 1/25th scale track to go with them ?

Thanks!! good reference, I happen to have a CF-19 right next to me. It looks like it would probably be easier to scratcbuild one then modify the Lindberg kit parts into decent Toughbook. Maybe I'll take a shot at it on the build. Steve

I've got the interior almost finished, I modified the laptop to look more like what's in my MSP reference photos and I revised the mounting bracket to bring it closer to the center console. The stock parts are on the left. Before the interior can be installed I have to mount up some rear deck LED's. The kit ones look correct but I need to change there position slightly. I also have to install the headliner & upper interior trim. I should be getting pretty close to the final assembly soon. -Steve

Here's some photos of my Michigan State Patrol Dodge Charger build up already in progess ........ I have the 5.7 litre engine ready to install ...... and in the chassis ready for the cooling parts and underhood components .... ..... the finished engine bay. I added a photo etched coolant cap, washer bottle decal, and a piece of fine line aluminium stripe tape for a air duct clamp. The rest is straight out of the box. Almost ready for the body, just a few more interior details first. I've got this moving along pretty quickly now, I'll add more photos soon ..... -Steve

It's not my thing but I sure don't recall any prior anouncement about the Barnabus Vampire Van being reissued? Isn't that what the MPC 32 Chevy Panel Truck got turned into ?

Amen to that .... I'd like to consider myself as the glass is half full kind of guy. Here's two photos from Dave Metzner's album showing the rear suspension and I don't see the issue. FYI, the Lindberg Charger kits rear axle mounts in a similar fashion and I don't recall it ever being an issues. (In the spirit of full disclosure I have plenty of other issues with those Charger kits but I still enjoy building them.) For all those folks who have been crying about too many Tri-Five Chevy and '32 Ford kits here's your something different kit. The only noise I expected to be hearing is sound of refrigerators chilling your favorite beverage that you'll be enjoying as you pull the cellophane off of your new full detail Hudson Hornet kits. Heck, I'd be cracking open a cold one over a decent Curbside version. Somebody please explain to me how we got to almost virtual blows over the scale fidelity of some hood supports. There's nothing wrong with some constructive criticism but I have to tell you that really I don't understand what goes on here sometimes. This is still a hobby ..... right ?

Here's a few photos of a Mustang CJ I built for a good friend using his restored 1:1 as a guide. His car had a lot of overspay on the floor pans but that could very from car to car. The engine bays are low gloss black and some of overspray does get on the lower front unibody too. Most of the bolt on chassis parts are either semi-gloss black or the natural metal colors. I have some in progess photos starting near the bottom of page three in my Fotki albums. I hope they help you. Mustang CJ build photos

I'll bet out of the 7814 members we currently have here, about 7800 probably weren't in the chat room at that time. I can only begin to imagine how that would work with everyone in there. Let me know the time and date you want everbody participating so I can be there and watch the crash ....

I must have missed that part of the annoucement and apparently I'm not the only one from what I've seen posted about the subject here and there. I only recall some NASCAR variations being mentioned. Regardless I'm very glad to see it in plastic. I'll take it as another great sign of things to come from Moebius. Is it too soon to offer a big thanks to Dave, Art and all the other who helped on this project. -Steve

Another nice one !!! I think you're hooked on the new Taurus P.I. You better start ordering them by the case ....

I was just wondering the same thing ..... that's what it looks to me. I sure hope so ....

I suspect that news will be held tightly by Moebius until mid October, as in i-Hobby Expo. However, can I get conformation that Model King will be offering the first NASCAR version in a limited run joint deal as was posted on another board. Art or Dave ?

That certainly came out as nice as your Maryland State Taurus !!! Did you repaint it complete or just add the two-tone color?

In the ballpark of 200, they were coming and going all day so it was kind of hard to count them. I expect it will be bigger next year assuming better weather then we had over the last few days. -Steve

It's great having a show like this in my backyard again. The last Goodguys show in Medina was the year I moved down there. It was on the same weekend I moved so I missed it. Anyway, here's some sample pics. More photos in my Fotki Album, just follow the link..... -Steve VSRA Ohio Nationals photos

Welcome and nice to see another Medina Modeler on the board. There's a lot of Ohio based modelers here and plenty of modeling events to participate in around the State. -Steve