SteveG

Here's the photo Kevin sent me, looks like a nice trans kit. Plated parts are always a plus. I just checked and I see Keith Marks does decals for the 76-78 Cobra II and 78 King Cobra -Steve

Kevin, If you email me the pictures I'll post them for you. Any update on the 78 LTD since Toledo? -Steve

Nice work Terry !!! You certainly have very eclectic taste when it comes to building models. -Steve

I'm with Larry on this as far as the mass market kits go. If the sales from these kits pay for new kits and restoring old tooling then I'm all for it. All these molded in color kits are very common, most are available on the secondary markets for less then the new versions. Also, I have the newly reissued 62 Buick kit and it's very nice, equal to the original issue if not better IMHO. I'm looking forward to their announcements at I-Hobby Expo later this month, I'm hoping for some pleasant surprises. -Steve

Who says the generic car is not getting decals? It won't have graphics for just one specific agency like the other kits. As for the light bars, based on the test shots I don't see anyway to separate them that isn't labor intensive so I'll stand by my statement until I hear otherwise from Lindberg. -Steve

I have an Ambulance project in the works, look for a post soon. -Steve

As far as I know, all the Charger Police Car kits will have the same contents other then the box art and the decals. So all will have spotlights and the push bar, it's up to the builder which parts to use. Same on the wheel choices which are shown below. There may be some leftover parts from the Super Bee kit as well so you may actually have three wheel choices. To see the finished model click on the link below. Texas DPS Charger Preview -Steve

Here it is all finished. The paint finish is all duplicolor. The top panels are Bright White and the sides and bumpers are Chrysler Black Crystal Pearl over a Black base. Then it all got three top coats of Clear. I let it air dry for two weeks then polished it by wet sanding with 4000 grit cloth, then I brought back the shine with Novus #2. The decals are Chimneyville bought from Policecarmodels.com. They're not 100% correct but I slightly re-configured them to get as close as possible. If they follow my advise the decals will be correct in the kit when it's released. No official release date yet but I hope to have that answer after I'm back from I-Hobby Expo later this month. Rumor is sometime in December. FYI, both this and my Philly car will be on display there at the Hawk-Lindberg display both. To see the in progress photos follow the link below. Thanks for looking and I hope you like it, any comments are welcome. -Steve Texas DPS Charger is on the worbench

The front photo doesn't show a whole lot. Remember this is just a preview. I'll post photos of the full kit as soon as I get it. If you guys want other versions someone will have to step up and create the master for Missing Link. -Steve

Here's a closer look at the kit parts after some minimal clean up, I hope to start a build up real soon. Right now I'm planning on modeling it after one the cars used in the Movie "Magnum Force" starring Clint Eastwood. I can just about here him say " Go ahead ..... make my '72 Ford Custom 500" -Steve

I'm pretty sure the guy that owns the 78 LTD that's in the Cleveland Police Museum supplied the original AAM kit to Missing Link, or something like that. Missing Links version isn't an exact copy of the AAM pieces, they did make some changes and or corrections I was told. -Steve

Exactly right, I stepped up and bought the full kit so I could review it. The other way you need the 70 Ford Galaxie or a similar kit for the tires, wheels & chassis.

You mean this beauty right !!! .....

It's based off the old AAM kit but it has been updated I'm told. If I heard correctly it will be available as a full detail kit, chassis engine and all. Hopefully someone from Missing Link will jump in here and provide all the details soon. They're probably still up at Toledo today for the Toyshow. -Steve

On display at the Toledo NNL and available now from Modelhaus is the 72 Ford Custom Sedan. I picked up the full kit so look for a review soon. Special thank to my friend Tom Kren for letting me borrow his camera and hosting the photos. -Steve

On display at the Toledo NNL and available soon from Missing Link is a 78 Ford LTD which will be available in the next month or so packaged two ways, as either a civilain LTD or with some Police specific parts. Here's some preview photos of the body. I've already pre-paid for my Police version kit. More details on this one soon. Special thanks to Tom Kren for these photos. -Steve

Here it is all together, waiting for it's official Texas DPS graphics and light bar ..... Look for the finished photos when I get back from the Toledo NNL ... -Steve

Nice color ..... I can't wait to see it finished !! You can always put it on the primer table at Toledo -Steve

Sorry I haven't posted any update in a while but I've been busy at the workbench trying to get at least one finished. I'm going to catch up on the photos over the next few days. First, here's the body all polished out. The headliner and upper interior trim were installed ... .... along with all the glass and the side mirrors. The interior got a fresh laptop too. I'll finally got my chrome parts too. As you can see there's another project in the works here. Stay tuned for the final assembly and the ready for service photos .... -Steve

John Greczula posted a response to some similar comments on the current 57 Chevy kit made over at the Spotlight Hobbies board. Here's his reply; " This has been discussed a few times now. The kits with a reduced parts count are meant to compete with the single-version Revell kits that are available in mass retail locations. Thus, they are "build one way" kits for the most part. We're molding them in color for the beginners and/or casual adult modeler who may not wish to paint the bodies. It is our intention to release certain kits in the mass market line in the hobby kit line, in the future and over time - with a presentation and format that appeals to the hobby market. I'd rather not engage in a large philosophical discussion about what we did and why, as we really didn't expect the hobby market sector to buy these kits, knowing they were aimed at a different market altogether. In short, we're still in the early stages of working with the AMT and MPC brands. Our game plan may change in the future, or maybe not. I can only tell you we're trying our best and will adjust accordingly as the hard facts and figures come in. Now, if you folks want to see the Double Dragster by December, I need to get back to work! ;0) " Here's a link to the actual posting, AMT 57 Chevy re-issue I hope at least the clears up the speculation over them. -Steve

I don't agree with the decision but the way I heard it they wanted to simplify the kits for the beginners. Same reason for molded in color as no paint required. I guess this is their way to bring in new modelers with some easy to build kits. It's certainly a good point that they may actually loose some sales from the adult builders who would be disappointed with the contents. I personally usually pass on any molded in bright color kits unless I can't get the subject matter any other way. Only time will tell if this was a successful move for them overall. If in the end we get some great subject matter out of Round 2 it will be worth it. Lets see what announcements are made next month at I-Hobby Expo. -Steve

If it's the current kit molded in color (blue I think) It's been packaged for beginers to be sold primarily to the mass market retailers. All the kits in this series are molded colors and have minimal parts. You can go to Round2's website and see all 10 AMT kits in this series. On the other side of the coin, Round 2 is bringing back kits like the 62 Buick Electra with restored parts and all the gates opened up being marketed to us hardcore modelers. Although your dissapointed with this kits contents, it's the profits from the mass market kits that will pay the way for the better kits to come. -Steve

Thanks I fixed it !!! ..... hopefully they'll find a dyslexia cure for someday... Last estimate I had for the kit release is later this fall. If I hear something more specific I'll pass it along. FYI, to the best of my knowledge, any of the current Dodge Chargers that are painted all black from the factory are actually PXR Black Crystal Pearlcoat. Some dept's then paint the doors and roofs white so you get what looks the traditional Black & White paint scheme. -Steve

I made some progress over the last few days, I've got one interior assembled and ready except for the laptop. I've also got one chassis ready, the tires and wheels will get added after chassis is mounted in the body in case I have to adjust for level. Here's the interior sitting in the chassis and the engine bay is complete as well. I left the engine cover off as most of the Police package cars don't have it. I'm going to polish the body out then start the final assembly over the next few day. I'm still waiting on some chrome parts ..... -Steve

Well the driver of my Little Yellow Bus says I'm a special dude but that's not important right now .... No, the kit is not out yet, they should be available sometime this fall if all goes as planned. The Texas DSP Charger is being built from what I hope was the final round of test shots. -Steve