SteveG

Nice work Zoli !!! ....what could be better then having your 1:1 reference material sitting in your own garage. -Steve

If it's the factory correct '69 Chevy color that would be code 59 Frost Green Metallic. It's also called Limelight Green Metallic on Pontiac's MCW stocks it for airbrush use. I'm not sure if there's a Hobby Shop spray bomb equivalent. -Steve

Nice looking project Lyle, I had a 1:1 '70 Malibu coupe and got as far bolting a TH350 up to the small block before I sold it and moved on to the next project car. Funny, I blame a lot of stuff on Tom Kren too, like driving in circles around Columbus last weekend. That's the last time you'll be in the navigators seat ..... -Steve

Tom, That's looking real good !!! I can't wait to see it finished. -Steve

Actually Hawk/Lindberg was there but there was no new anoucements from them kit wise since I-Hobby Expo. -Steve

Here's a couple of examples of my point, this is the Custom Deuce Pickup kit and it was probably issued in the early sixties and it was designed to be motorized. The chassis detail is far from accurate and this kit is nowhere near the detail level of a modern kit. If you consider it as a Curbside kit it displays very nicely. I built this out of the box, the only detailing work is done on it is with paint. Some would consider this a bad kit because of it's simplicity. This is the upcoming ALF 900 Fire Engine, it is also an old tool that was meant to be motorized. There is no chassis at all and it's and odd scale. The wheels, especially the rear ones are way off. Again if you look at as a Curbside kit it too displays nicely. This is also right out of the box, just paint and foil. I'm sure there are plenty of folks that will call this a bad kit too. Personally I really enjoy building some of these old kits regardless that they are simplified. I'm sure they aren't for everyone but does that make it a bad kit? The easiest way to tell Lindberg if you like having these vintage kits back or not is to vote with your wallet. -Steve

Aaron, I certainly disagree with the first part of your statement. However Lindberg has wide range of kits from many sources ranging from the most simplified of early tooling to level 3 kits like the Charger Super Bee and Raminator Monster Truck. Very few would I classify as "Bad or Poor Quality kits" and I have built and proudly displayed some beautiful models from some of those early tools. It might be easier to discuss specific kits you might interested in then to try to rate the complete Lindberg catalog. -Steve

Based on the description, I would say it's the smaller scale '25 Tall T that being released this Qtr. We are currently getting the 1/8th Hot Canary"T" and 1/12th scale Fiat if you like the larger scale kits. Hot Canary "T" 1/12th scale Fiat -Steve

Yes, plus the 70 Olds and AMX tools. I think they would be good sellers too. Unfortunately from what I'm told the tooling for all of them is in poor shape. Maybe in the future Lindberg will make a deal with Testors on the tooling that will make it worth restoring the tooling for re-issue. That's really our only hope on seeing those kits again. Steve

Yes, those were Testors models. From what I understand Testors is getting away from selling plastic kits and Lindberg made a deal with them on some of the tooling. You'll probably see more former Testors kits in the Lindberg line. -Steve

Here's what's coming out in the next month or so from Hawk/Lindberg. 64 Dodge Color Me Gone Ford F-150 Step Side 34 Ford Pick up (3n1) 64 Dodge Ramcharger 71 Mustang (PSM Palmer tool) 64 Dodge Maverick 25 Ford Tall T La France Fire Truck (ALF 900 1/35th? scale) 31 Bugatti Royal Mercedes Benz SSK Gremlin (1/20th scale) 72 Dodge Challenger (PSM Palmer tool) Hot Canary T (1/8th scale) Fiat Dragster (1/12th scale) L-700 Cab 37 Ford Custom Convertible No new info on the new tools previously announced at I-Hobby Expo. Hopefully I'll get some test shots and samples as they become available. Lindberg Models -Steve

This is the best photo I have of the two Revell Nova's from I-Hobby Expo. Dan did a great job on these, I'm sure they'll be used as the box art. -Steve

Luke, Over a year ago I posted this Doug Whyte photo on a certain message board and commented (not seriously) "When did Model King Dave start using real cars on his box art" Most people got it but there were a few that just picked the photo to pieces and said they weren't fooled and those kind of comments. I don't think they really meant to be mean spirited about it but a couple of comments came across that way. I learned that with this type of art work you either appreciate it for what it is or you don't. I say keep up the good work Luke !

That looks great !!! I'm not sure that the subject matter is my cup of tea, but your building style sure is. The paint job looks outstanding ....How about some details .... Color, brand, clear coated??? -Steve

Hi Tom, your Chevy's are lookin' real good .... I hope I'll get to see them up close at the next NCAM meeting. -Steve

Nice work Zoli and thanks for the lowering tips, I had noticed they sit kind of high stock. I've got a bunch of these New Charger kits and at least one will converted to a State Patrol or Police Cruiser. I plan to due another in one of the SRT8 packages. Steve

I've been working on this on and off since last April. It originally started as new Box Art for the soon to be re-issued Racers Wedge - Open Road Camper kit but I couldn't make RC2's deadline so I finished it just for fun. The cab is based on the M-K Ford F350 Pickup kit, built on a shortened 2WD chassis and back dated with a early style grille. The bumper guards are from scratch. The 1-ton wheels and tires are Modelhaus. The cab color is '77 Ford Truck code D, Copper Poly but I'm calling the truck a '76 Model. I clear coated it with PPG Omni Urethane. The Camper Shell is Duplicolor GM code 11 Ivory with Plymouth T5 Bronze Fire Poly and Ford Ginger Brown Poly striping. The Camper Shell is built Box Stock yet it was a very challenging kit all by itself. I used more BMF on the trim then any other kit I have ever built. I sealed the Camper exterior and trim with Testors Gloss Clear Lacquer. The wood trim is clear orange brushed over a light tan base. The rest of the interior colors are variations of the exterior trim colors. I added a pre-wired distributor and some engine bay parts from the M-K Bronco kit. Yes, I know the valve covers are on backwards. Thanks for looking, you can see some in progress photos in my Model King Fotki Album starting at the link below. Ford F350 Camper -Steve

An excellent build Zoli and I agree on the Dave Panek bars. They are excellent, I'm down to my last one. I'm still holding out hope that we'll get the Testors Police Charger with a decent light bar. -Steve

Very well done Tom !!! .... another Kustom by Kren is off the workbench -Steve

I'll throw in my two cents on some of the top 50 all time best models. I'm a big fan of Juha Airio's work and his 71 Olds Delta 88 and 73 Pontiac are two fine examples of his major conversions. Two other modelers that just amaze me with their scratch building abilities are Zoli Honeczy and Charles Rowley with their Fire Trucks. Zoli's Berwyn Heights Seagrave Rescue Squad truck and Charlie's 1937 Seagrave Arial Ladder Fire truck both have me at a loss for words on how to describe them. And last but not least are Bill Borgen's antique truck models, one of my favorites is the Kriner Bros. Dump Truck. Here's a couple of photos Bill gave me of it. Bill is a great photographer too ... -Steve

Hi Tom, It's nice to see your '56 Vickie back on the bench. I've never been a fan of the plastic hinges in those kits. If it was my build, I would be either; A; try to make some prototypically correct working hinges and latches. B; just glue the doors shut. My reality would be that I would spend a whole bunch of time on plan A .... get really frustrated, give up and then go to plan B Now you know why I like curbside kits so much. -Steve

Bill Coulter, FWIW, R&R resin lists both a 55 Ford Fairlane HT and Sedan Delivery, Hendrix Resin list both a 55 Ford Customline and Fairlane 2Dr sedans. I don't have any of them so I can't really speak about the quality or availabilty. I doubt any of them are as nice as what I expect Bill's Victoria will look like, unless of course Bill buys one and turns his "magic elves" loose on one of those resin kits. I'm not knocking Hendrix or R&R either. I'm just a fan of Bill's "Obsessive" builds. -Steve

Thanks for your comments, the cab and chassis was built from a combination of kits including the Super Stones issue and the current M-K F350 kit. The one ton tires and wheels are Modelhaus. The Camper portion is box stock, I've only added paint and foil. The original plan was for this model to be Box Art for a second release of the M-K Racer's Wedge and Open Road Camper kit. Dave requested it be on the Ford Pickup chassis. If I recall, offering both of the kits as a package was discussed but dropped for several reasons including the need to make some major modifications to the Ford Pickup frame to make it fit the Camper. Do to other commitments I had, and the deadline RC2 set for the box art to be ready, Dave had to use some previously used artwork for the box. So this project is strickly for my own enjoyment. BTW, If someone has a set of the front bumper guards from one of the earlier issue 70's Ford Pickup trucks that they aren't going to use let me know. They would be a nice finishing touch for this one. Steve

Here's what it looked like after a rough mock-up six months ago.... Here it is today..... The cab and chassis are still loose as I have to finish up the driveline. I've back-dated a Model King F350 Pickup to a '76 model with an early style grille from my parts box. The cab color is 76 Ford Truck code 4, Ginger Bronze Poly. I still have to attach the rear gate, door step and fix the roof cover as it's a little too wide now from all the paint and foil work, otherwise the Camper section is done! Thanks for looking .... for more in progress photos check out my Fotki Album below, the photos start on page 3. Model King Open Road Camper - Steve

Just in time for the holidays is a nice little present that the Postman brought me. It's a photo etch set designed for the Johan 55-56 Pontiac's and similar models. Introductory priced at a modest $8.00, it's packed with all kinds of little goodies including Canadian and Coach Builder scripts. I like that they are mounted on a rubber backing as all you need is a drop of paint thinner or acetone to remove them. I noticed that the scripts are packed a little tight so some careful trimming will be in order. I scanned a copy of the instructions so you can get an idea of what's included. And here's an enlarged photo of the actual P-E sheet. The only issues I noted, and Okey told me about this before I ordered them is that the speaker hole detail was lost on item #1 and the trunk/tail gate emblems #14 & 15 don't have the raised detail they should. Personally I'm so happy to see the Superior Coach scripts on there that it's not an issue with me. The instruction sheet also comes with all kinds of reference photos. Scans of those are in one of my Fotki albums at this link. Johan 55-56 P-E reference And here's a couple of in progress models I have lined up to use some of these nice P-E scripts. In fact I have enough projects to use these on that going to order a couple of more sheets. Kudos to Okey at Johan Models for making these !!! -Steve