sjordan2

I definitely agree with the 1:18 Minichamps Gullwing. There are other megabucks versions in larger scales. The 1/12 by Premium Classixxs is as close to perfect as you'll find. The steering wheel is even hinged to tilt down, like the real car. http://www.diecastxchange.com/forum1/topic/74181-112-mercedes-300-sl-gullwing-1954-premium-classixxs/ It's an amazing value at the price (generally around $369), especially compared to other top-level diecasts, but (sadly) still out of my reach.

Google isn't the end-all/be-all for search, though I find it to be go-to #1 by far. Many sites don't have code written properly to turn up or any real search engine optimization, lacking proper keywords or meta tags. For example, the Fantasy Junction link I posted above almost never shows up in search results (I search in Google Images); I searched 1967 Shelby Cobra for 8 pages without finding FJ (you'd have to put it in your search terms). Another one is Canepa Collector Cars. These are part of what is called "the invisible Web." So, it's good to bookmark some useful sites when you find them.

Stunning. Almost looks as good as your 1/16 models.

Among the other errors and omissions, you'll notice that the shift lever is totally weird, The kit lever is snaky and should be totally straight in that position. I think the kit makers misunderstood that the first 50 Gullwings had a "gooseneck" shift lever mounted over the transmission under the dash, and coming back into the cockpit, but everything after that had a straight vertical shift lever on the tunnel. I would add that there is no particularly good Gullwing kit available. The best are in 1/16. The Minicraft version is the only one with a spaceframe, and the Italeri version has a more detailed engine and chrome parts, though the body shape needs work because the fenders are too bulbous and the doors don't fit well. It would be good to have both kits available as reference for the 1/12 build.

For sports cars, race cars and classics, heavily European, one of the best sources is fantasyjunction.com. Check out both inventory and cars sold. They post large amounts of crisp, highly detailed images for each car, inside-out, top-to-bottom. This 1967 Shelby Cobra is a typical example: http://www.fantasyjunction.com/cars/1257-AC%20-427%20Shelby%20Cobra-427%20c.i.%20V8

FYI, the kit was originally issued by Renwal. The instructions that Henry is referring to can be found here... http://www.scalemotorcars.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=935 As you look at the instructions, you'll find one large error in the kit; they call for the water tank to be mounted to the radiator. This is wrong - it should be mounted just in front of the firewall on the passenger side. In the 1:1, it's attached to a portion of the spaceframe inside the right fender; since the kit doesn't replicate the spaceframe, other means will have to be improvised. Here's a closer look.

I know this is a very old thread, but for the record: The roofs of woodies that I have seen are made something like the keel of a wooden boat -- crossbeams with the proper curvature are cut and run from side to side; wooden planking is laid over them running from front to back, then the canvas is put over it all.

I would have a hard time trying to decide what to do about the wheels and tires. American customers would often opt for outer whitewalls and polished wires, such as those made in the Springfield factory. AACA purists would say it's okay to have inner-facing whitewalls (though blackwalls would be more typically British) with wheels painted silver, black or body color. I don't think you can go wrong.

Looks like you're making excellent progress. The kit is loaded with sink marks, mold lines and body ripples, and I think you're doing quite well.

Plowboy's list is pretty much what I was looking for. This probably should have been a poll/questionnaire, but I don't know how to do that. I just think there's a lot to be learned here from this sort of inquiry.

Among my subtle points.

Greg has dictated that NASCAR (as opposed to any other racing subjects) and a couple of others are here to stay. In any case, I neglected to list my own interests.For my own personal tastes, l only follow: General On the Workbench Under Glass Car Kit News and Reviews Diecast and Resincast Big Boyz How-Tos Auto ID, etc. For some reason, the trucks section is even larger than the general car section. Go figure.

Harry says that because that's what Gregg wants and your opinion doesn't matter.

The subject says it all. Please answer both sides. What categories do you follow on this forum? What types of cars interest you or are not of interest to you? I don't recall this question or a poll on this subject before. Muscle cars? Vintage classics? Old or new stocki? Drag? Funny cars? NASCAR? etc.

Looks great! However, I would have flattened the paint on the convertible top to make it look more like canvas wtih less shine, and I think the wheels could use a wash for a little more definition. Otherwise, outstanding, and the chrome trim is terrific.

I build larger scale kits, which is a pretty dicey endeavor. I have 4 1/8 Jag XK-E kits that I will never build, plus a few kits I bought as reference for discussions on this forum (such as the 1962 Corvette), and I was so stoked to build the 1/12 Ferrari 275 GTB by Revell that I didn't stop to check out the kit before I bought 3 of them (expensively). Then I checked them out and found that they were some of the worst, most inaccurate kits ever made. Similar experience with buying 4 Revell/Monogram Mercedes 300 Gullwings, which can be saved with some extra work.

The historical tie-in: The car was a 1957 Plymouth, donated by Tulsa Plymouth dealers in 1957, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of 1907 statehood, and interred with great fanfare. I think that's enough of a historical link for Oklahomans. Tulsa doesn't have the kind of stuff going on that occurs in Chicago, L.A. or New York, and it's important in that community.

Okies like me are just as state-patriotic as Texans, and this has a righteous place in Oklahoma history. It is not something to be dumped.

I can't help feeling that this thread has been hijacked and I wish Bob would come back with progress on his kit.

The car probably belongs somewhere in Oklahoma since it was part of a year-long celebration of Oklahoma's 50th anniversary of statehood. (I lived in Tulsa at the time and was there when they were burying it). Greg's picture looks like they cleaned it up quite a bit, but the interior was totally destroyed.

Looks great. Need more and bigger pictures.

deleted for redundancy

I believe Harry mentioned that his Maharajah is slated to become a shooting brake/estate wagon woodie.

Speaking of the radiator, etc., I hate to mention it, but the entire perimeter from the inside radiator/grille to the interior bottom sides and around the firewall should have cloth bumpers threaded through metal strips, where the bonnet comes down.

We used to have an excellent series of pinned Tips and Tricks in that section, on the most commonly asked questions, but it was removed for reasons that I can't explain.