69NovaYenko

Ditto to both comments. Parts are hard to next to impossible to locate, very costly to restore ven if you have the skill and tools to do such. To folks in the scrap-metal business it`s just another fist full of dollars in parts. And, unfourtunatly it`s a "four door"; which is not the most sort after restoration project in the eyes of many.

It is rare to find a kitted or resin four or six cylinder engine. In general the lowly four and six cylinder engine are mostly overlooked by kit manufacture’s and builders. Now, don`t get me wrong, you can't beat a V-8 power plant for hi-performance, but I have a soft spot of the often overlooked four and six cylinder block; particularly the `60 thru `70 era power plants. They were durable and exceedingly reliable not to mention fuel efficient (long before fuel efficiency was the rage). In fact I recall from my youth a number of neighbors, friends and family members had four and six cylinders not V-8 power plants in their vehicles. These cars are what I lovingly call "Mainstreamers". Thats because, the mainstream of the community cars were powered by four and 6 cylinder engines; not big block 396, 427, 428, 429, 454, 455 or 426 Hemi`s. Growing up most V-8 cars I commonly was were the small block 250, 265, 283, 289, 255, 260, 273, 290, 318, 302, 305, 327, 340, 360, 350, 351, 383, 390 etc. cars. In my book, these small V-8 engine displacement cars also fall in the "mainstreamer" category. I would like to put together a resource list for `60 thru `70 era four and six cylinder power plants for those who may want to build a 4 or 6 cylinder "Mainstreamer" car. Even thought I never seen it, I heard the Galaxy `48 Chevy kits have an excellent inline 6 with some great Wayne speed equipment. Also, I heard AMT's Deora kit has a slant 6. A current post on this forum mentions Model Car World & Replica & Miniatures of Maryland being good sources for Chevy six cylinder engines. Can anyone add to this resource list for Chevy, Ford, AMC, Mopar inline/slant six engines...even V-6 engines for that matter. Just as long as its a six or four cylinder engine. Also, are there any sources for speed equipment for the four and six cylinder power plants.

It`s GREAT to see a six cylinder featured for a change. I`ll be following this post for sure. Hope you post mode soon.

That`s a bitching idea. A series of kits featuring `60-`70 era Muscle Car Dealership (Randall Motors AMC/Dana Chevy /Mr Norms Dodge /Tasca Ford etc)prepped cars matter which could also be built as stock. Revell is kinda doing this with it Baldwin Motion and Don Yenko kits. I have an AMT-ETRL kit of the `66 Ford Fairlane GT-GTA . It had a single big block Ford 390 engine, but you had two tranny build options. You could build the car with Fords 4 speed tranny (the linkage as a separate piece from the tranny) and have the Fairlane GT version or opt for the C-6 automatic and build the GTA version. An A/C units would be nice as well as bench seat & buckets/console build options.

I fondly remember and loved the earlier 3-1 kits because, they gave the modeler multiple build options. I certainly would love to to see multiple build option kit resurface. In fact AMT`s `64 Impala was a 2 in 1 "stock" and "low rider" kit and it was reasonably priced and is still a highly sort after kit. Ace-Garageguy and Disabled Modeler are correct the extras parts one decides not to use are an incentive to buy another kit to use them on and that is good for business specially these days. And, in response to those who say that it will drive up Disable Modeler hit the nail squarely on the head when he stated "Costs of kits will always go up." Weather they release a single model kit or a 2 in 1 or 3 in 1 kit. In today's market hobbits most likely would opt for a Stock/Pro-Touring/Low-Rider 3 in 1 optioned kit. Or, a Stock/Drag/Street machine 3 in 1 optioned kit. Like Ford Guy I love having a choice of race and custom parts like wheels tires, and headers/manifolds, intake/carbs, shifters, steering wheels, hood scoops etc.

I have always been a fan of 60-70ties muscle cars. Gassers are OK but were not my passion. That said, I recently I caught a show on cable called "Vegas Rat Rods". In features the builds of Steve Darnell and his crew at Welderup fabrication; their specialty is building custom "Rat Rods". However, what caught my eye was one of the personally rides Darnell owns (among several Rat Rods) was a `55 Chevy Sedan150 Gasser called "WelderUp". For those of you who love the 50-60ties era Gassers this one is truly a knod to that era. I love this one because its authentic touches – like the quick-change rear end – hark back to days spent at the drag races when you might need to change ratios between runs. Steve Darnell and his team have been doing this long enough to know why it’s there rather than just bolting it on because they saw somebody else do it. The same goes for the pie crust slicks: low pressure for traction. You can imagine the white wall crinkling up as the wheel tries to rotate inside it; the Wieand-blown V8 throwing the power to the rear; the weight transfer making the skinny fronts giggle as they momentarily lift off the ground. But, this isnt a straight-up gasser tribite...its been tweaked up to 10+ on the dial and has hints of Hot Wheels about it. I thought I would post a few pictures of it for you Gasser lovers out there...hopefully it can provides some great ideas for your next Gasser build. I have move photos of WelderUp in my photobucket http://s6.photobucket.com/user/454chevelle/library/55ChevySedan150-Gasser-WelderUp?sort=3&page=2 Hope you enjoy.

I have purchased several sets of AMT`s pad printed "Goodyear Polygls GT" F60x15 and have been very please with them. I have also seen the Goodyear "Blue Streak Dragway Special" 9.00x15 Drag Slicks at my LHS. I have not been able to catch up with a set of the AMT PP013, Muscle Car "Red Line" Tires, which are due due March 2015, so far but I hope they are a s nice as the Goodyear Ployglas tire set. Will there be a more "Treaded STREET" tires (not drag strip slicks) coming? To compliment the Muscle Car "Red Line" tires will there be a Muscle Car "Gold Line" tire set and a Muscle Car "Blue Line" tire set?

I stumbled upon a YouTube video review/comparison of AMT v.s. Revell Snap-Tite '70 Chevelle SS 454 kits. https://youtu.be/mwqSnEiTRA8 Hope this helps. Also, I have the AMT Jack Reacher '70 Chevelle kit. Even though I`m partial to Revell kits I have to admit the AMT kit has a great set of pad printed white lettered Goodyear GT Polyglass GT L60 x 15 tires.

63 Shelby drag cobra

Looks realy..really good! Looks really good

Looks great Ken...it so rare to see an AMC subject. Keep up the great work and the postings.

A '68 RS/SS Camaro would be an outstanding companion to the existing 1/12 scale '69 Camaro SS. In fact with a few relative simple mods like adding post for the vent window for the driver/passenger doors, filling in the front and rear side marker lights etc. you could reasonable build a '67 Camaro Rally Sport. The most important thing is that they make it a Rally Sport car! In general for whatever reason the Rally Sport Camaro has been sorely over looked by the model car manufacturer community...I'm just saying.

I wonder if a '68 Dart with a Grand Spaulding/ Mr. Norm build option would quench your thirst for a 1:12 scale Mopar kit. In '68 Mr. Norman requested a special run of 50 Dart GTS 383 cars be converted by Dodge to make the GSS (for "Grand Spaulding Sport") 440 Dart. These cars were absolute street terrors. In the world of Mopar's the Mr. Norm 440 GSS Dart is the equivalent to Yenko's 427 Nova...IMHO. And if that doesn't satisfy your thirst there's always the '68 Dodge 426 Hemi Dart.

Since you mentioned it I do believe your right; to my knowledge there have been no Mopar subjects kitted in 1:12 scale.

Some of the other suggestions are very good candidates i.e. '67-`68 Chevy Camaro SS/RS ( it would be VERY nice to FINALLY see the forgotten SS/RS version of the Camaro) '67 Shelby Cobra 427 2n1 with road and SC versions '70 Plymouth Duster 340 A '71 Chevy Vega (with a Baldwin Motion "Super Vega" build option) or a '67 Chevy Corvair (with Yenko stage one "Stinger" build option) would be a great kit as well.

I have always enjoyed the larger 1:12 scale kits. Additionally, I like the greater opportunities for detailing this scale affords. Monogram/Revell has been the primary source for these larger scaled American muscle car kits over the past several years: `69 Chevy Camaro SS 3 N1 ’67 Chevy Vette Coupe 3 N 1 ’57 Chevy Bel-Air 3 N 1 ’65 Ford Shelby 350 GT ’65 Ford Mustang Fastback 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT I truly love the 3- N 1 Monogram/Revell kits due the multiple build options they afford. Otaki also kitted a ‘71 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback that was a fair attempt at the subject matter but was lacking in a number respects. Personally, I would like to see any of the following subjects kitted in 1: 12 scale. Here are my top twelve are so picks: ’64 Dodge Polara (Little Old Lady From Pasadana) ’64 Ford Fairlane (Thunderbolts/TBolt) ’64 Pontiac GTO 389 Tri-Powered ’66 Chevy Chevelle SS 396 ’68 American Motors Javelin SST 290 ’69 American Motors Hurst Rambler SC/Scrambler ’69 Ford Mustang Mach1 428 “Cobra Jet” or "Boss"-302 ’69 Olds Cutlass 442 Hurst/Olds 455 ’69 Pontiac GTO 400 "Judge" ’69 Road Runner 440 (A-12) ’69 Dodge Charger R/T 440 ’70 Chevy Chevelle SS 454 ’70 ½ Pontiac Firebird Trans Am ’70 Plymouth Cuda AAR 440 '70 American Motors Javelin SST 360 (Mark Donohue) Are there any American muscle cars you would like to see kitted in 1:12 scale.

I pre-ordered six of the '70 Cuda's from my LHS when I heard they were coming. :-) Will do at least the same when they release at AAR version!!!!

True, there are those who will most likey be disgruntled; however it would be a far sight better platform to start with verses the older Revell 1/24 version of the '70 Cuda AAR! Just saying....

All out them are outstanding!!!!!

That looks really good..thanks for sharing.

Thanks that what I was looking for. no holes. Will followup on this asap.

Does anyone know if a "Stock" hood for the '69 AMX available . Would like to transform the Shirley Shahan Drag-On-Lady into a "stock" AMX. As far as I know this is the only 1/25 option out there. Also, are there any backward conversions kits/parts that will take the Shahan '69 kit to a '68 AMX.

I was just curious what was the first car you owned. Now I'm not talking about the one you borrowed from your parent or other family members, but the first one you reached into your pocket and pulled out the cash or got a loan to buy. My first car was a '63 Nova with a 194 cu in (3.2 l) straight 6. I bought it from a high school classmates mother when she got a new car, I only paid $200.00 for it. The darn thing didn't smoke but it leaked oil so bad that my old man refused to let me park in in "his" driveway. So I parked at the curb in front of the house all the time. LOL I would buy a case of oil every few months or so from the dented can salvage store...because the cans were dented they were sold at a steep discount..but I didn't care because e the oil inside the can was OK. I had to put a quart and a half of oil in every six days or so. But, that was OK by me, it was mine and I finally didn't have to beg the old man for the keys to the family car any more. My first muscle car was a per-owned '68 Javelin with a 390, manual breaks, manual steering, A.M. radio, heater with air. I drove it for ten years before parting with it. Man that was the only car that I regret parting with.

Without a dought that you have touched upon some excellent points in your responses. I myself have a passion for aircraft and have tried my hand at building WW ll war-birds. You are correct, it is challenging to find real surviving 1 to 1 military aircraft and armored vehicles to use as a template to build a scale replica. There are exceedingly few survivors. Hence, kit manufacturers have to send people halfway round the world to photograph and measure a real 1:1 in a museum or collection somewhere. However, in my humble opinion cars, trucks, motorcycles are exceedingly more plentiful and more readily accessible. Hence, manufacturers should not have to send researchers world-wide to photograph and measure a real 1:1 subject in a museum or collection somewhere. As you mentioned laser scanning technology and 3D modeling has become far more common and affordable now a days. Since this technology has becomes more commonplace and affordable there should be more accuracy in replicating scaled subjects. :-)

I did take a peek at the link you provided. We were very impressed with the kit. You make a valid point about the level of accurate and detail of Wingnut kits, comes with a corresponding cost ($350.00). That could be another factor to weigh into the equation. Extremely accurate and detailed kits will translate into very pricey car kits.