69NovaYenko

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.

A candid discussion (not an attack) with someone in the kit industry might be in order. The dialog could shed some light on the parameters they have to work within. I'm fairly certain that there has to be limitations in the manufacturing process. The comment "some things are more difficult to scale down" is a valid consideration and could be part of the equation.

Very interesting thoughts so far on the issue. I think everyone have valid points and observations. If the 1 to 1 '69 Nova used as the guide for the kit had inaccurate aftermarket quarter panels on it, so the kit is made to match that, rather than what the O.E.M. quarter panels; couldn't the kit manufacturer consulted with someone like O.P.G. (The Original Parts Group) or Classic Industries. Both of these parts suppliers are revered for having authentic re-pops for all G.M car and truck parts. Certainly, these type of highly respected parts vendors could earnestly be another research resource...just saying... If there's anyone out there that's involved in the kit manufacturing or resin business that's willing to share their thoughts please feel free to comment, your input would be greatly valued.

I am asking this question not start a bit*hing or manufacturer bashing session!!!! In fact, I am VERY pleased to see so many new and some well done revised subject matter ( '67 Camaro -'70 Cuda etc.) being released by all the modeling companies. Additionally, the level of detail that manufacturers are incorporating into kits now a days (chassis, interiors etc) is a far leap ahead of the 60ties thru 80ties kits. However, over the last several years I have read a number of post expressing disappointments and sometimes outright rants about inaccuracies of the kits that are being released now a days. Truthfully, some of grievances are a tad bit nit picking while others are out and out legitimate concerns. So, my question is: With all the restored 1 to 1 subject matter that manufacturers can use as a guide to base their tooling on. With all the reference materials and specs that are readily out there. With all the advantages current technology affords manufacturers (3-D modeling, digital scanning etc). Why are companies kitting inaccurate representations of the 1:1 subject matter. With all the aforementioned capabilities at kit companies disposal what causes these discrepancies? I'm hard pressed to believe it occurs due to them rushing to meet a release deadline hence details fell through the cracks or are over looked....because they miss projected release dates constantly. Is it a lack of earnest interest in releasing a "TRULY" accurate replica? Is it about the bottom line and the accounting department is reining in the research and tooling guys base on per-projected budget allocations to do the replica? Are the people that green lighting the design or tooling not "TRUE CAR GUYS" and as far as they are concerned close enough is good enough? Could it be that the projects are outsourced overseas or to the lowest bidder? Is there a lack of good communication between the research team and the tool/die makers? Or is a combination of some of the above, if not all the above? If anyone has any knowledgeable insights or best guess to the answer I'd like to hear them. Remember no bit*hing, ranting or manufacturer bashing...please.

I have ordered from their web-site back in 2013 or so. It did take a while to get the items I purchased;about 6 to 9 weeks before the parts were delivered. But, I must say when the items did arrive they were OUTSTANDING!!!

Your reply is insightful and I fully understand your logic. Certainly the '70 GTO is one of the modeling communities missing links in the Pontiac muscle car lineup however; since 1969 was the introduction year of the Pontiac GTO "The Judge" model it would be a highly desirable subject for a number of car modelers. And yes, I concur that it would be cool to see Moebius extend from their present 1965 model year limit to 1970. Maybe they would take a run at releasing a '69 The Judge Pontiac GTO..I do believe this particular model year of the GTO will be financially profitable...in my very humble option.