1972coronet

I believe that I've got the issue addressed. I separated the lower-junction of the right (passenger) side A pillar at the cowl-fender-door, moved it inboard slightly, then glued it in its new position with Plasti-Struct [sp?]. I'll reinforce it after the adhesive cures. I realise that this seems like I'm "picking fly s__t from pepper"; however, it was significant enough to compel me to fix this exponential "shift" of the body. Still begs the question: has anyone recognised marked "core-shift" results of the tooling of these 45+ years old kits?

No need to apologise, Tulio. My comment --my message to you-- was at least two years ago. I would not bother trying to fish for it... I don't even recall which one of the videos I had commented on. Quite likely, it was an enquiry to the effect of , "Where are you hiding? I have not seen any of your builds for some time." Never-the-less, it is great that you are back here on the forum.

It'd be nice if Revell were to issue more kits under the Nickey name -- this kit being one of them (some 'Day Two' parts such as a new intake/carburetor/air cleaner and not-Centerline-nor-contemporary custom wheels/tyres and !!!BAM!!!). IIRC, Revell had licence to use Baldwin-Motion advertising (though the 1970 Chevelle --old Monogram tooling but with updated interior and a Tarantula intake, plus the requisite signature Phase III striping scheme-- was the last one that I can remember). It'd be nice to be able to build an OOB replica of Joe Oldham's 1969 SS-427 triple-black 'advertisement car'! Likewise, a Dick Harrell tie-in could be created... heck, even a Dana tie-in (I don't believe that anyone has that copyrighted -- Dana has been out of business for decades).

Welcome back, comrade! It's been a long minute since. I have subscribed to your YouTube channel --- I may've sent a message to you via that forum?

I was ready to start on the MPC 1974 Road Runner (latest reissue) when I stopped due to a misaligned body & bowed A-pillars. Now, I've straightened bowed A-pillars before -- it's no big deal; an easy fix. However, I'd noticed that the right (passenger) side of the body has "core-shift". The base of the right A-pillar is off markedly, being +/- a one-sixteenth of an inch from where it should 'terminate' at the cowl. Furthermore; the front fascia is likewise off , though not as 'much' as the A-pillar; maybe one-thirty-second of an inch. I was hoping to do a simple OOB build of this kit, but that A-pillar made me put the kit away until I can figure a way to fix its position -- which is where I'm stuck for now... like, Where should i make some 'pie' or 'wedge' slices in the roof to bring that pillar back to its proper position? Has anyone else noticed this artifact-of-old-tooling on their copy of this kit? If so, did you fix it, or just go about building it as-is?

While I don't own a copy of this kit (man, I need to get one), I can defer to Chris' (HPI Guy's) build & review of this kit from a couple of months ago (+/-). I seem to recall that he mentions a slightly-warped chassis, but that it "works itself out" upon completion. Here's Chris' video for a reference :

Cool concept ! I like the gold; quite similar to a shade of gold metallic offered from c.1970 (see below). I have the MPC 1972 Duster annual kit. Some day it'll get the DOHC Hemi from the 1970 Super Bee, 4-speed, Dana 60 -- it'll be a phantom Arlen Vanke DOHC-powered Pro Stock. The 1970 Hamtramck Registry - 1970 Paint Chip Charts Slideshow (hamtramck-historical.com)

The Johan 1968 Fury I Police Car has some close representations.

Last time I'd heard Cooper's programme was some 17 years ago. I thought it was great then -- can't attest to how it's been since. It was awesome hearing The Stooges, MC5, Velvet Underground, Judas Priest, 60's Garage, etc. coming from the radio.

That light blue chassis popped a memory capsule -- same colour as the one I'd built in 1985 (I don't recall its reissue year; it did, however, have the custom spoke wheels and other optional customising parts). I'd painted it white (Pactra gloss white aerosol !) with black interior (also Pactra, but flat black); built completely stock. I'd built it for my then girlfriend, as her mum had an early-production '65 (colloq. , "64 1/2" -- no 'reverse' lights) with the six/ 3-speed manual with deluxe wheel covers (13" variety). The 1987 Whittier Earthquake claimed it.

We all know how rare it was for Monogram to include a set of Cragar S/ST's or Centerlines in their kits. Very hard to find -- good thing they 'lost' the wheels from the Street Rat edition, as I could always use a set of those rare 1/24 scale S/ST's!

Perhaps Round2 couldn't have been arsed to create a new '335-Series' engine since I'm sure they're aware of the pending Revell BOSS 351 (and potentially a '385-Series' 429 iteration). If nothing else, the FE engine in MPC's Mustangs is equipped with the Therm-Actor Air Injection System, plumbing and all.

With shortages being what they are --real or imagined-- I'm sure that a handful of sellers (individuals, online stores, etc.) are rushing to send-out product A.S.A.P. --- this doesn't bode well for anyone. Personally, I'd rather wait a month or two for an online purchase should the seller/store et al. need more time to go-through their shipments, work orders, etc., etc., and package the item/items properly. I've been lucky I suppose -- most of my orders are via USPS, with maybe one or two from UPS -- as I've never received a boogered item (boxes, by default, are subject to scuffs and rips-- but are not supposed to look like they were used for hocky practise). FedEx, in my experiences, is a goombah operation... absolute testa grossas with zero concern nor pride.

AMEN to that!

Another vote for Burbank's House of Hobbies (outstanding service from a small, independently-owned & operated store) and Model Roundup (excellent service from them as well). I'd purchased a 1/25 scale C.O.E. Kenworth (can't recall which one) from Roundup , and it arrived within a week, and in thoughtful packing; no damage. I'd purchased the 1/25 scale 'Car Hauler' from Burbank's , and it arrived within the week (four days, seem to recall). Likewise, thoughtful packing and no damage. Perhaps you could place a call to Dillon since you're in that area of Boston?

All that I'd read was "Bronco", "Turbo", and "V6" and I smelled trouble. Must be that FœcalBoost or whatever it's called now. Any gasoline engine with an oxidiser --turbo or super charger-- isn't going to last as long as a naturally-aspirated equivalent. Even more better yet: put a frickin' V8 in there instead of fancy pants turbos and other wizardry. C.A.F.E. standards need to disappear.

Where I used to work (unnamed auto part store) , we finally got a pickup truck (2014). Of course, some "numbers guy" college kid ordered the fleet of these trucks: Silverado 1500, odour-trapping cloth seat, rubber mats (a good thing), AM/FM stereo, manual windows, cruise, tilt, A/C. Then elected to order the 4.3 litre V6... with the 4L60E... and 3.08 gear. What's wrong with that picture? Overdrive+3.08 gear behind an otherwise-great 262 cube V6. Thing couldn't get out of its own way! Desperately needed at least 4.10s, maybe even 4.56, gearing! Or, preferably, the small V8. Horrible fuel economy -- in overdrive, it was running below idle speed! Oh, did I mention the 500 metric tonnes lift-gate that was added post-facto? Total. Pig. But, hey, on paper that V6-overdrive-3.08 gear exhibited better fuel economy!

Regal Red Tabby you've got there!

I laughed so hard when I saw that commercial -- lazy kids. Can't entirely blame them, as no one showed them how to change-out a flat (assuming that the vehicle has a spare, and it's not buried in a dumpster's-worth of random cr4p). What I find funny is that these same kids present themselves as being tougher than a two dollar steak, but don't want to get their hands dirty with as much as a broom handle, let alone brake dust and knuckle busting lug wrenches. Heck, even the obsessively-clean Mods kids I knew had no problems fixing their Vespa or Lambretta on-the-fly while wearing a vintage outfit.

That's been my argument for many years regarding every facet of hands-on "unskilled" labour: "That guy's got smooth hands and a manicure, yet he's telling me how to do my job in a more efficient way due to statistics and other impractical measures?"

As soon as I saw that steaming pile that he diagnosed (different battery; replaced the customer's battery the car arrived with), I knew that it was junk yard fodder. Just like BMWs and Mercedes : a part which costs literally two dollars --OEM part at that, typically an oil seal-- ends up being a $900 repair because one has to disassemble half of the flippin' engine to get to that two dollar seal. Junk, junk, junk.

Me, too. Not that the subject doesn't interest me --I love police & taxi vehicles; fleet models-- it's the incorrect engine and the too-wide wheels & tyres that have turned me off in the past. I can get past the BOSS 429 now that I know that the kit has an engine plate (promo-style), and steel wheels of a proper-depth are easily gotten along with proper-sized tyres. I just haven't pulled the trigger yet... that taxi edition with those luggage bags has my eye.

While there have been quite a few albums which blew me away over the years --many of which I'd considered mentioning here-- I have boiled down my choice to: Notorious Byrd Brothers 15.01.1968 release date Mono mix beats the stereo mix. While I've heard the same track from the album that virtually everyone is familiar with ( I Wasn't Born To Follow ) , it wasn't until years later that I bought the album which has that (fantastic) song on it. Initially, I had --and still have-- the stereo mix from c.1997; it features the album plus bonus tracks / alternate mixes / demos. As soon as I found the mono mix --limited issue-- for a reasonable price, I grabbed it. Track Listing (bonus et al. tracks listed afterward): 1.) Artificial Energy 2.) Goin' Back 3.) Natural Harmony 4) Draft Morning 5.) Wasn't Born to Follow 6.) Get to You 7.) Change is now 8.) Old John Robertson 9.) Tribal Gathering 10.) Dolphins' Smile 11.) Space Odyssey _____________________ Moog Raga Universal Mind Decoder (demo of Change is Now) Bound to Fall (instrumental) Triad (Jefferson Airplane recorded a slightly different version on Crown Of Creation) Goin' Back (early demo, sans harmonies; no pedal steel guitar, just a celesta accompaniment) Draft Morning (extended version with alternate ending) Universal Mind Decoder (demo of Change is Now)/ radio commercial by producer Gary Usher/ in-studio fight between Michael Clarke and David Crosby Starting off with a song about speed and its effects upon its user, before radically-shifting to a wonderful, mellow, yet sombre song about youth. Then, back again to an MDA-influenced piece about love; transition to a piece about being drafted, as the character ponders his direction and moral introspective. This blends into the song which most are familiar with from Easy Rider -- a dynamite track with lots of panning and other effects: interplay of Clarence White's Bluegrass picking and Red Rhodes' pedal steel playing. Next track starts with a slamming door before the vocals begin to romanticise a return trip to London; abruptly ending segue to a C&W song with a baroque middle part with spatial panning -- another abrupt change to Crosby's recollection of a Love-In at Griffith Park in early 1967 (a song whose instrumental accompaniment influenced The Stooges 1969) and a screaming guitar outro-fade-into a lovely, dreamy, peaceful marine life sailling song. The final piece is an exhibition of the then-new Moog synthesiser with a Sea Chanty cadence whose lyrics are influenced by The Sentinel by Arthur C. Clarke (think: 2001: a Space Odyssey). Notorious Byrd Brothers is a fitting title to an album with its combination of Psychedelia, C&W, Bluegrass, Folk, and early electronic effects -- the band's experimental peak... and the end of the original lineup of the band (Crosby was fired in October 1967; Michael Clarke quit, then returned to finish the album, then split upon its completion; even Gene Clark returned briefly before leaving again, just as he'd done in early 1966. This left the band with only Jim "Roger" McGuinn and Chris Hillman.