john sharisky

I don't want there to be a misunderstanding: that's not my build. John

First of a two-part article on a 1960 Edsel Villager 4-Door Station Wagon Conversion ...sort of buried on edsel.com. Link to part two is at the bottom of the page. John

...and accurate. Also called "poverty caps" or "buttons". I've been thinking about these for a long while. Except for the AMT (also SMP?) kit annual '58 or '60 wheel covers, we haven't had in-the-day accurate wheel choices for our Edsel projects. I mean, as the 1:1's really were. Rico has some finely detailed items in his Shapeways store. He posts here. Some e-mail back and forth. Some photos back and forth. Finally some 3D file images exchanged. Now they're in his Shapeways store. I've purchased three racks. Eight hub caps on each rack. I purchased the more expensive "Smoothest Fine Detail Plastic" printed media. Translucent, I can't effectively photograph the caps themselves. Here are the racks that I purchased: A direct link to the Edsel caps in Rico's Shapeways Store. I've purchased ten different line items from Rico's store. The small-diameter "1972 AMC Hubcaps with scripting" are exquisite. The tiny "American Motors Corporation" scripting was what prompted to contact Rico with my idea of the Edsel hub caps. A direct link to Rico's Shapeways Store. Long convinced that the Edsel caps were a re-strike of of the small 1957-1959 Ford caps: ...I sent Rico dimensions of the Revell '57 Ford caps to work with. Here's the final 3D file image that Rico sent me: Here are 1:1 examples of the Edsel caps on a 1958: ...1959: ...1960: These Edsel caps might ring familiar to us oldsters or promo collectors. AMT did indeed receive this cap design from Ford. But mistakenly were worked out to full wheel covers in 1/25th for the '58 promo's. Here's a set of resin replicas that I have from The Modelhaus: These new caps give us another choice for the "look" of our Edsel projects for 1958: ...1959: ...1960: I've collected this photo of two '58's with the wheel rims painted black: The term "poverty caps" can be a misnomer. Here's a top-of-the-line '58 Bermuda four-door station wagon in the Ford styling courtyard. I put this image together from a Popular Science article on the Edsel introduction (Ford called the light-colored wood panels "Driftwood"): I hope that I've convinced you to consider these Edsel wheel caps as another build option. I've purchased Rico's Shapeways items because they'll add to my projects. But I wouldn't have continued to do so - nor approached him with this project - if the quality hadn't swayed me. I've also purchased from several other Shapeways vendors. I'll answer questions best I can. Thanks for looking and please stay safe! John

Sold an AMT '68 annual last week. At the end of 7-days, page views were 500+. About double the views my items usually receive. John

It's a '70 or '71. If it had the optional high-back front seats, that would peg it as a '71. John

I've watched a few episodes. I don't understand why they photograph and post the cars for sale before the cars are rehabbed. John

I purchased some wheel sets from: Canuck 3D I'm very pleased. The Monza wheels are meant for a long planned Vega GT. Offered are '74 and '75 trans-kits for the Revell '77 Chevy Monte Carlo. A 1973 trans kit is in the works. I have no connection to Wylde other than being a satisfied customer. Thanks for looking! John

Mike did some wonderful custom license plates for me last June. I corresponded with him using this address: info@bestmodelcarparts.com John

I concur. These are nice, accurate sets. John

I've purchased from Norm (via eBay) earlier. Excellent quality and service! Buy with confidence. The day before yesterday I purchased the '60 and 61 Imperial tail lights. John

I ordered one of Kris' Pinto wagon kits (he offers two) on Sept. 14th, '20. Received it late Nov. (can't find the exact date). Kris informed me of a delay in having the parts chrome plated. I thought I'd post these photos to illustrate the excellent quality of his castings. I already have MAD's two '57 Fords and the Mustang II. Well worth all kinds of waiting for. John

This address is current and correct. John

I toured there as a senior in high school. They were assembling the newly downsized 1978 Oldsmobile and Buick A-bodies (as this brochure shows). Later, my (new) ‘83 Chevy Celebrity was assembled there. John

I have not purchased this kit. Tapani sent me these photos. I did crop, re-size and added Tapani's e-mail address as a watermark. I've liked this design since I first saw an earlier 1:1 Kaiser Dragon as a teenager in the 1970's. Styling wise, they sure packed a lot onto a car of somewhat compact dimensions. For donor parts (driveline, front and rear suspensions), Tapani suggests the AMT 1955 Chevy Bel Air kit. Comparing the chassis photos to kits in my own stash, I see similarities to the AMT 1951 Chevy, 1953 Studebaker and 1963 Avanti kits. In doing a little research, I found a mostly interesting YouTube video review of the 1954 Kaiser sales brochure. A link to the video is below. Any questions, please e-mail Tapani at: raurata@yahoo.com Thanks for looking. Stay safe everyone! John YouTube video review of 1954 Kaiser sales brochure.

Over *many* years, I've purchased plenty of resin from Don at Reliable. My eBay transactions with him have been like thousands of others. No better - no worse. When sellers and buyers stay within eBays rules, that's usually how it is. A look at Don's auctions since returning to eBay, his photo's and text tell me that he's a serious seller, in for the long run. He's become a rare eBay vendor (sadly) that takes the time and energy to develop an on-screen sales pitch for his items. Lately, we've all seen eBay vendors use the now moldy "as is" line, or the new lean-on: "let my pics be the description". Sure thing Bunky! First, how about posting photos that are in focus and properly exposed? Outside of eBay, have I waited extended periods for Don's items? Yes I have. I've also waited over two years for a Time Machine Resin item. A lot of us waited about two years for our final Modelhaus orders. Yes, Don and Carol are fine people. Yes, they were busy after their retirement announcement. I didn't want to cherry-pick facts for this response. There have been many other examples with other vendors. I've been an eBay buyer and seller since 1998 with hardly a problem (remember when eBay itself would shut-down for three hours every Friday morning?). I've had only one personal account. At my last job, I sold active and dead inventory on eBay (their account). That was fun! Items due for the bin found willing buyers and created found money for us! My employer sent me to the 2-day "eBay Live!" event here in Boston in '07. We were a Power Seller by then. I learned a ton! Not the least of which was more about successfully presenting and promoting your item(s) in eBay's format. The "pitch" that I mentioned above. (photo of me and eBay's "Griff" at an evening dinner and show) I find Reliable's quality comensurate with the price point. As always and with everything: caveat emptor. Whew! Thanks for looking! John

Is there a non-Facebook way of contacting Tommy? John

E-mail Kevin directly at: kawifreek@msn.com John

I hadn’t heard about this kit. Thanks *very* much for posting this info. I ordered one. John

Jeff Ballard of Motor City Resin casters does (or did) cast a '69 Mustang "notchback" coupe. John

Missing Link resin offers the Camaro tall rear spoiler. John

I can't post the photo. Sorry. I've tried multiple browsers. Also, after editing, there's no "Save" button. John

Kevin lists this as a '71-'72 trans kit. To me, the grille design looks a bit more like a '72. The non-scoop hood has complete underside detail. The chrome headlights will need lenses. I'm nothing to Missing Link except an enthusiastic customer. I'm just passing this info along. That's a '71 GTO promo in my photo. If you have questions, please e-mail Kevin directly at: kevin@missinglinkrc.com or: kawifreek@msn.com John href="https://public.fotki.com/jsharisky/model_cars_and_such/missinglinklemanstr.html"><img src="https://media.fotki.com/2v2HUrkJSxvfat.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="https://www.fotki.com" style="font-size:12px; font-family:Verdana; text-decoration:none;"

I once won a factory sealed AMT '75 AMC Matador kit on eBay. No chrome tree. Oh well... John

I received some Missing Link items just last week. E-mail Kevin directly at: kawifreek@msn.com John

Harts Parts is top drawer as far as I'm concerned. High quality castings. Vaughn flies just a bit under the radar is all. John