larrygre

Boy would I love to get a hold of one of the Wally World early birds, but here on the East Coast, its slim pickins. What I've been told by a number of sources is that each W-M store orders new stock based upon THAT PARTICULAR STORE's sales, and that's why you see different kits in different W-Ms, and even W-Ms with no model kits at all. I'll just be a little more patient. At least I can leave my razor saw in the drawer 'cause the roof is already chopped!

Hey Bill - great work, my friend. I cannot wait to see the finished product.

Jerry, you are so very welcome. Keep on, as they used to say in the movies, "doing that voodoo that you do so well!" :D I can't wait to see the stock Bird.

Nice job on the Z-16, James. I especially like the use of the photoreduced magazines and kit boxes - but what did you use for that purse? Is that a 1/2" dollhouse item? Very cool!

Sorry guys, I goofed on the Landy figure. You're right it was the Dart. I stand corrected! I'll try to make up for the faux pas. Now, for a really nice set of side marker lights for any '68 Mopar, Auto Atomix has a set of machined aluminum ones that you gotta see to believe. I bought several sets from Dennis a couple of years back and I tell you, he does excellent work. His web site is at http://www.autoatomix.com. Right now he is not taking any new orders until he fills his backlog but hopefully that will be rectified soon.

My wife loves to take an occasional jaunt to the nearby Big Lots! store. Well, Big Lots has its own house brand for hardware and tools, Pro-Source, and looky what I found yeaterday while she was browsing the linens: Yeah guys EIGHT BUCKS! 168 pieces! Drill bits down to 1/64, grinders, polishers, sanders, wire polishing wheels, felt polishing heads, sanding and cutting discs, and six spare collets! Holy moley, you can't even get a deal like this in Wally World! Wish I'd known about this a couple of weeks ago when I NEEDED one of those micro-size grinding bits! Those make short work of getting rid of molded-in exhaust systems! So, if there's a Big Lots! store near you, git on down there. Let the wife know just how good their prices are on housewares and household goods, even furniture....! Then - "Hey hon, look what I found! Only Eight Bucks! That's less than the price of one of my MODEL KITS! AND I can use it around the house.....!" (My wife is a crafter. I couldn't pull that on her - and live!) Seriously, its a good deal for $8.

Ken, I think you hit that nail on the head. Highboy or full fendered qualifies for "2 n 1" status. As for the Baldwin-Motion Chevelle, the old Monogram kit may not be state of the art but it's certainly workable. If they rework the engine into something more resembling a real Rat motor I'll be a happy camper. Headers too to replace those horrible excuses for exhaust manifolds. And, of course, the wheels and side pipes (if they are modeling one that has the side pipes, HOPEFULLY!) would have to be all-new...!

As far as this modeler is concerned, three of the four are no-brainers as far as successful subjects. I'm not a big Hummer fan, and I have seen the Cali Wheels kit marked down to five bucks in the local Wally World, so I'll reserve judgement. Sales or lack of sales aside, not to mention lack of engine, its still a VERY nice kit indeed. The '32 Ford sedan likely will be on the 3-window/Highboy/Speedwagon chassis. Doubtful you'll see a stock one from Revell as they would have to start from scratch, and a new body/interior/glass for the existing rod kits is a heck of a lot cheaper - but anything is possible. Not that I would mind an all-new STOCK Deuce kit (here I go betraying my Strictly Stock days, folks!) because, as we all know, the old AMT kits may be what we all grew up with, but their accuracy leaves a lot to be desired. And speaking of AMT, I'm surprised that the vintage-1973 or thereabouts 32 Ford Tudor Sedan, which really only was the 40 Willys/32 Ford double kit body tossed in with the evergreen 32 Vicky, was never reissued. Did they lose the tool for that body? It may not have been accurate but it sure was attractive. But back to Revell... The Mach I, FINALLY! I have been talking to Ed Sexton for YEARS about that one. Hopefully THIS pup will have a proper 428CJ, a proper Shaker hood, and also hopefully, a non-shaker hood scoop option - NOBODY ever got the shape of that right, not AMT or MPC, period. And Ed, if you're reading this, consider a Twister option for the kit. Its really only a set of decals. Now, this may not account for serious volume sales, but how many people out there in our little niche of the world - serious modelers - would buy more than one of this kit just to steal the shaker for their Boss 302? I'd bet quite a few! And if I were Bob Korunow, I would already be thinking how the rocker panel trim is such a natural for photoetching.....! The Charger will be welcome for sure. And the model will sell one heck of a lot better without the extra cost of the painted Dick Landy resin figure. It would also be more palatable to the Wally Worlds and the K-B Toys folks. Remember, these guys still depend a lot on VOLUME SALES, and that means the big chains. But the subject matter is, thankfully, enthusiast material. Now, I have been after Ed for several years now in regards to the metal body '68 Mustang seen as Bullitt and American Dreams versions. Nice both, but I think the sales would be one heck of a lot better, both to the chains and to the crazies like us, to convert the body to plastic and make the necessary mods to produce a proper - and NEVER kitted as of yet - '68 Mustang CJ. Throw in decals for Tasca Ford or Dyno Don Nicholson and it's a 100% no-brainer. That one covers all the bases. What do you guys think? Ok ok Gregg, back to slaving over my keyboard......! :wink:

My "usual suspects are": Evercoat Eurosoft. Best two-part catalyzed putty out there, IMO. Milliput White Fine and Milliput Medium Gray. I use the white more often as its a finer material, better for finishing seams and stuff. IMO, Best epoxy-base putty out there 3M Acryl Red. Solvent based glazing putty. One pound tube lasts me about ten years or so. IMO, Best of the solvent-based putties (though Tamiya Putty Basic Type ain't bad either).

Bill, Jimmy Flintstone made a '61 Olds hardtop too. Not sure if he still does, but I know I have one in the "dungeon"

Jerry - looking good! Is the "normal" 55 coming soon?

I just finished penning my review of the kit for the next issue. Not ti repeat it all here (I be a good boy Gregg! :wink: ) but a couple of points of interest I wanted to share: The kit has always, even way back then, had the '57 interior. You'll need to 86 the waffle patterns and rescribe all the upholstery for a '60, or even for a '59 which you can do out of this kit as well. The air cleaners are way too small and not quite accurate for a stock '60. The louvered "pie plate" types were in vogue at the time. Those two points notwithstanding, it's a great little kit - figuring it's almost forty years old! It may have been eclipsed in terms of state-of-the-art by the Monogram '59 (bring that puppy back boys!!!!!!!!) but it's still an enjoyable build!

Yeah, Izzy, that's what they all say....! :wink: :wink: :wink:

Bob, add to that list for me the California Spyder. That was one of Italeri's best. And the NART Spyder version of the 275 as well.

Bob, that's a bit surprising to me. Even though Italeri is, since 2002, the owner of Protar's molds, you'd think they would put their own home grown product first, no? But you're right, the guts of the Protar offering always were somewhat crisper than Italeri's. And it has that GTO "look and feel" to it despite any minor body criticisms. Hopefully it will not be forever before someone gives us a 1964 version of the GTO. I wish I could put THAT bug in Fujimi's ear!

Bill - Amen brother! Amen! Speaking of Ferraris, the reissued Italeri 250GTO (Revell Germany) is out in Europe and is making its way to the States as we speak.

Bill, it should be a lot easier than in recent years. DragonUSA (Hasegawa's current importer) is now also importing Fujimi.

It is one sweet kit. I have one of the molded-in-red originals. Gotta get me one of these. Now, if Fujimi wouild only see their way clear to do a '57 pontton-fendered Testa Rossa or - even better - the beautiful 250GT Berlinetta Lusso. Yes!!!

Pyro (later Life-like and Lindberg) did a series of 1/32 scale 1920s-30s classics that had full engine and chassis detail as well as plated parts. The range had everything from M-B SSKs, Duesenbergs (including Gary Cooper's SSJ), Cadillac V-16s, Packards, and more. I'm hoping that Lindberg's new owners see fit to reissue these kits. Close behind these are the Matchbox 1/32 classic car kits. All of them had engine and chassis detail, and were very nicely done, though in some ways not as "crisp" as the Pyro kits I just mentioned. This range included an MG TC, Jaguar SS100, M-B SSKL, Bugatti Type 59, Porsche 917 Can-Am, Auto Union Type D, Porsche 935, Tyrrell P34, 1931 Packard Victoria, and Rolls Royce Black Diamond. Revell Germany now owns these molds and have reissued in recent years the 935 and the Auto Union. Hopefully more!

Bob, I've heard an "Option Parts" version of the 599 is forthcoming from Fujimi. Hopefully that will include those gorgeous BBS rims.

Nice clean build Jason! Grabber Orange certainly makes the '69 Shelby stand out.

I always knew it was "WILL-ISS" but my wife got stubborn on me "It's WILL-EZE". She's seen the board and told me that she don't care, to her it will always be "WILL-EZE". Oh well, folks, thanks for trying to help me settle it.

That's one I hope Hawk's new owners may eventually bring back. That, and the old Hupmobile.

Hehe...don't let 'em wear ya down Izzy. I do aircraft too. Those two puppies are seriously vintage, though....the Skycrane dates back to 1968, and the Glencoe kit is ex-ITC from the Fifties. Good luck with 'em.

I'm just happy to have the kit back, period. The body is more accurate than the Convertible kit especially in the front fender top contours. The cross-ram Webers, GS type hood, and pseudo-Minilites all look good and are quite usable. But those looking for 100% accurate Minilites will need to look elsewhere.