av405

This has been discussed before and I honestly don't think anybody knows "why." We'll just have to wait and see what it looks like and where it came from when it is actually released.

Hello everyone. Does anybody have any info on any upcoming LA-area shows? I heard about the one in Buena Park and the one in the Valley that were held in the past months but was unfortunately unable to attend those.

Thanks for the heads up on these! So if I wanted to order one of these grilles, I would just email them? What other items do they have that aren't listed on the site?

Have fun: http://www.policecarwebsite.net/fc/ny/nypd/nypd500.html

Don't forget to add the amber arrow stick at the rear of the light bar.

Thank you for the prompt response Jeff! I spoke with Jim from uptown a few months ago and he told me that you would eventually be making these products available. Can we expect the W/T grille sometime soon as well?

Am I doing something wrong or is this piece not listed on their website just yet?

What Rich said. I also consider it fast given the fact that I always heard that Modelhaus delivered in about 6 weeks. Even they advise this length of time so 3 weeks is fast by their standards.

I agree with Mark. I placed a large order with them back in July (two full kits and an assortment of parts) and they delivered in 3 weeks. When I have just ordered smaller parts, they delivered in about two weeks. Very, very fast and great people to deal with.

I think you're relying too much on stereotypes when it comes to how LA gang members look and what they drive. Don't get me wrong, they're stereotypes for a reason. But you can modify many of the aforementioned figures to look like modern day gang members. Are you trying to depict a black gang? A Mexican gang? A Central American gang? Most times these guys wear baggy basketball shorts and "wife beaters." Or no shirt at all. Here's a picture of an MS-13 (a Central American gang) gang member: http://www.resist.com/updates/2009/FEB_09/LatrinoGangsta.jpg As for the cars they drive. Well there isn't "a" type of car they drive. But one of the stereotypical cars would be a 90s/early 2000s import with flat black/just not a very good paint job. Given the diversity of LA gang members, you could make any of the aforementioned figured work for your diorama.

This is what you want it to look like. This was, if I remember correctly, a custom job.

All you had to do was ask! This is the best I can do for you at the moment. This is a shot of the interior of a 1996 LAPD CV that was heavily damaged during the 1997 North Hollywood shootout. The LAPD has kept it since then and uses it as a display vehicle, though it's in bad shape: And here's a video of a CV from that era in action. Some of the interior is visible: Two things to note from that video: - that particular CV had no partition. - at 4:21 you get a rare glimpse of an LAPD Caprice with an MX7000 lightbar. Those generally weren't put into service until the 1997 Crown Vics came along.

That's interesting. I'll have to ask some of my LASD buddies if they have any rules regarding the placement of the mic.

That seems to have gone out of style here in So Cal. I personally like mounting the mic on my chest, right on the gig line.

As I mentioned in the LASD thread, chest-mounted radios would be correct for that era. If you want evidence, here's a picture from the 1997 North Hollywood shootout to prove it: http://www.9-1-1magazine.com/direct/user/site/0/image/Rigg%20Photo-1%20p25.jpg Your Crown Victoria came out great. I like how you transformed the Jetstream lightbar into an LAPD AeroDynic. Just to offer up my knowledge if you want a more accurate car: -ditch the equipment mounted on the dash. -replace the separator with one that has a Plexiglas separator or just ditch the separator altogether. Not all LAPD cars have them. -mount a standard tube shotgun with brown furniture in front of the separator. After that it'll be pretty accurate.

Chest-mounted radio mics would be accurate for the time period you describe.

I don't know the exact economics of making resin items so I won't pretend otherwise. You're the maker and you ultimately decide what a fair price is in relation to the time and financial investment you put in. I was not suggesting you lower the price to some low amount because we're all cheap. As a potential customer, all I'm saying is that I would be hard-pressed to buy more than one of your items at that price. That is all. I am primarily interested in police car models and I know a lot of guys out there who have been desiring a late 90's Caprice. Using the example of the Modelhaus Impala: Despite it's excellent reputation and quality, many have been hesitant to purchase that model due to the price, and it's cheaper than what you might potentially offer your Caprice. So again, you go with the price that you think is fair. I'm just giving you my humble perspective, that's all.

So you would include the 1987-1990 front fascia, correct side mirrors, the 1986-1990 rear end and associated badges, and steel wheels and center caps (I think that's it)? Or would this be a separate purchase that would have to be made to make a 1987-1990 police model?

I understand the cost of making resin kits on your own, but I have a feeling that if you sold the Caprice at a lower price, you'd have yourself a real winner.

Looks accurate to me!

Great. With the LAPD CV, the correct interior color would be the standard blue without the faux wood on the dash. No radar on the dash and the partition would be clear. If you need more info on those, go ahead and send me a PM.

Just a bit of trivia, your rear light set up was used like that only on the 2006 models. Here are the LASD ranks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_County_Sheriff's_Department#Rank_and_insignia If you're ever doing another Southern California car and need any info, feel free to shoot me a PM.

Also, the figure's chevrons on the sleeve show a rank that doesn't exist in the LASD.

As I mentioned earlier, I don't recall the LASD using unmarked vehicles in those days for general patrol duties. That fad didn't start to appear until around 1999/2000 or so. All of them have been in this color: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4053/4633338241_80f0138fee.jpg But let's say you decide to build a 1997 LASD Crown Vic (only year this body style was purchased) and you wanted to do a sort of "fantasy build" of an unmarked LASD patrol vehicle as it would have looked during that era. These are the changes you would need to make of your car (aside from the color): -chrome spotlights -paint the side trim molding black -remove the rear emergency lights on the right side (back then they only had blue/yellow lights on the left side). -remove the radar from the dash. -paint the interior the standard blue color and DO NOT paint the dash with wood trim. Only the 1992-1995 models had the faux wood strip on the dash. -equip it with the prisoner partition that comes with the Lindberg CV kits. The separators of the era had two square openings in the middle that should be easy to create. You can see part of it here: http://www.policecarwebsite.net/fc/capdcars/lasd400.jpg -It needs to have the single steady red light that you spoke of. ALL LAPD and LASD vehicles used this set up until 2004 and 2006, respectively. -the MDT (computer) and console are not completely accurate but very close enough. -equip it with an Ithaca shotgun mounted in front of the partition. You can use the shotgun in the CV kit but cut down the extended shell tube to make it accurate. -and finally, you can use the full wheel covers as this is what the LASD used on their 1997s. However, your current wheels look good if you're going for an old CV still in service which has been given the newer 1998-2002 steel wheels and chrome caps. That would be accurate.

From Chuck's thread on the MSP car: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/?showtopic=90866 The Caprice steel wheels: http://public.fotki.com/TerryJessee/model-build-ups-in-/building-an-la-sher/revell-1993-chevy.html