Tom Geiger

I think we're just seeing how far we can stray off topic before a moderator shuts it down!

then there are the show where they look at your model and say, "we know what our rules say, but what we REALLY meant was..."

Chuck I did save some pix of one to use for building a shortie bumpside someday. You are correct, there are small differences but nothing we folk can't handle. Also note in this photo the position of the top of the windshield. In this photo you can see just how low that windshield top really is. Oh, and two more little things about the kit. The drip rails are poorly formed so I replaced them. The model emblems on the cowl side just behind the hood are delicate and faint. They'll disappear under a few coats of paint and are very difficult to dry brush. And one last comment, thanks for letting me know I wasn't crazy on the transfer case! I'm thinking that next time I'd install it hanging off the drive shafts and once those were in place just hit it was a dab of glue to affix it to the chassis where ever it has landed!

Since this has turned into a thread of viable options for the '59 Buick, I have restored one using the mentioned '59 Chevy windshield frame, which is a nicely chromed piece. I also used that kit's interior, and will mention that it's much wider than the original Buick interior. I carved the body out and it does look right. You will have issues getting the dash in there. Once I got the windshield and interior to fit, the Chevy's uptop fit too! I'd post pix but Fotki is holding them hostage right now.

Since we're sharing cat photos... my good friend Ted was under the weather earlier this week. He's now back to his old self and sleeping comfortably on the couch as I type this. And before someone calls FOUL! on my post, Ted is an important model car hobby personality. That is HIM on the Model King box!

Wow! I just pulled up this thread and I see that all the pictures are gone! That's the Fotki transition, hopefully they'll all be back soon. Anyhoo, I see I haven't updated this board in a great while... Since all the photos are missing, here's the pair-o-Caravans. Interiors done! Hmmm, this photo was before I added all the arm rests and glued the seats into place! I still need to add seat belts. And here's the Caravan CV (Commercial Van) as it sits tonight. Wheels are from the Revell Impala Police Car Snapper. They are fairly close to the steel wheels, I matched it up to the spare tire wheel on my own Caravan. The number of holes is different, but who is counting? The reason I take pictures as I build is that I see things in them I don't see in person. Notice that the "Facility Management" portion of the decal is too high. It's been peeled off and a new one added at the proper level. And that's the reason I make something like 6 sets of decals. It needs a clear coat, all the doo dads added and she's off the bench. The Caravan Taxi is sitting as I create the masks for the black areas of the glass. I've been avoiding that one! I don't think I'll be getting a lot done anytime soon. Alan Barton from Perth, Australia (and a board member here) should be here tomorrow! We will no doubt do a post or two.

I used to joke that I had a couple of kids I kept in my basement to pull parts off trees and clean up mold lines... then that Ariel Castro guy actually kept kids in his basement and it wasn't funny anymore.

Looks good Al! The original idea of the Brown Bag Models was to take people out of their comfort zone. You did well!

That is cool Mike! Another survivor that brings back memories from our youth! Can't help but smile.

I built one of the test shots for Model King. My finished model is on the side of the box. A few things about this kit. You are correct that the Firestone emblem is not on the bed cover. It was on the test shot but was removed for the Model King issue. It will be interesting to see if they re-engrave it for this issue. Seeing that the steering wheel came in a separate bag tells me that it may have been missing from the tool and had to be recreated. I had noticed on the test shot that the FORD lettering wasn't on the hood, nor were the side markers deliniated at all. I let Dave know and that's why they're on the decal sheet. I had issues getting the transfer box to line up with the front axle so I left off the front drive shaft. I was under deadline to get the truck done, and it wouldn't show in the pictures. The transfer case had a faint mounting point. I'm not sure if the issue was me or the kit. Just mentioning it. On the kit body, the windshield top is too low. If you cut the plastic up to the top molding line, it will look better and the kit glass will cover it. Then you'll need to score a new molding line. A tip - If you want to build a short wheel base step side version, Ford used the same box for eons. The one from the AMT 1953 Ford pickup is the right one. It is a neat kit. It will be interesting to see how the new Moebius pickups compare, compliment or kit bash with these.

Hey Art! I thought the process was more of elves, fairy dust and shrink machines! Actually folks he's absolutely spot on. And he didn't even get to the part of instruction sheet development, decal sheets and kit box design. Also a kit is being designed against a budget that is tied to the retail price of a unit. That determines things like how many extra tires etc that they can include in the box.

Would be interesting to see if that German version is a rebox or copy of the Pyro kit.. maybe the scale is wrong on the box.

Corey / George - There is no argument here. Basic marketing theory says that any company offering a loss leader of one item at 40-50% off is hoping to get more business from you at retail. It's also common sense. I do know what the bottom line wholesale prices are for model car kits. I'm not publishing numbers here since it's proprietary information. Corey, you are correct in saying that Hobby Lobby buys kits cheaper than a local hobby shop due to volume. You neglect to recognize that most local hobby shops buy kits from a middleman called a distributor. That distributor buys the large volume from the manufacturer, and sells small quantities, sometimes as low as one kit of each product to the local shops, who pay a markup for that service. George as far as the Trumpeter kit, somebody sold that one at a loss. These kits didn't sell well so somebody Squadron / Trumpeters US representation, sold these as a close out to open up storage space or recoop some of their investment. Geez, all I said was that if everyone over used the coupons to the point that the store lost money on the program, they'd be forced to end or modify it. And that's just common sense!

Then again a little dust adds to the patina!

And yes that would be following the 'rules'. But still my comment that if everyone did that, they'd stop doing the coupons! Hopefully the modeling community is small enough not to totally upset their apple cart! Don't get me wrong, I'm not pointing at anyone. I'm big into saving money and coupons myself. I seldom venture into Michaels (I don't have a Hobby Lobby local) without a printed out coupon. Even with the coupons, I seldom (okay once) buy a kit. I manage to buy my kits even cheaper than that through hobby sources. Once past that, I'll buy glue or paint.. if not, I even give the coupon to some lady with a full cart rather than waste it. My wife and I go out to eat about once a week and seldom without a coupon. But you have to admit, lining up yourself, the wife and two kids, each with a kit (and nothing more), is pushing it!

Frickin plastic clips! I remember trying to change a headlight on my '89 Crown Vic. Yea, the horror of hearing every clip break as I tried to remove the plastic headlight surround. Same issue as I tried to change out the stereo on my 91 Geo Tracker. The plastic bezel literally shattered into small pieces as I tried to get it off. Dried out, sun baked plastic just doing it's thing! I guess these things were engineered to work for the first 5-10 years of ownership. Probably just until the 5 year note was paid off!

Board doing weird things so I changed browsers... What fun is it if we can't poke fun!

Hi Tuomas. I am an American (a Thomas) but I grew up in Europe and have fond memories of those Airfix 1/32 cars myself. This is a fun place, so welcome and enjoy!

It's a scam. The hobby shop knows it will be over 150 degrees in Phoenix on those days so nobody can venture out!

Cool truck. One of my favorite kits so I always enjoy seeing new builds. And I have that camper shell from Motormax too!

It actually wouldn't be a bad thing if the aftermarket mastered and produced those wheel covers. They were stock covers in Valiants, Dusters and possibly other cars back then! I know I'd put a set on a Duster model fer sure!

Kerry, the very best to Lily and your family. I didn't leave the house today, but I'll put one of my NNL East lime green staff shirts on tomorrow!

Cool project. No need to get stock tail lights, there are a bunch of decent candidates for custom lights! Here's the one I've done, AMT '57 Ford tail light, with a '59 Caddy bullet in the center.

Very nice. I love light commercial subjects and this is a cool one.

Every time this thread title comes up in my queue... am I the only person who wonders what year LINCOLN Spielberg drove?