Tom Geiger

Take a look in the 'bay. I see all of those and the Chrysler wagons there.

I have cars I started as an adult. I got just so far and reached the end of my abilities back then. For instance, I have a '73 Barracuda that I lengthened the roof on to make a fastback / wagon thingie. It started coming out way cool, looking like a factory show car. Then I hit the wall. I didn't know what to do with the mismatched drip rails and lack of window trim on the new rear light. Now I have some experience making those from Evergreen so I am good to get it going again. And I have a bunch of others.

Free Philly Tickets here! I never win anything, but somehow won the monthly raffle at my favorite local pub. Won two tickets for a game in August.

Sorry to see that Rich! Maybe Manny could do something with that body?

The only expensive promo I own. A 1966 Valiant Signet. I think I paid $450 for it a few years ago. This is one of the rarest Mopar promos.Why? What I believe to be the explanation.... since I've seen them in several colors, I believe AMT did a full run of these. Notice that the rear of the roof would be correct for a 1965, but wrong for a 1966. The flat part on the trunk lid is just wrong. I believe that Chrysler might have changed that roof line after supplying AMT with blueprints. Then since the car was wrong, Chrysler probably ordered the entire run destroyed. I have found the ones I could track back all came out of former Chrysler employee's stashes, so I think the few that exist were shipped to Chrysler as samples and people kept them. I know that the body mold for this one doesn't exist today because I've inquired of knowledgeable resources. Knowing that the body from the 1963-65 Valiant promos and kits went through the usual annual updates, this promo is the end of that line. Note that there was no Craftsman kit of this one. I believe that the body was modified into the Fireball 500 kit since the original '66 Barracuda mold still exists as the Hemi Under Glass. The '66 Valiant body shape was 'good enough' to create the Fireball body shape.

Instructions? They come with instructions? Welcome Shaun, we'll teach you how to build your own way!

I agree Harry... so much ado about nuthin'!

I know that the Barracuda was never offered in Australia, but I have old ads for an import company / converter for Great Britain.

One thing modeling has taught me is patience. I've learned to try again sometimes, and when things get out of hand, just to walk away for a while. I've had models I was ready to hurl at the wall. A while later I looked at them with a fresh and rested mind and immediately saw the issue!

I didn't even realize this thread was five years old. Would be interesting to see if the 20 year old OP is still on the board and building today. The good part of the thread is seeing a lot of younger guys (under 50) involved. Me? I've been 50 for 4 years now!

There has to be a story here! Do tell!

Manny, many good thoughts coming your way!

I'm fortunate to be in an area with model car shows, and I know some of the discount dealers, so that's where I buy my new kits. I do buy older kits both at shows, at my local club meetings and on eBay. For supplies, I do regularly travel between PA and NJ so there are a few hobby shops where I can get things like putty, Evergreen, basswood and BMF. I buy my Zap-A-Gap glue at Michaels, usually with a 50% off coupon making it a $2.00 purchase. I only bought my first kit at Michaels today, the 2010 Mustang convertible kit, for less than $10 with that 50% off coupon. Paints... I use mostly Duplicolor, so I buy those at Pep Boys. I did buy 25 cans at $1 each 2 years ago at Ollies. I'll buy Testors and Tamiya paints at a hobby shop, but the basic colors... flat black, dullcote etc at Michaels with that same coupon.

The difference is that if he understood that you started with a bunch of plastic parts, and complimented that your end results were as nice as a Franklin MInt diecast, then it's a compliment. IF he thought your model was a Franklin Mint diecast, then he's clueless. I once was giving my wife's youngest brother a tour of the model room. He saw my very detailed and weathered models in my display case. Then he looked at my closet full of unbuilt kits and wanted to know if we could snap one together before dinner. He actually thought all those parts came prepainted, preweathered and that my involvement was snapping together a dozen or so pieces. So I pulled out my '59 Chevy convertible junker and a fresh kit of the same model. His eyes nearly popped out.. his comment was that this looked like real work, and why would I want to do work in my time off? Obviously he's much more comfortable in front of his TV, so we're not going to pull him into the modeling fold!

Cool work. I've had that kit out of the box recently. I'll have to take another look at it!

I didn't see it there. Seems they don't get new releases right away. No '50 Olds or Rat Roasters there either. But that could just be my local store.

I have to agree with Kevin.. anyone who asks "what can I get out of this?" doesn't understand the concept. I believe that the personalities and true intents of people come out in the long run. If you need a part to complete a build, drop me a note. If I have it, it's yours and will be sent promptly, no charge and no expectations from my part. I just like to see a part that was just going to sit in the bottom of my parts box used on a project.

Just a couple of kits,, Saturday at my club meeting I grabbed up the Rat Roaster and the '90 Mustang kits. I still haven't opened the Roaster, but have looked over the Mustang and I don't have a problem with this kit at all. Pressing is fresh and clean. Lots of small trees and everything is in plastic bags. I had the 2010 Mustang convertible in my hands at Michaels last week. Then I chose to use my 50% off coupon on glue, but they gave me another one upon checkout. So I went back today and got it for less than $10. Body is already in primer!

I have the wagon version of this, also purchased from a flea market. Mine got stepped on and has no roof. I figure I'll build some kind of surf wagon from it someday. R&R did a Plymouth 4 door sedan of this era in 1/25 scale.

We've been fooled. I just checked Richard's street on Google Street View and this building is right down the road from him! (at least it looks that good!)

That's a bit different in today's environment. People are a bit leery of anyone with a camera and suspicious activity. I used to stop by police departments and take pictures of their cars in the lot. Today I think I'd go inside and ask permission first. If you asked me, the terrorists have won. They've changed our lives for the worse.

and don't forget other safety issues. I reminded myself of that yesterday when I swapped in a new Number 11 blade. I wrapped the old one in masking tape before I dropped it in my trash basket. You don't want to encounter a blade when putting out the trash!

That's why I started putting dates on my cans. I have a can of Duplicolor that my father bought back in the 1970s for his 71 Chevy that still works. It's the can I used on my retro new Camaro. I also have some cans of hardware type paint in this Harvest Gold color that were in my parents house when they bought it in 1972. One of them still works! Then again, I have had cans a year or two old that had given up the ghost!

Enjoy the summer! Get up early every day and get in a few hours of modeling in the morning!

That's very cool. Engine? Yellow truck slant six of course!