DaveM

Wow! I post about nice subdued color combinations, and you post this! That looks great! You could pick up an older pro stock kit for wheels and parts. I think the FireFighter Mustang II might have the old Centerline wheels, but I can't remember if they are chromed or not. A huge number of these new kits should be built up as Super Stock and Pro Stock drag cars, pro street cars, '70s street freaks and the like. Take this kit, the half dozen or so '69 Camaro variants, the AMT '68, The '66 Nova Pro Street, and the two brands of '67 Chevelle Pro Streets, plus the '69 Novas and '68 Firebird. You can build almost any type of Camaro with the parts from that group of kits. I am trying to imagine all of the chassis, motor and driveline swaps I could do. (Thankfully, I build some slammers and slotcars, so if I raid a kit for the chassis, I can still make use of the rest.) Good luck and post pictures when you build it! Dave

I am looking forward to this one too. I hope they get it close. I used to grab the new Revells the moment they got to the preferred retailers, but now I wait until I have seen the kit before committing. I hope the spoiler is separate, or easily removed,because I have seen a couple of more base level cars recently that I really like. (It looks like it will be a separate piece.) I am already planning to make a flat hood or two and figuring out how to make non SS and RS Grilles. Hopefully, it will be feasible to swap parts with the Revell '69 and AMT '68 kits for maximum variation. I plan on raiding some '66 Novas for their 327s and making conversions for small block cars. There is a lot we will be able to do with this kit if Revell does a nice job on it. For some ideas, try this site out. Just scroll down to the list of color names and click on one. http://www.69pace.com/paint.htm I made the mistake of going onto this site, and I think it is going to break my modelig budget. (Hello, Scale Finishes and MCW, and MCG and there go a bunch of '69 Camaro kits...) Seriously, they have paint codes and pictures for first generation Camaros and some of the cars in the pictures are awesome. (Anybody else think the 1967 Ermine White car with the luggage rack would stand out among the sea of stripes, graphics and high impact paints that dominate most modeler's shelves?) Happy building everybody! Dave

I am wondering if the JoHan Torino could be mated up to the Revell chassis. It would take some doing, and an interior, but it would make a nice product for a resin caster. The '76 is interesting, and if they make a nice body in the final version, I will probably grab a couple. (One stock, one light commercial) but a '72 would empty out my wallet and fill up my shelves! I do hope Revell makes a good one.

The Revell trailer is pretty nice, but it is 1/24 scale and it is huge. I tried using it behind a 1/25 scale truck and it was clearly oversize. I ended up pairing it with the Monogram Ford Dually and it was okay there, but I had to put a 1/24 car on it. If I decide to build another, I will narrow it just a bit, and use some plastruct treadplate to detail it a bit more. Otherwise, it is a fun build and it is worth the price.

The nailhead does it for me too! Also, a nice Olds motor would be great. I like the one in the Revell kit, but it's an expensive way to get a motor. I would also like some cool speed equipment for the Olds. These were some pretty popular hot rod motors in their day, and they were built up a lot of different ways. A nice hot rod olds with different parts than the Revell custom version would make a neat parts pack. I am kind of hoping the aftermarket will step up with some Rocket and nailhead speed parts. With the reissue of Ivo's Showboat coming up, we can get a whole bunch of Buicks for one low price. The only problem is that we need transmissions for all of them. (Are you listening Norm?) Somebody could get my $$$ with either of these items. As for the Body kit, I have a couple of Double Dragster kits around with the dragsters built, the Fiat bodies converted to altereds and the engines used in other builds. Sounds like a perfect way to use up my fiat frames. I still haven't met a parts pack I didn't like.

The first kit to really floor me was AMT's 1966 Nova. This was back when the best kits on the market were probably Monogram's 1/24 musclecars, the Sprint Cars, and ASA cars were brand new, and the bucket interior was still the dominant method. Out came this brand new tool of a really desirable car with an absolutely gem like motor, platform interior, great body, fantastic detailing and a mirror etched right into the windshield! It also had some really nice speed parts and a great set of mag wheels. The mirror thing was dealt with quickly, and even though the kit was a bit fiddly to build compared to the simpler Monograms, it was pretty much the detail leader at the time. Even today, this kit is a really nice kit to build and always looks nice when finished. The thing the Nova really did was to set the bar for other new kits a bit higher. It made Revell, Monogram and even the Japanese companies take notice and step up their act. Revell made a couple more kits with bucket interiors before going over to platform, but they were still two of the best kits I have built. The '64 Thunderbolt and the '69 Camaros were pretty impressive to my eyes, and I built up a few copies of each. The Camaro was a bucket with separate side pieces, so it was a bit of an advance. Both of these kits impressed me as soon as they came out. The AMT '62 Chevy Bel Air impressed me too, even though it takes a bit of file work to make the body perfect. The 409 is really nicely done. The kit is still a winner today for making Super Stock cars and for grabbing parts. Amt also put out the Cameo and Bullnose Pickups around this time. Revell hit home runs with the '32 Ford series, the '67 Vettes, and the '67 GTX and Chargers. Monogram really floored me with their first 1/25 releases, the '59 Caddy and the '59 Impalas. These kits were really impressive in the box, but didn't seem to build up quite as nicely, mostly due to the chrome being a bit tricky to work with after painting the body. The other Revell kit to really floor me was the first release of the new tool '55 Chevy Convertible. (Molded in coral IIRC) That was a big step ahead, but a bit fiddly to assemble. The other Revell Tri Five Chevy kits have been a bit nicer. I really like the '56 DelRay and the Black Widow '57 as they build up very nicely. AMT had a nice string of releases during it's last gasp years. The '57 Chrysler 300, '70 Camaro, '70 Monte Carlo, '71 Charger and Duster and the Edsel and Riv that they tooled up before they kind of gave up the ghost were all great tools. If any of those tools had been released back in the day of the '66 Nova debut (1988 or '89 IIRC) They would have knocked my socks off too. The latest kits to impress me have been the Moebius Hudson and Chrysler kits. They nave tooling that is on par with, or slightly better than the other kits mentioned, but the real blast is the packaging and documentation with the kit. Great instructions, color references and brochure stuff really get my attention. At first, I regarded them as a third tier company doing niche kits, like Galaxie and Accurate Miniatures (Both of whom made kits that blew me away.) The difference is that Mobeius seems to have survived and is bringing out a second and third round of great kits. This is great news, and hopefully will wake up the other companies to match their quality standards. Moebius kits also fit well and build up nicely, something that Accurate Miniatures had problems with. (As mentioned before, there is a point at which simpler is better) I know I listed a lot of kits, but I have been in the hobby for a long time, and I have seen lot of great stuff come out. The real interesting question is , "What will be the next kit to knock my socks off?" Will it be the '65 Comet? The Ford Pickups? or will Revell blow me away with the '67 Camaro. Will I fall in love with a Tamiya kit this time? Whatever it is, I'm gonna have fun building it! Dave

It's a great kit for what it was. Kits from that generation weren't as detailed under the hood and through the chassis as they are now. That said, they made fantastic shelf models with a lot of presence. The body is pretty nice. Score some lines around the window trim (Especially the backlight) before priming, and you will thank yourself when you go to foil the trim. These were huge models of huge, slab sided cars. Smooth, even paint really makes these models stand out on the shelf, and the interiors looked pretty decent too. Use a black wash to detail the grill and wheels, and use a color wash to add a bit of dimension to the interior and these can be really striking models on a table. Land yachts rule!

The Charger was a different time period altogether. Revell had different management, different competition and a very different customer base back then. They would have been the laughing stock of the modeling world if they had not fixed the Charger kit. They would have been shredded in the magazines, and they never would have sold a kit from that mold until they fixed it. Now, it is not as serious a market and plenty of people are buying the kit even though it is uglier than an Aztec. With the kit having great sales, they have no need to fix it. They will sell a bunch, deformed roof or not. I think many people are buying this kit for all of the drag parts and not even worrying about the body. It has as much to do with the buying public today as anything. Call it the death of the rivet counting generation.

I bought some Dioman wheels, tires and brake drum parts a while back. I got them quickly, and they were excellent.

I used a sheet of glass and some dice that had one side sprayed with a spray adhesive that remained slightly tacky. (3M, IIRC) These are the old Polar Lights funny cars, and they are nice kits with lots of great parts. They are a bit of a booger to get together, though. The paint bottles are a great idea. You can also put some graph paper under the glass to keep things straighter. (Crooked parts really stand out against a nice square background) Revell's Hawaiian works pretty well as a donor for the Mopars, with the Revell Motors, but I am not sure how the Polar Lights Ford motor would fit into the Revell frame. It looks like it should, but I have never tried it. Good luck, and post some pics. I always like to look at the old funny cars. Dave

Danno, I noticed that with the Love Bug release. I built that one with the Triplets when they were just turning 9 years old. I would call it a skill level 1.5, not as easy as the 1/32 snap tights, but less difficult than a glue kit. Luckily the Triplets had all built a few models before, and their older Sister helped us quite a bit. (Also two of the three were fairly patient types for their age.) All three of them turned out well. After that kit, they were ready for glue kits, and it took off from there. Now, they are in College (Where did the time go?) and they still build models of some type or another. Amy is really into slot car dragsters, Beth does 1/72 WWI planes with all of their fiddly bits and rigging, and Dawn builds and flies Peanut scale model airplanes. (Rubber powered scale models with 13" wingspans) Mostly old air racers from the '30s. They all still have their Love Bug models. Dave

Great review. I snagged a couple of these when they were released, as I was down to my last two "Herbies" I was hoping for a reissue, as the Love Bug was a pretty nice kit for what it was. I haven't opened the Spiderman kits yet, so I didn't know about all of the extra parts. The extra wheels look nice, and the seats will find a place in something. Again, I am glad to see this one back, although I cringed at the words "Molded in Red" . Hopefully I will be able to build a yellow version without it turning orange. I will probably save my two "Herbie" kits for the light colored builds. The engine needs a bit of work, but the kit is fantastic with the hood closed, and you can't see most of the problems with the motor when it is installed. It sounds like the guys over on the aftermarket forum are trying to solve this situation. I plan to do a couple of fun builds with these, including a drag beetle, and a front engined Chevy powered racer like I used to see in the '70s. (Solves any problem with the engine!) Glad to see it back, and even more thrilled to hear that I have cool extra parts. Dave

I would go for the bikes too. The Harley was cool, but the Triumph can be really sweet with a little tweaking. Sure would be nice to have a few old bikes to put with all of the older pickup and van releases we are getting. I would probably buy two or three of each.

Thanks, that's what I needed to know! I will get both parts. Dave

I have a couple 1965 Galaxies on their way to me. I am also sending Modelhaus an order for several old time wheels and tires for street rods. I want to get decent lights for the Galaxies while I am ordering. Do I need the Modelhaus bezel and tail light, or just the tail light? I searched a few threads, but none of them really showed whether the bezels from the kit would work with the Modelhaus tail lights, or if I should order both. I will be building them stock. Thanks, Dave

Keep up the good work Dave. I will be patiently waiting for all of these. I have already read most of the 300 plus page thread on the H.A.M.B. on 64-65 drag racing Comet photos. I have no shortage of ideas... (BTW that thread should be mandatory reading for anybody purchasing a Comet kit) http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=335534 I don't know if you have to be logged in to see the pictures or not. Some of the earlier pictures in the thread have disappeared, but there is plenty of eye candy. Now, I have to find threads or pictures of the Pontiacs.

Well, so much for my promise to Cathie that I am going to lay off the new kits and work at thinning down the stash. (I have agreed to build two kits for every one I buy!) Since I have a copy or two of almost everything made since the '80s I figured it would be pretty easy. I would have to sneak in a few Ford trucks, and maybe a really old reissue or two. (like the Demon) Now, I have to account for two different Pontiacs, two Hudsons and a bunch of Comets and Satellites. The worst part is that you will probably make racing versions of most of them and a few extra body styles too. By the time I sneak all of these into the house, you will be announcing next year's kits and there will be some that I GOTTA have...(Infinite loop of model buying?) The good news is that at least one person in the house will be happy. Thanks, Dave, for wrecking my (almost) happy home! BTW, I plan to be at Toledo this October. Hopefully I will get to see the display in person. Also Cathie says I can have extra Ford trucks if I build a replica of her Father's from when she was a kid.

I would be in for a few boattails too. Along with any '50s or '60s cars they wanted to make. (55 or 56 Safari anybody??)

You know, I posted in another thread that I have really cut back on kit purchases, as I already have a couple of lifetimes worth of kits to build. I only buy kits I "GOTTA have" Well... the Pontiacs, the Comet and the Plymouth are all on that list. Hopefully, the bodies will be spot on, and the kits will be as nice as the Hudsons. I am also looking forward to the Ford trucks. Keep the good stuff coming and I will keep buying it. Now I have to start researching pictures to see what drag cars I can do with the Satellite and the Pontiacs.

These all started as the Monogram sprint cars released in 1987. At the time, they were state of the art kits of an up to date, cutting edge W.o.O. Gambler car. The chassis parts have decent, but not perfect detail. The chassis itself features some squared off tubes where the real car was round, and has an insert section that takes a bit of putty and sanding to make perfect. I think the hoods and a few other parts have been updated again and again to keep up with the real cars, and the wheels are newer, but if you are looking for a state of the art sprinter, you will need to do a lot of scratch building. If you are looking to build an '80s or early '90s sprinter then get one of the older issues. They are pretty spot on. Right after the first kit was released, two changes occurred in real sprinters. The hoods went from the old style with the airbox on top to a rounded off version that was referred to as a "Boat Hood" by racers around here. The second group of releases in the '90s had this hood, and they are well done. The second change was to downtube chassis. That was also added to the kit during one of the early updates, but the downtubes don't quite match up with the rest of the roll cage in terms of cross section. With a bit of sanding, it can look pretty close though. If you are building the car without the top wing, you will want to either add some material to the front of the roll cage or clip the part of the wing mount off and glue it to the cage to cover up the big flat spot on the wing mount. It's no big deal and easy to do. That's about what I remember from this kit. Seems like about half of them were bought for the rear tires to use on street rods or pro street cars back in the early days. (People bought them in pairs to get two matching sets of rear tires) The rear tires are staggered, just like the real ones. Use the big tire on the right of course. The front tires are ribbed, not cross treaded. The rear tires are pretty close to the Hoosiers we ran, but they had GoodYear lettering on them. (We scraped off the lettering and stenciled them with either GoodYear, McCreary, Firestone or Hoosier markings as the real tires tended to have painted markings in those days.) Hopes this helps a bit, Dave

As I stated earlier. I will buy several if they fix the body. I will not hold my nose and buy one if they don't. I have seen one built, and it looks too funky to sit on my shelf. (Having owned a few real Fox coupes, I have a pretty strong feel for the proportions, and this misses by enough to look out of place to my eyes.) If they were blowing these out at Wal Mart for $4.99, I would buy one for the drag parts, but at $20something a pop, there are too many other kits that I can buy and build. It's Revell's choice now. They can empty my wallet, or I can build some Moebius or Japanese kits instead. No crying, whining or personal attacks here, just the facts. I have a stash that will outlast several lifetimes of building. I don't need new kits, unless they cover a "Gotta have it" subject matter, or they are so good that I can't resist. Some of the repops catch my attention,for nostalgia like the '63 'Vette, but I am trying not to buy anything that I don't plan to build soon. I am making a rule that I can't buy a kit without completing one from the stash first, plus I am building the kits that I buy fairly soon. I would like to add a fleet of Drag and street Mustangs to the shelf, but I won't spend a hundred or so bucks to do it if they aren't really nice. There are too many kits vying for my money and closet space that are very nicely done. I tend to pick only the best now.

They also come free with the purchase of an old style light bulb! (We used to use light bulb filaments from burned out bulbs for smaller springs in the good old days) Too stiff and brittle to use with a working linkage, but okay for the day in static applications.

Droooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool!! Beautiful job! The true secret to customizing a car is knowing when to stop. You are the master. Every modification contributes to the overall look of the car. This is the nicest custom I have seen in a long time.

If they did fix the roof, I will buy several. But...I'm going to wait until I see the kit in person, or see some very detailed pictures on here before I plunk down my hard earned cash for them. (My days of blindly buying the new Revell releases without vetting them first is long past.) I hope that someday, they will also run another batch of stock ones with corrected bodies. This is the car that pretty much was the backbone of the muscle car scene for the best part of a decade. It sure deserves a good kit, and should be pretty popular with a whole generation of new builders.

I have the RMR cab that matches that one, but I have no idea where the wheels would come from. My cab is earmarked for another project. The mixer would have to be scratchbuilt. Nothing a little bit of geometry can't work out. Neat little truck! I bet somebody will take a shot at it.