Maindrian Pace

I think it's wild, and I'd like to see the progress too. Are the flares step side fenders? -MJS

He isn't exactly Snake Plissken in this movie, but if you like cars, it's a fun flick. Plus, it was filmed about four miles from my house. -MJS

This promotional item contained one of several different MPC kits from the era, anything from street cars, NASCAR, or dragsters were put in. The "kits" were often just a bunch of parts from the regular version of whatever made it in the box, almost never complete and buildable as supplied, and sometimes even included a tree or other parts from other, unrelated kits. Back in the late '80s, I turned one down for $10. As it turned out, not one of my better decisions. -MJS

The 4x4 suspension rides high out of the box, I just glued the rear springs a little lower on the frame, and used small strip spacers between the spring and the axle. On the front, I used spacers made from Evergreen tube on the coil springs and modified the radius rods a bit. If you are using the 2wd twin I beam suspension, it can be raised like the 4x4 front axle. AMT already did it for you, and the '79 Bronco version has much better chassis, suspension, and engine detail than the pickups. -MJS

A bit more progress, the frame is shortened and mocked up. Lift kit is mild, 3mm front and maybe 4mm rear. The Tires are Satco Bridgestone Desert Duelers, the wheels are Monogram High Roller '80-ish F150, rechromed by Chrome Tech. The seam and frame splice angle: First mockup: -MJS

-MJS

That's coming out very nicely, lots of shrinking and stretching when combining scales like that but it's matching up well. -MJS

Super clean build Fred, I love the color combo, engine, tires, stance, really everything you've done with it. It's truly one of a kind, and it reminds me of back in the '90s when a lot of guys learned the hard way that you just don't mess with a Mustang that looks like that. -MJS

Ha! now that's cool, and a lot of work, notice the re-sculptured header panel for deeper grille and headlights, the frenched bumpers, and the early style door handles, among other mods. Lots of time there. -MJS

Very nice work, I've always admired the styling of the MK 10 Jag-u-wire. -MJS

Ryan, It's going to be a little of both; I think mainly a kit rear window/hatch section from either MPC or Revell - whichever is more realistic - with plenty of Evergreen, a hatch area insert, and a new vacuform window unit. With a lot of this stuff, you just sort of invent it as you go along. -Mike

I'm glad that everyone likes this body, it's been quite an experience from beginning to end. When the current pickup project is built, work will begin on the hatch version. -MJS

Fantastic restoration, and the latest issue of HMM is right next to me: -MJS

Thanks guys. It was detailed with silver paint and painted wide whitewalls when it was given to me to restore, the owner wanted it brought back to stock. On a $300-$500 promo, you just don't do BMF or any other detailing, you get the Modelhaus straightened resin version and do it to that. -MJS

Great show, and lots of stuff I just couldn't seem to leave without. Sad-eyed, weird orphan stuff. Bone dry on the way home, but 30 minutes later... yeah. -MJS

Very nice Al. I've got one of those in the Coke livery, I bought it new at Toys R Us maybe 10 years ago. I like your remake better, I've always wondered what to do with mine. -MJS

I'm with Greg on that one, a few well placed red or gray primer spots will make it look like a '70s street machine still being driven in the '80s. -MJS

Looking real, I just picked the kit up at today's swap meet. Very nice job and color combo. -MJS

Super sano, a True Blue '32, and sits just right. Driving that would be something else, too. -MJS

It's a little Photoshop fun someone had, but I think it looks great as a custom Fox Rod. -AZB

-MJS

Beautiful, so '50s and so jet age, I always remembered the '59 Mercury as the car with the rockets on the sides. -MJS

The Thunderbolts were originally equipped with a single exhaust so they could be driven home. That was obviously the first part to be removed. No factory T-bolt single exhaust systems are known to exist. -MJS

Precisely. You park in the least noticeable way to avoid vandalism. It's surprising how many people that doesn't occur to. -MJS

Whenever you see a Lada in a Russian dash cam video, it will most likely be wrecked seconds later. -MJS