Harry P.

It was featured in a step-by-step buildup in the magazine (#158 April 2011)...

Most diecast models have bodies of cast white metal, while the rest of the model (chassis, engine, interior) is usually plastic. Working with a diecast body isn't exactly the same as working with plastic bodies. You need a power tool (Dremel with a cutoff wheel) to make cuts in the body... using a razor saw and making cuts by hand is possible but labor-intensive. Joining cut metal parts requires epoxy instead of styrene glue. Body filler (Bondo, for example) is the best thing to use for filling seams, creating contours, etc. Just about any paint can be used, just prime first. The rest of the plastic parts can be worked pretty much the same as a typical plastic model kit, but sometimes the plastic used in diecast models is a different type than the plastic used in typical plastic kits, so you'll need a different glue (CA or epoxy) instead of styrene glue.

Are you putting on enough coats of clear?

You guys got this one! Final vote: 60 REAL, 5 MODEL. It's a REAL 1920 Excelsior.

That is pretty near insane. Just cutting out the letters at that tiny size and doing it so well is amazing enough, let alone getting the "stamped" look. You, sir, have just a bit of talent.

Ok... so the obvious question is... how the heck did you do that?

Ok, am I seeing things or are the numbers on that plate actually embossed???

With a car named "burlesque," it will have to be topless, right?

That's not me in the photo. It's just a picture I found on google to show how big that kit is.

Unfortunately, in today's society money and class usually don't go hand in hand...

So... no beach blanket bingo for you?

That's a good looking model.

Just to give you a sense of the size of this kit:

Not gonna lock up this ol' corral just yet. No reason to so far...

Looks like ol' Rob Hall is a mite slow on the draw too...

That's the same website I just posted the link to.

"Fuselage" styling is a term associated with late 60s to early 70s full size Mopars like Imperials, Newports and Furies. http://www.fuselage.de/

Of course they do. They don't just pull names out of a hat, they do their homework. It would be insanely shortsighted not to do research. Of course, market research doesn't always result in a popular product (New Coke, for example). But basing new tooling on the best information they have is a lot smarter than tooling up kits at random. And I'm sure no model manufacturer tools up new kits randomly.

"Because that backward bunch is inept to realize how well they would sell." So your opinion is that because some particular kits that you personally would like to see produced have not seen the light of day, the obvious conclusion is that the kit manufacturers are too stupid to realize what a smash hit these kits would be? So I guess we might have heard a conversation similar to this taking place in Manufacturer X's conference room: "So, guys, are there any subjects out there that haven't been produced yet, but have a HUGE pent-up demand? Are we hearing about any particular subjects that would be sure-fire sales winners? Why yes... there's the 1971 Riviera, 1977-90 fullsize Chevrolet, any Fuselage Mopar, or a 197x Ford Wagon. Our best research and available information tells us that any of those kits would be a huge success! Ok, gentlemen... let's make a note of those and remember to never produce any one of them. After all, the last thing we want is a sales success. We're too stupid and backward!"

What medium are they?

If the kitmakers thought the kits of this "ignored" chapter would sell, they'd be making them. I highly doubt that a model manufacturer would NOT produce kits that they were convinced would sell well. It makes no sense, logically or business-wise. Kit manufacturers aren't idiots.

Sorry, I should have been clearer. I used a "1977 Plushmobile" as a totally random example. My point was that if a certain model hasn't been released, 70s-era or otherwise, that there's a reason why it hasn't been released. I was responding more to the "why don't they ever make" crowd, not in regards to any specific era model kit.

Those PE upgrades really make a huge difference. Very nice work so far.

"I built this thing for another forum's Box Stock Challenge..."

This should have been posted in the "How Do I?" section.