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I respectfully disagree on the Testors Go Mango. I have used it on a couple of different models in the last couple of years and I can't see any Brown in it. Of course we all see colors differently.

Not some place you would normally look for such things, but Wal Mart carries several different Sylvania bulbs and most are the brighter types.

You are 100% correct about most of the self important so called Auto Journalist. It would be interesting to see what is actually in their garages that they bought with their own money. I was in the retail auto business for over 30 years and have been working on cars since before I could get a license, that still doesn't make me an expert. #1 Does your wife like this or any other vehicle for what ever her particular wants and needs are ? Everyone of us have different expectations from your automobiles. Sounds as though you keep a car until it drops, smart move, your dealer must hate you. For me a car would have to be at the top or very near the top of the horsepower that the manufacture offers. Sounds as thought you are comfortable with something a little more practical. You should buy what you want and not what they want to sell you. I personally would not be happy in a Dodge Journey but I feel it would be a perfectly fine car based on what your needs are. Have them loan you one over night and drive your normal daily routs . How does your wife feel in it, sight lines, stopping and turning. Getting on and off the freeway. How does it fit her, is her driving position comfortable and the controls easy to reach. Drive the 4 cylinder you lean toward but also drive the 6 just to see what its like. I have lived most of my life in California and unless you go to Tahoe in the winter AWD will be a needless expense. The Journey has front wheel drive and that should work well for her even in the rain. Just remember to rotate your tires often since front wheel drive vehicles will wear the front tires much quicker than a rear wheel drive but it sounds like you have had front wheel drive cars before and this is something you are already familiar with. We got my wife a new '14 Dodge Avenger RT and she couldn't be happier. It is hard for me to bend around to get in and out so I drive our '10 Charger RT with AWD. Now that's my a car that is fun not matter what the weather is. I only mention this to illustrate that everyone has different wants and needs. Just get what it is you want and need and the Dodge Journey might just be a very wise purchase.

I like your Decal work. Very nice looking build.

That's a beautiful looking engine and I'm not even a Ford guy. Looks like a concourse restoration with all of the correct finishes and markings. Even the beloved Smog Pump is there. This should be a great aid to anyone wanting to model a truly correct Boss 302.

I agree with everyone else, great paint job on this. If you still want to try the Hood Stinger Decal, Testors offers a spray can they call Decal Bonder. I have used it on home made decals also since the Ink Jet Printer decals are given to smear. You might check with your local hobby shop and see what they have to offer. Very nice interior work on this also.

I would not weather this, it's just to nice the way it is. Your Chop and Shortening of the Body looks like a factory design. Almost a shame to hid this nice of an Interior under a Chopped Top.

While that is also a good kit the one I mentioned is by MPC and I think it has been reissued by Round 2. The oldest kit I have of this model has a Black/Red cove drawing of the Corvette on the box. It's code #301-200 and I'm unable to find a date anywhere on it. It's so old the instruction sheet paper is turning yellow. Another kit that I have is also by MPC and is code #306-200 and is a '60 Corvette with all of the same equipment in it. This one has a Candy Apple Red Corvette without a hood and a Blown Small Block with a Roll Bar and a Tonneau Cover on the box. I know for sure the '60 has been reissued in the last couple of years and I'm sure you could find one of those.

I have come to believe it depends on which way the wind blows, or who may be monitoring such things at the time.

If I can afford it I'll get the '59 Impala wagon. I had one when it was just another old car, took it in trade plus a few hundred dollars for my '57 Ford base tudoor with a 312 and 3-speed with Overdrive. I would like to build a copy of that old work horse.

Those front Bumpers are from a mid '50's Cadillac. Boy O Boy do I remember Dagmar.

Great looking build. I like the detailing of the chassis, and the thin film of "rust" on the mufflers. The trim for the vinyl roof looks just like OEM. The interior is very realistic looking. This is a great kit, and I love the subject. I had a '72 Monty that I picked up in the late '70's and it served me well and one of the best handling big cars on the open road.

Extremely sharp looking build. You really captured the look of the 1:1 GTX. Being a Johan, was the interior as shallow as their old Road Runner kit ??

I don't know if you know about the old MPC '56/'57 Corvette kit. The kit has been reissued several times and the always turns up at swap meets. The kit is a treasure trove for parts and in particular your type of build. One version is listed as a Road Racer and offers duel quad four barrels, Roll Bar, a cut down Windshield, and B/P decals. There is a Rally Version with a single four barrel, Tow Hooks. The kit also contains some Custom Grills, Tail Lights, Headrest, a Hardtop Roof, Tonneau Cover, and Drag Racing parts like a Parachute, a 6-71 Blower, Headers, and Slicks. I have been harvesting a couple of these kits for years. All of the parts seem to have a very high degree of fidelity.

I look forward to your rebuild. As you may already know the parts for the Z-11 engine conversion are included in the old AMT '62 Bel Air kit. That kit has the unique Air Cleaner and Intake Manifold. There is a set of Headers that are very close to the 1:1 also. If you don't have the MCW Impala bench Seat interior you could modify the Bel Airs seats. The AMT has been reissued with raised front suspension and "Old Reliable" Decals. This goes a long way on the conversion with very little cash out lay.

Your paint job looks "as smooth as a new babies bottom". I like the color, most any shade of Orange is good with me, the polishing really turned out perfect. The pictures make the Orange look like there is a hint of metallic in the paint.

You know there are shops that can repair your steering wheel. I can see how that could rip your hands to shreds very easily.

I like it. The paint coming off the hood and roof. The rear wheel opening looks like one of the cross links on the chains broke in the last snow storm. They can really beat up the sheet metal. Paint coming off the front bumper and all.

Very nice looking build. The colors are sure bright, but then it is a Custom and some GI might of wanted something special after he mustered out.

Excellent looking build. This was a common power source in many parts of the country years ago. People just used what they had and this engine would run all day long no problem. Your build details this subject perfectly. That is really cool looking.

I would love to have one of these to play with. This last Christmas the Hobby Shop I frequent had it's annual Christmas sale and I almost had my wife talked into a remote control Jeep, since we have a 1:1 she was interested. They offered what I felt was a great price for the product but when you start edging over a couple of hundred dollars, and this was closer to three hundred out the door, she said pass. I like this rig because you could go after them in the water also. Something I've been doing the last couple of years is to use a red Laser pointer after sunset. The object is to get them on the other side of the lake away from the house to cut down on the noise and they tend to stay put after dark. What I do is go out on our deck at night and shine the red Laser at them. They see the light and they just freak. I can herd them around until they're on the other side. Works like a charm, about $25.00 at Radio Shack.

I wasn't sure where you were going with the roof, but now it looks like a Hardtop, that they didn't have then, or you could even go for a four door Hardtop. The front Roll Pan instead of a Bumper would be in keeping with the Custom theme here.

This model is turning out so nice. Hard to believe it would look this good after seeing what you started with. I just noticed the rounded corners in the leading edge of the hood, that is a custom touch that you just don't see anymore. I think it looks perfect with the theme of your build.

Great idea on the interior. I'd like to build another '49 Woody and I would like to do something like you're doing here with a late model interior and newer drive train. On the engine front let me know what you have in mind and I'll see if I have something that you could use.

I really have no idea. Our Government Bodies move in very slow and mysterious ways. This problem is prevalent in many of the area cities and anywhere there is an open body of water. I often drive thru a near bye city called Overland Park. The main road is Metcalf. There is a nice business area with several office buildings and sidewalks with nice landscaping surrounding several open ponds and small park like areas where workers can take a break or eat there lunch. The problem is that the sidewalks are so slippery with Geese droppings you can't walk on them. My hope is that whoever makes the laws protecting these pests would get realistic about their population and its impact on the area.