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Well David it would seem that your build would be compared to riding a bicycle. Once you've done it you never forget how. and that's how I would describe your build. I would never have thought you had been away that long. Just one old fart to another I think some of the hobby dedicated paint products work best.

Looks good. I think a built flathead would give some additional character to the build. Maybe even an old SCOTT blower if you can find one.

I think Ace's idea should be tried first. Since the presents of moisture is most likely the original cause of the problem you may very well cause additional damage to the decals if you use anything that dampens the area. Not to say that isn't a last resort to free the decals, just that there well be addition damage. My thought if the area that is stuck is very small and since the decals in that area are no longer useable anyway why not use your X-Acto knife and just cut the decal sheet free.

I see what you mean about the boot opening. It's not a big deal really, but I can see why it is the way it is, AMT would offer their annuals as a convertible and a hardtop. The '60 Fords where the first year for that beautiful sloping top with the large rear glass. AMT would just cut off the top on the hardtop kit and call it a convertible. They would leave what I perceive as a larger than 1:1 space for the folding top. This easily would be covered by the boot. I wouldn't change anything since it does look good as is. With the body work you had to do your paint turned out really nice. The tail lights as I recall were a very flat red lens. If you used some foil in this area and painted it with some Clear Red it should look fine.

I'm not a fan of any of the Tax money going to any of the sports teams or even shopping centers or business. In the end people like you and I end up with reduced services from our government and increased personal taxes to pay for some wealthy group to make more money with little or nothing out of their own pockets. If it's that good of an idea and they are going to make all the money then they should put their own money on the line. They don't "over pay" the people working there and provide little or no benefits for the workers. So what is there really to be gained except bragging wrights.

I'm old enough that an automatic transmission was as uncommon then as manual transmissions are today. This may account for my personal preference for a stick shift. There have been a few automatics pass thru my garage at times but the transmission was because it was a used car and that was what it had. When I first started ordering new cars in the '60's they would all have the 4-speed and one of the high performance engines of the day. My retirement new car was an '05 GTO 6-speed. When my wife wanted a new Wrangler we ordered her an '09 with a 6-speed. A year later we had to purchase a family type sedan so that we could take her mother when needed. We ordered a new Charger RT with AWD (it does snow in Kansas once in a while) it was only available with the 5 speed automatic. I have to say I really like this transmission. It upshifts at the right time and even down shifts as you approach an intersection and you're under braking. It never down shifts to far when you go to pass and uses the engines torque to make the maneuver rather than over rev the engine. I still get over 20 mpg even with my lead foot. I think the automatic transmissions of today are such that it makes better since than a manual, and I never thought I would ever feel that way. The Wrangler is still in the garage and will be for a long time. We use it as a Jeep is meant to be IE: off road at every chance. The drive train is stock but I replaced the suspension with 3" lift springs, shocks and control arms. 35" tires on 17x9.5 wheels. On the highway they can hear me coming before they can see me. We have been on trails in Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Tennessee, and Arkansas. Going on 92k miles on the original clutch with no problems.

Beautiful build. Very clean and well detailed.

The colors look wright to me. Was this an old annual or a converted AMT kit ?? The top boot looks like it may be a very little long onto the rear panel between the opening and the trunk lid. But I would leave that to one of the Ford fanatics here to determine, it looks good to me.

Great looking build. That is a "Truck truck."

I like that. It looks like one of the cars from the SEMA show.

Great looking truck, I like the "pull toy" .

Beautiful Camaro. It does look much better without that kits rear spoiler.

Great looking Gasser / Pro Street Corvette. Nice soft shade of green.

Beautiful build. Like so many others I followed your build on this model. That is the only way to appreciate what all you did. The diorama is the perfect back drop for your pictures.

Body and interior look outstanding. You might want to check the bottom of the gas tank unless the Revell logo is ok with you.

Just got back from "town". My wife got a 60% coupon from Michaels so I picked up the Olds. I'm going to use the chassis under my next El Camino build. The best part of the old AMT El Camino with the Monte Carlo front end is the body. The chassis leaves a lot to be desired and the engine isn't much better.

Turned out absolutely Evil looking. I enjoyed your You Tube video.

I picked up the new issue Thursday at the market. They also have a one page photo/text on a guy building a TROG roadster and a lot of Gasser style cars.

I have a few '59 El Caminos in my stash, don't remember seeing a slide in camper in any of my issues. I have a '65 El Camino that must be a reissue since the plastic is yellow. The camper shell represents an aluminum three peace shell.

Very nice looking build. That's the color I'd want also. Very clean looking.

Perfect looking High Boy. As others have pointed out the color really makes the build stand out. I also like the interior, both color and finish.

Beautiful looking build. I really like the way you detailed the dash. I have always liked this GM body style and owned an '86 Monte Carlo SS for many years. What are your thoughts on the chassis ?? Thinking about maybe using this kit for a basis for something else.

Your build is looking great. I personally always liked the "Aero" front bumper on these cars. I see what you mean about the blue color. I just didn't realize you were changing the color of your 1:1 and thought you where trying to do an OEM color.

Not sure why you want a long bed, I don't think the Ranger is even made in a long bed. That said you could get an other bed from another kit and splice the two together. You could make it as long as you want. As Mikemodeler mentioned, use the bed from another kit. Are you wanting a step side or a fleetside ??

If your thinking of building one there are Resin bodies out there with the correct body side moldings on the body. A few years ago I built a '50 that I think I got from Modelhaus. I still have a '51 awaiting its time on the bench. I know Modelhaus is no longer with us but I believe there are others out there offering such bodies.