espo

Years ago I joined the AMT Club or what ever they were calling it. They used to offer model reissues that you couldn't get in the store. I remember buying a couple of '64 Ford Galaxy hardtops and they had a very nice trailer/car hauler.

I agree on the New and improved foil. I tried the Ultra Bright once and never finished the sheet. It seems somewhat thicker and on long pieces such as body side moldings it wanted to curl up. The jagged edge can sometimes come from not using a new blade or cutting at a steep angle rather than laying the blade at a low angle.

The paint looks amazing. I like the body color/interior color combination.

As MikeModler mentioned, in show contests it is not uncommon to lose out to another model that has something like the firing order wrong on the distributer. Depending on the "rivet counter" mentality of others including judging, a note on color finishes. These three photos show very well how these cars are "over restored" today. I don't want to bore you with this, but depending on just how many rivets you want to count, the #1 photo shows two deviations, the transmission dip stick would have been either natural unfinished metal or maybe black and the master brake reservoir would have been an unpainted natural finish. That is why when you look at most older cars the reservoir always looks rusty. The hood hinges are painted black and they should be a silver/gray phosphate finish. this wouldn't stop rust but slowed it down for many years. #2 You can see the correct finish on the hood hinges but the brake reservoir is again painted. #3 This is what you see most often at car shows, but there are some areas that are done wrong if you're really going for the concours competition. The Holly carb. and the brake booster are just to gold and should be slightly lighter color. Tamiya X-31 Titan gold instead of X-12 Gold Leaf. If it should matter, the Thermostat housing is the correct aluminum housing where the standard passenger cars had a pot metal type housing. Besides being obsessive about such things (my bad) I realize just how hard you are trying to do everything right, but some of the reference materials are just a little wrong. I'll be quiet now and enjoy following your build.

With the front bumper it may make the grill opening look smaller.

I like the side moldings, that cleans up the side a lot. The Edsel tail light where a very popular. The grill seems a little over done, but it may look a little smaller when you're done. What kit did it come from ? Does the paint have ghost flames? What are you thinking for the roof color ?

That is a vast improvement and would have made more economic sense for the manufacture, but I still wouldn't want one. .

The placement of the Alternator in the first photo would be for a '68 or earlier model engine without the AIR system. I believe that it is a '67 model based on the duel master brake cylinder, it is odd because of the automatic transmission dip stick. The Turbo 400 was available but not common on the high horsepower engines. The second photo would be a '69 or later based on Alternator being on the passenger side , this engine also has the AIR (Smog Pump) which would have been mandatory for California and any other states with the smog requirements. The third photo gives you a good view of the Holly Carb. used on the high performance versions of the big blocks. The base 325/396 and 385/427 would have a Carter Quadrajet carb.

I had several big block Chevrolets from this era that I bought new. They were not COPO's but the '66 Impala SS was a 325/396 4 speed, the '68 was a Bel Air 385/427 4 speed and my work truck was a '67 El Camino 350/396 4 speed. In each case the fuel lines were very close to how you have presented on your build. The only way that it could be any closer is if you left off the kink in the line going towards the water pump. The line traveled at an angle in front of the block and pass. side head and then made a sharp turn to run along the tlop of the intake until it turned up to the carb. Your angles coming from the fuel pump and going to the carb. are as I remember. The only fuel filter was where the fuel line went into the carb. They had a gold colored stone of some sort that was all. But remember these were RPO engines and that is not to say a COPO could be different.

I'm not familiar with this kit but it looks interesting. I like how you built up the back of the cab, I'll have to remember that, it looks great.

Plug wires look great, you even went so far as to include the valve cover breathers, something usually left off by most.

Very nice, I like the wood bed, it looks like some oily parts have slid around back there. What kind of finish are you using on the runners between the planks ? I like the later model Ford in a Ford for a change.

Another must have Hudson. I now understand Frank's interest in Hudsons since his father raced them.

Looks nice, the suspension changes really help the appearance. You might want to check the front tires. The directional tread pattern looks like they should be switched from side to side.

Redo looks great. What a buy.

Great looking redo. The Edsel was always an interesting vehicle.

Maybe an engine from one of Revell's Duster or Dart kits could give you the engine your looking for.

This a picture of the parts from the '48 Ford and I included the PD parts from the '57 Ford Del Rio if they look like something you could use. On the '48 there is a siren, two lights that are chrome with red lenses a little less than 1mm in diameter. A spot light about half a mm in diameter with a clear lens and an antenna a little over 2mm long in chrome. The decals show both a generic "State Police" and "Chicago Police" makings. The license plates are '48 issue for Illinois and Virginia. The '57 Ford has a roof mounted red light just under 1mm in diameter and about 1mm high. A fender type mounted red light siren combo about 1/2 mm in diameter and 1mm long with a red lens. A spot light about 1/2mm in diameter with a clear lens. The antenna is 2 1/2mm long. The decals have "Franklin County Sheriff" with 7 point star and a generic "Highway Patrol" door shield with a 6 point star. There are three additional door shields for Sheriff and Clearwater PD and Highway Patrol. The sheet also has two manufactures emblems for the siren and the roof light. Both sets have small tow way radios for under dash. I'm not a service vehicle builder and I don't see myself ever using these parts. If this will help you project let me know.

Beautiful build. I like the shots taken outdoors, that really adds to the appearance of your model.

In say '68 those $36-$38 wheels in 2016 dollars would be closer to $200 plus in todays dollars.

Very nice build.

I can see that you have already got your interior pretty well done, but just for the future, you might try outlining all of the detail with your #11 before you even primer the interior. This holds true for all of the moldings on the body also. These features are often molded very lightly just as your interior was here. I have found that if you outline all of these moldings on the interior and the body as part of your basic prep before primer you don't lose the feature after paint. I even go so far as to make a very visible line along the body moldings that will be foiled later. These usually get covered under several layers of paint and get very hard to find the edge when you go back to foil. You have gotten a lot of valid information on sources for a Pontiac engine . Another possibility if you have the Revell '69 Firebird kit.

Check in the Aftermarket/Resin section. Kitchen Table Resin has one and his work is amazing. There may be others but that section is where you should look.

I would like to see Jr. return to the #88, but only if he and the doctors feel that he is 100%. As we are finding out more and more about the effects of concussions it is in his best interest to be sure that he is in fact ok. I think he has been acting with the utmost caution and he does have to think about how this will effect rest of his life. I would agree with those that think that his chances at a championship would have been better driving for his father when Sr. retired. Several things happened that put an end to that setup. As many of you can understand the loss of his father effected him greatly, and then he and his stepmother couldn't come to an agreement on how Earnhardt Racing was to go forward after Sr.'s death. He has shown his driving ability in many races with Hendrick Motorsports. He has some of the best equipment and personal in the business and I feel that if he returns for the 2017 season he should do well. If it is his choice to retire then it would be nice if he could step into the booth. While I like DW, there is a reason that the other drivers used to call him Jaws. He does tend to "rattle on" a bit and tries to monopolize the conversation on air. I hope nothing but the best for the man.

Thank you for sharing. Besides the large number of entrants the quality of the builds is amazing.