Fabrux

My question for those folks that have open display cases: how do you deal with dust? In my last setup, I had an open case and everything got pretty dusty. My current arrangement has a closed case and I don't have to worry about the dust. I'm in the process of moving and the closed case I have now won't be coming with me (it is built in to a wall) and all I have at the moment is open cases.

Bah, I'm holding out for this issue of the Datsun pickup:

The 2015 F-150 looks almost exactly like the Atlas concept, which I loved from the get go. Also the 2015 Canyon: http://media.gm.com/content/product/public/us/en/canyon/home.html

An option I've been wanting to try is to paint the letter colour first, then paint the body colour, and sand off until the letter colour shows. Cover with clear and it should look pretty good!

I'll bite. This stuff looks cool and doable.

I think that the international S-10 parts came before the Hombre; the South American S-10s and Blazers had this front clip and rear quarters as well as Russian Blazers, IIRC.

My biggest offender so far is the MPC 73-87 Chevy pickup kits. I have almost the entire run, plus doubles of most of the issues.

Mike, I stuck with just the MPC kits at this time. May do the Monogram/Revell kits later...

Actually, it can't, unfortunately. BUT, if one was to pick up the monster truck kit and the latest reissue, a stock 82-87 style El Camino could be built. And then an SS monster truck... Ahh, okay. The original issue was before RC2 came into the picture, so it makes sense that someone at AMT would put some money into it.

Included for completeness sake, MPC also released the GMC Caballero in 1979 as the El Diablo. This issue had all the same custom parts as the Night Moves but added the GMC grille and was molded in blue. Stock number 1-0754.

This kit saw several reissues. In 1998 as stock number 30074, with and without a plus pack: In 2002, same stock number, different box art: In 2007, with stock number 38588: And the latest issue, in 2009, seeing a return of the original MPC brand, stock number 712: This was also releases as part of a three-kit set in 1992, carrying the stock number 8911: In doing my research for this article, I can't find any issues of the SS kit under the MPC brand before 2009. If there was an SS promo issued between 1984 and 1991, that would explain the body change. Otherwise, I have no idea why AMT would modify the kit at all and not just re-issue the last version of the kit. If anyone has any thoughts, please share!

I've been sitting on this one for a while, time to post it up! This article is intended to cover the MPC and AMT issued glue kits of the fifth generation of Chevrolet El Camino kits from 1978-1987. MPC produced promotional models for Chevrolet for this vehicle in various factory colours throughout the years, far too many to capture in the scope of this article. Having the promo contract ensured year-to-year changes in the kits, as shown below. The first glue kit released by MPC was in 1978 at the start of the new El Camino body style. Keeping with their themed kits, this was released under the name Royal Knight and featured a large decal sheet of graphics for decorating the finished truck. The truck depicted is the special edition Royal Knight package, 78-81 body style with rallye rims. This kit was released with the stock number 78-0420 and molded in black. The next kit on the shelves was released in 1980 as the Night Moves custom truck. Still depicting the 78-81 body style, this release adds custom parts to the Royal Knight issue: tonneau cover, snowflake rims, rear roof spoiler, tube grille, lake-style exhaust, and CB antenna. Again molded in black, this kit carried the stock number 1-0760. In early 1981, the Branding Iron kit was released, adding more customization options to the Night Moves kit. This release added a camper shell top instead of the tonneau cover and spoiler, replaced the snowflake rims with Centerline style rims, and retained the tube grille and lake-style exhaust. Molded in red, this kit has the stock number 1-0854. Sometime in 1981, the tooling of the El Camino body was altered to reflect the new-for-1982 body style, changing the front end to quad rectangle headlights from dual rectangle and a flush grille. The first glue kit released was in late 1981 and carried the name Red Light Bandit. As this issue was marketed as a "street racer", the customization options were changed once again. The tonneau cover and spoiler are back, retaining the lake-style exhaust, swapping out the Centerlines for turbine-style rims, and adding a hood scoop and new front bumper. Molded in red, this kit has the stock number 1-0857. The next issue of this kit was not until 1984 and was part of the company-wide monster truck craze. This issue includes many extra parts to turn the regular street-going El Camino into a car-crushing monster truck: roll bar with off-road lights, grille guard with winch and off-road lights, monster truck suspension, axles and wheels, hood-exit exhaust headers, and high-rise intake manifold. Molded in yellow under the stock number 1-0453. Now under the stewardship of AMT/Ertl, this kit was again issued in 1991 under their brand instead of MPC. The kit was returned to the street version, although now the tooling was updated to the SS model. This issue retained the tonneau cover, however all other customization options were lost. The wheels were updated to the SS-style rallye rims. This issue was molded in the usual AMT grey plastic and carried the stock number 6964.

IIRC the Ford oval didn't show up on ANY vehicles until around 83-84 or so.

That being said, Bill, for those of us that have a hard time completing projects sometimes a deadline helps. Case in point, my club's latest New Year's Challenge finally got me off my duff and building something. We also have our annual show and I always strive to have something new ready for it, although lately that hasn't been happening.

Or you could get the MPC 1982 annual, the Wild Breed:

I actually have the earlier style Thunderbird pro-stock body in my stash along with the re-issued kit and would be interested in these decals! I think the older body fits the reissued chassis; haven't checked yet.

If you're looking for a custom van interior of the 70s, try and pick up a copy of the Testor's Supervan. It is based on a highly customized Dodge Tradesman by George Barris and has a complete customized interior.

Well, having just completed my first build in two years, I have a big problem getting things finished. With a large stash that keeps growing, things just keep grabbing my attention. I have on the go six builds that I would consider quite far along in progress but can't keep interested in them long enough to finish. One is a Jeep CJ-7 that just needs the roof painted and installed as I screwed up the paint on it, another is a replica of a truck my dad built when I was young that just needs tail lights. I also have any number of kits that has SOMEthing started on them. Most of the time I get ideas for builds and start fiddling with them. I have an idea list tacked to my wall with 16 items and another list started on my desk at work! And with a seven-month-old daughter, my build time is severely diminished.

AMT kit is an old tool with opening doors depicting a high trim Fairlane. The Revell kit is a brand new tool with molded in doors depicting a low trim Custom. I can post comparison pics of the two if there is interest.

Put a bow on this one, she's done. Posted in Under Glass: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=83727

Finally finished this one! It is my first completed build in about two years... long time coming! Hopefully this sets off a good trend for 2014. Build thread here: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=83451

Interior's done.

Man, that is one ugly duck. Looks like a twin-steer missing the front axle; what would be the purpose of such a configuration? Either way, some beautiful work!

If you're feeling really ambitious you could cut the B-pillar from an AMT 1960 C-10 and graft it in; it has the trim you're looking for.

Getting closer...