Fabrux

How about that Blue Thunder Blazer?

The wheels/tires from the GMC plow might work, but I don't think the Blazers ever came stock with 8-lug axles.

Just to warn you, most of the parts from the GMC plow kit won't work on this kit as they are different scales. The plow will probably mate up with some effort. Wheels and tires would probably be the only other thing that would fit.

From what I can tell this will be a straight reissue of the older MPC Rescue Van with the three coloured plastic and not the Hot Trucks version which was all one colour. Doing something with the bumper would be nice as well as rubber tires, but I digress... I have 6 of the pickup kits I can bash together with this so I will be picking up a couple!

Build 'em! What are model kits for if not to build them? The 4x4 has been reissued a few times so there are plenty of them to be found, just not with those decals.

Not that I'm claiming to be any sort of an authority on kit sales, but I have collected data on the MPC/AMT GM squarebody truck kits from end of December until now and the trends are quite interesting. The most common kits sold are the Fall Guy kit and the later AMT re-issue. The Fall Guy kit goes anywhere from $25.49 to $159.99 with the current average being $75.83. However, there was a period of about a week where a number of kits went for around $30-50. Same thing with the AMT version: price range of $16 to $64, average of $38.50 but this time the price fluctuates significantly. Three kits ending on the same day went for $22.99, $45.00, and $51.75. When trying to figure out what your kit is worth if you're trying to sell it it is best to collect as much data as you can and price accordingly. If you want to sell it on eBay, check the completed listings going back as far as you can and get a feel for what it is selling for. If you want to sell it at a swap meet, price it according to the eBay average but you will be beaten down a bit as that is the nature of swap meets! Something to consider with those smarmy swap meet folks that refuse to budge on the price because "that's what they'd get on eBay": remind them that they have to pay to list the item and if they use PayPal there's another fee on top of that. Sure they could sell that kit for $35 on eBay but they'll probably only see $25 out of that transaction. If you offer them $30, they might take it!

I think maybe USPS could learn some lessons from Canada Post (did I really just say that? ) Mail delivery only occurs from Monday to Friday. Canada Post post offices are only open Monday to Friday 8:30-4:30 or some such thing. We do have, however, postal outlets in places like drug stores and grocery stores that handle ALL parcels and registered mail that are open the regular store hours (usually 9am-9pm Mon-Sat and 12-5 Sun). You can send mail from these locations as well. The disadvantage to this system is that when you get a notification in your mail box that you have a parcel at the outlet center, you usually have to wait a day. Also, if you get your mail delivered by a Canada Post employee (as opposed to a "rural" carrier), they are supposed to knock on your door first if you have a parcel before leaving the notification but they rarely do. I've checked my mail a few times when I was home when they delivered and they left a notification rather than the parcel!

Originally posted as an April release (I think), this has now been pushed back to June. I have my order in with my LHS and he said I should get it around this time next month. That being said, the older reissues of this kit (see my history thread) have started showing up on eBay as folks are trying to unload them now before the value drops...!

Ooh, that Mod Podge looks good! My mom has as much Stamping Up and Mod Podge stuff as I have models; I'll have to try that!

Oooh baby look at that. Pretty.

I'm trying to wrestle my mind around having to pay $650 to register a vehicle for a year... I just can't do it. What is the logic behind this registration system? It obviously is not based on GVWR like most sane registration systems. Thankfully NB does not have any sort of emissions testing whatsoever. Given that the entire provincial population is <1 million, I don't think it's something we'll ever have to worry about. Every vehicle no matter the age has to have an annual vehicle inspection, checking for safety and mechanical compliance. Specifications are more strict for heavy vehicles and buses and taxis have to be inspected every six months. License plates stay with the vehicle however if you purchase a used vehicle that has a current registration but do not have an MVI within the last 30 days you have to give up the plates. MVIs can be performed by any auto mechanic licensed with the province. The fellow that I get to do mine has a shop up the road from my parents's place; just a one-guy operation and he's not an advertised shop or anything. All auto-related services such as registration renewal, new plates, driver's license renewal is all done at a provincial service center that also handles all kinds of services. Oh, and, ALL alcohol is sold through provincial stores. There are two types: mainline stores staffed entirely by provincial employees and agency stores in a local convenience store staffed by store employees. Agency stores have to be a minimum distance from a mainline store to get a license.

Oops! My bad! I posted that at work without looking at the tires...

Count me in. I'll be building an MPC Sodbuster with trailer and bass boat.

My guess is the box is from a 77+ truck. And with that stupid shifter it was probably originally a four speed truck as well.

How about a parts pack with the Firestone A/T tires from the old AMT 79 Bronco and 72 Blazer/Jimmy kits? Desert Dog PCVs that MPC used in everything 4WD?

There are ways around having to license a brand name; one only needs to look at the DUNLCP tires in the Meng 1:32 Toyota Hilux kit. One thing I was curious about with Moebius models: is there any rhyme or reason behind the colour of the plastic? Revell kits are all white these days, Round2 seems to be moving away from that awful grey stuff to white, and the Moebius kits are some sort of brown/grey colour (my colours aren't the best).

Don't get me wrong, I like the truck. But it needs a fuel door right off the bat, a custom-built instrument cluster to get rid of all those awful tack on gauges everywhere, and a tall Lokar automatic shifter to eliminate that monstrosity it currently has. That would be a good start. Next I'd take off the visor and razorback...

Ahh, but what if a certain tooling was modified through its run and the reissues only represent the latest iteration? What about the vintage kits that are earlier iterations of that tooling? Those are the ones that I actively hunt down.

Its about time they caught up to the Mustang. And I guess this means the Corvette's tail lights are no longer Camaro-like...

There are very few people that can spell tonneau, apparently.

Mm, I think you may be in the minority with your opinion of Dark Knight Rises. I certainly enjoyed it tremendously as well as anyone I've ever talked to about it... My question is will the earlier Bat Pod kit slot into the new Tumbler?

Found this listing on eBay for a "show truck": clicky Apparently this seller and I have a different definition of show truck. To me, a show truck would have a fuel door and an interior that doesn't look so cobbled together! They claim to have spent $40k on the restoration; I'm having a hard time seeing it.

You're right! I just won an auction for a kit that was sold in Canada (bilingual box) and there's nothing on it related to Golden Wheels. Story of our lives.

Well, I guess Ford's trademark on the Aerostar name has expired....

Canada Post has gone far beyond ridiculous to ludicrous (they've gone plaid!) with their shipping rates. I just recently purchased a kit on eBay from a seller in BC. It was cheaper to get it shipped to my US PO box than it was to my door! The only local show I've been to so far is my club's show, and the vendor's area doesn't usually have a lot of automotive content. There is another show about 1.5 hours away from me that I keep meaning to go to, but it is held at the same time as the biggest east cost car show and I'm sure the traffic is ridiculous...