Fabrux

I have multiples of several kits to build different versions. Some are new-in-box, some are built-ups. Sometimes I'll build a kit now that I built when I was younger, either to replace one that was destroyed or one that I still have on display to see how far I've progressed.

When comparing apples to apples, which one should always do, that $5 in 1970 is equivalent to about $30 today.

I see lots of 4-cylinder Deutz engines powering geotech drills.

There's an eBay auction up for the first issue of this kit that you can check out here. A very good look at the chrome tree and decals. Pretty steep starting price, mind you.

Now that you mention it, that makes sense as it is the only other one with the 81-82 grille. Thanks for correcting me, Bill!

Only the Sodbuster has Custom Deluxe and it's only the fender emblems. The interior is still Scottsdale with buckets and console, and the wrap-around trim panel under the rear window is absent.

Casey, is that kit molded in white? It is the only one in this series that I'm not sure about. I have a built-up 4x4 kit that didn't have any decals on it and is molded in white... The bed in the Revell kit is a California Stepside and nowhere near an accurate representation of the actual GM bed. The Monogram beds are nice and would be my choice to try and build an 8' stepside bed (they did exist). Yes, the Monogram kits are nice and have the advantage of a full-detail Blazer/Jimmy, but quirk for quirk I still say the MPC kits are the best bet for a good scale squarebody. Here are the Sodbuster decals:

I'm still trying to get a set of those decals to put on a white-painted truck...

The decals certainly look better on the sheet than applied directly to the red plastic, which is the only way I've ever seen them...

After cracking open the Sodbuster kit I discovered that the fender emblems are actually Custom Deluxe 20 instead of Scottsdale 10 interesting!

Thanks to Fotki user Daviddale for scanning this in... There's a kit number and everything. I wonder what happened to it?

What is the difference between this kit and the later Revell version? I have one that is in the Lowrider box but the rest of the kit is really nice.

Yeah, the Fall Guy wheels are from I think a 1:16 scale kit or some such. The rims and tires exchange perfectly with those from the MPC Dodge kits. I think in 1:25 scale they end up being around 20" rims or so...

I've driven a work truck that was that long and let me tell you 4WS would've been handy. One thing that always made me wonder about this truck is how he managed to get the rear steering assembly to fit under that narrow box. The Quadrasteer trucks had stepside fenders on full-width beds to give extra space.

Have you had a lot of complaints about this, Scott? I know I only visit your shop once every 2 weeks so I expect my issues to be delayed anyway. I don't really mind the delay the content is worth it.

^I third that notion.

And to top it off, they put the wheels on the wrong axles on the box art!

One thing I have noticed is that the axles are very weak. I received three of these kits (Dust Devil, Mule Skinner, and another) in a large lot of built-ups and every single one of them had broken axles. I'm restoring the Mule Skinner with a GMC cab and I rebuilt the axles using Evergreen tube. When my newly acquired Sodbuster arrives I'm going to see what I can do to reinforce them (possibly with some metal rod/wire).

It was brought to my attention at my club's meeting tonight that the Blazer is being re-issued again this June. It looks to be a straight-reissue of the Rescue Van, complete with decals and three-colour moldings. Looking forward to this! Maybe if we ask really nice they'll reissue the pickups?

I see regular cab duallies running around all the time in the current body style. They usually have giant SpaceKaps on them and are used for CAT service trucks or something similar.

I have seen this particular truck before and I do believe he started with a Suburban for the cab. This isn't the first crew cab I've seen for this body style, however. Seems to me there were some custom made for railway companies? I think they were the biggest customers for six-seater trucks back in the day.

Yup, I read Ron's review before I compiled this article; it was a great help.

I didn't think there was a difference between the Fall Guy and Hardcastle grilles? The box art shows a Chevy grille for the Fall Guy but I've seen pictures of the box contents and its the same GMC grille as the Hardcastle kit.

The panel lines are supposed to depict the "secret" compartment of the Fall Guy truck. Which, now that you mention it, is yet another glaring oversight with that kit: there are fuel doors on both sides of the bed but only one fuel tank (on the passenger side). I figured the larger scale stuff was more your area of expertise. Now, see, I never knew if it was AMT that bought Ertl or vice versa. I guess I always assumed it was AMT that bought Ertl as their logo is more prominent but that may be more a function of how the logos looked. I'll update the post.

Thanks, John, I'll correct the first post. What I don't understand is why AMT chose to re-issue the Fall Guy version straight up rather than using the corrected chrome sprue from the H&C kit.