Fabrux

My LHS released his June release list; still no GMC.

They do indeed. The usual wagon wheels are triangle holes whereas these ones appear to be trapezoids...

For me sometimes it comes down to price. I prefer original issues usually because they have better box art and the pieces are of better quality due to being the first run with a particular tooling. And then there's always toolings that get modified to represent different years so you have to go with the original. For instance, I have an MPC '71 Road Runner as well as an AMT '74 GTX; they're the same kit but extensively modified.

So you're the one that nabbed it...

Yup, it was! Got that one.

I was thinking more of the 1:1 replica that keeps popping up. Its a beautiful truck!

All right, who bought it?

I was looking through local classifieds and came across a 1984 F-150 flare side for sale that actually has the 1987 bed on it! Threw me for a loop, that's for sure! Although I would have to say the best looking truck I've seen so far was, again, on my local classifieds. It was a combo build that was on a late '80s frame, I believe, and had a '92-'96 front clip, the '87 bed and it was a dually! I'm wishing now that I had saved the pictures of it...

I'm glad to help! It seems the rarest kit of all is actually the Ramcharger High Roller; they're really hard to find! The Gone Fishin' set is the most plentiful version of the Ramcharger and I've seen the original issue pop up from time to time.

First they're introducing fuel injection and now unique body styles. What's next, right turns?

I'll confess I haven't really followed NASCAR in years but this car looks like its a new direction? It doesn't have the same body shape as all the other cars. Are they finally returning to cars that have different bodies from one another?

I'm glad everyone's enjoying these articles! If I had a copy of each kit in these lists, I'd be able to do better comparisons and descriptions. Although I suppose I could give a little more info in regards to the engines included, transmissions, etc.

wraith, I have a spare engine if you need it.

The version I have doesn't indicate any other molding colours; the only engraving is Revell 1985. It has the same body, fascia, and hood as the McLaren Mustang but the same wheels as that newer Cobra issue, plus the decklid spoiler. Almost the same as the separate Hot Rod issue.

I have this kit and it is indeed the McLaren Mustang. Its molded in red. I didn't get the box with the kit so I'm not sure what it looks like. Even the instruction sheet I have is a photocopy. Its apparently part of a 3-car set: the Mustang, an 82 Firebird and a 2G Camaro (according to the instruction sheet). The kit is dated 1986 and carries a number of 7459-3800. Google search with that number gives this box:

The horrible Revell '78 Chevy C10 was also released in this series. The Mustang II was the King Cobra street racer and the Fox body was a re-box of the McLaren Mustang.

My father-in-law loves feeding my addiction of getting models; he frequents a local thrift store and whenever automotive models pop up he gets them for me. Today it was a Monogram Porsche 911 Slant Nose.

I think this style was the last of the F-150s that they got as factory vehicles. Too expensive to maintain and too big to drive in the cities and therefore too small a market to convert to LHD, from what I've read. You can get newer styles, but I believe they're mostly aftermarket conversions. They also have different emission standards there.

1) The rear bumpers do indeed have the bump strips. I think the GMC High Roller has the same hood as the Jimmy; all the other High Roller trucks have some sort of aftermarket hood. 2) No idea on the mirrors. 3) The aqua/blue version does indeed have the trusses. 4) The GMC High Roller box art shows the same rims as the regular GMC Sport Pickup. If PJ Toys is to believed, the kit actually came with the same rims that are in the Mad Mudder. 5) No idea? The Jimmy and GMC High Roller have the grille emblem so your theory is probably correct.

Hey, I for one actually like the show. I'm going to enjoy seeing this chase scene re-created. I find it interesting that the picture in the article shows a '06-'10 Charger and a '10+ Mustang seeing as how the main character on Alcatraz drives a '68 Bullitt clone. Wouldn't be too much of a stretch for the baddie she's chasing to be driving a vintage Charger...

I would say that the car I'm most proud of to date is this 1967 Chevelle. The body has been with me since I started building models and I've modified it extensively many, many times.

Its well known that F-series pickups had flare side beds available from 1957-1986 and then again from 1992-2009. What may not be well know is that there actually was a 1987 flare side bed that was produced in limited quantities. For one reason or another the bed was discontinued for the 1988 model year and didn't re-appear again until 1992. The beds from 1953 all the way to 1987 were pretty much the same save for the fenders. In 1992 the bed was redesigned to blend more with the cab of the truck. The unique-for-'87 bed is the same as '80-'86 with the exception of the wheel wells which were changed to the '87-'96 style. I've had this project on the back-burner for a while now and I figured it was high time I got it finished. I started with a Monogram 1980 F-150 and swapped out the bed fender wheel wells. I then cut the cab behind the doors and attached it to a cab from the 1991 F-250 that was similarly cut to make a regular cab. The interior is still in progress but its essentially the 1980 tub with seats, dash and door panels from the 1991. The grille was recycled from and older build and the headlight lenses were destroyed so I used a slightly smaller lens to emulate the Australian version '87-'91 grille.

Is the base kit of this Monogram, MPC/AMT or Revell? I would LOVE to get a resin copy of this...

^^That would explain why I can't find any mention of it anywhere. ^I have two of the original release in black plastic and 75% of the blue plastic release of the pickup, a Mad Mudder version of the Blazer and I have a deal in the works for something else from the list. Update pending.

I don't have any of my oldest builds simply because they kept getting rebuilt. I had a tendency to build something and a few weeks later I'd take it apart and repaint and rebuild. Eventually after doing this long enough they would end up completely broken...