Ace-Garageguy

Yeah, the width issue is where I got stalled, looking at combining the AMT Gremlin and the Johan AMX. Though both model body shells appear they could easily fit the width of the AMX chassis plate, the Gremlin unit is considerably narrower, and the width of the Gremlin is somewhat less overall, and particularly narrower at the front end. I'd assume that AMC built the real showcars on shortened (but not narrowed) AMX pans, and figuring out how to go about building a real clone will require checking chassis stamping part number interchanges for the AMX vs the Gremlin to see what's what. Again, I'd assume the production AMX and the Gremlin were built on the same basic platforms, as AMC wasn't exactly rolling in excess dough to invest in tooling at the time. First thing I'm going to do is check the part numbers for windshields, as that will say a lot about the underlying structures.

Love what you're doing on the AMX GT. I've been collecting parts to cobble a model together from what's available, but having access to a printable file might be the kicker I need to get into printing myself. Nice work, Mr. Geary. PS. I like that thing so much, I've done some investigation into what it would take to cobble together a real one. Somebody already makes fiberglass front "sheetmetal" panels for the AMX...

Beautiful machines.

Beautiful work. I never really liked the 512 TR, but I love it in blue.

Kid gloves don't enhance the nose-picking experience.

Umbrella Corporation should sponsor a street race in Raccoon City.

"Head of the class" was often determined by the amount of apple polishing and posterior smooching somebody was willing to do, rather than by ability and achievement...just like in the grown up world.

Motion of poultry reminds me of Europeans scrambling to figure out what they're going to do for heat all winter, now they've dumped all those horrible polluting energy sources, kinda like chickens running around with their heads cut off.

I turned out to have three versions of the little pickup here, an early one molded in blue, the Sundance in orange, and a later Goodguys version. They all have 5-spoke sorta Americans, but the earlier two have much thinner spokes. I don't have the 3-in-one ratrod version here to check. The woody kits that had optional wheels, and the earlier sedans, came with unusual Halibrands, below, that were dealer options on Studebaker in the '60s.

Casey's: https://www.ebay.com/itm/265501103915?hash=item3dd119572b:g:FAIAAOSwdkxh4b25 https://www.ebay.com/itm/265501107382?hash=item3dd11964b6:g:hxkAAOSwTtFh4cHZ Yes, the '37 Ford trucks are wide-fives, but I believe they have molded in hubcaps.

Next time, I think I'll make this "flatbread taco supreme". https://www.yummly.com/recipe/Flat-Bread-Taco-Supreme-1323539?prm-v1

If you want some cool, period-looking steel wheels, the Ford "wide fives" are some of my favorites. They were OEM on '35-'39 (check me on that) Fords, and the drums they bolt to can be fitted with '39 and later Ford hydraulic brakes. They're in the AMT '36 Ford kits, but the tooling isn't the greatest, especially with its age now, but Casey makes a gorgeous set in resin.

Today is just the day before tomorrow.

I believe you're right. Those 5-spokes in the kit box photo look like Torque Thrusts, but could possibly be "kidney beans". I really can't tell for sure, and I don't have that kit here to check. Anyway, if they're Torque Thrusts, they didn't hit the market until 1963. There were other "mags" available earlier, but not anything like that.

Kinda thought I was done buying diecasts, but when I came across this perfect 1/24 Franklin Mint Mercedes W196 for way under market asking prices, I had to spring for it. The engine isn't the greatest, and it needs much better wire wheels, but at first examination, I think the tooling designers got the shape and proportions quite close.

IIRC, Halibrand made the first widely available "mag" wheels around '49, followed by Romeo Palimedes in about '56 (some refs say '59, but I'm almost certain I have a '56 Hot Rod magazine with Palamides wheels advertised), who morphed into American. American introduced the classic 5-spoke Torque Thrust in 1963. Here's some alloy wheel history: https://www.holley.com/blog/post/halibrand_-_the_history_and_the_future_of_the_original_mag_wheel_company/ https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/halibrand-wheels-the-original-mag.1055968/ http://www.roadsters.com/wheels/ These old school Halibrand smooth centers were available in 1950, I believe, and you can find some in the ancient AMT "Double Dragster" kit. The Halibrand "kidney beans", on the convertible Kurtis, came on line somewhere in the early '50s too.

BIG smilemaker there, sir. Very nice.

"Show me the money" is usually a pretty realistic approach to finding the source of motivation for corruption.

York, alas poor; I knew him, Horatio.

Here's some very useful information:

"Paladin, Paladin, where do you roam?"

They're out there. I have 3 in various states. https://www.modelroundup.com/product-p/amt-5623.htm Resin too...

"Again with the Klingons!" https://y.yarn.co/eea7b2a5-1f20-4b30-94ec-5779133d54a3.mp4

Nope. Looks just like his father though. Although my cat seems to be black and white, in the bright sun the black is really very dark orange, with stripes.

Building anything complex is like eating an elephant: one small bite at a time, but never lose sight of the enormity of the project.