Ace-Garageguy

I like the crazy stuff you come up with, so this should be pretty interesting.

Unbuilt in the box is pretty rare, but there are some factory-assembled and painted shells for cheap; they should strip easily with 90% isopropyl alcohol. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bowser-Varney-HO-Areotrain-Locomotive-Shell-NOS/273083392521?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Beautiful little boat, Ray. Very nice.

The engine doesn't appear to be blazingly accurate, but with the siamesed center exhaust ports, what looks like an open-runner intake manifold (the port runners are above an entirely visible valley cover), and the water pump and neck configuration, it appears to NOT be an Oldsmobile, but rather a gen-1 Cadillac OHV engine, built from 1949-1962, in 331, 365 and 390 cu.in. displacements. One defining feature that sets the Olds apart from the Cadillac is the location of the water neck base / thermostat housing. On the Cadillac (and it appears, the model), it's on a crossover that is part of the water pump housing, separate from and forward of the intake manifold. On the Olds, it's cast into a crossover that's integral with the intake manifold (see Olds engine at bottom). The gen-one Caddy and Olds engines ARE visually similar...HOWEVER...the port runners do not appear to be correctly spaced for either a Cadillac OR an Oldsmobile, though they appear to be closer to Olds than Cad. (Cadillac below, first-generation Olds at bottom). CONCLUSION: it's a not very accurate mashup of both.

You're welcome. Glad to help.

The molded-shut "opening" doors were also on the 1/8 scale Big Deuce kit. You could easily cut them open, or not. Frankly, "fiddly" and non-symmetrical as the Chevy kits in question are, I like them a LOT, because they can make really cool models, and you don't mind hacking one up (well, I don't, anyway).

This kit has the same IRS and frame as the Lil John kit. $19, free shipping. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1934-Ford-Chopped-Coupe-Revell-7239-1-25-Model-Kit-Sealed-free-shipping/332645215981?hash=item4d73332eed:g:U7wAAOSwsA5a52R~ Unfortunately, the body and engine are seriously underscale to fit the Buttera chassis. The body is about right for a '34 Fiat.

I'm pretty sure the Jag MkII has a solid axle in the rear, not IRS.

I've actually bought from the guy you all are referring to...years ago. I got a pretty sweet deal on a load of 1/24 and 1/25 C1 Corvette gluebombs, and several vintage AMT '25, '29, '32 and '36 Ford junk parts lots that were almost entirely usable...after stripping off the brush-painted enamel. There was also someone on the board a while back who bought a built-up, and was appalled that it was even dirtier than it looked in the photos, and included insect parts and rodent droppings (at no additional cost). The whole scenario doesn't make much sense, but there doesn't seem to be any limit to fools being ready to part with their money. Just look at the stuff wonderingly, and laugh. PS. The idea that many of these were built by someone with a disability was touched on a while back too, and for the older, dirt-covered builds, the sheer number of them available at one point (all having been converted to "station wagon" configurations) seemed to support this theory.

An early design sketch:

waarskynlik minder in Swahili

Here's some more historical background about the locomotive and the Cheyenne shops where 4014 is being rebuilt.

How 'bout Tampax and Spanx?

The first version of that particular car has always been one of my favorites. Great team, great car builders, fine engineering in the thing. The way they set up the long ladder bars and quarter-elliptic springs was sheer genius for the time period. Said to have been invented by Don Spar, the owner of B&M transmission (one of which the car also ran), it was one of the "secrets" of the Swindler's success.

So...ummm...since there aren't going to be any more American "cars" in the nearish future, exactly what will be eligible to "race"?

Me three. Funny thing...somebody could do live streaming coverage from multiple drones for a tiny fraction of what it would cost a "news" or sports broadcast organization to provide the same thing.

Agreed entirely. Sounds like your girl's a keeper, too.

Very clean, very precise work. Most excellent.

To save even more money, instructions will only be available if you get the Revell app for your phone, and even then, only in German. Die Ansaugkrümmer des Zementeinlasses rasten in die Schlitze des Getriebe-Schwalbenschwanzes ein, wobei darauf geachtet wird, dass kein Zement von den Fingern über die gesamte Windschutzscheibe gelangt

Kinda in the ballpark... But all the gen-one Mopar hemi engines have evenly-spaced intake ports, not paired... Dodge Red Ram: Chrysler FirePower: DeSoto FireDome (ex. shown, intake spacing is the same):

I figure that, having read so much about "artistic interpretation" from modelers who have nothing but disdain for accuracy, either historical, visual, or technical, coupled with the prevailing attitudes that "a REAL modeler can fix whatever's wrong" and the constant griping about price, the smart and business-savvy Germans will introduce a line of Palmer-quality kits that cost $5. That should satisfy the vocal majority of the US model car market nicely.

Just to clarify...the AMT '53 Ford kit manifold is essentially two log manifolds with balance pipes running between the log plenums...a relatively common setup, as shown below. The OP manifold is an entirely different beast, extremely rare...but I know nobody cares. You're welcome.

Not Dodge. Chrysler 331 / 354 / 392, cast manifold by Elelbrock. I've never seen one in scale. Fits: 1951-58 Chrysler Hemi Engines. Edlebrock X3 Tarantula one-piece aluminum. Definitely a unique manifold! This aluminum manifold features a 6 carburetor cross-flow design.

Japanese and US "domestic market", respectively.

Autobody and paint stores have giveaway disposable paint strainers. The filtering medium is fine nylon mesh. You can also use fine nylon cooking strainers. Wash in lacquer thinner, never need to replace 'em. If there's a female in your world, old nylon hose (stockings) work very well too. 100% free if there's a donor around. Rubber-band a section of nylon stocking to the top of a container, depress the center, strain away.