Why Glue Bombs ?

[gtx6970]

I will not buy a so called glue bomb unless its something stupid expensive and rare as a mint kit . Even then I prefer to find something not all glued up and near impossible to get apart without an act of congress

 

Odd part ,,,,,Ive seen so called glue bombs sell for more than a mint unbuilt kit. I guess its all about the saving it ?????

Just  a few months ago I stumble on to a built AMT 1968 Roadrunner. The car looked like it got dipped in vinyl the paint was so thick.  Glue marks on the glass . front wheels looked like they were glued on  by a 2 year old they had so much camber  Just an ugly build. Sold for almost $20. not including postage . Ive got mint sealed kits of that exact car  I cant get $20 ea for

 

Sorry, I dont get it

[Lunajammer]

Got this '70 Toronado for free because it was a basket case. Cut the chassis off and smoothed down the glue mountains. Chassis front was unusable with engine glued in sideways with LOTS of glue and chunks of paper towel in the glue acting like putty. But, it had no paint on it.

 

After leveling the mounded glue from all panels and using an Eldorado donor chassis & engine (back when they were still on store shelves).

[Can-Con]

Sometimes you do something silly on a bet, 

and end up with something like this,,

Sometimes there's a car you really want but don't want to spend $200+ on a mint kit.

when a $50 rebuilder will get it done.

[StevenGuthmiller]

 Sometimes there's a car you really want but don't want to spend $200+ on a mint kit.

when a $50 rebuilder will get it done.

I agree with that, but I think there's quite a difference between a rebuilder & a glue bomb.

I won't spend two nickels on something that will obviously wind up in 35 pieces by the time you get it apart, but a nice restorable build is a different story.

I'm just very careful of what I do buy when it comes to this type of kit.

I look for something that was obviously painted with enamel without any serious body damage & try to be cautious about how the glass was installed.

Most other things can be renewed with less effort.

 

Steve

 

[Lovefordgalaxie]

I agree with that, but I think there's quite a difference between a rebuilder & a glue bomb.

I won't spend two nickels on something that will obviously wind up in 35 pieces by the time you get it apart, but a nice restorable build is a different story.

I'm just very careful of what I do buy when it comes to this type of kit.

I look for something that was obviously painted with enamel without any serious body damage & try to be cautious about how the glass was installed.

Most other things can be renewed with less effort.

 

Steve

 

LOL!!! This one was Guthmillered for sure!!!

Talk about a second chance in life!!

[Lovefordgalaxie]

Sometimes it's a great way to relax between builds that you know will be demanding. 

Even tough the kit may not be rare, there is a great sense of satisfaction on just saving something from the bin. 

Less plastic on the trash!! Our hobby can be very ecological

1964 Impala Restored. by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

1964 Impala Restored. by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

Restoration Project by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

Poncho by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

[Snake45]

There seems to be some "discussion" in this thread and the other one as to exactly what a "glue bomb" is.

Just for the sake of discussion, is this Corvette a glue bomb or a desirable restorable? If it were a common reissue AMT '63, I'd say it's a glue bomb, and virtually worthless. But it's a semi-rare original MPC '66.

[StevenGuthmiller]

There seems to be some "discussion" in this thread and the other one as to exactly what a "glue bomb" is.

Just for the sake of discussion, is this Corvette a glue bomb or a desirable restorable? If it were a common reissue AMT '63, I'd say it's a glue bomb, and virtually worthless. But it's a semi-rare original MPC '66.

The main thing that I look for is what kind of condition the body is in.

All of the other add-on's are meaningless in my opinion.

If the body is relatively free from glue melt & not all busted up, I would consider it a re-builder.

This one looks like the body is in fair shape aside from the cut out hood & the missing parts.

But if you're planning on building it as a drag car or a custom it looks like a builder to me.

 

Steve

[D. Battista]

Thanks everyone for your input.... As I said originally.... I do admire you guys who save these builds.   Especially the rare ones...  I now can understand better, why you would undertake such a project. And definitely price is a big incentive..! 

And some of the examples shown are stunning... and remarkable...  Pretty cool stuff guys...!!!

Sometimes you do something silly on a bet, 

and end up with something like this,,

This is Just cool...!!!!

[Muncie]

All of the reasons mentioned already - for me, affordability and the chance to build something that isn't available in a current kit.

I'm with Snake 45 on that Corvette - he's had some interesting preservation projects lately.

just some thoughts here - Looking more closely at the AMT '32 roadster in the topic post - the body has the molded in trunk lid that only came in the early issues, maybe only the first issue in 1959.  History, probably not rare, but a least uncommon. Later issues had an opening trunk lid.  There were also a couple of early issues that came with a tonneau cover for center steering that will cover up all of the ugly on the body around the interior.  It may take another glue bomb or a lucky find in the right parts box to get one, but they are out there and an easy fix. Personal preference here  - the grill shell in the old  black plastic kits are shaped a little better than the later reissues - they take a lot less work to look right..  Any readily available AMT roadster kit has everything else.  Full disclosure - I have a project like this on the workbench right now.

EDIT - OK, I've made it thru the rest of the new content on the forum in the last couple of days and now I've seen the "original" post in for the '32 roadster in the photos - It's rebuild is in progress and its going to be good.  Not the molded in trunk like I thought but still cool.

Edited April 7, 2017 by Muncie

[slusher]

I did one and didn't enjoy it, I prefer a new kit. I give all you re-builders props. What do you do if you buy a rebuilder  for 30 to 75 bucks and it's so bad you can't get it apart? You are taking a risk on each model that's fairly old or rare..

 

[disabled modeler]

I did one and didn't enjoy it, I prefer a new kit. I give all you re-builders props. What do you do if you buy a rebuilder  for 30 to 75 bucks and it's so bad you can't get it apart? You are taking a risk on each model that's fairly old or rare..

 

Carl buddy...Me I find cheaper rebuilder projects at garage sales/second hand stores and antique malls at times...could not afford it if I didn't. I just do not have that kind of budget to.  id love to have unbuilt ones to start with but many times one just has to work with what they can find. I also do not mind the challenge of trying to bring them back from the dead..its rewarding to see them in their glory again.

[restoman]

I bought all these for about $3.00. I don't think any are really worth anything - maybe the '59 Ford is? - but I like the challenge of fixing someone that would normally be trash to someone else. I spent my working years doing it with cars and it's carried over into retirement.

None of these are anywhere near finished but I drag them out now and then and tinker with them. The '57 'Bird was a welded-together mess but I managed to get it all apart without damaging anything, other than the windshield which was distorted from soooo much glue.

[Lunajammer]

For the times you come across one of these bagged in a bargain bin, then a year later the MPC Pinto wagon is released, providing all the part necessary to revive a classic.

[oldcarfan]

There are many reasons. One is saving an poor abandoned little car in need of a savior. it is also a challenge like a model version of one of those flip or flop shows where somebody buys a junk car or house and rehabs it. Probably the most common reason is that finding a mint kit in a lot of cases will cost mega-bucks if you can find one at all. Also, at least to me it feels wrong to buy a rare unbuilt kit and then build it when there may be only a few still extant.

Edited April 8, 2017 by oldcarfan

[StevenGuthmiller]

 Also, at least to me it feels wrong to buy a rare unbuilt kit and then build it when there may be only a few still extant.

True, but they will all inevitably wind up in a landfill at some point.

Might as well enjoy them while they're here!

 

Steve

[Tom Geiger]

True, but they will all inevitably wind up in a landfill at some point.

I'm counting on the planet getting creamed by an asteroid!  Boom!  Everything is toast!  Might as well have built that kit.

[gtx6970]

. Also, at least to me it feels wrong to buy a rare unbuilt kit and then build it when there may be only a few still extant.

I used to think this way. BUT,,,,,,

 

I got lucky last year and while looking for a clean builder 59 and 60 Edsel convertible kits. I ended up with 2 near  mint in box unbuilt examples.

The 58 had a cracked upper  windshield frame header...no pieces missing just a hair line crack 

The 60 is missing the custom wheel covers.

Bought  them both for under $100,,,, or about what a nice builtup sells for.

The 59 I built last year.

The 60 is on the to do  list. Maybe ????? ,,,later this year .

For the same costs as a decent builder....i get to start with virgin plastic and mint chrome. 

Edited April 9, 2017 by gtx6970

[ZTony8]

I'll buy a glue bomb if the subject interests me, or if it's a hard to find model( like a Tamiya Ford XR4i), or if I'm building a kit and I think I need some extra parts in case of accident ( not that that  EVER happens  ).

Edited April 9, 2017 by ZTony8

[martinfan5]

I honestly dont get the love for glue bombs,  but if that floats you boat and toast's your goat, then more power to you and enjoy.

[StevenGuthmiller]

I honestly dont get the love for glue bombs,  but if that floats you boat and toast's your goat, then more power to you and enjoy.

Mmmmm! toasted goat!!

 

Steve

 

[martinfan5]

Mmmmm! toasted goat!!

 

Steve

 

 

Mmmmm! toasted goat!!

 

Steve

 

 

[Robberbaron]

Anytime I've bought a built-up kit with the intention to rebuild it, I never got what you could describe as a "glue bomb".  They've always been fairly decent built-ups, without any major missing parts.  And it's never been a kit that's currently available.

A good example is a cleanly built, unpainted MPC 1981 El Camino that I picked up for a few bucks, many years ago.  That's a one year only grill, and the tool ended up being converted (poorly) by Ertl into the 1986 SS, and it will probably never get converted back.  So that's your choice if you want a 1981 El Camino.  Same for old Johans.

Now I HAVE been guilty of buying full-on glue bombs for cheap, just to get a set of wheels and tires, such as the big & little slot mags in the Monogram '55 Chevy Street Machine.

Edited April 10, 2017 by Robberbaron

[StevenGuthmiller]

I'll never complain about a fly in my soup again.

Uh, waiter........there's a goat in my rice!

 

Steve

[Ace-Garageguy]

Uh, waiter........there's a goat in my rice!

Those pesky goats get everywhere, even in the salad.