john sharisky

Since you mentioned Maine, try the Maine Classic Car Museum in Arundel. I went there in July (68 photos on my Facebook page). Terrific. It's worth booking and paying extra for the VIP tour (Louis was my docent). I got to look under the hood of and sit in cars that I've only seen in magazines. Maine Classic Car Museum

This style wheel for the 1/24 Monogram Packards: ...I forgot to show the sidemounted wheels with this disc wheel.

Still a Road Runner grille (with the bird emblem). I picked this up on eBay years ago.

I have a small snag: all the windows were engineered to snap tightly into the body (molded in silver metallic). After my primer and paint, they won't snap in. Too tight. It isn't just the mounting tabs. Looks like I have to sand the circumference of all four window glass pieces.

I know it really doesn't help you but I have the Missing Link Resin Grabber kit. That rear spoiler was cast as part of the body.

Yes I did use Tamiya pink. The photos from my spray booth are under a warm-white fluorescent light which throws things off a bit (I should change it to LED). The photos post-polish are on under cool-white fluorescent lighting.

Thanks! It was the availability of these pieces that prompted my decision to buy this kit and take it in a direction that Revell maybe didn't intend.

Coming along nicely. It has the look that I wanted. The kit headlight lenses have a center mounting lug and two smaller protrusions that fit into the chrome bucket for a correct vertical orientation. I replaced those with ones from the parts box with Molotow dabbed on their backside. Another item(s) not indicated or called out on the instructions are "stock" lenses without the mounting lugs. I just wanted to use lenses with the fluting on the outside. I forgot to mention before that I did open the left and right intakes on the lower front valance. Without the rear bumper the muffler-to-tailpipe clamps are a bit oversize and obvious. I replaced the kit tires with ones that were a little wider and with smaller ID and slightly smaller OD. These tires hug the USCP wheels better (they're no-names from the Polar Lights '64 Pontiac GTO kit).

The Revell Aston Martin DB5 snap kit that I'm building sort of "stock". I like the no-bumpers look. Also, no radio, antenna or outside mirrors. Both stock and "Bond" center consoles are included but I'm not using either. I filled the ejection seat hatch and bullet proof shield with kit parts (the top part of the shield only). The hole for the rear license plate was filled with Evergreen stock (same for the under-dash radar screen). The seams for the front and rear valances were meant to be covered by the bumpers. I made the front parking lights/machine gun mounts less obvious (they stuck out too much for a stock look). The green putty is Evercoat Euro-Soft. After priming I used Tamiya white for small dings and divots. Exterior color is 1965 Buick code R "Flame Red" lacquer by MCW (because I had it...). The color isn't as bright as it looks in these photos. I'm still painting it at the time of this post. I don't plan a clear coat. Wheels, spinners and open front grille (all by USCP) were coated with Molotow (I brushed it on the exhaust tips). Not called out on the instructions at all but included is the emergency brake lever. The interior floor has holes to mount the pedal assembly on the left but no LHD dashboard is included. I just received the Tamiya Aluminum Stickers that I want to use for the window trim (molded on the clear parts themselves). Not Tamiya quality but a fun, not high detail, project so far. Thanks for looking!

GM is no stranger to some photo re-touching:

I have good luck with non-waterproof black ink.

Received this today:

One or both of the old MPC "Gangbusters" '27 and '28 Lincoln (Roadster/Touring Car) has a two piece bag with clubs. They're vintage looking clubs (not modern looking at all).

A few weeks ago I saw a Facebook post by a guy who used the Revell spray on JoHan '64 Dodge bumpers. He said he then overcoated them with Future Floor Wax on a Q-Tip. They looked fantastic.

I recently had multiple trays of mixed media parts plated by Little Motor Kar Co.. I sent a mixture of styrene, resin and 3D printed items and am pleased with the plating and service. I'll use Dale again. I made mistakes in how I mounted some of these parts. I'll do better next time (I more fully explained this on my Facebook page). As for the results, they look a little better in these photos than they do in real life. Chrome Tech used to advise on their site not to use anything more course than 1500 grit or else the scratches will show through the plating. He's right. The Olds and Pontiac wheel covers are "3D printed resin" by Fireball Motorworks. While the results are not mirror-like, the plated results look very 1:1 correct with a slightly stippled finish. The Air Trax resin Mercury wheels came out not so hot. But that's a result of the poor quality casting. The Corvette alloys and knock-offs are resin but I forget by who. The Parts Box items are for their '58 Chrysler New Yorker trans-kit. The Replica and Miniatures of Maryland caps are from their stock parts kit for the Revell '66 Chevelle wagon kit. The Pontiac disc brake wheel covers came from eBay. I forget who did those. I hope this helps! John

I guess "interpretation" is a good word for this. While yes, the screen is a separate piece, the appendage on the dash that it attaches to has to be dealt with if the screen is not used. There's no alternative in the Revell kit (i.e. radio face and speaker grille). The video posted has a good view of the two between-the-seats consoles included in the kit. One "open" (showing the Bond switches) and one closed. John

It isn't. For a stock build it needs to be cut off the dash and the hole filled. I paid $33.99 plus shipping from Burbank's House of Hobbies on Jan. 9th. Two are listed on their site today: with and without paints (and double-ended brush). When I ordered, only the one with the paints was listed (it's priced much higher now). But the one without paints is priced in line with Model Roundup. I'm building mine without bumpers. It isn't #1 on my to-do list but I've glued on the front pan, ejector seat lid and I sliced the top part off the bullet proof shield to fill the hole. I also filled the hole in the "boot" lid for the revolving license plate with a piece of Evergreen (I want to use a US plate). There's more stock alternate (non-Bond) parts than I expected: center console, wheel knock-offs, front parking lights, etc. There's a waterslide decal sheet that mimics the self stick one. I've ordered the USCP front grille and wheels and tires. I like this kit. I'm glad I bought one. John

A couple of screen shots from the December 2023 Round 2 Product Spotlight YouTube video. It appears that they have tooled a correct rear bumper:

Will Round2 re-tool a correct rear bumper? Rather than the diamond plate piece in the old Ecto 1A kit.

I remember Don Holthaus telling me that casting up-tops was difficult. Years later, they did appear in their catalog.

Might you have contact info for them? I found nothing with Google.

A couple of months ago, I was on the phone with Bank of America about another matter. I happened to mention an order (from Clearly Scale) that I paid for with PayPal but never received. It was long past the 45 days - but she issued me a credit immediately. It doesn't hurt to ask. John

Don't wait. Be proactive. Call your bank today. (Bank of America has a "Client Protection" department that is very responsive)

I had an order pending when he closed. The PayPal dispute deadline came and went. While on a call with Bank of America several months later about another matter, I mentioned this situation. They listened and gave me a full refund immediately. Maybe this will help someone else. John

Shawn Carpenter cast this 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Beauville. This was cast in 2006 or 2007. Once in a great while one will show up on eBay - at prices that don't nearly reflect the quality of Shawn's castings in general. His masters and castings were among the very best. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki