I recently confessed that I had ordered GLM's 1964 Imperial because I really wanted a model of that body style - completely forgetting that I already had Neo's '65 Imperial in my preferred hardtop configuration. Silly boy.
Well, the GLM has now arrived so just out of interest - and to remind myself once and for all that I actually HAVE these goddam models - I took a few comparison photos.
The Neo is crisp and handsome, the roof contrasting nicely with the rich red of the body. (Neo also did it in a single-tone version in a greyish-tan colour that makes it look quite similar to one of Ton Dirnberger's '64 open convertible specials).
The GLM is equally crisp and handsome and the very fine-grained metallic blue manages to be really vibrant without being garish. Almost manages to make the Neo look dull by comparison, although that isn't really fair.
So they make a nice complementary pair. Imperial experts can maybe pick up on small detail differences - for example the bottom corner of the screen, at the base of the A-pillar, is more rounded on the GLM, which is more accurate. Generally speaking, the differences aren't significant (but see comment below).
I was a little worried about the top-up convertible roof (the only version I could find), because they can sometime look like a slightly rumpled version of a tin roof, and can be very plasticky on some models, but actually it looks fine.
Front and rear ends are cleanly done. Imperial had a kind of Pontiac split grille for '64, and apparently went for the Chrysler "letter car" grille treatment for '65. It's a matter of taste, and both are well represented. The rear end treatment is pretty similar on both models.
From above, the shape and proportions match up pretty well. From some angles I got the impression that the Neo body tapers very, very slightly to the front and rear, while the GLM is more straight-sided. But it may just be my astigmatism playing up.
However, there is one thing that bugs me about the GLM - one of those little things that once you've seen it (or think you've seen it), it keeps catching your eye. The front edge of the front wing (sorry - "fender") seems to be a little too "pointy" at the top corner.. It almost seems to project further forward than the bumper. Then it cuts back and down at slightly too sharp an angle to meet the bumper. Admittedly it's a detail that can look different in photos depending on perspective, but on the real car the angle is very slight indeed, and the front edge (especially the one nearer you) tends to look almost vertical . . .
whereas GLM have almost made it look like the more pointy front end of a '65 Plymouth
For comparison . . .
You might not see much of a problem with it, but as I say, once something catches your eye, you can't help seeing it every time you look.
That aside, both are pretty handsome, well finished and well detailed models, and it's nice to have them both.
This topic was modified 3 months ago 4 times by Graeme Ogg
I hate to add fuel to your fire but being that I too can be somewhat of a nitpicker (I DO sweat the small stuff! ) I see those "points" and they drive me equally crazy. So much so that I would:
1) Perfectly color match that paint (it would have to be 100% spot on )
2) Carefully file down those points.
3) Add touch up paint.
4) Rebuild that rounded chrome trim.
5) Bare Metal Foil (BMF) the chrome trim back to the windshield.
6) Done!
Please note I would ONLY tackle this project if I could color match that paint 100% perfectly (I'm very good at coloring matching..) Otherwise, I'd just have to accept it or send it back. Furthermore, if I botched this project, I'd sell off the model "as is" or keep it for parts. But again, I'm nuts.... I'm keenly aware that few collectors would embrace such an undertaking.
Think I'm kidding?
In addition to other mods on this 1/18 WW II US Army Halftrack, I spent 6 hours the other day replacing four micro hinges (drilling holes, downsizing, cutting, shaping, painting, using micro screws, etc...) on both doors so that the amour-plate fold-downs could ACTYALLY fold down ALL THE WAY. The original "too-large" plastic hinges ONLY allowed for a "half-fold" (so they looked like wings). Auh.... no way! I had to have FULL fold downs!
I hate to add fuel to your fire but being that I too can be somewhat of a nitpicker (I DO sweat the small stuff! ) I see those "points" and they drive me equally crazy. So much so that I would:
1) Perfectly color match that paint (it would have to be 100% spot on )
2) Carefully file down those points.
3) Add touch up paint.
4) Rebuild that rounded chrome trim.
5) Bare Metal Foil (BMF) the chrome trim back to the windshield.
6) Done!
Please note I would ONLY tackle this project if I could color match that paint 100% perfectly (I'm very good at coloring matching..) Otherwise, I'd just have to accept it or send it back. Furthermore, if I botched this project, I'd sell off the model "as is" or keep it for parts. But again, I'm nuts.... I'm keenly aware that few collectors would embrace such an undertaking.
Think I'm kidding?
In addition to other mods on this 1/18 WW II US Army Halftrack, I spent 6 hours the other day replacing four micro hinges (drilling holes, downsizing, cutting, shaping, painting, using micro screws, etc...) on both doors so that the amour-plate fold-downs could ACTYALLY fold down ALL THE WAY. The original "too-large" plastic hinges ONLY allowed for a "half-fold" (so they looked like wings). Auh.... no way! I had to have FULL fold downs!
I spent hours 'fixing' what I thought looked / was wrong with one of my first 1/18 models.
It was the Ertl '63 Vette. To my eyes the tires stuck out too far and weren't up in the wheel wells where I thought they should be. Both front and rear.
I lost the steerable wheels feature but they looked so much better. If I remember correctly, you're a stickler for the same issue with some models.
I spent hours 'fixing' what I thought looked / was wrong with one of my first 1/18 models.
It was the Ertl '63 Vette. To my eyes the tires stuck out too far and weren't up in the wheel wells where I thought they should be. Both front and rear.
I lost the steerable wheels feature but they looked so much better. If I remember correctly, you're a stickler for the same issue with some models.
I've lost the pics I took, sorry !
Steve
HA! I take umbrage with ALL models that suffer that fate, especially 1950-1970's cars. Many manufacturers tool up wheel tracks that are just simply too wide. 50's cars MUST have wheels that are "tucked in" and not taken to the edge as on modern cars. Period. I have fixed MANY replicas!
I'm glad you're happy but sacrificing steerable wheels is something I could've NEVER done. 😬 😬 😬
I even engineered steering on that above Halftrack. I had to! 😏 😏
Those Imperials look excellent ! One problem possibly can be the "scale effect" in which an exact color match can appear at small scale as being a bit different, either a bit too light or too dark. (I am not sure which is most likely) and so an intentional very slight difference can actually appear more "correct".
Well, crazy man, given that the edges of those thin front "points" are heavily chromed, I'm just wondering whether one could get away with carefully filing them to shape then simply adding BMF to the new exposed edges. If that didn't quite hide the remedial work then, if it were me, I would mix as close a paint match as I could manage, because the amount of touch-up required along the edges would be so small as to be almost invisible. To me, that is, but then you are obviously a perfectionist and I'm not so much.
Oh, and by the way, if we're getting into crazy 1:43 chassis modifications, how about a Schuco Mercedes with double wishbones and coils at the front and swing axles at the back? That was fun to do and actually rides well. Adding working dampers (shocks) was a bit beyond me, though.
Or a Ford Transit with the axles mounted on leading and trailing arms and coils. Great axle articulation.
p.s. And if you tell me the Merc should have semi-trailing (diagonal) arms at the rear, not swing axles, I may ask JK to send his notorious heavy squad round to administer a small informal lesson in diplomacy (with extreme prejudice)
This post was modified 3 months ago 2 times by Graeme Ogg
@graeme-ogg That's some fine work there, no question..... but there are guys (not me) on YouTube do that and more to 1/64 scale diecasts....they've cut & hinged all FOUR doors, hood & trunk AND fashioned working steering....some even are Radio Controlled. Whew!! 😬 😬 🤪 🤪
