Help! I need a hearse!

I've been building hearses and flower cars exclusively for a few years now and my advice would be to check eBay for the JoHan re-release of its 1966 ambulance kit and convert it to a hearse. It will cost more than the Polar Lights Ecto car ($35 vs. $14, probably) but it will require much less work, a serious consideration if you're just getting back into the hobby. Something to consider for a future project would be combining the 1966 Johan car with a TKM Models 1972 Fleetwood resin kit to make your 1:1 scale MM Landau Traditional.

The ecto was originally made by AMT?, there will probably be some of them out there somewhere. Johan made a Caddy ambulance ( a late 60's model I think) which was also released as an ex hearse used by surfers (flower decals, weird paint scheme etc) that one's probably quite rare/expensive now. Now johan kits are slowly being rereleased, can't remember who is doing them though.
Pete

Alright guys, thanks for all the help. I'll probably get the Ecto model then. We'll see how it turns out.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Scothamad It's a snap together with about 45 pieces. Is that really worth it? I'd like to put a decent amount of effort into it, not finish it in one night! Any other possible sources?

The end-result depends on the effort you are putting into finishing the kit, I have seen snap-together kits that were finished with more detail and better looking than a kit that cost 3-times.

Don't like the snap-together option, get rid of them and assemble/glue it like any other Model.

The Dio below while not car related uses a snap-together Kit:
http://mechavault.com/Vault/displayimage.php?album=26&pos=9

That is really the only Ecto-1 model kit i've seen. You could look for a Cadillac model, probly not a hearse one, and if not you will have to put it a biut of custom work, but with the people here at FSM you should be alright.
I have gotten heaps of advice from this place! Im pretty new to larger scale models, only recently getting a well paying job could I afford them. Im not really into cars, mostly Millitary models.

Steve

I'm still really new to the modeling scene, I'm afraid if I tried some custom work like that right away it would look more horrible than fantastic. I went to the polar lights site and took a look at the ecto 1 model. It's a snap together with about 45 pieces. Is that really worth it? I'd like to put a decent amount of effort into it, not finish it in one night! Any other possible sources?

yeah, it is there. and if you cant find it you could always pick up 2 of the same kit and add some length to the back of one using the back of the other.
I've seen it done twice, the first time was absolutly horrible, but the second was fantstic!!
i've never tried it, looks prety straight forward though.

Steve

Thanks! I'll keep looking then. It's good to hear this stuff is out there.

PS. The Ghostbusters kit is in 1/24th sacle and manufactured by 'Polar Lights'

there is a couple of kits out thee of hearses, cant think of them off hand, but I have seen them around. try e-bay, or ask your local hobby store to look at their catalog.

steve

awesome, that was quick. What company makes it? Where can I get one?

They have rereleased the Ghostbusters Ecto 1, that is a converted Cadillac ambulance, Might give you the basics of what you need.

Don