Matt Bacon

That's beautiful, Anders. Lovely finish, detailing and photography. It's a great kit, too, but you've made the very best of it. And I would say this, having done the same, but you've built it in the best color combo. I also think the original is peak American styling, before it all went nuts and then square... Your showroom checker base is great, too... Well done! best, M.

That looks lovely, Justin. Great colour scheme and beautifully executed paint and detailing. Is there actually a hinge in the bonnet? best, M.

Yes, the hands of those carpenters at Versailles were rarely idle… best, M.

Obviously attempting to defeat the speed cops' radar guns with 1970s era Stealth technology... best, M.

Take the bottom lip off the air dam and leave off the wheel arch extensions and you're well on your way to a Super Samuri, with rather less effort than some... 😜 best, M.

I haven't stopped working on this, but progress was slowed down by building a big Lego motorbike with the family... The cockpit is pretty much complete, though I wont be finally fixing the seats and steering wheel until the final assembly stage. I'm quite pleased with the AC badge on the wheel! The box of the kit that I bought had wire wheels with two-ear knock-off hubs. When I looked at them closely, they were AC branded, and Revell had moulded tiny but exquisite badges on the hubs. I sliced them off very carefully with a razor saw and one is now the steering wheel boss. You'll see the other two below, replacing the Cobra badges on the body... Finished the final details on the engine. Now I need some air filter decals.... The other two badges in place, along with the other details. The "bumpers" are cut out of the kit parts, cleaned up, and repainted with SMS Hyperchrome. Fixing the rear lights and fuel filler cap was nerve-wracking -- the sockets they recess into need to be created right on the seam line of the narrowed fenders, and I was very worried about opening up a crack somewhere visible. But I got away with it! I've made a hood stay with some guitar string socketed into a bit of brass tube under the right hand fender. You can also see the radiator header tank relocated from the firewall to the front of the engine, replacing the flat rectangular tank on the 427 Cobra. The top water hose needs to wait until the chassis and body are fully fixed together. best, M.

Yay! A short nose. Well, THAT opens up the possibilities... best, M.

Interesting find while haunting the 'bay: "Speedline" Porsche 936/76. It didn't have a scale listed, and I couldn't find anything about the kit online, but Scalemates lists the SPD-29 decal sheet as 1/24 scale, so I took a gamble. And yes, it's a rather nicely detailed and cast resin full kit in 1/24, with two bodies in (I can't see the difference between them). It makes the early 936 without airbox, but the decals are there for both the stealthy and cool matt black Nurburgring test and launch car, and the white car used for the ongoing campaign and Le Mans win. The black car needs minor surgery -- cutting down the rear fins and the wing lowering, and some scoops reprofiling. I got it for a very good price -- less than the decal sheet alone seems to go for, and the Strada Sports price label on the box says $90-00, which is about three times what I paid! best, M.

This one sounds like someone forgot to latch the cowling shut properly. What I’d like to know is what are SouthWest’s procedures for pre-flight walkarounds? I’ve watch the Jet2 Captain or Co-pilot check their 737s from the lounge window at Leeds often enough, and they check all the opening hatches they can reach by giving them a good shake, including the cowling panels… as well as checking all the air data probes, sticking their heads in the wheel bays, and taking a good look up the jet pipes… beat, M.

I know there are those who don't think that Lego builds are kits, or models, but I beg to disagree. Modelling is building smaller scale impressions of a real thing; modelling using match sticks (or carved bones) has a proud tradition. If the value is in how much fun we have doing it, and how happy we are with the resulting creation, then I reckon Lego counts. It may be constrained by the parts and assembly system on offer, but on the other hand, how many of the regular kits we build offer a fully functional 4 speed gearbox, operated by pedals just like the real thing, pistons on a working crank, or a prototypical working suspension...? Anyway, it looks cool... best, M.

If you have a nearby gaming shop where you can buy Citadel/Warhammer colours they have a range of dedicated washes/"contrast colours" which are ideal for this kind of work. Nuln Oil and Black Templar are the ones you want for a dead black effect, but for panel line/shutline shading on colors so they don't look as harsh as pure black, they also have a whole spectrum... best, M.

I originally thought it was one of these: https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/car-technology/news/a30678/gordon-murrays-flat-pack-truck-is-fantastic/ but having discovered that it wasn't, I didn't manage to find the alternative. I think Mike's point about the potential markets not wanting "special" dedicated vehicles probablyapplied to the Ox as well, despite its top-notch designer's best efforts... best, M.

Got the engine wired, which is another good excuse for a mock-up to see if it will all fit together eventually... I think it's going to need some (at least vestigial) engne bay walls. The coil and various ancillary electrical and fluid components are mounted on them along with some cable runs, so that's this weekend's detailing project! best, M.

Though come to think of it, a two stage Merlin would have made for a heck of a Pike’s Peak contender, if you could carry enough fuel! best, M.

Well, it's not what I thought it was, nor designed by who I thought.... back to thinking... best, M.