128 replies to this topic

[MAGNUM4342]

The only one in the pics above I see that would be stressed during mounting is the Pearson GTO. The rest look like they go on easy, especially the dragster.

[Greg Myers]

 

Must be something really hard to master

Edited by Greg Myers, 19 January 2013 - 10:08 AM.

[hpiguy]

Round 2/AMT makes a large Star Trek Enterprise D kit in clear (for those of us that want to light it). It's quite a few pieces and the saucer sections are huge.  So size and detail couldn't be a reason for not using clear either.

The price on the clear Enterprise is about $50 though.

 

My guess is cost. Probably cheaper to mold it from light blue plastic and hit the sub $40 mark retail.

[Dave Van]

Cost and flexibility are only two of MANY issue when making a clear body kit. Please note that none of the more recent kits are near the size of the Petty Charger, not near the age of the Petty mold......that has been modified a number of times.  I have two friends in the industrial molding industry......both talk about how hard it would be to get a mold the size of the Petty kit to come out correct EVERY time.....which is what is required in mass production. Ten percent rejects would have raised the cost a bunch. 

 

I am thankful R2 spent the money to restore the kit......I'd take the kit in pink right now.......

[Johnny]

Amen Dave!

[Dragline]

This whole clear business is academic. Buy it if you love excellently detailed kits of iconic cars, pass if you love gimmicks and pseudo features.

 

 

 

For me the truth is that R2 loves models and are busting their B@lls to get us once lost treasures.. These are the guys who complain about the weight of the gold once handed to them.

 

 

Philistines all.

 

 

 

Bob

[Greg Myers]

 

 

 

It's all about seeing what's going on inside

Edited by Greg Myers, 19 January 2013 - 03:42 PM.

[Mark]

 
 
 
It's all about seeing what's going on inside

No single piece in either of the aircraft kits is anywhere near as complicated as the one-piece Charger body. The airplane wings, and even the fuselage halves, are molded using relatively simple tooling compared to what is needed for a one-piece car body.

[Greg Myers]

[Plasticfanatic]

I have built an original issue Petty Charger 1/16, it's simply an amazing kit, build it out of the box is a stunning and detailed model..add extra Detail pieces and you have a magnificent vintage NASCAR model. I will be ordering one of the reissue kits and build it again. I still have my original built Petty Charger in a glass case, it show it's age...BUT..STILL my favorite in my small collection...I even saved the original boxtop.

[ratnasty]

Just got mine today here are some pics

 

 

 

 

Chuck

[ratnasty]

sorry guys I just could not resist in an early April fools joke LOL

Chuck

 

 

 

[Dragline]

That was just wrong.......

 

 

 

 

Bob

[Casey]

No single piece in either of the aircraft kits is anywhere near as complicated as the one-piece Charger body. The airplane wings, and even the fuselage halves, are molded using relatively simple tooling compared to what is needed for a one-piece car body.

 

^ This guy gets it. 

 

 

Cost and flexibility are only two of MANY issue when making a clear body kit. Please note that none of the more recent kits are near the size of the Petty Charger, not near the age of the Petty mold......that has been modified a number of times.  I have two friends in the industrial molding industry......both talk about how hard it would be to get a mold the size of the Petty kit to come out correct EVERY time.....which is what is required in mass production. Ten percent rejects would have raised the cost a bunch. 

 

^ Him, too.

 

I can see (pun intended) both sides of the clear body argument, and there's no right answer. Some like to be able to "see through" the body and look at the chassis details, which are usually hidden from view with an opaque body. If you're going to build an accurate replica, however, the body will be painted, so the "clear body" selling point is of no value.

 

Buy it, build it, or catch the bus back to 1971 and buy an original kit for $6.99. 

[Roncla]

 Something that has always intrigued me and I've seen some excellent models using the concept is to do a ' cut away '.

 

These can be seen at the real car shows.

 

Half of the body is as normal and the other half has been removed so you can see the insides.

 

You get a better view without any possible  distortion that you may get through a clear plastic body and  without the mold release marks and the like which always spoil a clear plastic  body

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Roncla, 19 January 2013 - 11:08 PM.

[brad4321]

I don't why so many are sweating the non clear body.  Tamiya and other companies make a great clear paint.  Easy.

 

But seriously, I would never build a model with a clear body.   Unless the actual car had a clear body.   But doing so would eliminate having to sweat the intimidating blue/red paint scheme.  I dread building this kit, but I'm going to have to.  *sigh*  It's maybe the prettiest Nascar car of all time.  I can't not build it.

[Fender]

looks like the MPC Street Charger- prob with a mix of that kit and General Lee?

[niteowl7710]

looks like the MPC Street Charger- prob with a mix of that kit and General Lee?

This kit is where the other two came from. That's why the Street Charger was a "One Run of Fun" reissue, to backdate the tool back to the original NASCAR kit negated the ability to do it again.

[hpiguy]

What they should do is have someone pull a body made out of lexan for them and include it with the opaque body.

 

I'm also big into R/C and we have lexan shells for even 1/4 scale cars.

 

All it would take is to make a plug from one of the styrene bodies and duplicate it. Lexan is cheap and fast to work with.

 

Maybe someone after market could do that. Lexan comes out crystal clear with little to no defects and then we could have both. Opaque accurate body and a clear lexan shell that as well if we want to go that way for a bit.

[Fender]

I hope that the Petty car is a big hit.   The other Stock cars were the Hardees T bird and The Pontiac in 1/16 that I used to have- I forget who made them. If the Petty car goes well it would be nice to have those other nascars back also.  

 

I'd like to see as many as possible 1/8- 1/12- 1/16  kits come back.