maxwell48098

So this guy is talking about replacing the rear brake pads on a Hyundai Ionic 5 electric vehicle. I've worked in the automotive service retail and OEM business for 45 years, before retiring back 20 years. The vehicle mentioned is an Ionic 5,all electric vehicle going for somewhere between $50-$60,000. My question, who/why replaces just the rear brake pads on any vehicles any more after spending that much money on the car to begin with? What percentage of those buyers are DIY any more? Has anyone considered the cost that the dealership service departments are required to spend on specialized diagnostic and repair tools, software and regular updates, as well as training every year to keep up with technology advances? A.J.

I've Tamiya white pearl paint for covering chromed headlights for probably 10 years. There's just enough white in it to allow some of the chrome to show through as silvery background. And it dries glossy.

None of the local Walmarts in my area have sold models since they were dropped from the toy section years ago. Asked two of the store managers why, and they both said that they don't sell well of generate enough profit of other products that they can sell in the same space. And it's only about profitability that they can generate in their stores that matters to the higher ups.

Yep, when I stared building model cars, they were $1.39 retail ($1.09 at local discount store), then they jumped to $1.49 when more pieces were added, then up to $2.00 for pickup trucks with opening hoods. You could get a tube of Pactra or Testors glue for $0.10 and small jars of Testors paint for $.10 as well, the larger round Pactra paints were $0.15, 50% more than Testors! Those were the days, and a McDonald's hamburger was $0.15, fries were $0.10, and a large pop was $0.15. Times change, and once prices go up barbecue of inflation, they never come down.

Neither of the local Walmarts in my area have ever stocked model kits in the past 3 years. Local managers say that they don't sell, so they don't get them to "take up floor space" from other faster selling products.

FYI GM sells more vehicles in China than in North America, and builds 93% of them in China.

Hodges Dodges turned into Hodges Subaru in Ferndale,MI. The times have bean a changing.

Interesting thought, Monogram introduced their first kit of the 1926 Mack AC in 1973, or 47 years after the model year the kit represents. The Mack B61 was produced from 1953 to 1966, so if Round 2 produced a 1966 model year B-61, it would be 60 years old by the time the kit hits the market. And the B-61 is one of the top collector trucks today as it represents the iconic short nose, big power of the Mack bulldog imagery. But I still want some!!!!! A.J.

At today's DAAM show in Waterford Twp, MI, Round2 announced that a Mack B-61 semi will be released a year from now. Didn't get to speak to anyone manning the display, so I'll let someone who did provide more details.

When I worked in a 1:1 body shop decades ago, when we'd splice two totaled Chevelles together to make one good one, we'd always did it at the base of the A-pillars where they'd meet the cowl/firewall. A.J.

Outstanding build. I remember being 9 yrs old and building one of these as a stock car, painted bright yellow with roll bar, numbers, and sponsor decals. Back then, one of the local race tracks in our area featured convertible stock car racing. My dad and I went to the race track nearly every Saturday night in the summer to watch those races. A.J.

My uncle Henry was a cigar smoker and I had him save the wrappers for me. I used them for bed floors, and even the side panels on the original MPC woody kit. A.J.

There is an acronym for this COIK = Clear Only If Known.

Very nice build that brought back lots of memories for me. When I worked for Chrysler, I had one of these as my company vehicle. For the time, it was unbelievably quick, and even with a Sure Grip rear axle, the rear tires broke loose, even when going from first to second gear at full throttle. Around town, it wasn't too easy on gas, but on the Interstate, it would get 24-26 mpg. Only got to drive it for about six weeks before it was replaced by a 1978 Dodge Ramcharger with a 440, but that's another story. A.J.

I've used this since my original can of "Ford Engine blue" from Eastwood ran out. I can't tell the difference. A.J.

Really nice build. FYI, the actual body name for these fendered Dodges was "Utliline" and Step Side was the GM name for their fendered pickups. The smooth sided Dodge were referred to as "Sweptline". A.J.

Remember one other tip when taking pics with a smart phone. Always take the photos with your phone turned sideways. That way you picture will be filled with more of the model you are photographing, and less of the background. A.J.

Very, very nice. A.J.

Yep, back-in-the-day, we used to say that "When the van's a rockin', don't come a knockin'." Of course nothing smelled worse that wet, moldy shag carpeting that guys used to line the interiors with. A.J.

Outstanding build. I worked at a Ford dealer prepping new cars back in the late '60's - early '70's. I prepped several of these, but my favorites were the Mustang Boss 302's and 429's. But you cpould break the rear tires loose even on the Galaxie GT boats! Looks right on. A.J.

That was the first "truck" kit that I ever built, followed by the IMC Dodge L700 and AMT Peterbilt 359. A.J.

I've done this using the spare wheels from other F250s that I've built without spare wheels/tires. A.J.

Here's where I got mine. https://stsupplyco.com/collections/scenes-unlimited/products/m53-1-25-ford-bb-wheel-tire-set A.J.

One of the dealerships that I used to call on as a Chrysler Service Rep in the '70's would buy cars at the insurance company auto auction that had someone non-violently die inside them. They went really, really cheap because they smelled horrible inside. So what they would do is to get a bale of alfalfa hay that they'd spread around the interior and trunk of the vehicle. Then they put it out in the sun for a month or so. Amazingly, the alfalfa absorbed the foul smell that was inside the vehicle. But then the interior of the vehicle interior smelled like alfalfa! To get rid of the alfalfa aroma, they'd then spread a couple bags of charcoal around the inside of the vehicle and put it back out in the sun for another 3-4 weeks. Amazingly, the charcoal absorbed the alfalfa aroma. They'd detail the car, then put it on the used car lot. On model kits that I've purchased from heavy smokers, I washed all of the parts in soapy water. For the box, I'd put three or four charcoal brickettes inside and leave it out in the sun for a couple of days. The smoke smell would be gone. A.J.

Outstanding build. I remember being a teenager and riding in my uncle Henry's white '64 Galaxie 50XL. The interior in his was red and it also had a 427!