Alyn

At this year's Heartland contest, along with our regular awards program, we're going to try out a new concept. We will be awarding "Master Modeler" hats to no more than five modelers that exhibit exemplary skills in the main areas of model car building. This will include paint & finish, engine & chassis detail, interior/trunk/cargo detail, photo realism, and technical & scale accuracy. Our Grand Champion (Best of Show) winner will very likely take one hat. The others will go to builders exhibiting a model that excels in all the listed categories regardless of the contest class entered. To leave with a hat, you will truly need to be a Master Modeler. Hope to see you on the 11th and 12th of June Regards, Alyn Loya, KC Slammers president

Old Timer pretending to be a newbie testing photo upload

Congrats on a successful DSC V16. You guys had some outstanding entries. A big pat on the back to you and your club for the effort put forth for a great Covid-19 work-around. Alyn Loya FYI: check your count down clock. If my calculations are correct, it's counting down to the end of May, not the 1st.

We were looking forward to getting at least one model show in this year, but recent events have created some insurmountable logistics. We are forced to cancel this years Heartland Nationals. In May, the Kansas 4-phase plan for reopening was moving right along. At that time it appeared that by now we would be well into the last phase which allowed for decent crowd sizes and a major easing of most restrictions. Now, with the large increases in negative virus statistics, restrictions are tightening up again, making it all but impossible to manage face mask and social distancing rules with the large crowds we get. Health and safety comes first. Sorry to bring the bad news. Hopefully we can put on one heck of a show next year and make up for it. regards, Alyn Loya KC Slammers president

The KC Slammers has rescheduled this years Heartland Nationals to August 22 & 23rd. We will still be at the same location, The Overland Park Convention Center with plenty of vendors, Rock & Roll with our live DJ and plenty of eye candy on the tables. We are looking forward to a break from the current Covid-19 troubles across the country and a return to some good old model building. Details and a copy of the contest flyer can be found on our website at https://kcslammers.com/ Hope to see you there, Alyn Loya

I would be inclined to fudge a little. Start with some 1/16" x 1/8" (or thereabouts) plastic rod and just round off the two corners of the leading edge that will be exposed to the from of the grill shell. Round them off enough create a half-round profile on the leading edge. Leave the rear edges as is. No one will ever see them from the back side, so from the front it will not be evident that the cross section is not tapered.

Great call with Leonard Poppe's Camaro convertible custom. That car just begs to be blown up to full size so you can jump in and drive it.

We had a great show this year with an amazing number of beautiful paint jobs and superb detail from some of the best modelers around, including those mentioned previously. The model count, including a handful of "display only" cars was around 460. This easily outnumbered last years count, which was a pleasant surprise. Here's a link to the KC Slammers Fotki pages for a complete array of model pictures and category winners. Congrats to Klay Kemp for taking the Best of Show and Peoples choice awards (among others) with his unbelievably cool Mustang. https://public.fotki.com/kcslammers/heartland-model-car/2019-heartland/ regards, Alyn Loya - KC Slammers President

One week away to the start of the 2018 Heartland Nationals in Kansas City. One of the largest, if not the largest model show/exhibits in the Midwest. There's usually 400+ entries and huge vendor area; around 80 tables just for vendors, plus 50's - 60's rock with our friend Elvis covering the music for that "drive-in vibe". Always a good time and a great venue to get together with fellow modelers. regards, Alyn

Chuck, I'm sure you're thinking of an article by Scott Colmer. He's done several very interesting how-to's published in MCM Pat, I'm not sure how you could achieve the metallic look after trying this directly on plastic, but it will be an interesting addition to this thread if you pull it off. Pete, your work (as usual) looks great. I used the toothpick and compound for mine as, from what I've read, it was common for hot rodders to do it this way with a wooden dowel in a drill press and similar rubbing compound. Your technique has a superior look in scale. Was size tubing is that?

well, this one is one more try ...

One more try ...

Let's see if I still remember how to post a pic. Engine turned aluminum firewall. I used a round toothpick mounted in a Dremel (with Dremel drill press fixture). The end of the toothpick was cut off square to the end and cleaned up. Dupont No. 7 compound was used for cutting. Another vote for tedious. This picture doesn't do it justice. Looks pretty good in person. https://public.ch.files.1drv.com/y4mGM4VEyN9Qup2X69gl-9YxUFuRWH8ngfB5803IFvN-1IGucFttrHV2cM6Q7yag1EyzYIeE9qKA9m-W3YQrzMNEcro-IhsBEqeSwF53i3gtYN8FxQYP5_fQDmHaesGOMOMK8XMbardEkdHKPfHXiItyQ5zzmXSVa11kREmqdYX8Gx9HzxoUNWlT9v7VSLhUHvAAsHsNz3C_WYwXf9UOJG1mg/Img_2134c.jpg?psid=1

Check you messages, Ben. I sent the following; "I use plastic from both Plastruct and Evergreen. The .030" half-round was from Plastruct. I buy both locally in Kansas City hobby shops. The Plastruct part number is 90879. catalog number MRH-30. I would assume you could find this online." A quick google search on "Plastruct MRH-30" brought up numerous sources with product in stock. Alyn

Off to your usual fabulous start. You make it look so simple. Do us all proud with this one.

The typical VW engine, if I remember right would be around 1200cc to 1500cc. That would put it in the G engine class. Bore or stroke it past 1523cc, up to around 2000cc and you'd move into H. Lakesters are designated with the letter L. So if you build a lakester powered by a stock displacement VW motor running on gas, you would run in H/GL. Switch to alcohol or nitro and you would run H/FL. Adding a blower to either gas or fuel; add a B as in H/BGL or H/BFL. good luck with your project

I would think that after 9 pages, most of you guys would get it. There are modelers out there that are not building to the Morrison standard. There are magazine editors that are not selecting content that is up to the Morrison standard. This has got to stop. If only Van Gogh had been alive to paint in our modern times. The night sky in "Starry Night" could have been so much more accurate with Jonathon's guidance. Surely we can all step up our game and start building to the Morrison standard. Surely we can all provide Jonathon with acceptable answers to his clearly and precisely worded question. Sorry, but the arrogance of someone to think others need to change their standards to fit his is off the charts.

lovely little bits of jewelry, Bill. The spacing of the various holes are deadly accurate. You must have some secret computer driven laser drill hidden in an underground workshop, three stories below the surface. You have come up for air and blind us with your machining brilliance. I was recently thinking of how Mark and John had raised the bar so high it could go no higher. No more raising the bar. Then you show up and what do you do; raise the bar. Way to go, buddy. I'll look forward to seeing the finished car at this years Heartland.

Mark, you're pushing the envelope to the point she's gonna blow! some beautiful examples of the level of modeling skills you've mastered.

Great looking chassis, Art. The detail and metalized finishes really set it off.

Very thoughtful, John. Shows the kind of guy you are.

Excellent work on the chassis, Kevin. As delicate as shackles can be, to me they're screaming to be made in brass. Thin parts that need strength; that's where brass really shines. Here's an example I scratch built for a dodge truck. It's just under 1/4" between centerlines, or ~6" in scale: leaf spring to go with it. No worry handling this model:

Holy Batmobile, John. That is one slick ride. Chassis looks great; I really noticed the great color on the rear axle center section. the perfect color awesome