customline

Wayne, NJ is a bridge too far for me these days. The only thing around here is an annual show/contest in Richmond and I discovered it a couple of days too late. I gotta stay on top of that. What you said about "fluffing the order up" is what I was trying to say but you nailed it exactly. I'm averaging around $50/mo. at Hobbylinc. Hey, Bob, the Magnum project? I scored an '05 Charger last night on Ebay. So much for OOB on that one.

That's pretty cool, Ken. I'm going the other way with a Charger nose. I scored a kit last night on flea-bay. So much for OOB ?

Yup. Trying to get one now. I hate to spend the money but it's the only way. That nose should be on a Magnum. It's the right thing to do. (I hope it's not illegal)

This is the nose they should have put on the Magnum. Otherwise it just looks like a Caravan. Is there a kit for this one?

Jim, this axle was made from 3/32" evergreen tube for the axle and the axle ends. The spindles are 3/16" evergreen square tube cut off and then sliced to form a U. The axle ends are fitted to the inside of the U. The actual spindle in this case is K&S brass rod, 3/64". I cut up some stuff to show you. The pics show the raw pieces which need to be shaped and fitted. Your wheel choice will determine what rod or tube you use for the actual spindle. It ain't great but it's OK for a gasser. The thing to be careful with is drilling for the rod insertion on the ends. I'm sure you can figure that out. Then you need steering arms and a tie rod. It's all just evergreen and brass. This one isn't done yet, gotta dress it up more. Easy peasy.

Ah yes...they're coming our of the woodwork now.....that's a nice shade of purple, David. Can't wait to get this one started. ? I think the charger clip would really work for this. I'm going to look it over again and try to see if what I'm thinking is feasible. Keep 'em comin'! Hey David, where'd you get that checkerboard you use for photos?

That's a very cool idea, Tom. I happen to have a Shaker set-up from the AMT '70 Challenger hereabouts (that kit came with 3 hoods!) Now I'm reeeeeally feeling it. What a great idea! I wonder if the 440 would fit ?.

WOW, MAN ...7 Magnum kits! ( I learned that from Carl ?) you are a Mopar guy, no doubt. Swapping front clips....hmmmm. I like it ?

I've looked at Mega Hobby and, probably, because I didn't find what I was looking for, looked elsewhere but I may spend some time and explore it again. The shipping rates are a consideration so I usually try to take advantage of getting over the minimum by adding stuff that doesn't add a lot more in shipping charges. When I do, I always get a couple of cans of fine surface primer. I refuse to pay $12+ per at HT. The last LHS around here went away a few years ago so now all I have here is HT and they pretty much have everything but their prices suck. They have a good selection but get MSRP for kits. Actually, I have enough kits to last me to the bitter end so I need to go there,only in an emergency, for paint. I would love to go to the NNL East but it would be quite a drive. When and where is the next one? Is it in New Jersey?

EXCELLENT!.....oh...wait.......EXCELLENT! thanks, uh....officer? ( did anyone notice the lap-top?) Outstanding! The Magnum SRT8 makes a really great police vehicle, especially for the K9 patrol. Oooooooo.........?

Not surprising; Hobby Town cut the price almost in half to get rid of it. Well....I've been thinking...I've never seen the logic in making this wagon, which seemed kinda sporty, a 4 door, especially with that down sloping roof. There were better wagon-like vehicles and this one was a hemi-powered high performance model. It should only have two doors up front. They would have sold a bunch more, imho. My old boss-lady drove a red one. I liked the idea of a cool wagon-like ride but a mini-van is way more practical, though. Just sayin'. Is there anything I should know about any difficulties I might run into. It would be great if you wanted to post it here, Dave. That goes for anyone else too. I can't help myself. I know I said it would be OOB but there are possibilities here that just cannot be ignored. I'm feeling it. Somebody help me! ?.... I gotta go lock up my razor saw. Thanks for stopping by, gents. ?

I'm sorry you had a problem with Hobbylinc, Bob. I've been using them, almost monthly, for several years now and have never had a problem with anything. Their communication, shipping and packing has been on point every time without exception. I am very pleased with the inter-action with the website, especially when ordering. I can't imagine what went wrong for you. I have an account which allows me to post reviews and images to earn points that are used for discounting on my orders. They encourage feedback and it's just a great on-line experience. My only negative comment is that their search engine is a bit cumbersome but that's maybe just me ?. I have quite an inventory of styrene too. It makes me feel safe ?. Every time I buy Tamiya fine surface primer from Hobbylinc I'm saving about 4 bucks each over what I would pay locally (Hobbytown). I would suggest you go to the website, establish an account and give them another shot. Unless you have an LHS you want to prop up, this may be a good alternative for most of your raw materials purchases. Kit prices are pretty decent too as Hobby Lobby is pretty limited these days. I have to travel to VA Beach (at least an hour if the tunnel isn't blocked) or drive 90 minutes to Richmond (and 90 minutes back)....for a 40% off a kit I don't really want. I dunno, Bob. I wish it was a little easier but it is what it is. ?

This was purchased at my local Hobbytown several years ago when they still had occasional clearance items. It has been sitting in my storage area since the day I brought it home. Looking at it now, I can't believe I didn't start it that day. Today I was checking out Rockin' Rodney's short body Chevy wagon and I thought "what a great idea!".......so I pulled out the Magnum kit and looked at it with custom bodywork in mind. It was then I discovered what a terrific kit it is. It's on par with a lot of Revell's Special Edition kits. 110 parts, nice high relief, fresh tooled details. Tinted glass! Opening tail gate. And a Fender Strat! This is a full-blown OOB dream. My original plan for this kit is hereby canceled. If anyone else is interested in looking at the whole kit spread out just say so. I will put it up here. Otherwise, I will begin by posting a few pages of the instructions to whet your appetite. The actual bench work may not begin for a few weeks so I can finish some stuff and make room. I'm excited about this kit. I'm going to try very hard to keep it to just normal exo-detailing. It looks like a very good kit to me. If anyone has built it, please feel free to show us here and tell us how it went. Did I say I was excited? I gotta say, though, the skill level may be higher than a 2 due to the paint sequence requirements. Gotta have a plan for that for sure (I have trouble with that ?.)

Nope, I'm good. I have a victim in mind.... OK, it's the Dodge Magnum. You dragged it out of me ?. They should have made it a 2 door to begin with....

K&S metal is fairly ubiquitous. I can find it locally at Hobbytown (my only local) or mainly I get it from Hobbylinc.com (where I get 75% of my supplies) or Ebay. Hobby Lobby carries it too. Very often I will roughen the brass wire ("rod") with fine sandpaper to give the CA a good surface to hold on to. I snip it with "dykes" and sometimes file ends with a nail file. And it's cheap. K&S metal is great stuff, Bob. I got some 2mm square brass tube I will be playing with soon. I keep quite a lot of K&S metal and Evergreen styrene on hand for scratch-building and general building duty.

That's a neat little street rod, TJ. I want one ?!

This is such a great idea! I'm following. ?

Yep! That'll work! The red is real nice, TJ, put it with gray or khaki.

Thanks, JR. I'm tryin' ?

Bob, you don't think brass is much easier to work with? Stainless steel is quite hard (and corrosion resistance, I think ?, wouldn't be a consideration.) I won't even cut brass with my sprue cutter. I use a dedicated cutter for metal. Stainless needs a hardened blade to cut it. I kinda don't get why I would use them when brass is more than adequate for the job. What am I missing? I now use .020 brass for 80% of pinning. 20% with .032. I love ALUMINUM. The tube. Soft. Eeeeeezeeeeeee to work with. Like styrene. Love it. ? Stainless? Naaah.? BUT......I may find, in the future, a practical use for it so I'm not going to burn this bridge and dismiss it. Thanks for the tip, Bob, and I would like to know more on how you use them.

Yay-uh! Ditto that!....

Thanks, Dave, I appreciate it. Gotta move off this one for a while, the '62 T'Bird needs my love.?

I hear you, Bob. I got excited when the RH went below 50% and got carried away. I have too many projects going, more than I can comfortably manage. ?. All of them are in some phase of paint. Stainless steel pins? ?

Well, it is an entertainment medium, Jeremy....thank you. I was bummed.

Yup. I'm on board. I really like this body style. I hope it shows up at Ollie's ?.