Faust

Just in time for the new year, I have completed a new kit, the Hobby Boss 1/350 Astute Class submarine! I was drawn to the fact that the Astute doesn’t look like all the other black tubes out there; it actually has some neat contours and a lot of character, especially with that weird “hunchback” design. I must say that, photoetch aside, I had a good time building this kit, and despite a few flaws, it was a lot of fun and a pretty simple build, especially compared to some of the old dog planes I build much of the time. Since I’m pretty new to building ships and subs, I’d appreciate any feedback you can give me! Thanks, and Happy New Year, all! https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/model-kits/ships-and-tanks/hobby-boss-1350-hms-astute/

I agree with you, Bill, about styling being all gear towards "sameness". It's not as interesting or as exciting as it was before, that's for sure. Of course, with aerodynamic calculations, government crash regulations and now the pedestrian impact safety standards (Europe only, I think, but that's why new Mercedes cars have the vertical grille), there's only so much a poor stylist can do. I would hate to be a stylist now; you'd have a vision, and it would end up looking like a Fusion/Civic clone when done! Must be disheartening. However, I disagree with the Charger thing. I find the 1999 Charger plain and weak looking. It looks like a viper and a Concord had a love child, but all the good parts got lost! I find it uninspiring and tepid at best. By comparision, I really like the first of the "new" Chargers, and the 2011 restyle is, to my eyes, the most beautiful car on the road today. The 2014 restyle is terrible; it's just back to an uninspired subcompact (Dart) inflated to full-sized proportions. Blech. Ron: Nice cars all three! I'd love kits of the first two!

What's with the surf boards? I don't normally associate surfer culture with Vanner culture, but it sure seems that the Japanese do? The Lite-Ace custom I posted at the start of the thread comes with a matching surfboard, too! I think it's great they way they try and put "Americanism" into these street vans, but it just doesn't work. You know, like a single side pipe, mags, etc. So bizarre!

I second that, Harry! Gaute: you have a great way with words! Well done, sir! I sadly agree about the change of the car from an expression of styling and engineering prowess to little more than a rolling toaster. It's a sad thing...

ABSOLUT ELY!! I'm a big metal fan, but that includes hair metal from the 80's so anything from Maiden and early Metallica through the newest European power metal stuff, like Iron Saviour, Jorn, Primal Fear, etc. Of course, Dio, too. Gotta have Dio, especially when working on street vans... I also listen to documentaries on space, archaeology, military history, and sometimes, for shiggles, weird UFO shows. I don't really like sports, but I do like Jim Rome, so I might put him on too, if the mood strikes!

You're right about that, Charlie! Canadians get hosed on stuff like this all the time. However, given how bad the kit is, if I'm a shade or two off I am not going to let it ruin my day at all! I have never heard of the MCM guys before, so I'll definitely keep them in mind for future products. Since I'm a military modeller as well, I've got all kinds of funny greens and greys, and I have some Jacquard pigments for silvers and greens, too. I should be able to whip up some kind of concoction, I think. All my other mixed colours were done right here in my basement, so I think I can get this one figured out, now that I that picture, paint chip and the nice brochure page from above! Maybe, once I get the build issues sorted out I'll get to mixing the colour this week or next, when I'm off of work for Christmas! It looks like olive drab, silver metallic, some bright green and maybe a bit of light grey should do the trick. Now, don't expect a recipe when I'm done, because I'm a "season to taste" kind of paint cook; once I make something once, I can't duplicate it. Hmmm... better make lots! Thanks for all the help, guys!

Man, you don't see people take T/As and make Formulas of them very often! Well, at least not in the 1:1 world! I love what you've done! Those wheels are amazing, and your attention to detail (like the steering wheel center) is amazing! Great work all around!

Yeah, I've noticed that too about primer. It's especially true on lighter colours, like yellows, reds, oranges and even lighter blues. That's why I always prime a car body in grey, and then, if it's going to be some other metallic colour, I try to put a base coat of a close, non-metallic colour down.

Oh man, you guys rock! Thanks so much for that swatch and the pic. It is more or less what I expected, which is a silver/olive drab hybrid. It is very nice indeed. I like the two-tone, but alas, the X-11 is "too sporty" for such a trim. the stock Citation isn't, though. I think the gold decals will look good on that colour too. I love that the Caprice above has the Fern interior, too! I have a Mobile Suit in pretty much this colour. As for getting the colour, I'm going to mix it with what I have, and we'll see how close I get. For me, if it's close,it's good enough. No one else is going to be able to argue convincingly, because I've never seen a pic of an X-11 in that colour! It was offered, but I can't help but wonder how many notchbacks came in that colour in '83/'84. Thanks again, guys!

Hey all! As you may (or of course, may not) know, I am about to start building my Citation X-11. I have done way more research than I wanted to, but have determined I can do it as either an '80, or an '83 or '84. It seems the X-11 notchback was only available then. Despite the fact it is most likey supposed to be an 80, I don't like the scoop on the door, and I want to do a meaner one. So, I've decided on the '83/'84. However, looking up the colour options, not too much leapt out at me. Sure, there was white, silver, and maroon, but I'm going to have lots of maroon what with my Camaro, Fiero GT and my already built GTA. The, I saw that in 1983, you could get a colour called "Light Fern Metallic". I found a paint site that had a "sample" of it, but that's just a computer-rendered colour. Does anyone out there have ANY pics of ANY early 80's car done in the Light Fern Metallic. It doesn't have to be a Citation, any GM will do. Also, if there are ANY pictures of the "Light Fern" interior on any GM, that would also be appreciated. Has anyone ever seen an X-11 Notch in Light Fern? I never have, and that's why I am now compelled to build it! Thanks for any help you guys can give me! This is the kit I'm using; I think it will do for any of the years I intend to model. https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/model-kits/out-of-box-reviews/revel-124-chevy-citation-xlowrider-oob/

I love it! Clean, not overbuilt, just straight out beautiful. Great work!

I'm here because I love to build car kits, and this board is THE place to do share the hobby! The guys (and gals?) here are friendly, helpful, encouraging and bloody talented! I love getting help and feedback on my stuff. I also am here because I love to build cars that are a bit odd. I also build the cars I grew up with, but those were 80's losers. I like to build those so people don't forget how sad cars got. I guess you could say I'm rooting for the automotive underdog! It's always great to come around here, get some news, share some stories, and I love it when people tell the stories of their own cars that are like the kits I've built. This community makes car building one of the most rewarding experiences going!

I guess this proves that Horsepower > Reindeerpower. That is a great pic, and I wish Santa well with his new ride. I do see some problems getting home to the North Pole, though!

Man, NO power steering? That would suck, especially on a front driver! I agree; the notchbaks are better looking to me, too. Of course, I prefer the Mustang II Notchbacks over the fastbacks as well. To me, fastbacks from that era just scream "welfare beater". I don't know why, they just look low-class and pre-POS'ed up. It's the same for Monzas, too. The good news is that the Citation won the poll, so once I clear off the plane I'm building now, it'll be going into production! Rejoice! (?) Now, I just need a good colour for it. Does anyone have any good photos of X11s they might have owned?

I know, the "Alluring and Aggressive" does look like something I'd write, doesn't it? It's so far out there, that it's almost tongue-in-cheek sarcasm! However, I assure you that I am not responsible for that! Oh man... making it into a Corsica would rock. Making it a wagon would also be a cool what-if! A Nomad for the '90s! Hmmm... Now look what you've done!

Scott, I was going to make the same joke! The good thing about the Revell plastic is that it's actual plastic, not the weird paper/plastic/formaldehyde/nuclear-waste hybrid of real Trabbies! In a way it kind of explains the Citation kit... Trabbies are so bad they're interesting; maybe the Citation is the same way?!

Hey Mike! I love that Hot Wheels too! My brother is the keeper of Hot Wheels (that aren't Go Kart or otherwise short and dumpy) in my family, and he has a couple of those. He also has perfect in-pack J-2000, but that's another awesome story altogether! I don't think I have what it takes to convert it to a Hatchback, at least not yet. I think I'll have to back down from that challenge, at least this time! I remember a lot of hatchbacks, though very few notchbacks. That's why I like this model: the notchback is something even more bizarre to kit than a hatchback Citation!

I agree, the GTO is much cooler than the rest, that's for sure! Goodness don't the Aussies know how to build a car, though? Their Monaros, Falcons and Commodores are so much nicer than what we get here! Sweet on the Trabant, Tom! You have great taste! I was going to get that kit, but I saved shelf space and actually managed to get a Honday an MPC D50 and a '79 Capri, so I did okay. How is the Trabi as a kit? I'm really looking forward to the new Rabbit/Golf 1 coming out soon.

Scott: I ask, because sometimes it's more fun that way! I love the way car builders are such a tightly-knit and interested community, and it's fun for me too to see how some of my 'oddball' choices do in terms of a popularity contest! Besides, it's just something light and fun and silly to do, and I felt like it! I sometimes ask my brother, or mom or dad to go to the stack and pick what they'd want to see built next for the same reason; the randomness can make it more exciting! Citation's definitely taken a lead. I know that the other two aren't real Notchbacks, but they're as close as my collection allows. That's awesome, Art, that you were in on the GTO! I had a chance to get the kit that comes with the 1/64, but someone got it before me. I do have the JL of the GTO though; I went out and got one separately! It looks so much nicer and more professional than the Citation does; wrapping the windows separately really helps a car kit; I wish more people would do it!

Thanks, Mark! I appreciate the vote of confidence! I'm sure execs would rather I build the newest kits, but it's always fun to revisit the past for me! I agree, I've never seen the GTO either. It's the best kit of the three, I think, in all honesty. However, it's also the least loserish! I didn't vote in the poll, since I couldn't pick one in the first place! Sadly, the GTO is behind by a lot. The Citation is running away with it for now. Maybe, Glenn, you need to start a campaign?

Hey all! Going through my stash of loveable losers, obscure autos and just plain everyday cars, I noticed that I had a number of choices that all attracted my attention equally. So, rather than stew on it for a while, I decided to see if you guys could give me a hand! Check out my new poll on The Sprue Lagoon, and help me choose my next car to build. Thanks in advance for the assistance, too! http://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/2014/11/06/vote-for-notchvember/

Beauty, man! That looks nice; that design of Panther is a bit odd, aesthetically, but you've got it looking really nice. Makes me want to build a GCPD AV-98 Ingram Labor! Great idea using "imaginary" PDs as topics. It's a car, and it's Sci-Fi at the same time!

Okay, that's good to know. I don't know if I've ever seen one of the early/mid '80s Mustangs in that green. Ford has a thing with greens, it seems, since there was the one dark green (Dark Jade?) available on the Taurus SHO Plus cars the one year as an exclusive colour. It was then available on all SHOs (maybe all Tauruses) the next, but for the one year it was very limited. So you could get a normal 5.0 in this 4E then, eh? That would make a cool looking pair! Does anyone know when they discontinued offering that colour?

Of course the Iron Duke rocked! It was a Poncho motor! Poncho Power! C'mon, you had to know that was coming!

Yeah, that's true. You gotta wonder how much GM was "encouraging" them to pick the X-Car that year, eh? Don't worry about it, lordairguitar: I will definitely be building it stock! I can't waste an opportunity like that!