Faust

Two Chevettes, eh Tom? Awesome! I'm looking forward to it! I agree, Dave; there's a surprising amount of "retro cool" to the "losers" of the past, and I for one would love an early EXP, even though they're not very exciting. I just like the style of the older cars, and you sure don't see them around any more! I also concurr about the Juke, Scion, Cube (Don't forget the Cube!) and other "modern oddities". You have to wonder, though, if 30 years from now people will be saying exactly what we're saying about Jukes and Cubes and their ilk. I'm sure they will be, and we'll find it just as odd as people from the '70s would find it odd to hear us waxing nostalgic for Pacers and Chevettes! I guess time really does heal all wounds, eh?

Now THAT is an eclectic collection of kits, good sir! I like it! I'm still not sure about this car. It would make a dandy speedboat, though... Seal up the wheel wells, open the roof, put a fishing seat between the headlights...

I love the "losers" as much as anywone, because they were what I grew up with too! I agree completely with the sentiment of wanting to build what you either drove (or in my case) were driven around in! The Chevettes, Omnis and Citations of the world were far more accessible and far more important both historicallly and sociologically than any Ferrari or Lambo could ever be! That doesn't mean I don't like to have some tongue-in-cheek fun at the "lovable losers' " expense, though! Yes, the Citation will give you goosebumps, you are correct. Not for the reason they're saying, though!

Okay, I was looking for a dehydrator at Walmart today, and all they had was the 240W Salton one. Anyone ever use this thing? is it any good, or should I take it back. It was $50, which doesn't sound like much to some people, but it's not inconsequential, either. I don't like that the trays are shallow, I can tell you. I'll have to get creative there, if I choose to go with this model. Any feedback would be appreciated!

Good call, my friend, good call! I will definitely do that, especialy since I have a few T/A's that have to be white! Thanks!

Man, that's nice work! Interesting about the Future, too. I've never notice it yellow, and I hope I don't because I use it on everything! Hmm... Good to know about letting it set up, though. I will definitely take that to heart! Thanks, man!

Man, these things look like the answer to my prayers. I think. I use acrylics (either Model Master or homemade - Future plus pigment) as my paint. I then use Future as a gloss coat. I have found that for a thick coat of Future to be dry, you're looking at at least 2-3 weeks, sometimes. This is lame. Has anyone here used these dehydrators on Futured car bodies? Did it work? I know Future can get VERY hot; I dry stuff between two lamps, and sometimes, the part is so hot I can't touch it. Yes, I know that's likely too hot, but nothing has warped yet. Even with this technique, though, I'm waiting a week or so of 16-hour drying days. Future seems to be wet below the surface for quite some time... Anyway, if anyone's got any notes for this, let me know! Thanks! Oh, Happy Easter to those who celebrate it!

That is looking great! I'm both amazed and impressed by the workmanship that Ryan is capable of producing! I'd never even tried modelling when I was 8 years old! Congrats and Kudos to father and son both! Man, I can't even get paint that good NOW, and I've been modelling for 25 years!! I've been building cars for 3 or 4, too, but not this well. I think you've got a real scale Rodder on your hands, there!

As odd as this might sound, it could be a problem NOT thinning it. I found when I shot Future full strength that it was a bit of a pain in the backside to get right. You need it thinned with some alcohol to makeit dry a bit quicker, and also to level out better. That's what works for me. Incidentally, I find that if I take a jar and make 1/3 Future and 2/3 Alcohol, it makes dandy thinner for any brand of acrylic paint, including Tamiya. The Future re-inforces the paint, making it dry harder and shinier, and more sandable. If, by chance (like on my current project, the Hertz SVO) you end up with a colour that's flat, thin it down with Straight Future a bit, then airbrush it. Unless you thin the paint until it doesn't cover, you can ALMOST NEVER add too much for airbrushing purposes. Handbrushing is different, of course! Good luck! I'll be interested to see how it goes!

I have used the Novus on test pieces; the Novus seems to leave more scratches than the Tamiya compounds. I think the main thing that's giving me grief is the cloth: what do I use to apply and remove the Novus or Tamiya stuff?

Okay, I'm sure this has been asked a thousand times, but I can't find an answer. How do I get the swirls out of my paint. They don't show on metallic colours, but on my Hertz SVO, I'm all swirly on the hood. Any ideas? I could really, really use the help! Thanks, guys!

I've had this. It can be because the Future is too thin. Yes, you read it right, too thin! I cut my Future about 60% Future, 40% Isopropyl (99% only!) alcohol. I find that if I do a few light coats, and then sand between them, and then put on a much heavier coat, this will get rid of the problem. If you're applying the Future and it runs, you've put it on too heavy. Don't try and wipe it off, it'll just make more of a mess. Better to just get a test body to try on first! As Future gets thicker, it actually gets cloudy and whitish. However, it's always glossy, if it's on thick! Don't freak out! If it goes milky, just put it under a 60W bulb lamp. Not RIGHT under, but a bit under, and the heat will begin to dry the Future. as it dries, it will go clear. A nice thick coat will allow you to have more to sand on. Thing is, at this point, I've found that it normally takes about 1-2 weeks for a thick coat to dry to sandable. However, Future is REALLY hard when it has cured, so you'll be able to sand hardcore. It's well worth it! Hope this helps!

Interesting spot on the Ultrahots wheels! In its day, this thing was well-lauded, it seems. There was an article in a 1981-82 magazine (Motor Trend, I think) that called it the "most successful showcar ever". WTF? I agree with the Pepboys analogy. It's more like it was a reject for a "future car" from Back to the Future II, though. I still think it needs a trunk mounted laser cannon, like some crazy "future technical".

Lol! And they say memory is the first to go, Tom?! Cool Stang stories! I've never had one in the family; my mom had a 67 Firebird that I remember well, and we had a lot of Fords, but for a family with two small kids, a Mustang wasn't something that was practical. Of course, neither was my Dad's 2-door Torino, but that's another story! That sucks that the Capri was such a dog. It sounds nice. I actually have a Turbo RS '79 Capri kit. What colour was yours? I like that metallic orangy-red they had.

The real spelling of that word is Merkur, but you were close! Don't forget, it's a German word, and those guys hardly ever use "C"! However, linguistic picky-points aside, I agree with you completely. There's a lot of Sierra/XR4Ti in there. The double spoiler and "aero" lamps are dead giveaways. Even the mouth is XR4Ti-ish, although it's a lot bigger than the one on that car. If you look at one of those Sierra/XR4's, you can see that even the general shape is similar. Good eye. They were likely doing that to make the SVO more "Euro". I guess, in retrospect, that it must have worked!

Yeah, I can see what you mean. I still can't tell if I like the recessed headlamps like the '84 and early '85 cars, or the flush ones like this and the '86s more. It's interesting; I have the '92 GT convertible, and the chassis is identical. You'd expect them to be, but it was a heck of a good return on investment; they could make Stangs for years just on the one moulding effort!

2014 is the anniversary of so many important things, it seems. It’s been 100 years since WWI started, 70 years since D-Day and, as far as automotive birthdays are concerned, it’s the Mustang’s big Five-Oh! Given the longevity of the Stang, and its overall importance to the motoring world (we wouldn’t have “pony cars” without it, and I’d be T/A-less!), I wanted to do something to commemorate this occasion. Of course, most people think of Shelbys and 1964.5 Stangs when they want to celebrate Mustang heritage. Not me, thought! I think of Stangs from the 1980’s; you know, the obscure, not-so-well-remembered Mustangs. Well, what could be more obscure and likely forgotten or unknown than the Mustang SVO?? This was Ford’s attempt at BMW-fighter, and it tried to make the Stang into a sophisticated Eurotourer. You didn’t see many back in the day, and don’t see many now, either. So, get ready to relive the magic! Check out my Out Of Box review for the Monogram 1/24 SVO. I’ll be building this one next, so I should be able to get some updates on it in a bit, too! http://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/model-kits/out-of-box-reviews/monogram-124-1985-mustang-svo-oob/

= WANT!!! That thing is amazing! I love the curtain in the "bulkhead" and the chopper just makes it. The decals look perfect, too. Such an awesome thing to build. Free, it, man! Free the UFO! I agree with Greg: Vans are totally rad, and all other hip and cool adjectives that are equivalent. Sick? I dunno, I'm too old for this stuff. Thanks for the sprue shots! Made my day!

Darn it, Chip! You're a lucky man! What's the deal with the helicopter? Is it a separate piece, or moulded onto the roof rack? Wow, a whole $3.00 for the pair?? That's awesome! I still hope one day I can find either the orange Nissan or the pair of awesome silver vans. I'll keep my nose to the floor a-looking, that's for sure! I'm also certain their hard to miss...

Excellent! I'm looking forward to seeing what is up with this kit! I hope someone will post here when they get their hands on one.

Are you kidding me? Those are absolutely over the top! "Sports for Health"?? What the... "Hiace Invader"?? What's with the chopper on the roof?? This is totally the Vannin' phenomenon through the lens of cultural distortion. I sooooo wish I had those top two. Thanks for showing me these; now I have something to look for!

Are there any more than these two in this weird Japanese Street Van series? I know there's nothing else on the box, but I can't help but wonder what else is out there! What ever happened to 1/20 as a scale? That seems to have just faded out of popularity...

Dude, that's coming along great! Using the Promo is a great idea, since they do seem to be common. I have gotten a bunch of promos for my brother, and oddly I've never come across this one! That's exactly how I did my Chevette's tail lights, albeit with clear acrylic paint. You've gotten that hideous green colour captured nicely, too! Power to the Chevette People! (Lord knows they need it!) Keep it up, man! Do we need a "Post your Beaters" thread?

Whoa, Erik! How did you get that thing looking that good? Nice work! Seriously, though, what did you do to polish that thing. I'm always looking to improve my finishes, and that's sparkling! It even makes the Gremmy look good!

Oh, that sucks about the Pacer. I have the reissue 76 Gremlin in the big fancy art box, and man, it SUCKS! The front clip doesn't fit on worth a tinker's darn, and the engine bay/chassis fitup is nonexistent! Very disappointing, and I paid a good penny for that kit too. How is it that an MPC from nearly the same time can be so much better? It'll be a while before that Gremmy sees day, I can tell you!