Faust

You can lie to me, but you can't lie to yourself. Just because it's awkward, ugly and garish, that's no reason not to want one. Maybe you didn't notice that the TV was red. That must be it...

Okay, so some things are just too bizarre for words. This is one of them, the Minicraft 1/20 Toyota Sports Van! This thing is crazy; it's smaller in 1/20 than most 1/24 vans, but it's got everything you need packed right in there! It's like a weird ricer/vanner love-child! Check it out, and tell me you don't want one.

The Honda today was a car that the Japanese made in the mid 1980s to fill the "kei" car niche. These were tiny little cars ideal for one or two people's commute only. I picked this weird littly Tamiya up at a model show in London (Ontario) last fall, and I thought he'd make a neat out of box review! Check him out; you'll want one of your own, soon enough! It's not like it's going to take up a lot of shelf space, either! http://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/model-kits/out-of-box-reviews/124-tamiya-honda-today-oob/

Daddyfink: No worries on highjacking! If it's for the vans, it's ALL GOOD! I love that Iron on transfer! F'ing awesome! I love the vans, so getting to see more of them makes my day! Highjack away, man! (I think that, with at least some of these vans, the emphasis there is on the "high" part!) I still should have bought that Visible Van when I had a chance. Shoot.

Oh man, that looks awesome! Black bird, eh? That's not correct, from what I have seen. That's a shame, because other than that, yes, those decals are the ones for my car! That's a great looking job on that kit, too! Nice work! Man I wish winter was over so I could jam some G'n'R in the tape deck and drive my beast around a bit! Soon, though, I guess. One day I hope to find that Monogram kit, even if the bird is a bit off. I don't know, though, from here, the bird does look maroon-ish, but that's likely my eyes and the camera playing tricks on me,eh?

I know what you mean, Dominik. I mean, these things were everywhere at one point, but no one builds the kits of them. Sure, they're not '57 Chevy-level classic yet, but these things are getting into 25 years old now, and that's "vintage" for car restoration. I love to build cars like that because so many people see them and say "I had one of those!" or whatever, and it gives them a jolt to remember their first car, or a college car. I was blown away by the phone, myself. It is indeed a perfect addition to the kit!

I'm always amazed at the polarized opinions on cars like this. People either loved or hated them, but I don't seem to see any "meh" on the topic! The kit itself is probably as well engineered as the real thing, if that makes anyone feel better!

Flashback! I remember lots of these (and the wagons, too) rusting out around my neighbourhood as a kid! I want one of those kits! Great to see one built, rather than being jealously guarded in a dusty collection, with no chance of being built.

Hey, Stephen, is that back in a good way, I hope? I just remember thinking those things were so awesome. I always wanted to have one, but alas they're almost all gone now. Thanks to modelling, though, I can own several!

Dude! Awesome resurrection! Nice job saving that very rarely seen kit. My brother would also be pleased as punch; he loves his '70s cars! (Oddly, he's my YOUNGER brother, and I love 80s cars... weird...). You did a tonne of work, and it looks nice!

Thanks, Monty, for the props on the name! You wouldn't believe the number of things I tried that were already taken. It seems everybody and his brother has a "model hangar" or "model garage", so I had to try something else. I like the name, if I do say so myself! While it is a family board, I can definitely imagine what he thought of Chrysler's engineering. Probably the same thing my Grandfather thought about his 71 Charger that was an absolute piece of garbage. I hear you about the seats. My dad's old 89 Escort was the same. Of course, that was after 10 years...

Just email him and see what he says. He's in my club, and we have a meeting this week coming up. I'll try to remember to ask him, but he's not always there. He makes a lot of decals, so I can't see that he wouldn't make non-turbo birds.

I think J-Bot decals does hoodbirds for these cars. If you do a google Search for J-Bot decals, you should find it. I have the 1/20 1981 Turbo kit (Mongram) done as the Nascar Pace Car, but it's not really an 81; they didn't put the bird in the gas door! You can always print the decals yourself, too, but I don't know how well that would work. There is a Monogram Turbo with the red bird, and I really want that. One day I'll find it.

Hey guys! I've heard some of the guys at shows say something about baking their kits. They say that if you heat a kit up before applying paint, the paint goes on much more smoothly and dries better. I think they meant for lacquers, but I wonder if it would work for acrylics, too. Here's what I'd like to know: 1.) Has anyone done this, and does it work? 2.) What kind of oven do you use? Would a toaster oven work, or is it not big enough? 3.) What temperature? 4.) Can you use this method to dry the paint once it's on? 5.) How do you support the kit inside the "hot box"? Clearly wooden splints would be a bad idea, but I'd be worried that a metal frame or support would cause localized heat zones and warping 6.) How long can you leave a car in heat before it melts? I'm seriously considering this approach, especially for power drying the cars I build. I currently wait weeks for my Future to dry, and more in the summer (model room in the basement, near the furnace, which runs the A/C, so it's cold in the summer, hot in the winter... go figure...). Thanks for any input!

If you want to build a second gen T/A, here are some pics of mine, as well as some additional information. Faust - 1980 Turbo T/A Turbo 301 Detail Shots One day, I'll find a really good kit of that car and build a replica of it.

Don't worry, Tom. I'll get them posted at some point, but I only have a few of them built.

I think that's one of the better street van kits, simply because of the interior. I really wish that someone (Round 2, you listening???) would reissue that "Visible Van". I'd be all over that. I can't believe they made that many versions of this thing. Man, it is a van of all trades! And you have very one of them, Daddyfink? I family pic would be AWESOME!

A shaker AND Formula scoops? That's wild! I love my F-bodies, and that is F-ing great! (Get it, there's a pun in there... nevermind) Great colour, too!

If you can do that, you're in no worry of having eye trouble! I love those fastback Buicks and Chevies, and that is an awesome job! It's even smaller than a Hot Wheels! Well done, man! PS. Bare Metal Foil at that scale?? I think you need s shrink, not an optometrist!

Thanks man, appreciate it! I need more Street Vans. Got the Vantasy already, and the newer one, what is it, Phantom? I turned down an old 1/20 "Visible Van" at a swap meet because I thought it was too expensive. What, oh what, was I thinking? The thing has a FREAKING FIREPLACE! Next time for sure!

Tom: I can't even begin to contemplate doing a whole car carrier's worth of Omnis! I've built the one (as a Super Bee, no less, my own automotive What-If!) but figured I'd need a break after that. It would indeed by like Groundhog Day... But more like with rabid wolverines! I'm glad that this kit has brought up memories for so many people. It makes building it all worthwhile!

My goodness you're right! I apologize, that IS the Revell! I had tossed the box before I wrote the review. I have changed the website, too. Man, that is embarrassing... Thank fully my vannin' skills are better than my memory. Wrong scale AND maker?? Where the heck was I? Must have been the fumes, man... Seriously, though, thanks for pointing that out. I hate misinforming people. Thanks for the complements, too!

I'm going to kick it back a decade from this morning's Daytona, and ask you to direct your Doritos-fuelled eyes to the Sundance Express, the old Monogram custom van from the 70's. There are a lot more pictures of it on my website, so click the link above for interior shots, underside shots and some in-progress pics too! If you remember vannin, you'll remember things like this! Thought that seemed like a good one for a Saturday Night.

Thanks a lot, Tom, for the votes of confidence! I appreciate it! Incidentally, I also have the 1/32 EXP if you like your cars a bit smaller, but it's not as good a job as the MPC one, I agree. I have a few more car kits to do write ups on, as well, but that could take me a bit. You're absolutely right about those MPC kits from the 1980's. I've got one of the Omnis built, as well as a second one awaiting the light. I've finished the Cavalier in the last year, and I've got their 1982 Camaro and Shelby Charger to do as well. A surprisingly good looking kit from the 1980s is the Monogram Citation X11. The "Lowrider" version is best, thanks to the correct decal sheet for either 1980 or 1982 X11 versions. The box says 1981, but there weren't any X11 notchbacks in '81!

Hey all! I'm new to the forums, and I build all kinds of things. However, I do have a thing, like most people, for the cars that were rolling around when I was growing up. However, I grew up in the 1980's, so I have a thing for modelling 80's cars! Thankfully, MPC was particularly active in that decade (before they died). I also have my own website, where I post all kinds of kits that I've built. Please, take a look at this 1988 Daytona on my site, The Sprue Lagoon, and let me know what you think! Thanks!