Faust

Thanks, guys, for the kind words! Monty: I know, what is with the stupid "melted" engine bay accessories? That's a Monogram standard, that's for sure! The problem with converting a 79 to my 80 would be the turbo setup. Other than a kit already equipped with the 301T, it's going to be hard to simulate that setup. I do have the Mongram 1/20 turbo T/A, though! It's not a bad kit, but again, has the BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH melty accessories. Seriously, at 1/20??? WTF? (Sorry, but come on...) I would love a nice Turbo kit. Did MPC ever do an 80 Turbo? Kalbert: I don't know what those wheels are called. I just know they are awesome, and I wish I had a set that was bigger (like 18") for my G8.

Even deformed, those T/As (T/Us??) are awesome looking cars! Nice work!

My mom had a 67 Firebird when I was a wee one. I remember some squirly drives in it, too! Lots of chance to see the world go by as it was doing doughnuts in even slighly coolish weather! I think that's why she got a better car, too. well, that and it rusted away brutally...

Hey gang! Check out my entry into our club's one year build contest: my Monogram 1/24 1987 GTA! Check out the link for a full review including in-process shots, etc. I always loved these cars as a kid, but since I've had a chance to drive a few, I think I've determined a.) that I'll keep my 1980 T/A and b.) I'll be happy with this kit to represent having one of these cars. The old Mongram isn't as nice as some of the MPCs I've worked on, but still, shape-wise at least, it's a good representation of the car! They really are nice to look at though, eh? Anybody here ever have one?

Man, modelguy45, I love that last one; the "big rig' van. I remember seeing that elsewhere on the net, but just the box. Never the real thing! I would love to find one, one day! We need a reissue!

Guys: I'm so sorry the link didn't work. I tried it, and it was fine, so I don't know if it's something in my browser or cookies (mmm.... cookies...) or something else that went wrong. Thanks a ton, Casey! I appreciate the save. I hope I don't have that sort of trouble again, and I really am glad somebody pulled my bacon out of the frying pan. The Kei cars are awesome. I really need a Honday City Cabrio. I don't know if it's a Kei car, or not, but it's little, weeny and weird! I have a hard topped one, though, so that will have to do for now, I guess. I think I'll do the Today in yellow when I get to him.

Awesome! Of course, there's that Nissan Vannette on the side of the Toyota's box, too. The Kei cars make a very interesting comparison to what we here in North America consider a "compact" or "sporty" or "downsized" car. I mean, look at the Honda Today, compared to a Trans Am (see picture lower in the review), which is supposed to be a sporty car, and is very cramped and small-feeling (I know, I've driven a few!)

Yeah, I hear you. At least I have the Today and this guy. They just look so weird to North American eyes!

Oh, so you did! Pizza and wrestling! Go Friday Nights!!

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.