Faust

As most of you know, when an old ‘70s kit gets repopped, I get pretty excited. That’s because, even though I love the old ones, they’re not easy to find, and I’d say about half of my “retro” car collection is reissues. However, sometimes I do get lucky, and I find an original, or an older reissue. That means that when the new repop comes along, I don’t have to worry about finding one, or at least finding one right away. A perfect example is the Monogram (now Revell) 1/24 1978 El Camino. This was just reissued as a 3-in-1 kit, a repop of the “Lowriders” version, I believe. However, I have an earlier variant, the second of these kits to be issued, the El Camino Camper. The new kit has all these parts and some extras, but I think it’s instructional to check out the source material when you can. So, take a gander and all the late-70’s custom-cowboy-streetness you can handle below! Then you can decide if the new one is of interest too! https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/monogram-1-24-1978-el-camino-camper-oob/

Well, shoot. That's a real kick in the jaw. It was literally my very most favourite place in MI to go. It had great old kits, lots of MPC stuff, the odd Jo-Han and HotWheels out the whazoo. Great deals, friendly staff, great atmosphere. It was about 4 doors away from Ken's Country Kitchen, too; a fantastic place for lunch/dinner. Made a great half-day trip. Down there, eat huge at Ken's, drop my nephew and those who didn't want to shop for kits at the beautiful park just around the corner, and come back and roll around in styrene and die cast. This sucks. Like 2020 needed help being crappier. Thanks for the link, Steve! Sadly, I'd had a lot of those kits in my hands, and decided I could "get them later". Then came COVID, closed borders and the end. Weak. At least I got a lot out of it while it was still alive! Rest well. Another local shop gone.

So, there's nobody here from around there who can tell me if this shop has gone under? There are a lot of views on this, but nobody's said anything. If you do know, please let me know!

Hey Everyone! I was just looking around and feeling nostalgic for some pre-COVID hobbyshop love, and I thought "I'll check Ashbrook's site". Nothing came up. I did some digging, and there was some reference to the shop being auctioned. I'm talking about Ashbrook's Hobby (Formerly Prieh's Hobby) in Richmond, Michigan, just off Division Line. I'm in Canada, and haven't been stateside since October 2019. They were running well then. Got a lot of stuff there, too. If there's anyone from the area who knows, can you tell me if they're dead? It's a shame, because I loved going to Ken's Country Kitchen and then walking down to Ashbrook's to have a fantastic afternoon of food and sprue. If they're gone, it's a true loss. Thanks!

Oh, that's unfortunate that it became the later SS one. Still, one can hope. I guess I'll have to keep my eyes open at swap meets, then. I do have the "Branding Iron" version, and I intend to likely do it full crazy custom, just because sometimes those MPC customs demand to be built thusly. When I was a kid, my Uncle built the Diablo one. I would still like a chance to do it with nice new decals.

Thank you so much! I'm glad to see that they gave us proper striping on this one. Unfortunately, the big hood decal itself is not all that accurate. It should have gold and orange at least in it, no? I also wish it was hollow; there's no guaranteeing you get the same "black" as the decal when doing this one. Sadly, I think I'll pass... C'mon Round 2... where's the El Diablo or your Royal Knight MPC kits, with your nice, patented new awesome decals in several colour options! Time to blow this old chestnut out of the water! I think the MPC is a better kit, too. I do have them both, I should check...

Hey Guys! Just saw the reissue 3-in-1 El Camino today. Was going to get it, even though I have the original "Camper" version, since this has stock hood and engine. The problem: I didn't know what the decal sheet would look like. For some reason, I can't find a pic of it online anywhere. Maybe I suck. If you have a link to a pic, I'd be glad to see it. Does anyone have this yet, and if so, can you post a pic of the decals for me? If it's got Full Royal Knight, then I'll likely get it, but if not, it'll be a no-go, I think. Thanks, in advance!

Now you're thinking!

By the way, that Matilda van is awesome, to my eyes! So horribly, awfully, tastelessly '70s! Am I the only one who thinks the bubble is a great place for a ball-type turret for a post-appocalyptic "Mad Max" van? I mean, it's already got the Australian theme going!

Well done! As someone who loves to build 3-D Cartoons (see all my Gundams for details!), I can say that looks absolutely awesome!

Steve! That looks fantastic! What a great story, and a great model to go with it. My brother and I have made models of things for my dad for Christmas, and things like this with a personal connection are always great to see. You rocked that thing, hard, man! Great work through and through!

It should come as no surprise to many reading this that I love obscure subject matter. From Gundams that almost no one has heard of to four-door vettes and planes that can barely get out of their own way, the odder it is, the better I like it. I also have a thing for two-seater variants of normally single-pilot aircraft. One of the lesser-known Russian planes of the Cold War is the Su-15 Flagon, despite its apparent penchant for shooting down airliners! As a typical “fast-and-pointy” ‘60s-era interceptor, it’s not really something I have a particular love for. However, if you talk to me about the trainer variant, then you have my attention! Well, Pioneer2 from Turkey did just that, and I couldn’t resist picking up one of their Su-15UM Flagon G kits years and years ago. I decided it was time to get it out of the stack and see what I was in for. Check out this very “workmanlike” (to be kind) kit out-of-box at the link below, and remember that I’m doing this so you don’t have to! https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/model-kits/out-of-box-reviews/1-72-pioneer2-su-21g-flagon-oob/

I think I've seen somewhere that you can take the Sierra's interior and put it with the Cosworth racing body to at least get a "civilian" curbsider of the Cosworth. I'm so glad they didn't do the Cosworth instead of the normal XR4i. I really don't like the Cosworth's look at all. But, I do seem to be in the minority on that one!

Thanks guys! Tim: I think that Sage Green was only on Hertz cars, if I remember right. That's a shame, because I think it's the nicest colour on the SVO. I've never seen one in real life, but then again, I've only ever seen two SVOs still rolling up here in London, Ontario! Man, $1K for a replacement turbo in 1998? that would suck. I know a few people who feel the same about oil changes. I never get it. You won't spend $1K on oil over an average car's life (I likely will, but the G8 eats 8L every 10,000km, and it's all Mobil 1 which is, like, $50+ a bottle up here!), so why would you risk it. Idiots get what they deserve! Interesting to know that about the Quattro, too. I'm not surprised that this kit would be expensive in Britain. They were a bigger deal there than here. Heck, my brother bought this one directly from a seller in Japan!

I generally find that if a car has polarizing styling, and a lot of people find it weird or ugly, then I’ll be on the other side of the fence. A perfect example is the Mustang SVO – I love ‘em! I also have a thing for bug-eyed EXPs and 4-door Vettes, so take that for what it’s worth! One car I’ve always loved that fits in with these styling oddities is the Ford Sierra XR4i. We got them in North America as “Merkur XR4Ti”s, but they didn’t do very well. Still, I thought they looked awesome, and I haven’t changed my mind in the intervening decades. No surprise then that I’ve wanted the Tamiya Sierra XR4i for a while! Well, I got one, and now I’ve got it done! I have to say, it was a bit of an uneven build; some parts were great, other features of the kit were less so. Still, it’s awesome to finally have one of these “aerodynamic frogs” on display! Check it out here, and let me know what you think! https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/model-kits/cars/tamiya-1-24-ford-sierra-xr4i/

As a big fan of older model kits, I have to say that I am a big fan of the retro-modelling craze that seems to be sweeping this great hobby of ours. I love that I can get repops (sometimes improved, sometimes not) of old stuff I missed out on. Sure, they’re not as great as a new kit, but they have their own charm. One kind of kit, though, that I never thought would fall into this “nostalgia boom” is the Gundam kit. Bandai has a penchant for “onwards and upwards”, constantly improving their Gundam kits so that there’s no need to get the old ones. However, it seems that there are exceptions to that rule. A perfect example are the kits from Gundam Silhouette Formula 91, a manga (comic) side story to the F-91 anime, and something that is so obscure that Bandai hasn’t even bothered (yet) to make new kits of the suits from it. However, the did decide to reissue the old ones, and since they have such a big place in my heart, I had to scoop some up. Check out my out-of-box review for the reissued F-90Y Cluster Gundam. It was my first from this series about 25 years ago, when I was just getting into Gundams. It’s going to be fun to rebuild it now! https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/model-kits/out-of-box-reviews/bandai-1-100-f-90y-cluster-gundam-out-of-box/

That wasn't the only problem. I'm going to go with poor planning on the roof as a major failing, too. This thing makes the Corvette America look like a total thoroughbred!

With all the sunny summer weather we’ve been having where I live, I’d sort of forgotten all about the grey, funeral skies of autumn and winter. However, thanks to the miracle of super-boring ‘80s interiors, I don’t have to worry about that anymore! I’ve been working on the Tamiya Sierra XR4i interior for the last bit, and it’s all finished up now. However, I can’t say it’s the world’s most exciting “front office”. When you compare it to the coloured interiors that some cars got in its time, the Sierra’s flood of grey-on-grey action is pretty bland. However, I did get to use more greys in once place than I ever have before! Check out the completed interior at the link below, and remember; I didn’t choose this colour combination, Ford of Europe did! Let me know what you think! https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/2020/08/12/tamiya-sierra-update-2-a-rainbow-of-greys/

It looks like when light hits the dividing line between two dissimilar media and changes its angle. Except here, it's terrible. That is a total travesty, and how that back end is anything to do with a '75, I'll never know. If there was a kit of that, I would not build it. Oh wait, who the heck am I kidding. Of course I would, just to rub it in... just like the Ferrari Rainbow. At least its straight lines all line up. Maybe he left the clay model he was working off of out in the rain?

When it comes to armour, I prefer the smaller scale stuff. However, I assumed that meant 1/72 or 1/76! A few years ago, I ran across a two-pack of 1/144 tanks from Dragon. They reminded me of Micro Machines, and I thought they looked fun, so I bought them on impulse. I’ve been picking them up ever since, whenever I encounter them! Since there are no model shows this year (thanks, Covid…), and the Canada/US border is closed (in Ontario, at least), there’s no real chance to get “hauls” at shows or hobby shop runs. However, I decided to create a “pseudo haul” by getting all my 1/144 tank kits together. They’re actually pretty cool! Check them out at the link below, and vote for which one you like best! https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/dragon-1-144-panzer-korps-collection/

Wow!!! That looks fabulous! The Snap Kit's good, eh? Yeah, I don't think I'll every be able to afford the big kits, atlhough I do have the Round 2 reissue of the '79 Tenth anniversary (which isn't presented as such) in 1/16. It's generally nice looking, but the tail lights are so, soooooo WRONG. Seriously, did they even look at a T/A? Nice work on that one, though, man!

Oh, man... heresy! I'm the opposite. I think that's the most beautiful T/A ever made. The "Gen 2.4" (i.e. '79-81) nose and tail are simply perfection in my eyes. Of course, I own an '80, so I'm biased. Since I'm a T/A guy, I of course, have that kit. It's not very good. It seems there are no really good T/A kits of that generation in 1/24 or 1/25, and almost all kits in all scales get major details, like the tail lights, wrong. I wouldn't bother with this one, although it pains me as a T/A Owner to say that...

Oooh... I like where that desk model thing is going... I like that a lot. That's some good work in the making, my man! I will look forward to that one!

That's some good work, man! I love that these old things, so long forgotten, get to see the light of day again. I have no history with those particular kits, but I always have a soft spot for "toys" that get neglected, and then get a chance to shine again. Clearly, when you get them, shine they do! See, for me, modelling is often about making the old things shine by building them with my newest skills. I love to build the dogs no one else will build, just to show it can be done. What you do is the other side of that coin, and show that even something old, built old, is worth saving and displaying. You're a keeper of a styrene time machine, my friend! Keep it up, man! Someone's got to keep the past alive!

Dale: Those rims be pimpin'!!! They sure suit that car. Nice job! See, I love Panameras, too, where most people hate them, so I really dig the Corvette America. Done a bit differently, it could have been quite cool. As it is, it's a bit weird, but in a "Hmm.... oddd" kinda way. Oh my Lord... That Tom Daniels vette is AMAZING. I'm serious! It is freaking awesome! It fixes all the failings of that generation of Vette! Is that thing being reissued? God... I've GOT to get one of those. Seriously, one of the coolest Vette customs ever. Much better than Turbo Shark or Demon Vette (yes, they're the same car, I know)! A four Door Daniels Vette would necessitate a change of pants for me, for sure!