clovis

But at $60...ouch. The other problem is that I have no idea what color scheme I would use. My daughter wants to build a rusty beater...I haven't thought of one idea on how to make the Camaro rusty or neat. BTW, how is the kit? Does it build pretty nice?

We are in the midst of this build. I should have listened to you all, and bought another kit.

Thank you for all of the helpful replies!!!! They are appreciated!!! I was about to pull my hair out looking for the Krylon primer that I liked so much. I like the quality of the primer, but I also loved the spray nozzle on the can. It isn't the old school type, and it isn't the new "comfort nozzle" either. Since I am facing a serious deadline with this 4-H model, I decided to buy the Tamiya fine white primer. Generally speaking, I am not a fan of Tamiya paints. I also had a serious case of sticker shock when I saw that the Tamiya primer is $11.99 at Hobby Lobby....for such a small can. I nearly fell over when I saw that price. As I was picking myself off the floor, my wife wandered down to the regular spray paint section...and I found the Krylon, with the spray nozzle that I like!!! After calling Krylon, and then visiting 15 stores, I finally found the stuff that I was looking for!!!! I am thinking about buying 6 more cans, just so I'll never run out. One of these days, I would like to try the Tamiya and the 1:1 brands that have been mentioned in this thread. Again, thank you!!!!!!!

A few years ago, I bought a can of Krylon Rust Preventative gray primer for a model that I was building. That primer had stunning coverage. it laid down flat, even coverage, easy to control, and needed almost no sanding. I can't find that exact primer anywhere. I called Krylon, and the only place that stocks it is a 50 mile round trip from my home. I've been to about 15 places to look at primer....there are so many choices!!! I am working against a deadline with this model, and need to pick a primer. What brand do you use? What type of gray do you use? Sandable, Filling? Thanks in advance!!!.

Wow. I'm not looking for a fight. Just stating the facts. The Chinese have been manipulating their currency for years, making manufacturing cheap in their country. If the Chinese would have floated that currency on the open currencies markets, it wouldn't be as cheap. The Chinese made the playing field unfair. Before anyone tries to box me into a corner, and declare something that I didn't say, you probably won't find a bigger supporter of "Made in the USA" anywhere on the planet. I've been screaming "buy the Made in USA label" whenever possible for many years. So here is your answer: No one in China, at least to my knowledge, held a gun to any US CEO, and made them move. It was a matter of economics, going cheap, and lining their own profits...and they could have cared less about anyone or anything, no matter if it hurt workers or the nation as a whole. Do a little research about how the Chinese continue to manipulate the yuan. If and when they float it, we are going to be screwed.

You are right...Corporate America did sell us down the river. Let's not forget though, that the Chinese have been artificially pegging the the value of the yuan to the US Dollar for years and years. When a nation manipulates it's own currency to attract that business, and all of the manufacturing that came with it, the playing field is no longer fair. If and when the Chinese actually 'float' the yuan on the open market, like most countries of the world do, the cost of doing business in China could skyrocket. Let's just say that the Chinese did float their currency on the open market, and it doubled. What is that going to do to the cost of goods? What about a model kit? Americans are going to be in a world of hurt, shock, and disbelief if that ever happens.

I think that a good case could be made for the DW12 IndyCar. I know what most will say: Too narrow of a market, not enough interest, etc. The DW12 body will stay in use and production for many more years. I would guess that the DW12 will be rolled into the Indy Lites program once that it is retired from current use. IMO, a well executed kit could sell well, if it is promoted, and promoted in the right ways. I'm not talking about showing it off at the next trade show, and hoping that Doug's Hobby and Train shop in Podunk, Utah orders a case of them. I'm talking about loading it up in gift shop style trailers, and taking it from race to race. It would take some hands-on marketing and selling, not just popping open a trailer and waiting for the masses to deposit cash into your coffers. Possibly have a "build your own" at the event, or have a pro builder along building a kit at a table in front of the trailer. They could have display cases of pro built models to inspire would-be builders. The kit could be sold by the teams in their shops and souvineer trailers, by Dallara's shop in Speedway, and also in retail stores with their event merchandise. The race tracks could sell it year round, and it could also be offered on ebay by the manufacturer, as a "never say no" marketing plan. Again, it would take an active marketing plan, enthusiastic people selling at the retail level, hard work, and smart marketing, along with an attractive price point. There are what, 15 teams, and 35 cars? My goodness, what a marketing opportunity! Helio's #3 at the 2014 Indy 500 was a 'one off' in traditional Pennzoil colors. Kurt Busch ran the 2014 Indy 500 too. No one would buy a model of those cars? This is a double edged sword: Unique 'one-offs' for each race would be a marketing wonder...but also, what do you do with 400 kits of Pippa Mann's ride, if it doesn't sell? Packaging each of these rides could be an obstacle, IMO. Down sides: Once the DW12 is retired, the tooling is dead, unless there is some sort of revival 20 years from now. Licensing could be difficult; I would guess that any sponsor or, even Dallara, could throw a wrench into project, and ruin it. There were over 300,000 fans at the Indy 500 on race day alone, and an estimated 100,000+ on Carb day before the race. Think of the marketing!

I think I've watched 98% of his videos, and have learned an amazing amount from those videos. I also bought his book, and the latest AK book that features his work. Maybe I missed it somewhere...but I don't recall seeing him use anything to affix powders. I tell ya all, I am a bit mystified by the powders...maybe I am making this harder than what it is...maybe I am just too dumb to understand. My wife will agree with that!

James, Thank you so much!!!! I played with some chalk and it didn't want to stick to the painted parts of the model...and what very little that did stick came/fell off very soon afterwards. Are the pigments supposed to be a dusting that is applied, and then can't be handled afterwards?? Also, when you make a wash, is it like making a wash with paint, or is it like having thinner with particles in it? In other words, does the chalk dissolve in the thinner?

Thank you for the kind words. Yes, I would agree that this forum is made up of wonderful people who are eager to help with constructive ideas. Nonetheless, there is always a few in every crowd that feel the need to heavily criticize a non-professional builder. I saw a thread once....it pained me deeply to read some of those comments.

Thank you for the replies! I'd love to use AK/Mig, but I can't find them around here. One shop, which I happen to dislike very much, had two individual bottles of AK, and they are marked $12 each!! I am toying with using an art chalk set I picked up at a thrift store. I would love to add grimy black on a firewall, for instance, to simulate years of oil leaking. Would also like to use the same black on an exhaust pipe. Thoughts?

I am afraid that you missed my tongue-in-cheek humor. Everything that I posted is still true, though.

I am returning to the hobby after years of being away. I have a strong interest in weathering models. My last model turned out fairly well, considering it was a first attempt at weathering, but I have lots to learn. My main question is: How are weathering pigments affixed to the model? I have watched 1,000 YouTube videos, and everyone assumes that the builder already knows how to affix the pigments. One builder did use diluted white glue, but other than that, I am not finding much. Are we supposed to seal those pigments with a sealer once they are applied, like dull coat? Sorry to ask dumb questions!!!!

My disaster build: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=77227&hl=

I would like to add that I would never, ever, post pictures of my work on this site, for fear of being laughed off of the internet.

Once upon a time, I considered myself to be "an above average" builder. Then, one day, I found this site. I realize that I am a schmuck as a builder, and the equivalent to a "basic, mediocre builder with lots and lots to learn." When I look at the work that I see here, and then compare my work to it, I get depressed, and quite honestly, wonder why I even bother with trying to build any model. The work that I see on this site makes me want to pick up my models, and all of my supplies, and throw them into the trash.

Nice job!!!!!

This is an Quest kit that I found at a thrift store, along with about 20 Estes engines. This exact kit is Quest Aurora. I thought it would be fun for her to paint it up in pink and white, or whatever colors she chooses. This kit has a paper tube, balsa wings, and a plastic nose. I would be more than happy to shoot this rocket after the fair, should she decide she wants to do so. Thank you so much for the help!!!

My 13 year old daughter wants to build a rocket for the 4-H fair. I am a total newb with rockets...I mean a total newb, except for a rocket we were required to build in 7th grade shop class, and I'd prefer not to relive that ordeal, LOL. My main question is how to get a stunning paint finish on the rocket. Prime, sand, prime, then paint, sand, and paint? This is a rattle can job, BTW. Thanks in advance!!!!!!

I used to help set up and run a small booth for a small business at a big trade show. Just to set up, the booth cost $2,400.00, and the organizers would put you wherever they wanted. One year, they had an overflow of vendors, and instead of refusing their money, they set those vendors up in a basement hallway that virtually got no foot traffic. I still can't believe that there wasn't a revolt by those vendors. They were pretty ticked, and rightly so. I can't imagine the costs of setting up at the Toy Show. Just the thought of it being in NYC sends shivers through my body. At most shows, you are required to use the convention hall's labor to move your items in and out of the building. At one show, vendors were required to park in a certain parking lot, and the cost of that was $25 for 5 hours...and that was 10 years ago. While this is a sheer and outright guess, I would say that a small company would have to commit at least $7,500 to set up at a show like the NY Toy Show. It is going to take at least 2 people to run a booth like that, and their salaries are not free. The displays have to be shipped to and from the convention hall, set up, cost of the booth, cost of promotion items, parking, hotel expenses, etc.

We had a car parts plant here, but they built parts for the Big 3. I think the biggest reason of this being a GM town, especially back then, was because we had a Chevy dealer. We also had a Ford dealer, and there were a ton of Fords around, but it seemed that most car guys gravitated to GM. For a while we had a Buick-Pontiac-GMC dealership. The closest Chrysler dealer was 12 miles away, but I don't recall them having Dodge trucks. I think one thing that added to this being a GM town was because quite a few people worked at a GM plant or Allison in the big city. Many of those guys traded vehicles every year, which can put a ton of cars out on the used car market.

I recently scored a whole box of paint at a thrift store, and there were three bottles of Testors green paint, all unopened. Somewhere else, I had found another bottle of Testors green, making my total stash of 4 bottles. Of all the Testors colors, this green must be the slowest seller of them all!

I quit playing after I cratered so hard on the Mopar stuff. I was in high school in the '80s, and I tell ya, there wasn't much Mopar around my town or in the area. I've said for years that you couldn't have given a Mopar away back then. When I say that, it really seems to tick off the C-D-P guys, but it shouldn't. I'm only talking about one little town in Indiana. Where I grew up, it was GM or Ford, but mostly GM. I remember more AMCs being driven by classmates than Mopar. In all honesty, Mopar was considered the bottom rung during my high school years. The only somewhat hot Mopar that I remember was a '73, driven by one of my classmates, and I don't even remember the model. Secretly, we kind of laughed at it, and said things like "Why doesn't he just trade it for a Chevelle or a Pontiac?" I remember my classmate adamantly stating how hot Mopar would be in the coming years, and how popular they already were in the national market. We laughed at that too. How little did we know back then... Before someone beats me to death over this post, just remember that this is one guy's perception growing up in the middle of a cornfield, in the middle of Indiana, back in the early 1980's. Since the inception of the internet, I've since learned that there were areas that you couldn't have given a Chevy away for love nor money, and a Pontiac would have been thought as a last resort over walking.

As an armchair, Monday morning outsider, I'd guess that if the companies have enough good sellers in a year's time, they are making pretty good money in this game. A $25 kit is most likely being sold for $12.50 on a wholesale level. If the model company sells 25,000 @ $12.50 each, that totals about $312,500 in gross revenue. They still have production, tooling, overhead, salaries, etc. to pay out of that gross. I'd venture to say that the production costs can be pretty low. Cheap Chinese labor and the Yuan, which the Chinese goverment has pegged artificially low against the US dollar (manipulated), makes for some pretty hefty margins for the model companies who are importing to the world market. My guess is that the average model company is making their money off of re-issues of kits, and balancing out the rest with new tooling. My other guess is that it wouldn't take too many misses or losers to sink a company in a few years time. I'd bet, due to the competitive nature of the business, that any model company that is resting on it's laurels with re-issues, and isn't producing new releases, probably won't be around very long. The market is just too tight, and the mass market is a fraction of what it used to be. Of course, I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express recently (last year), so that makes me an expert, right?

I need to build one of these models, or maybe a whole room full of them. I own exactly four full bottles of Testors green enamel, and have no idea what to do with them.