clovis

Tom, What method did you use to create the rust on your build? Salt?

I LOVE the look of both, especially the gravel. THANK YOU FOR SHARING this!!!!!!

And don't forget to Google things like: hybrid car problems Volt problems Volt recalls Prius junk hybrid maintenance battery life hybrid car battery disposal problems Prius fires All of the above should give you enough leads to artfully create an interview. One angle is to take the good, versus the bad in the interview. BTW, what exactly does the project require? Please be specific...we might be able to help you get the project done!

It does freshen up the product line. If you see the same kit in the same box for 9 years straight in your LHS, you will never pick it up. But you will pick up the Camaro since it is in a new box, and often buy it.

Here is what you do: Interview your grandfather. Write the paper, or whatever is instructed, but give your grandfather an alias, and say that the tech is in Clearwater, Florida. . Your professors will be none the wiser. And truthfully, the dealerships probably don't have a bunch of skilled techs yet. There is a good chance that the techs are fixing real world hybrids out of a book, or using the info that GM gives them, like the service bulletins. And, if you are desperate, call a company that manufacturers a system, and interview them. Either call a retail shop that will convert a gas car to a hybrid, or someone that manufactures them. Have you called GM, Ford...or even Tesla? What about A123, the battery builder? Who is building the hybrid bus engines? If you can get a hold of a sales or service engineer or tech, you are home free.

Harry, A couple of questions: What brand of primer do you use? Rattle can? Do you prime everything on the sprues? How did you get the red paint to look so beautiful and perfect on the body and chassis? Did I read that you are using Rustoleum in a rattle can? How do you apply the black wash of Future, black craft and water? Thanks!!!

Thank you again for the kind words and encouragement.

Thank you for the kind words and advice. Before I found this website, I fancied myself as a decent builder. After spending some time here, I quickly realized that I am a mere hack. My wife suggested that I post my latest completed model here, which I consider is my best work ever. I wouldn't post that model here for love nor money, in fear that I would be laughed off the page forever, and possibly banned by you and the owner of the site. Nonetheless, I am learning more and more every time I log in here. The tips, tricks and tutorials, like the one you posted on this thread, are expanding my skill set to levels that I never thought possible.

That is really disappointing to hear. I am new back to the hobby, and was hoping the '10 Mustang was the start of a new line of large scale. I would like to know what the story is behind the Revell Mustang. Did Ford "pony" up money for engineering and tooling? (Pun intended.) I can't imagine the cost of tooling for a large scale. I shouldn't complain, in fact, I'm the last one that should. I've bought exactly two models since I've been back to building, and one of them was a vintage kit I found on ebay. The other was new stock of a model that I think has been discontinued, and a retailer was dumping them cheap. Of course, I am an atypical model builder, and refuse to buy more kits until I have my current WIP complete. In a nutshell, they haven't made a dime's worth of profit from me yet, but I am seriously considering the Foose Camaro to build as a rusty junker.

Here are a few thoughts: My guess is that the majority of the manufacturers have a cost per kit of about 1/4 of the retail price, generally speaking. So, a kit that carries a suggested retail of $70, like the new Revell Foose Camaro, probably costs Revell about $17.50 to make and package. My guess is that they wholesale it to dealers and retailers for $35 or so. I would imagine that Revell has factored an amortization cost of the tooling of the model into the $17.50. Coming from years in the printing business, I'd venture to say that Revell has as almost as much in the cost of a printed, cardboard box as they do the plastic and production run cost of the model itself. Most people have no idea how expensive boxes and packages are, even though the cost of 4 color printing has dropped drastically in the past 20 years. The big gamble for the manufacturer is hitting a home run on a new model, and if they don't, they have some seriously expensive tooling sitting in a warehouse somewhere. A string of newly tooled models that are just 'break even' ventures could easily financially sink a manufacturer, I would think, especially if they don't have a deep library of tooling to sell at the same time. These kind of margins are not out of line, in fact, they are quite common. The Wall Street Journal estimated that a new iPhone costing $700 at the store cost Apple about $156 to manufacture. And if you want something mind boggling, Google Toyota's quarterly profits, and then divide that by the number of vehicles they produced in those 3 months. You'll quickly realize that the $32,000 Camry is indeed grossly overpriced.

Absolutely stunning. Harry, your work is unbelievable, and it kind of makes me want to sell my model supplies at our next garage sale, and throw my current WIP in the trash. Even if I could quit working and build models every day for the rest of my life, I will never attain your skill level. It is quite depressing every time I work on my current kit!

Just curious...do you get tired of the limited selection on big scale models? I do. It seems like I look at the same models over and over again on ebay. I wish there was a step side pick up truck in 1/16. A '59 Cadillac would be even better than that. I am getting more excited about the new Revell issue of the Foose Camaro. At least it will be something new to look at on ebay, and will help break up the monotony of the AMT, Lindberg and Minicraft offerings. I am still surprised that Revell issued a 2010 Mustang in large scale. Was that new tooling? Is that the last time a new kit has been issued from new tooling? So, do you get bored with the current offerings? What do you wish was being tooled and offered in large scale?

Revell is showing the kit at $69.99 on their website. Hmmm. I wonder about a 40% coupon at HL.

Has anyone opened the kit yet? Pics? Thoughts? Reviews?

I should add that I really, really like the Foose Camaro. I think it would look good with stock rims and tires, and painted as a rusty beater. Does anyone know if $55 will be an accurate price at Hobby Lobby? If HL's price is close to that, with a 40% coupon, the kit becomes extremely attractive.

Thank you for the replies!!! Right now, we are leaning towards a '55 or '57 Chevy in 16th. If I can find a deal on a kit, we'll definitely go that route. Also somewhat considering the T-bird and the Duke's o' Hazzard mobile. The new Foose kit is very, very tempting, but even at the price, it is a little more than I wanted to spend. Please keep the ideas coming!!! I would love some more ideas!

Wow, Harry...just wow.

It is past time to start working on my daughter's 4-H model project due in July 2014. I think my daughter would enjoy working on any size model, but her dad likes big models. Last year, she built an AMT '64 Mustang in 1/16th. She won the Grand Champion prize at our fair, and a coveted Indiana State Fair entry, where she earned a spot on the honorable mention table. Her dad was very proud. In fact, some said he had tears in his eyes when he saw that giant ribbon pinned to her display, but I swear, that was sweat that had run off from my forehead!!! Can you suggest a model for her 2014 build? It should be of an American make or a Volkswagen Bug, and be a half way affordable kit. Money not growing on trees here. Car or truck in large scale. We are rattle-canners right now. Considering building a rusty beater model of the car. Good fitment of parts is an absolute must. Thanks!!!!!

Is the Trump 109 kit that bad? I almost bought one a few months ago. I'm glad that I didn't know!

Once in my life I was going to open a book store in the retail part of town, and get rich selling books...until I discovered that rents in high traffic areas is absolutely mind boggling. One place looked at was $10,000 a month. Yes, $10,000 a month, and it wasn't even on the good side of the road. I cannot even imagine opening up a LHS. It would be fun, but without a great customer base established, I think it would be tough going unless you had super cheap rent in a decent location.

Thought that chime in on this "new car gripe thread" and share that I am having transmission problems, but I truthfully don't think it is the transmission at all... I think it is an electronic sensor on the engine., and could very well be a camshaft positioning sensor.

I used this tutorial back in July on a build, and it turned out AWESOME!!!!! THANK YOU again for your helpfulness!!!

I've had some of the same drying problems with Testors silver. What is the answer? Light coats of silver, with plenty of drying time between coats?

Thanks for the replies! I am a bit jealous of some of your finds! I don't spend much time in thrift stores, so I was more than pleased with finding the Testors. This group of paint more than doubled my previous amount of paint. I doubt that I'll ever use some of the paint, like kelly green, but if it saves me a 20 mile drive to Hobby Lobby, the whole lot has paid for itself! I am excited to have all of these colors!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been trying to build up my model supplies and 'box'. The box I had as a kid was stolen several years ago. That box had very little monetary value, but a huge sentimental value to me. I'd still like to have the X-acto knife set back...my father bought that for me when I was about 13 years old. I've been trying to build my box back up. I've been on a tight budget, so It has been slow going at times. I was in a thrift store today, and came across a box filled with Testors paint, nice brushes, glue, putty, good sanding sticks, and quite a few model building tools/supplies. I am most enthusiastic about the paint. I added 22 bottles of Testors and 1 bottle of Model Masters to my box. Colors are in both gloss and flat. The bottles look new and unused, but I can tell a few have been opened. Total spent: Less than $3 for all of the supplies!!!!! I LOVE GETTING NEW COLORS!!!!!! What have you found on the cheap?