clovis

Thank you, Art. I did underestimate the helpfulness of others. I like forums very much, but have seen many rude comments made over the years, so honestly, I looked at her thread and was a bit jaded at the time she started it. I was afraid that some jerk would be outstandingly rude. I was more than pleasantly surprised...those kind folks came out in droves to help her with accurate information. Those folks have been extremely kind to her about her win, and she has been very excited to see the posts made.

You are right, Peter. They were answering her questions so fast that we couldn't seem to hit the refresh button fast enough. I am very thankful for their help!!! We had spent a significant amount of time looking at pictures on the internet, and at ebay ads. The nice thing about ebay ads is that they sometimes show close up pics of small details. It was very nice that the members at the FordBarn took the time to answer all of her questions, and I am sincerely grateful for their kindhearted help.

Now that just proves that it really is a small world. She did start a thread on Fordbarn. I was actually blown away by the kindness and helpfulness that she encountered on that site. I was a little worried that no one would answer the questions she had, and honestly,since I had never been on that forum, I was worried that a few people might even be mean to her. Again, I have been stunned by their kindness and helpfulness. Just when you get a little jaded by the entire world, you stumble across a group of people that are so kind, that it is actually humbling. Thank you for your kind words, Peter, and a double thank you if you helped her on her research thread on Fordbarn.

Thank you again for the kind words!!!!

Just wondering what you would like to see manufactured in large scale kits. I wish that a '47 through late 1950's pick up truck was available in either Chevy or Ford in 1/16th. Since we are dreaming here, I wish that some of the mid-1960's muscle cars were being kitted in 1/16. A '62 through '64 Impala with an SS option or a '64 through "67 Pontiac GTO with a Tempest and Le mans option would be stellar. What do you wish was offered?

The Minicrapft 1931 Model A truck would surely take first place in this contest. When I opened the box, I was a amazed by some of the detail on the kit. When we started putting it together, I wanted to punch some people in the nose...at least those responsible for sending us the most warped parts in the world.

Thank you for the replies so far!!! I appreciate the thoughts and advice...keep them coming!

Thank you, Mike. I have actually built the AMT Mustang in 1/16th. That kit did present some issues, but nothing like the Minicraft A truck. I have seen the Minicraft A hot rod, but would like to challenge my skills with a very mild bash. (Yes, I can hear all of you pro's laughing at me!!!) I'm not big on smaller scale stuff, but did enjoy a Revell level 3 kit in 1/25 a few years ago. Exceptionally nice build for me...I enjoyed that kit immensely.

I just helped my daughter finish a Minicraft Model A truck in 1/16th. While I enjoyed coaching her through this build, I was in deep despair at a few points during the build as I tried to engineer around the problems. The kit was badly warped, and I am not just talking about a part here and there. At times, I started to believe that every part in the kit was warped. Early on, while I was considering throwing this kit into the trash, I had visions of hunting down the engineer and quality control people, and giving them a piece of my mind. While I consider myself a "good" builder, nearly everyone on this sub-forum has skills that are light years ahead of me. I have learned a great deal on this forum, but I am really lacking in my skill set with difficult builds, as I did with this kit. At the same time, I look at what most of you are doing with severe kit problems, and you are fixing them with ease. I have read conflicting reports about the Minicraft Ford Model A kits. Most say that they are difficult, at best, but a few say that the Minicraft kits "have their issues, but they are not that bad." I've never kit-bashed anything, but I would love to, just so I can challenge my skills and ability. I am considering trying to buy a Minicraft Model A roadster and trying to build a hot rod, using parts from the AMT 1964 Mustang...but I am worried that I'll get another warped Minicraft kit. Also playing into this is that money isn't growing on trees around here. I want to make wise decisions before I drop money into a kit. Should I try to find a deal on the Minicraft roadster and a junk Mustang kit, or kick the idea to the curb, and buy the new Foose Camaro? Are the Minicraft kits all Minicrapfts? Thoughts???

Her model was entered in the regular 4-H class of Models, under Trucks.

A few months ago, I ran into a guy that I know, and we got to talking about models. I happened to bump into him again recently, and was a little taken aback by what he said: "I was thinking about all of the cars that I would have liked to have owned in my life. I am thinking about buying the top 10 on my list, and letting you paint them and put them together for me. Now there was a 1963 Chevy that I always wanted in black, and a...." His thought was that he would be doing me a giant favor by allowing me to paint and build all of those models, for free, as if I needed something else to build. I just smiled and nodded the whole time, but I don't think that he has a clue to the time or expense that is spent on a model. I sincerely doubt that any of this comes to fruition, and would be shocked if it even one kit was ever purchased. Those ten kits would gather plenty of dust, since I am averaging about 1 1/2 kits a year, LOL. I was honored that he thinks my builds are great, my skills are not good enough to build like you guys do. And while my model supply stash is growing, it seems that I can't ever leave the LHS without dropping $20 on paint. I think he would be utterly shocked to know how much is spent on paint for a build. Thoughts?

Other than having a color mixed a put into a rattle can, where can I find colors similar to the GM colors used on late 1960's vehicles? Brands? Thanks in advance!

Okay, I admit...more shameless bumping of my thread!

Here is my Chrissy, hard at work.

Mike, I love the pics of your daughter. You are a better father than I am. No way am I holding her model so she can spray paint it. My daughter actually asked me to hold the truck bed so she could paint the back! I gave her the 'dad look', and told her she needed to find the cardboard that we had been using for spraying, LOL,

I love the pics of your daughter!!!! Thank you for the kind words. It seems like the last time that I blinked, she was still 6 years old...and now she is 13. And yes, I hope that she remembers us building together. I hope the lessons, pulled from both 4-H and model building, follow her until she is an old woman. I'm not just talking about spraying paint from a rattle can, or making a wash with paint and thinner, but that winners don't give up, people who win pay attention to details, sometimes you work your tail off, and still utterly lose, etc.

I've seen some of that stuff on other forums, Harry, so I guess that it is par for the course here. My guess is that many of these people don't fit in with society well. They've probably been banned from every hobby store, hobby club, and everywhere else too....so they bring their problems here. The bad thing about the internet is that anyone can use it for free, and if they want to make trouble for others, or be a you-know-what, there is nothing stopping them until a mod catches it. At any rate, thank you for your hard work in keeping this an AWESOME forum for us.

Thank you so much for the very kind replies, and very nice comments!!! My Chrissy has gotten a kick out of your posts and your kind words. I believe that she was smiling as much when we read them together as she was when she strolled through the fairgrounds after seeing that she took a Reserve Grand Champion. Again, thank you all for answering my questions on this forum. You've enabled me to be a better builder, and have helped me teach her on a higher level than I could have imagined. She is wanting to build the new Foose Camaro in 1/12, and we are seriously thinking about buying it for her now, instead of at Christmas. While we are very close, I relish the time that we've spent building. Sometimes it is hard for me to explain something so simple, and that I've done for years, and not reach over and pick up the brush and paint it for her! And again, I have to say that I was immensely proud of her presentation to the judge. She was almost perfect, and explained, step-by-step, how she completed each process of the build, especially the paint. Of course, the judge knew the salt and hairspray methods, but asked her to explain them in depth. She answered everyone of them with ease, and in a storytelling fashion...I was beaming inside! Again, thank you for letting me share with you all!

Really? Are people that bad??

As an interesting side note, I read that Sunoco and Gulf, IIRC, among many other companies, actually paid Lionel each year to decorate their toy train cars with their respective logos. Sometime around 1947 or so, GM paid a big chunk of the tooling costs for Lionel's F3 engines. The trade off, IIRC, was that Lionel would place a "Powered by GM" decal on each side of the engine. Personally, I'd love to know the details on toy trains today, especially at Lionel. While it will never have mass market viewing, those Sunoco tank cars, produced in the late 1940's, are still advertising for that company each time someone looks at them!

It is my understanding that, generally speaking, of course, that the toy train manufacturers have used real life railroad names and likenesses for years, without paying a dime in licensing fees or royalties. IIUC, correctly Union Pacific started suing those using the UP name and trade dress in the manufacture of model trains. I understand that the founder of MTH was able to reach an agreement with UP to allow the name to be used without charge. I would think that the major car companies would want as many models issued of their current line-up as possible, merely to help advertise and excite the buying public.

Ever notice how the car manufacturers like to employ the use of some hot, but sensible woman at their press conferences? Seems that every time, they find a department head that has a PHD in engineering, a MBA degree, but she is also hot? They always seem to use the "this is what the typical successful mom in the US should look like" type of woman...good looking, slender, fit, well educated, Caucasian, young active mom types. Just a tongue in cheek comment.

I read an interesting book a few years ago, written by an American who worked as an agent in China. He says that in the US, a signed contract is a legally enforceable document, and you can get sued if you fail to execute it. In China, according to him, a signed legal contract is considered a "starting point of ideas." He adds that the Chinese, generally speaking, look at legal contracts as just a piece of paper with ink on them, and mean nothing to them. The author went on to say that probably the biggest problem with manufacturing in China are the goods that are sold out the back door. This means that a Chinese manufacturer is churning out 40,000 units for their American buyer (who owns all of the tooling, dies, and intellectual properties), and then they are cranking out another 80,000 units to be sold out the back door, destined for the Chinese market, or even for export to another market. I wonder if the "Classic European Sports Car" kit isn't the same kit, sold by a shady Chinese manufacturer????

Yeah...I was just being silly. I hope the OP isn't upset that I stole his thread. But really, doesn't his sound like every new car introduction that you've read in the past 20 years, especially for concept cars???

It looks like another concept car. The manufacturer says it is the new ______________ model that is planned go into into production in late 2016 or 2017. It is aimed at the youth market, that allows them to capture the thrill and aura of owning a convertible. "Our highly intensive test market groups are giving it rave reviews" says Jim Smith, President of Design and Development of __________. "Everyone says 'build it!!!'" Early reports tell us that the 21 to 35 age bracket loves the 375 horsepower engine, which is now fully integrated into our Green-and-Go fuel saving software system." Smith adds that he foresees "a newly developed electric-gas hybrid will allow this drop top to get 47 MPG city; 59 MPG highway." Tommy Talltalker says that the new __________ is based on the common platform that has been a popular seller in Europe, even though no one has ever heard of that model, anywhere in the world. "The _________ has enjoyed immense popularity in many European markets. This car is ripe for the US market, and car buyers will flock to the showrooms to see it." "We are also very excited about the new Drive-It-Your-Way app, which was developed in a partnership with software developer, __________" says Joanne Womanstouch. "The new app allows you to start the car from your home, and as an added security feature, allows us to track your car in the event that it is ever stolen." Ms. Womanstouch adds that "the new ___________ model will feature an iPod port, an iPhone port, an iPad port, and a secondary dock for the driver's lap top. In today's real-time world, we understand the importance of never missing a phone call, text, or email. We are also adding a camera to every model, so the driver can make YouTube videos without having to mess with a smart phone, and will be able to upload those vlogs, on the go." One extra feature on this new car is that you will no longer have to manually hit the power lock button, or hold down the power window button to activate on your car. Drivers can now text commands to the car from their smart device, while they are driving. "Consumers are telling us that they don't like to have to lean forward in their cars, or even move their hands to use a button" says Johnny Geekotech. "The new __________ will be button free, dial free, hands free, and completely wireless.The next generation app that we are developing will allow the driver to completely operate and drive the car by means of a video screen or video game. The next generation of drivers won't ever have to look up from their smart phone to drive the car." Sara Smoothtalker, Vice President of New Vehicle Branding, says that fully loaded, hard top sedan models will be targeted to be in the $17,000 range when they hit the market, with the open air version only costing about $17,900. Jenny Smart-Nhot, director of New Model Development says her team is "close to finalizing plans to plan to possibly send this to the new car market study group, and to about 486 different Vice Presidents for their approval. But we are really close to maybe getting this design past the dream-land stage. Our development team is now working on 13 months from concept to reality of possibly maybe tooling up for a project like this."