Richard Bartrop

I can't be the only one thinking that has to be just about the worst possible place to hang a load on a helicopter.

If anything, I'd give the edge to the Imperial. It's one of the best looking of an already good looking bunch.

And if given a choice between the opportunity to exchange ideas, and even butt heads with you guys, and feeling a magazine, then there is no contest..

Oh, I cringe at the thought of trying to read this on a phone. I use the nice, big 27" screen on my desktop computer, which I suppose is itself starting to become old school. As for the feel of print, I like collecting art books. Right now, I'm going through a big book of space art that wouldn't be the same on a little screen, though if you want to talk about the sensual experience of looking through a bus schedule, I might say you're overstating the case a bit. Sometimes it's about the aesthetics, but sometimes you just want information.

Yes, my image of Scale Auto is probably out of date, because it's been years since I've picked up a copy. For that matter, it's been years since I purchased a paper magazine of any kind. For so many things, the internet works so much better. Take this forum here. I have the collected experience of some of the greatest auto modelers on the planet at my fingertips. The latest issue of Scale Auto has an article by Tim Boyd? Thant's nice, I can have virtually real time conversations with him here. Sure the community gets a little insular at times, but thankfully, there are still people willing to buck the trends. Hot Rods, imports, classics, and customs can all be found here, , and nobody has to worry about what will fit in the pages of a print magazine. How to articles abound on anything you could want in all the detail you could want, and if it's not there, just ask, and there's a good chance that someone will answer. You can show off your work, and get feedback on it in the time it takes to get a coffee. Yes, it's sad that Scale Auto is shutting down, but we have more than adequate substitutes available.

Even that was some variety, but it used to be they did cars, figures, and even things that made you go< "Hmmm, I never knew people made models of those..."

I remember picking up that first issue of Scale Auto, and I bought it regularly until I had to cut back on my magazine buying habit. Their series on superdetailing a Monogram RX-7 I remember well for a wealth of building techniques. However, their almost exclusive focus on hot rods and customs really wasn't where my interest was at the time. I gave up on FSM when they started to slide into the old mindset of "We cover all modeling, both aircraft and armor".

For me, their classic kits, like the 500k, are still some of the nicest car kits ever make, and the prospect, however remote that they might return to the shelves has my attention.

Even better! I know I would have bought the 500K for sure.

The Mercedes 500K "Luxo rod" might actually be worth while, though I really hope there's a set of fenders for it. Even as is, it's a set of parts for someone wanting to restore an old 500K, and I know the hot rod and custom crowd loves the wheels on those.

Their V-12 Packard will finally hit the shelves. You heard it here first.

If it's anything like Canada Post, they're pushing the collectibles to make up for the revenue they'rs losing from other sources. I suppose you could see it as one industry that's seen better days teaming up with another.

It sounds like an opportunity for those who like that car but don't care about the figures to do some horse trading.

I'm getting primarily for the car, but the bike is a nice bonus. The rest I don't care about, but if it generates more sales of car kits like this, I'm all for it. The Lincoln touring car would be a nicer follow up.

I didn't see any lincolns there. Too bad, you got my hopes up for a moment.

The Imperial is on my list.

A great subject, and I'm looking forward to seeing how you tackle it.

A little more progress. A little sanding to the AMT radiator got it to fit the MCG Deuce shell, and I added some brackets. I attached it to the frame so I can do the plumbing and add radiator braces without having to handle the painted radiator shell.

I definitely want another crack at the Seven.

If your only exposure is photos and models, you don't always appreciate just how tiny those early Fords really are. I had been taking with someone a few years back on why you don't see more people doing track roadsters, and in retrospect, if something like a stock Deuce roadster isn't up to accommodating a pair of 21st Century posteriors, then something like a T-bucket certainly isn't going to do it.

When I hear "Meteor Interceptor", something like this is what springs to mind

Sorry, I didn't take any photos when I did this, but I thought I was pretty clear that the stuff was too viscous to pour like resin. However, if you slowly coax it into the individual mould halves, it will fill the various nooks and crannies. You only need a three part mould if you are trying to make hollow tires.

The technique is pretty much the same as for casting resin. You can cast RTV in a RTV mould if you make sure everything is coated in mould release. Since I wanted a hollow tire, I made a three part mould instead of the usual two parter. The stretchiness f the master, and the desired part made this a little easier than it usually be. The viscosity of Silastic H precludes trying to pour it into the mould, so what I did was fill the mould halves with RTV, then stick them together, and trim any flash once it's set.

I''ve had satisfactory results making tires with Dow Corning Silastic. Silastic H is white, and is pretty viscous, but it takes 24 hours to set, so you do have lots of time to get it into the mould. As far as tinting goes, I think you're probably better off using a dry pigment. You can buy jars of powdered carbon black from art supply stores, which is the stuff they use in full sized tires. Here's a tire I made for an armoured car project, with a little carbon black added.

I imagine there would be some interest in a Cosworth Vega, and it doesn't look like the necessary parts would be that big an addition to a stock Vega kit.