Richard Bartrop

I like the oddballs too, but I don't think it's a waste when they make kits of popular subjects. Certain cars are iconic, and there's usually a good reason for it.

Basically, injection moulding is fast and cheap, but it's traditionally been the setup costs that kill you. Now it might get to that point where 3D printing is just as fast and cheap, but we still have a while to wait on that. In the near term, I can certainly see it replacing resin, especially for small stuff.

There's nothing magic about 3D modeling. It's just another skill to learn, just like every other skill you've learned to make models. In fact, if you've done any scratchbuilduilding, you've already learned most of what you need to know.

That sounds very encouraging

If it's a subject I like, and the price is right, I could live with it too.

So the future is here. Sounds good if you want to make something simple, but I'm wondering if they're tried making the multi part moulds that something like a car body needs? If they can, great,. If not, worst case scenario is that we go back to multi piece bodies for our limited run car kits.

A very nice model, and I second that about a 1/25 Mercer.

The technology exists to 3D print metal, and it's being used to make parts for jet and rocket engines. You have to wonder how long before it's practical to print out your injection moulds directly.

I'm not going to argue that the old ones aren't pretty simple, and yes some of the mould have been abused, which is why most of my recommendations date from the 90s or early 2000s, though the Heller kits date back tot he early 80s. Also it's stuff that hopefully still can be found on the shelves. If you're going to just the wilds of eBay, the Jo-Han Cadillac V-16 and Mercedes-Benz 500k, date back to the '60s, and are still some of the nicest kits ever made. They's all kits I've bought over the years, so of course they reflect my tastes. Maybe some of the builders of more modern iron can share their insights.

Revell seems to be pretty good in general for making detailed engines. Depending on your tastes. Tamiya's Formula 1 kits have some crazy levels of engine detail, especially in the larger scales. For recently available kits with lots of engine and chassis detail, that I have some experience with: Revell 1930 Bentley (former Heller/Airfix kit. lots of really delicate parts, so exercise caution) 1940 Ford Standard Coupe 1948 Ford Coupe AMT: 1966 Buick Riviera 1957 Chrysler 300C 1958 Edsel Moebius: 1955 Chrysler 300 1956 Chrysler 300B Heller 1950 Talbot-Lago GP

I'd like to seem them do an L-29 Cord and a decent Auburn speedster, but this is what we have to work with. And if Tamiya ever decides to do a '32 Ford, I will certainly consider it.

Me, I want the AMT Deuce because, unlike Revell, it can be built stock.

The problem is what we have now either professional grade tools like Maya and 3DS, which you have to learn if you want a job, or freeware like Blender that are patched together by disgruntled amateurs who think if you reqally want to join the club you should make the effort. Not unlike the MCM Forums that way. In between are a few freeware programs who's main virtue is, they're better tan nothing. However, the problem is not always the tools. You still have to know what you're doing. Photoshop is very easy to use, but if you don't know how to make art, you're still going to make a mess. I think the long term for 3D printing won't be as long as some people think. I remember when West Canadian would charge $50 to burn files onto a CD-ROM for you. Then every computer came with a CD burner, and that went away. Shapeways is already competitive with resin for small parts, and the only setup cost on the part of creators is the time it takes to create a prototype. You won't get rich, but you won't go broke, either. As more companies get into the 3D printing business, market force4s will drive the price down. Not wanting to pay SHapeway's shipping costs, I did a loking research, and it turns out one of the local printers is starting a 3D printing service, and they're practically on my doorstep. Suffice to say, I'm working on a .stl file to see just how much they charge. My two cents? Resin is still useful for casting extra parts, but as a kit material, it's going the way of balsa wood.

This sounds like great news, and I wish him luck.

And yet, here we are. rising to the bait. Round 2 has re released a few grail kits of mine, so I'm okay with what they're doing. There's some stuff I'm not crazy about, but other people seem to be happy with them. I certainly wouldn't object if they brought back a Deuce roadster, and they do seem to want feedback.

It looks like they tried to build one of these. If anything, it's the complete opposite of silly, because it's built for a purpose, and everything is exactly where it has to be.

No problem.

According t the sign, it's a 1911 Chase Auto Delivery Wagon.

And Discord sounds like a place where everyone is arguing with each other. In other words, they couldn't have picked a more perfect name for their service.

Gasoline Alley is car museum here in Calgary. This past Saturday they offered free admission, so I took the opportunity to take some pics. Some nice cars, and a pretty impressive collection of vintage gas pumps.

This one's been sitting for way too long in this state. I think this will be my entry.

Engine is assembled and painted. Wiring to come.

Gasoline Alley had free admission on Saturday, so I took advantage to take some pics. The Beverly Hillbillies kit, might make a good starting point for this 1921 Olds delivery wagon.

'37 Terraplane pickup.