jbwelda

how many hours do you figure he has in smoothing that mombomb body? could we see a close up of the raw 3D printed fuel injection intake manifold or cam cover? jb

well here is the other end of the hobbyist equation: where exactly do you get your source files from? do you have a 3D scanner which is what it would seem to me to need? and then of course the endless interfaces and software possibilities. or do maybe these printers come with some point and click design software? so I mean, how easy is it going to be to produce a simple small block chevy finned valve cover for example? jb

I have a feeling detailers won't really relieve the damage done to cars from those things. I am telling you, people talk about California with its earthquakes, but I would rather worry about those (or not) than some of this other stuff like those haboobs or tornadoes that will whip you away to Oz anyday. but really, its a dry heat. sorry to lead the thread astray, I was looking at it because I thought there might be a model contest coming up sometime soon in Phoenix. I might find myself down that way between now and autumn time. jb

the why is because its one thing to do something like that car where you don't care about 1/64th inch areas, and quite another to do something where you do care about the small stuff, namely 1/24 for instance scale modeling. unless they are completely 3D printing an operating engine with those sort of tolerances, and I don't think they are, then it has a ways to go. I do agree its coming closer to reality every day, printing to closer tolerances I mean. jb

living in California I bet I have the greatest assortment of kool metal driving by every day. this morning going to have coffee in walnut grove California, saw at least 2 32 Ford rods, a number of vintage BMW and Mercedes cars at their usual spot, the exotic auto mechanic (this is in a town of about 300 people mind you), plus about 150 loudazz motorcycles of various description of hardly worthitson. today was a quiet day. no California Mille nor major exotic car runs that I saw. but I was only out for a couple hours. most weeks there are lines of everything from miatas to vettes to pt cruisers to maseratis out here, one place or another. I have often thought about trying to take and post photos of just what runs around here, on a normal and consistent basis. that's not even including the various locals cars like one guys what appears to be 40 Ford flatbed pickup, that has gone through many changes in the past decade. Yesterday I saw a midnight blue Willys coupe, sounded totally raced out, that was really nice. just another car going down the river road... I could probably make a post a week that would blow many people away, especially if you didn't live in car-saturated California. rat rods, hot rods, custom cruisers, lowriders, exotics, both new and vintage, and certainly plenty of motorcycles of all descriptions. jb

I was born in Argentia, Newfoundland...does that count? jb

the other thing I forgot to mention above was also touched on by others: Tamiya seems to have the spray nozzle design down to a T. Testors nozzles tend to clog real easy even when I try to clear them but Tamiya nozzles seem to last the life of the paint in the can. I have used the Testors lacquer system and my luck with it was pretty good too, but it seems it was nearly as expensive as Tamiya and again the nozzle just wasn't up to the task. I know its not a big deal for those who decant and airbrush, but if all nozzles were like Tamiya's, there kind of wouldn't be much need for an airbrush. jb

and probably through a massive dust storm. didn't you guys just have one yesterday? jb

hey thanks for all the comments and compliments folks! nice to see there is some appreciation for Japanese esoteria! (course I knew there was) about a 1:1, I too would love to have one. there is a guy in the hills above me who has a winery and vineyard and he also has a modest collection of unrestored cars, including one of these Cosmos without the motor unfortunately, but also a couple of Toyota s800 coupes and a chain driven Honda s600 roadster. he also has a beater VW The Thing for bombling around the vineyard, and was very impressed when I drove mine up there and we went for a ride in it. funny what a 1.8 litre gene berg motor will do for performance. oh one more thing I have been meaning to mention: notice how all the louvers, sides and cowl, are all open. no work was involved, that's how it was molded. pretty darn impressive, I think, and the molding on the rest of the model was no less impressive though kinda simplified in the interior. if I still have the extra kit around when the need arises, I might well steal the louver panels for use on another body somehow. they are that kool. jb

>Shipping wasn't free on the two that I won. really? the two I had watched just previous to this one both specified free shipping. oh well you are right, just adjust the bids...you know that and I know that, now the question is...will others know that!!! I never get too nervous over this "end of limited run" business...it just doesn't make sense to not reissue something if it sells out the first runs. what goes around invariably comes around and often at reduced prices. still want that fourgonnette though! jb

>I have the Trabant saloon totally different as I understand it. I got a Universal some weeks back for 19$ + 9 shipping. if they actually are on the shelf for 20$ at some point, I will buy another. that seems kinda cheap for a revell Germany kit though. jb

beautiful build of like you say a fiddly kit. I mean to get into this set of cars sometime soon, with the reissue out it makes a great parts kit too jb

Heres something that's been on my shelf for a while and I finally took some time to build it up. Mostly box stock build but I did add some details like valve stems, seatbelts, etc. Very nice kit, everything fit together amazingly well and really nicely detailed. Contained fret of photoetch emblems which were pretty easy to apply if you disregard the instrux and use Future as your adhesive. Decals were a big problem though, I had bought the kit at NNL some year and when I looked in it the decals had wrinkled all up and were useless. So I sought out a second kit and this ones decals looked fine but broke into a million pieces when they got wet. So I put some protector stuff on them and that worked ok if you were extremely careful. As it was I couldn't get the yellow accent stripe decals on without breaking them all up. So I was going to paint the yellow but in the end decided it was too much trouble for what little it added so left it with the rest of the decals intact for the most part. Too bad too because it was a major flaw to an otherwise nice kit. ok heres some pics, first the box art to stir your memory: and here are some posed photos: like I said, very nice kit in nearly every way. I have an extra only slightly molested kit that I could part with, anyone interested send me a pm please and we can probably work something out. oh yeah couple things to add: paint is Tamiya Racing White, kind of an eggshell white, with a coat of Tamiya clear over it and the decals. Interior is Tamiya Olive Drab and features a detailed dashboard and side panels in addition to the excellent engraving out of box. My biggest problem with the build is the lack of angle to the pre-windshield...it just dried like that. I figure the first time it is broken off I will slant it more parallel to the windshield. Also forgot to add lowered the entire car about 4 scale inches while managing to retain a fairly realistic look to the undercarriage. speaking of which, heres a pic of the undercarriage under construction along with a shot or two of the interior also in progress: thanks for looking! jb

is that the build that was featured in the mag a few months ago? very very nice. jb

thank you...lets see how this one goes! edit to add: shipping is not free this time! jb

looking at those photos, they really don't look the same at all. jb

I doubt very much it was "pulled from the market"...more likely they (Tamiya Japan) stopped distributing it to the USA...was it still available via HobbyLink Japan? The USA is a fringe market for Tamiya. They probably had to relabel it or something stupid for the yanks so little johnny would know not to stick the nozzle up his nostril without "protection". Tamiya clear gives a really nice smooth thin clear...not a "wet look" phony clear look, just a nice thin clear mostly to protect the finish and decals. I use it all the time and never ever have had a problem with it that wasn't of my own making. never cracks chips or attacks the finish like most of the cheap stuff (cough duplicolor cough) seems to do every time I have used it. Nor does it seem to have problems over other company's paint. perhaps problems come when you try to simulate a wet look by really dumping it on, but in light to moderate coats...never had a problem. so I think its a great thing it has or will return (to the US market). there is nothing similar if you want a gloss clear without the super gloss wet look...and I find myself wanting that all the time. jb

finally a topic subject I can agree with. jb

thanks Niko, I am going to try that next time I have solid headlights like that. looks very convincing. jb

thanks for the explanation of the hole in the oil pan; I kinda had a feeling there was something more there than I thought I saw jb

well that one got away for > 30$ so I am still going to have to keep my eyes open! jb

that's a sweet looking Honda. where did you get that front tow ring, or did you make it? jb

>I will never like digital reading. yeah all those 0s and 1s make it a real pain in the butt jb

you might try some 5 minute epoxy, mix it gently so you don't get air bubbles and flow it on before it starts to set up. it will definitely build up thicker faster than Future, will self level more or less, and will give the same effect. a light coat of Future on top of it will make it sufficiently glossy. jb

wow that is one delicate looking model! that chassis plate with the thin front end looks totally awesome as does that body. looks like its gotta be an hours work just to cut out all those supporting sprues! jb