Pete J.

Okay, I finally started making some modification to my P to P entry. Decided that I will have to open the doors to show off all that stowage that I have been making. Got the rear door open. Debating opening the front door. If I do that, then I have to make a central door support out of brass as the plastic one will just be too thin. Also debating converting the doors to the older suicide configuration with the hinges mounted on the center support. If I do decide to make the conversion it is time to drag the soldering equipment out and get to work.

Thanks for the info on YT! Just watched one and discovered that there is a thinner for the apoxie I used. Just ordered some. Perhaps I will make some more bits a little thinner. Also need to make a carton or two of Galious cigarettes!

The boxes were easy once I found some printer paper in brown craft. I may have to come up with some "French" canned food boxes next.?

Getting a nice accumulation of "stuff" for the trip from Peking! Sleeping bags and tarps need to be painted and several different sizes of parts boxes and cases of oil. ? The grids are 1/2".

Probably not what anyone would expect, but getting the cargo ready for my Peking to Paris 2CV Citroen. Parts boxes, cases of oil, sleeping bags and tarps.

Ok, working on a bit of storage for the Citroen. I will be making 4 different sizes. This is the largest. Perhaps I need to make the logo a little larger. I suspect because of the small size it may be unseeable. This one is a little off, but I am learning to fold paper cleanly. The next will be better.

For all you builders who live outside of the confines of USA, I went to the post office the other day and got a few international stamps, so if you want placard decals PM me. I have what I need to get them in the mail quickly. As to the USA based builders, I have plenty of sets to send out to you also.

You picked one of the most difficult types of paints to get an even glossy finish on. Spray your color coat in very fine layers. Think of the metal flake like sand in water where the water is the clear tinted color. As you spray in on, the flake will sink to the bottom of the paint. If you put down multiple layers each lower layer will stop the flake from sinking any further giving your paint some depth. To get an even flake lots of fine layers. Next, sand carefully! If you get into the flake, you have ruined the paint job and respraying it won't fix it. Just enough sanding to get a consistently even top layer. Use the finest papers you can to get to a level surface and then finish off with a super fine grit and clear. Put enough clear on so you can sand and polish the clear. One other thought. Some flakes(like Tamiya micas) get really weird in the panel lines. The best choice is to clear coat over the panel lines to limit how far the flake can settle in the groves. Once you clear coat the base then sand it down to the surface plastic and spray your flake over that.

I thought I knew all the car builders here in San Marcos, but I don't of anyone who is does Miatas. Do you have a name. Yes, SoCal car culture is not to be believed for the most part. So many special cars all over the place. A brand new McLaren(still had a temp tag on the back) blew by me on a back road near my house. Didn't realize anyone in my area had that kind of money! ?

You are spot on. After digging through my decals, I realized that I was thinking of Rothmann livery, though the Gauloises would be very appropriate. I am trying to keep it french if possible. I do like the idea of Rothmann a lot and have several extra sets of those decals. I also have the Gauloises From several motorcycles. Lots of choices. Looks like the delivery man just arrived with my kit, so I should get it open and start the process. I am enjoying our conversation Jason! This is a part of modeling that I really enjoy, interacting with other creative people.

Top Gear really sounds cool. It would have been fun to see Clarkson, Hammond and May compete in the P to P. They did some serious drives on the show. This would have been fun. Give them each a 2CV and let them modify it for the race and see how far they got. Great idea. Can't wait to see your work. My model is due here today so I may get started soon.

Trying to make the same decision myself. In looking at the real deal, it doesn't look like any are running true off road tires. More of a mud and snow type tire. Thinking of digging through my WRC kits for a gravel type of tire. They really don't go off road, just very primitive roads. Also considering my paint job. Was considering two tone pink just to be weird. Maybe a graphic for Deux La Femme. There are multiple female codrivers but I can't find a true all female team. Or perhaps a green and gold with a Perrier water logo? Maybe a Gauloises? I am sure I have some of those decals from old Porsche kits. The White Blue and Gold would look quite spectacular.

This is going out to all of you who requested decals. I have mailed them out to all who have requested them so far. The last went in the mail on Tuesday when I found it under the seat in my car. Give them a couple of weeks (especially the international ones) and if you haven't gotten them, let me know with a PM and I will send out another set. Oh and if any of the rest of you want them, let me know. I still have several sets.

Ok, you hooked me. I posted a photo earlier on your post of a deux-chevaux from an earlier P toP race. Found a kit and and am going to have a go at it! THANKS!?

MEK is great if you can get your hands on it but it is not available in all states. Like GLMFAA1 the next best thing I can get in bulk at a reasonable price is Weldon solvent glues at my local Plexiglas fabrication shop.

Ok, This whole series of messages has me confused. How does one send a PM that is private vs public? A tutorial would be nice so it doesn't happen again. I don't think I did anything different than I have done every other time. Like Peter, Not sure how to send or view a public message.

Thought you might like a little inspiration!

Nobody is eliminating history. If you want to make a model of Dr. Mengela conducting experiments on prisoners at Auschwitz and proudly display it to your children and grandchildren, knock yourself out. However, as has been said, this site is to encourage builders of all ages including children of tender years(a legal term look it up). Displays such as that are not welcome here. It is not about history, but presenting items in a context that is appropriate to all ages. After all, we, as a people, will teach every level of history to anyone when they are mature enough to process it.

It is always about context. If you are painting a Hindu temple or figure that is a far cry from an inappropriate Nazi scene. It also has to do with laws in some countries. Just did a little research on the display of Nazi symbols in Germany where there is a ban. Works of art are generally exempted from the ban, but that begs the question, what is a work of art? Are models a work of art or the production of those models. Very deep and muddy water!

Peter, my take on humor is generally offensive to someone. "A blond walked into a bar.." is a good example. Who doesn't tell blond jokes. I'm a blond and find them just as funny as most folks but when you single someone out for humor, someone is going to want to fight if it hits a little to close to home. " A blond walked into a bar in Nebraska" Now that I might not find so funny. The basic premise of humor is to make fun of someone or something. As to your dog, well I grew up on a farm and as a child saw all manner of defecation and urination and other animal body functions. That gave me a lifelong application of the "real" world. A model car with a dog peeing on the wheel most certainly doesn't offend me.

You got me thinking about this and I decided to check my inventory. I have one that I paid $27 for NIB. Yes, I have a spreadsheet with all my models and what I paid for them and no, my wife has never seen it! Perhaps it is time to bust some of these out and sell them to boost my retirement. ;-0

I was a bit confused about why you chose to print this out when Tamiya makes a karmann ghia kit and then I went online and saw they were selling for $75 to $150! Yup, I get it. I know why you chose to print it. Nice job by the way. Interested to see how this progresses. Keep posting.

Okay modelers. The P 2 P placard decals are ready to go. Two choices: I have printed up a fair number of them and they are free. #1- If you would like a set of 4, PM me with your mailing address and I will drop them in the mail. #2- If you are concerned about giving out your mailing address, PM me with your email address and I will send you the same JPEG file that I used to print mine. Either way you will get what you see below at no charge. Yes, I will pay the postage. Pete

Nice choice. You see a fair amount of 40's and 50's cars entered. More than likely because they are readily available(cheap), lots of vintage parts available, and easy to fix when they break down in the middle of Mongolia. That and the flathead is a bullet proof engine!