StevenGuthmiller

I realize that there are a lot of model car builders who enjoy the freedom of building customs and straight track subjects, but I personally really enjoy the rigidity of building factory stock. I love researching everything from available body colors to interior and engine options and all of the other little nuances. And along the way, I learn a lot about the actual cars themselves! I don't always get them 100% correct, (and don't necessarily feel that I need to) but I love trying! To me, a factory stock, (or nearly stock) vehicle, captures the true flavor of the era in which it was created. Steve

I agree! I'm more interested in the '56 Chevy than the Torino! Steve

The rest of the engine parts painted. Steve

I have to agree with you Tom. Just because the '68 Coronet doesn't interest you, doesn't mean it might not be the ultimate score for somebody else, and Cadillacs might have no value at all to him. Besides, if you think that the cost of a factory sealed Johan Cadillac is cheap, you haven't been paying attention! Steve

That's a tough one. Personally, I just fly by the seat of my pants, with no measurements, and mix until I get the desired color. Steve

Thanks Jim. I just asked Dave what he thought that I should do about future posts and he told me unequivocally to post them from my hard drive. I agree with you. I have no issues of any kind posting Fotki images on any other site and even the photos that people claim that they can't see on this forum show up just fine on my end. I suppose that's part of the reason why I didn't realize that there was any kind of issue until someone brought it up. So I guess going forward, I will begin posting photos from my hard drive on this site. I wouldn't want you to miss any of the action! Steve

Okay. I will still use Fotki because I like to keep some of my photos "off site", but I'll start posting them here directly from my computer. I guess it really doesn't matter to me as I keep them all on my hard drive as well. Steve

So should I start posting photos directly from my hard drive? I like using Fotki, but if photos aren't showing up, it kind of defeats the purpose. It's strange because the photos always show up on my desk top, no matter if I'm posting them from Fotki, or anybody else is posting them, no matter how they do it. Steve

I agree Wholeheartedly with everything you said in this post......except for one line. At least in the context of this discussion. I will never believe that someone who is spending this sum of cash on a kit ever intends to build it, regardless of their income. I suppose anything is possible, but I think it's highly unlikely. These kits are undoubtedly being bought by collectors for display, and what they think might possibly be investment reasons. I think of it along the same line as the guy who is going to a Barrett Jackson auction and buying a 99.8 point restoration of a 1957 Chevy Belair and to think that they will actually ever drive it. Or a better analogy might be the same guy purchasing a vintage car with 500 original miles on it and thinking that it will ever be driven. I just don't see anybody, however wealthy, spending that kind of money on something that they're going to tear into when it shows up on their doorstep and start building. Steve

If the contents are not laid out in the photographs so that I can see if all necessary parts are present, I won't bid on it. I don't care what the seller's description says. But I have the added bonus of buying only vintage kits on ebay. Their limited parts count makes it a lot easier to determine if everything is there or not. Steve

It is an "Original printer's test shot for new box art". To avoid confusion, he should have left out the word "new" and replaced it with the word "vintage". This is an uncut test shot for box art from the '70s. You didn't miss anything........unless you missed it then. Steve

Hey Gary, it's kind of liberating to just decide that you're going to just go to work and get something finished, isn't it? This is how I pulled myself out of a slump of nearly 10 years! I decided that I wasn't going to worry about brake lines, and alternator wiring, and all of the other stuff that drags down a build and can ultimately make you lose interest. I was cranking out fairly nice builds at the count of about 1 per month. Since then, I've begun getting back into some higher detail, but I really find that I've begun to enjoy that as well, as long as the subject matter is interesting and it doesn't get carried away. Now I finish a build about every 3-4 months, which is enough to keep me interested, and keep me building. Steve

Oh I agree with you on that. There's no way that you would ever get me to spend $1,100.00 on a model car no matter what it is! But I will spend $25.00 on a set of rare factory hubcaps if I need them to complete a build. There are few things that $25.00 will buy me that will bring me more enjoyment than my precious hobby. Spend $25.00 on a steak dinner tonight, and it will be in the toilet bowl tomorrow. My models will give me great enjoyment for many, many years to come. Steve

I don't even no what most of them are! Steve

You might feel that way........until you need a front bumper and grille for a Johan '65 Fury. I thank God every day for the guys that sell original vintage annual parts. What are our options now that Modelhaus is gone? Steve

I probably could have saved myself a ton of work and looked for a different battery........but where's the fun in that? ? Steve

I didn't think that these Fireball carbs could look any better........and then I painted them!!! ? I shudder to think how they will look after some detail painting and a wash! Steve

Possibly........when monkeys fly out of my arse! ? I haven't seen anything from Round 2 to suggest that they will ever produce an all new kit. "Round 2" pretty much sums it up. Re-pops with an occasional upgrade. Steve

Next I added the radiator overflow tube. This battery had no clamp detail, only the posts. Let me tell you, it was a real test of my eyes and dexterity to make something halfway presentable! ? I believe now I'm ready to start painting some of these parts! Steve

The MPC '68 Coronet R/T is a very rare kit, but on it's best day, I don't think it's worth a penny over $300.00, and I personally would never pay that much for it. Steve

My '64, '65 and '66 Johan "flat box" kits don't show any signs of having been taped closed, but I have no idea how they were sealed. Steve

Just what I heard. ? Steve

A couple more little details. I wanted to be able to display the engine with the air cleaners on or off to show off the beautiful Fireball carbs, so I added a couple of air cleaner bolts to the carbs. Then I decided that the radiator cap that was molded to the radiator wasn't going to cut it, so a new one was scratched. Steve

You know, it's funny but I read somewhere that "Statutory Grape" was actually a candidate for a color name when Chrysler was deciding on names for their "High Impact Colors" in 1970. For obvious reasons, they decided on "Plum Crazy" instead. ? Steve