StevenGuthmiller

I do exactly the same thing. I have given away just as many, or more, parts than I have traded for. If I'm not going to use something eventually, I see no point in not "paying it forward" to someone who can use it. I need someone to explain to me what "overpaying" is when it comes to vintage parts & kits. It's not exactly like there is a "Vintage Model Car Parts Walmart" to use for price comparison. Steve

That is the nice thing about auction sites like ebay. The item will sell for what someone will give for it. Unfortunately, there are a lot of Bozo's out there that somehow believe that they have some sort of say on what your items are worth. Something that might be worth $25.00 to you, might be worth $225.00 to the next guy. Guess which one determines what that item was worth. The guy who pays the most for it! If you believe that it's only worth $25.00..........you lose! Steve

Possibly, but those "ravaged" pieces are going towards completing another kit that would probably have never been built or enjoyed due to missing parts. So you could say it's pretty much a wash. The way that I see it, every one of those old rare vintage kits that were cut up and customized over the years are a total loss. Much more so than a kit that has been parted out. A great number of them will never be salvaged again. Steve

I don't know anything about this particular individual, but for those of us who build vintage kits, guys like this are a god send, especially in the "post Modelhaus" age! In some instances, price may be of little importance if you're in need of that all important part for a rare kit. $25.00-$30.00 for a body is not at all out of the realm of possibility depending on what you need. $20.00 for chrome parts or an interior is not out of line either. I would happily pay $30.00 for a clean AMT 1967 Ford Galaxie body or $20.00 for the bumpers from the same kit if I needed them. What are the options? Now, if your talking about prices like this for currently available kits, then all I can say is..........well, you've heard the whole fool and his money thing. I guess I just figure that they're his property. Who am I to tell him what he can or cannot do with them. Steve

Or, you could donate one to "the cause". That cause being that I don't have one! Steve

That is distressing! I guess it's been a while since I looked for any parts! I hadn't realized that he was AWOL! I will surely miss this fellow! Picked up a lot of terrific stuff from him! Steve

I want them! Steve

Are these bot 1/32 scale kits? I know that the Revell '56 Continental is actually a pretty nice kit, but I have never seen the "Ideal Lincoln Premiere". Steve

Sure! This one can be had on ebay right now! It will cost you a mere $270.00! Be ready to pay prices like this for a pristine kit. Even a builder will cost you a little coin. Not sure, but there are probably some resin kits out there, or you can always shoot for a "Hemi Under Glass" kit if it doesn't need to be stock. Steve

Still fiddling with a Johan 1963 Plymouth Fury kit. I think that I hay have gone a little too far already on this one! I decided quite a while ago that a full chassis, engine & engine bay swap was in order on this one, but I've since gotten a little bogged down in a full interior revamp as well. I'm combining parts from the Johan kit and the Lindberg '64 Belvedere as well as reworking the original rear seat & making some major changes to a '62 Fury front seat to try to get a little closer to the standard '63 Fury interior. There's quite a bit of scratch work involved including completely new upholstery patterns on both seats & door panels & all new piping on both of them as well. Plus I added a scratch built headliner. Steve

It's pretty easy for me. I build nearly nothing but factory stock, so all I have to do is do a little surfing & find some photos of 1:1 examples of the model I'm building. That plus going through some color chips to find a color combo that really grabs me. Steve

I think the Molotow pen used for exterior trim is just as big, if not a larger gamble. Who knows what will happen to this stuff a few years down the road. Steve

Just picked up a complete Johan 1962 Plymouth Fury interior. I needed the tub to cut up for my current 1963 Fury build, so if anybody needs a '62 Fury dash, steering wheel & seat belts, let me know. Steve

That changes things entirely. That being the case, it would probably be one of my old annuals. I guess that if I had to give them all up right now except for one, I would save & build the MPC 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix kit. Only because I own a 1:1. Steve

I would never sell built kits on ebay to try to make a living. It would only appeal to me as another aspect of the hobby. In other words, just for the fun of it. To see what some of them might be worth to others. I will save that possibility until the point where I am no longer able to build or maintain a large stable of kits & built ups. Steve

First of all, I would quit building. For me there is absolutely no joy in building the same kit over & over again. If there was only 1 kit left in existence & I had to build a few of them before I quit, it would be either the old AMT '58 Impala, '56 Ford Victoria or '57 Ford Fairlane. Mostly because of subject matter, & they're just great old kits. Steve

Here are a couple more recent '57 Chevy kits. Steve

Thanks guys. I appreciate the vote of confidence, but I won't be auctioning off anything in the near future as far as I know. I'm glad to hear that you think that my builds are good enough to make some cash on ebay, but it was just a tongue in cheek speculation at this point. Maybe I'll wait for another decade & double my money! Just my luck, by then they will be worth nothing. Steve

Nix on the Purple Power. If you want to determine the true results of the "purple pond", use Super Clean. It is much more powerful than Purple Power. I have tried both. I have not used brake fluid in years mostly because of the fact that it is much more difficult to dispose of when it has come to the end of it's usefulness, but as far as I know, guys have used it for years & have had no issues with it damaging the plastic. Alcohol works as well, but I reserve it for things like removing primer or anything where it does not need to soak for too long. I have heard that it can make the plastic brittle. I have removed paint on bodies that were painted with multiple coats of automotive lacquer and clear coat, (as many as 5 coats of each) with Super Clean & after soaking for a few days the paint will come off in sheets leaving only some of the primer which can then be stripped with alcohol. It's absolutely safe for the plastic & it is biodegradable, so disposal is much easier. Enamel paints can usually be removed down to bare plastic in a very short period of time with Super Clean. (usually within an hour or so). These bodies were stripped of their enamel paint in an overnight soak of Super Clean. They don't get much cleaner than this! Steve

There's no reason that you can't use Super Clean to strip a 1/8th scale body. I buy mine in one gallon jugs. Just get a bigger tub large enough for the body & fill it with Super Clean. After stripping, return it to the jug. If it's enamel, the Super Clean will strip it very quickly. Steve

She's pretty cute compared to some others that I have seen! Steve

Wow! I was surprised when I looked at these photos. Paul built a '60 Dodge Dart that is nearly an exact twin to the Dart that I built! The roof treatment & the wheels are a little different. Great minds think alike I guess! Does this mean that I could get nearly $800.00 for mine too? Steve Paul's '60 Dodge Mine.

Tonight, another "mail order meal". Greek Shrimp Scampi Fettuccine. Not the best thing I ever ate, but not bad. The "Roasted Red Pepper Bruschetta" is my own concoction and I recommend it highly to everyone! My wife would make a meal of just that. It consists of roasted red peppers, anchovies, capers, fresh basil, balsamic vinegar & olive oil. Served over slices of grilled french baguette & topped with fresh grated Parmagiano Reggiano. Very, very tasty! Steve

No Moebius or Pegasus at mine. Some BMF would be a better place to start IMO, but I'm expecting their model kit & supply aisle to eventually shrink rather than grow. Steve

I remember going to a local store/restaurant as a kid called "The Palm Garden" in Aberdeen South Dakota when I was a kid visiting my grand parents. My grandmother would give us each a quarter & send us the 6 blocks to the Palm Garden & we would each return with a lunch sized brown paper bag full to the brim with candy. My favorite then, & still today, was "Ice Cubes". They were half as thick back then, but were only a penny compared to 25 cents each today! Steve