mikemodeler

I remember discovering Venture Hobbies years ago and sad to hear they are closing. They had a pretty large store in a strip mall so I would surmise that the rent wasn't cheap. The selection at one time was among the largest I recall ever seeing in a hobby shop. Their selection of Japanese kits was pretty vast, they had all of the new releases and a ton of supplies and paints. I never went out the door without spending at least $20, and many times it was closer to $100! Here in Charlotte I am limited to a couple of Hobby Lobby's and Michael's, 2 Hobbytown USAs and down the road in SC there is a LHS. The selection is not that great but the one HTU closest to me has their kits reasonably priced ( Revell 69 ZL-1 is $21.99) and the staff is always nice. Yes they are RC specialists but they also have new releases and a decent amount of supplies. I signed up for the HTU HobbyCard at another location and they honor the coupons and scan my card at every purchase. While not the huge store that Venture was, they are my LHS and I try to support them whenever I can. Yes, I buy on the internet too, mostly those kits that I can't find locally or when Tower Hobbies has their free shipping promo, but I also like to see the kits in person. I try to make as many shows as possible to get those OOP kits too.

Very nice and what an eye catching color! Should look great when done!

Bill, Are you talking about that green Nova with the LS motor that was in Hot Rod Magazine? There was a model of that sold on eBay last year.

I went model, valve stems on the fronts only and that paint is very shiny.

I would think that some small pieces of Evergreen could be used to replicate those front marker lights. Probably because it was unique to the 67 & 68 bodies only did they get overlooked. Glad to see you here Dave! Long time no chat.

This Spring when we had incredible weather, I didn't get enough stuff painted to carry me through the humid and hot Summer days. Between traveling for work, yard work and wanting to enjoy the summer, my build time is limited to short periods of time here and there, often weeks apart. I have so many WIPs that I should be able to get something finished but my modeler's ADD kicks in and then I start mocking up more "what ifs" and then play time is over! I hate to admit it but sometimes I find myself building a snap kit just to show some progress!

I think I will get around to getting a formal inventory of what I have as I need to "thin the herd" again. I am quickly coming to the conclusion that I have bought some kits on impulse or with the idea that I can whip right through a build, which I have proven to be difficult, even with a snap together kit! I have the camera out for other reasons, I think I will take pictures of the stash this weekend.

Looks great, nice job polishing that rough kit into something respectable. I too found it interesting the mechanic didn't powerwash the rest of the engine compartment when he worked on the engine! Nice job fixing that underside, always wondered why they built kits like that!

Reminds me of my first pedal car......

I hear ya Rich! Living here in NC has it's advantages, but humidity is the hardest to overcome. I already know what I want in our next house, a room that is air conditioned so I can spray when I want!

Nice start, looks like the car they were working on the TV show Musclecars!

Don't see any pictures.

Wife wondered why I was chuckling this morning while reading the paper!

I would like to see "B" but weathered and run down a little bit, maybe with the Texaco signs painted over or faded. Some derelict cars/trucks in the lot and the bays heavily soiled and cluttered. Maybe you should build the shell Tom and send it to Dr. Cranky for weathering!

I'm thinking some floodlights aimed at their windows or a street light that is on a dusk to dawn timer that shines in their window might irritate them like the floodwater does you! Glad to hear you found a way to kill two birds with one stone- stress relief and improving a mediocre kit. Of course if you want to get the ultimate revenge on the neighbors, have your mom sell the house to someone with a bunch of kids or pets!

Coming from Ed, that has to be an endorsement if I ever heard one! Again Tom, outstanding work and so life like.

Tom, To be honest, you are among the few on here whom I have seen create a diorama or model to such exact detail that it isn't a question of if you MUST, it is a question of WHEN !!!!!!!! I think it is great that the plans are available for us to duplicate something that is fast becoming just a memory for many.

Josh, Art Anderson said he would be looking at the latest revisions this weekend, so if all goes well, I would say it would be late September at the earliest before we see these jewels. I think once they have given the green light to production, we will have a better idea of when to expect them on the shelves. Gotta remember that they have to schedule production and get the packaging ready too!

One of my all favorite 1:1 cars, any idea what color you are going with?

Actually NOS is an energy drink, formerly endorsed by "shrub" Busch.

Thanks for the replies, I will do some more shopping. Martinfan, check your inbox! Mike

Welcome aboard and be ready to learn a lot from the group here!

Art, Thank you for reminding the forum of the hard work and revisions needed to put out a quality kit. I, for one, am like a kid on Christmas Eve waiting for these kits! I know some feel that a kit should be 100% accurate and true to the 1:1 version it replicates but in reality it might not work that way. Have there been some recent kits that had glaring errors and other problems? Yep! And most of the time the manufacturer corrected them on the next run and offered fixes. I think Dave helps his cause by getting us advance pictures of what we will be getting, I know it has me wanting to buy more than I intended to before I saw the mock ups! Thanks again Art, your insight and experience has helped me have a better understanding of this hobby.

Mike, Not sure how big your order is, but from my experience the bigger the order, the longer the wait. I was waiting about 2 months for my shipment of about 12 sets of tires and it was worth it! As John mentioned above, Al travels and cannot always respond quickly. I have no doubts you will get your order soon!

Okay, so I am getting closer to finishing a couple of builds of commercial vehicles like pickups and other type vehicles and am in need of some simple amber type lights. These would be the kind you find on a truck used in construction or road service vehicles. Most of these trucks do not have full light bars like police and fire equipment, although some are similar. I have visited the Chimneyville website and saw their simple "gumball" type beacon and while I am leaning that way, I was wondering if anyone had additional sources or knew of kits that had something similar? The upcoming Revell Peterbilt Wrecker has some nice smaller amber lights on the boom but I can't see buying that kit just for them! And I won't abuse the Revell parts program either! Any and all ideas/suggestions/help is appreciated!