mikemodeler

It was in Automotive News recently that Chrysler was shutting down the engine plant for the Fiat 500 models as the vehicles aren't selling- dealers have a 194 day supply on hand! I was in Richmond VA earlier this week and drove past a Fiat dealer and they had at least 60 of those cars in stock, in all colors. It will take $5.00 a gallon gas to get folks serious about one of those cars and even then there are many other cars in that same price range that have more room and are comparable in fuel mileage.

I have a dozen or so completed models and they are stored/displayed in the plastic display cases available from Hobby Lobby. I buy them when they run their 50% off sale on display cases and they are on a lighted shelving unit my wife found on Craigslist. I do have intentions of buying or building something more elaborate but considering how fast I finish them, I figure I have a few more years!

I have stockpiled several of this kits Doc "just in case" ! I get them at Hobby Lobby with the 40% off coupon and they end up being about $11.00 or so. The chassis, wheels and engine are quite nice for use in other kits.

I haven't tried it but would seem to think that there is enough room under that hood to fit it in.

There are alot of kits on the Revell 2012 release list that sure would be nice to have this year. I doubt Santa will bring me any new kits this year, only coal.

Looks like one of those fancy "your-a-peeing" cars, dressed up in Easter colors!

I bought his painting video at show in NC last year after talking with him for 45 minutes. What a great guy and willing to share his knowledge. I was impressed with his video and will start using the tips soon as I have to re-do my airbrush set up. I have watched that video at least 5 times and am anxious to use his method.

Looks nice and clean, must be on the way to the first race of the season! Good choice on the colors and the details make it look real.

It shouldn't be a big surprise to see paint go up, afterall the kit prices are getting up there too. I was in a Hobbytown USA last week and they had new releases from Revell that stickered at $28.99. Like many others, I remember cheap gas, paint and model kits but everything has gotten sky high (except wages!). Went to Wal Mart this morning because the Mrs. has a few favorites she likes to buy there. Got tricked into doing "a little grocery shopping" and $105 later, we walked out the door! I would be fine with the cost but other than some lunch meat, it was mostly pantry filling items and not meals we bought. Bottom line- we all must be smart with our money and be on the lookout for deals. Use the weekly coupons from Michaels and Hobby Lobby to buy paint and use Harry's tip to use cheaper craft paints.

Let the air out! Ha Ha Ha Okay, some have warmed up the tires and squished them down, others have sanded or filed them down. I don't have a proven method yet but I am sure someone here has. Dr. Cranky, what is your suggestion, oh wise one of the rust?

Thanks Harry, I am sure it is worth waiting for, like the others have been. I think I will stake out the mailbox tomorrow and interrogate the mailman when he pulls up!

Okay, I have been here long enough and a subscriber for even longer to know that sometimes the magazine runs behind. That said, has the October issue been shipped? I ask because apparently I am having a problem getting some of my magazines here. The contest issue from "the other mag" never made it and I had to call them and their December issue should have been here a week ago and it hasn't arrived either. Not sure if my mailman has taken up model building or if he is using my mags to heat his house this winter but I wanted to check here before calling the Denver office. I also didn't know if anyone else in the Charlotte area was having problems with their magazine subscriptions, seems like my wife gets her Southern Living just fine but I can't read about model cars! Thanks in advance and remember to thank a veteran today!

Ya Got me Harry! The steering wheel and windshield trim looked like it could be a model but then I noticed the headlights behind the grille and what appeared to be screws holding the wheel opening mouldings in place and went with real. I guess my streak starts over again on November 21. That was a good one and I hope the next one is equally difficult.

I stopped shaving the back hair as it does get chilly here in NC and now that the pool is closed, I need that fur coat to stay warm until April. I have enough stalled projects to keep me going and with that week after Christmas being vacation time, I plan on getting many of them done. If we get some warm weather, I will start another project and try to get that done as well. I sure don't miss those long cold winters when I lived in Chicago except they did give me a reason to build!

I once worked with a guy who said he had hundreds of promos as he started collecting them in the 50's when he would take his paper route money and buy them as he had the money for them. I never saw the collection in person but he did bring a list one day and it was impressive! This picture looks like it could be his collection, but I doubt Jerry would have taken them out of the box and laid them out!

Clay, thank you for your service and the sacrifices you have made as a Marine for the rest of us! My son, who is planning on a career in the Marines, had to be a school early today as he is the commanding officer of his JROTC Marine Corps unit as they were holding a birthday party in honor of the Marine Corps.

The thing I found when I visited the Wall in 2008 was that despite not being a vet, it was still very moving to see it and what it represents. There were many grown men and women scanning the wall and then breaking down in tears after finding their loved ones' names on the wall, something that moved me to tears just watching. My oldest brother served stateside during Vietnam but the friends he lost were numerous and he has a hard time going to the wall when he visits his son in DC as he feels a lot of pain seeing all of those names. Again, my heartfelt thanks to all past, present and future veterans.

considering how the gap has closed since the voting started and favored real, I think Harry is having fun with this one. Not sure what Mr. Obsessive sees, but if it is a model it is one of the better ones my eyes have seen!

Not sure if "Happy" is the right adjective for Veterans Day as Tom's memories are far from that. I will say that I do appreciate all of our military men and women for defending our freedom and helping those in other countries fight for their freedom. I wasn't able to attend this year's parade here in Charlotte as I was attending an college orientation session for my son who was marching in the parade with his JROTC class. He is looking to attend college on a MCROTC scholarship and then a career in the Corps. I grew up watching the Vietnam war on TV at dinner time and knew of older sibling's friends dying in the war and seeing how it affected them. It was a travesty the way the soldiers were treated back then and am glad to see today's soldiers being honored as they should. There is a funeral here in the Charlotte area this week for an Army Sgt. and the press coverage has been positive and the Patriot Guard has been there to help the family. With my son looking to enter the military I hope and pray that we do not have to go through what many families before us have had to but take solace in knowing that it is what my son is choosing to do and I am at peace with that. May God bless our military every day and bring them home safely. Thank you again all past, present and future soldiers.

going with real, a couple of things tipped me off.

Fred, Not sure when you are headed that way but there are some great hobby shops in those towns. I used to live/work in that area and spent many dollars and free time hitting the shops along the way. In Milwaukee, you HAVE to stop in at Model Empire. Great people and selection of kits, supplies and all around stuff! Then there is Greenfield News & Hobby, a great place for books/magazines and hobby supplies, kits, etc. There is/was another hobby shop, Hobby Horse (?) that had kits stuffed everywhere. Prices were all over the place but check them out if you have the time. In Chicago, not sure what is left there. There used to be some good shops but they had scaled back on kits and focused on the R/C stuff. If you are near Elmhurst, IL, stop in at Al's Hobby Shop. A great place and still a good source of supplies and kits.There are a couple more in the Chicago area but am not certain what they offer. Maybe Harry or some of the other forum members here can help. Let us know what you find as I still go back there to visit family and friends and would like to know where to spend some of my saved up lunch money!

LOL! I have one from at least 14 years ago that needs to be done- funny thing is that about 60 minutes at the bench and it would be finished! Oh well, maybe tomorrow, maybe not! I have done about 3 or 4 of the Revell snap 69 Camaros but can't get that one glue kit finished and am glad I am not alone in my inability to complete it.

You sound a little bitter there Christian, not sure I agree with you. If you ever make it across the pond, drop by my mansion and we can go for a spin in the new Ferrari .

I know it has been brought up before, but the MPC Dodge Pickups from the '70s would be nice. Actually, there were some nice subjects from the '70s from MPC that would be nice to see but I doubt the tools still exist or have been modified and cannot be fixed.

I try to only spend from my mad money account that I have set up. My mad money comes from anything I sell, loose change saved up over time and what little extra I make from my expense travel account from my job as a travelling salesman. I don't NEED any more kits, in fact I should probably sell some that were definitely an impulse buy, and put that money aside for some of the recent announcements from the iHobby show. Like others have stated, what I really need is to buy some motivation and get building more of my stash! Is having too many kits a disease? Depends on how you look at it.