mikemodeler

Saving my lunch money for this one, have a couple of ideas kicking around in my head.

Modelroundup shows it available Tuesday, get em while you can! I would guess the usual places got theirs. Casey, have you checked Model Empire? I remember they always had the early shipments.

Revell produced a series of 1/24 Chevy vans that some have used the front suspension to convert these trucks into 2WD. What you don't want is try to use the Revell 2wd pickup kit that has been around for decades as it has a totally incorrect front suspension.

I do not have a source, but maybe checking with the Japanese kit suppliers will turn something up.

This is what I was getting at. Offering critique and tips is what this hobby is about, not participation trophies. Yes, we need to encourage new builders and bring new blood into the hobby, but helping them improve their skills will bode well for the future of our hobby. And thank you for your service Marine! Semper Fi!

Thank you for sharing Bill, I think your post captures what I was trying to say. I am sure there were some who felt like they couldn't possibly mention that to you, afterall you are a well known, well respected builder and how dare ANYONE tell you that something was amiss! But yet, a member did, you saw it and fixed it and now have that stored in your memory for the next build. If someone can point out something to the likes of Bill Geary, who is to say that the same can't be done for others? Bill took the comments to heart, fixed the problem and made a great model even better. The point was to improve the model and it was accomplished easily and without offending anyone.

I think you would be surprised how many people look at their models and think "Dang, that looks good" and they are not wrong, because to them, it DOES look good. My point is that when someone posts a model with sloppy paint and body work, wheels that are crooked and not all touching the ground and has other flaws, what message is sent when all the comments are "Great job! Looks Great! Nice model!"? I am not insinuating that we need to go into hyper critical mode, but maybe mentioning how to fix those obvious flaws will help them build the next model a little bit better.

Not sure what your price range is, but keep in mind when Modelhaus was casting these and offering them for sale they went for $100. I have one to build, and will soon, but would love to see these in kit form so I can build more!

Lots of great comments and thoughts expressed here and I don't think anyone is right or wrong for stating what they did. As is our hobby, we will not all agree on things or hold the same views and that is what this hobby should be about. What I view as being a poorly built model and not worthy of a comment may be perfectly acceptable to the next member. As I stated, I have yet to post pics of any of my builds so in a way I shouldn't say someone else's is good or bad, but when I do post mine, I would welcome critique of them as I want to get better. Thanks to all who have taken the time to post and state their position, I have enjoyed reading them.

So lately I have seen some models posted in the Finished section that were obviously flawed but were given praise as though they could win at a model contest. I am the first to admit my models are built for me and by me and have yet to share them with this forum, so I will tread lightly here. However, I look at many of the posts throughout this forum and try to pick up tips to improve my modeling. I can honestly say that I have seen a marked improvement in my skills and the finished product to the point that I could entertain showing them at a model show someday soon. The point I am trying to make is that if we praise every model that is posted, whether it is worthy or not, are we doing the builders any favors? I would like to know that a polishing kit or not spraying on a humid day could give me a smoother, glossier finish. Using the right products, spending more time on prep work, using online resources to accurately detail and capture the correct look for a model can really help improve our results and I think being honest with people without coming off as arrogant can help all that are here. Lord knows there is a bunch of great builders here who offer their help, but I wonder sometimes if they hold back on some of the stuff they see because of the fear of sounding overly critical? This hobby is aging and we need younger people to pass the baton to at some point, and I think if we mentor them in a way that will get them excited about building like we did so many years ago, the future could be very bright. Telling everyone who posts a model, regardless of how well it is painted/assembled/detailed "Great job!" without offering some tips isn't in the best interest of them or the hobby.

While one can appreciate saving and rebuilding an model, I would like to politely point out that maybe you should take some time in the painting and prep department. That car could look so much better if you worked on fitting the hood and body working the scoop some more. I would also suggest working on the paint application as that paint has a bit of "orange peel" to it. Getting high quality paint jobs takes work and practice and I think you are capable of it. Most of us have to practice, practice , practice and then re-shoot some of our models. It gets frustrating at times but it's how we get better.

That is very nice, love the stance and the paint is perfect. Those wheels with the hubcaps are just right for that truck.

Charlie, The way I understood it, Don was having to remake molds as they wore out after so many pourings or they deteriorated from sitting around and that was the laborious part of the business. I think that was also why they had a hard time finding a buyer for their stuff as it was labor intensive to rebuild molds and pour the resin. I am sure if you talk to any of the resin casters they will tell you that casting resin is done for the love of the hobby as much as it is to turn a buck. I would think if you were to erect a building and start casting it would take a long time to earnback your investment. I think most resin casters work out of a home based workshop or small garage for that very reason. I applaud your desire and interest, just wish it wasn't so expensive! I was lucky enough to be able to buy some stuff before they closed for good and of course wish I could have bought more, but realistically I got what I wanted/needed and did not go overboard. I am glad to hear Don has created a couple of new kits as he stated that is what he wanted to do in retirement and wish him and Carol the best.

Can you share it with the group? I would be interest to see if it is the whole truck and kit or just the racers wedge body as Dave did that about 10 years ago.

If one was to look at the best return on investment in new tooling, then logic would say look for 67-72 GM Pickup/Blazer-Jimmy/Suburban kits to be next. Those vehicles are very popular in the real world and the model kits fetch a decent price at swap meets and on the 'Bay. Ideally, would love to see some Dodge pickups, but not sure how many they would sell. One thing is for certain, the model companies are listening to us modelers as in the last 5 years we have seen some never before kitted models arrive on the shelves.

Nice work and far more details than I would be able to master.

Gonna try to make this as it seems like a once-in-a-lifetime event. A couple of questions: 1. Is there a list of who will be there as speakers? Anyone from the model companies? 2. Will there be any How-To clinics on hobby stuff? 3. Is someone going to record or take pictures for those who can't make it? Thanks!

They are working on it, they have asked anyone who has a sealed kit to possibly "loan" it to Round 2 and they will get it back along with a copy of the new release.

Thanks for sharing Tom! You were busy snapping pictures, didn't get a chance to say how impressed I was with your van you had on display!

Yes, she sure did. I admired her and her work because she wasn't just a pretty face hired to be eye candy on the shows she appeared on, she was there to do the work! Saw her in passing at SEMA a couple of years ago, wish I had stopped to meet her then.

As a Toyota company employee who has sat in and been around a LC500, I will second this.

I would really like to get one of these kits, but do not want to spend the $100+ that they go for on eBay. Nice work so far, will be watching this build!

The realities are this: 1. The magazine will take a lot of time, money and effort to resurrect, and Gregg has his hands full trying to do that. Not sure if he will be able to bring it back as we knew it but he seems determined to do so. 2. Revenue streams to sustain the magazine and this forum have been discussed multiple times and while some of us feel one way or the other regarding some of them, the responsibility is on Gregg to determine which will help him succeed. 3. A pay to use forum will only drive away members and those that remain will feel like they "own" a part of the forum and cause more friction. I personally think the time has come to admit the magazine as we knew it is gone and it's time to consider either a digital version or go on without it. The idea of it coming back after being absent for so long sounds great, but given all the work that goes into the production and the fact that Gregg is trying to do it all himself just doesn't seem plausible. As much as some detest Scale Auto, I am guessing they have their struggles too in growing their circulation and ad revenue to cover the costs of publishing. I am sure there are some who will accuse me of attacking Gregg or the magazine and there will be others who agree with me, that's how this forum seems to work.

Nice job, love the details and color choice!

Nice work on that kit, love the modifications and weathering !