RancheroSteve

And my pictures are up: http://public.fotki.com/Roullier/other_peoples_model_cars/gsl-xxv/

Some of the "On the tables" photos are deceptive because they were probably taken Thursday or Friday - early in the event. As people arrived, the tables filled up. By Saturday they were pretty full, and at times the isles were packed. There were over 300 models entered in competition, plus areas for non-competing models, a big historical display of the Fisher Body Guild, and a preview of the Lynx Project. I think because of the nature of GSL there usually aren't a lot of spectators, but I've always found it worth going to whether I have something to enter or not. I didn't make it over to the Museum this year (the bus had a minor accident and my tour got cancelled), but the Museum has grown A LOT in the last 15 years - check it out when you can. We had to duck out a little early on the awards presentation to catch a flight and just got back a few hours ago - I'll have my photos up in a day or so.

Apparently, Testors couldn't make up their minds either: the Vantastic I have says 1/24, while the Coupster (based on the same tool) says 1/25. I haven't tried to measure and scale it out.

Yes - they should line up better than that. It's been a while, but I don't remember having a problem when I built mine.

This is the only other choice for the Chaparral 2E that I know of: http://www.fishermodels.com/product/chaparral-2e-usrrc-can-am-124 A curbside and not cheap, but Fisher makes an excellent product. They also do the 2F Coupe.

Great concept and execution, Phil. Well done!

Google is our friend: here's a review of the kit from 1999: http://www.internetmodeler.com/1999/april/cars/vantastic.htm It shares most of the tooling with the Smoothster, except it has a sedan delivery body instead of a roadster body.

Appears to be a re-pop of the Testors "Vantastic" from 1998. 1/24 scale (or so mine says on the box). I haven't built it, but it looks to be a decent kit. Contemporary street rod style frame, suspension, and interior. Chevy LT1 engine. Molding is good overall; tires are a bit weak. Looks like it would build OK out of the box, or the potential is there to do a bit more.

Yes - vastly improved by the new color! That also looks like it would be about the right color match for the Lincoln Futura.

The base kit is the Model King re-issue of the old AMT annual - reviewed here: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3155&hl=comet The kit (and the model) is a curbside - no engine and one piece chassis plate, which I just painted semi-gloss black.

Thanks, Mark. It wouldn't have turned out anywhere near as well without your help!

Thanks guys! There's an "On the Workbench" topic that details at least some of the build: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=99032&hl= Other questions welcome.

It's done:

Cool story, Mike - I wasn't aware of that "Popular Mechanics" issue. My magazine collecting was pretty haphazard in those days - I would pick up "Car Model", "Rod & Custom Models" and "Model Car Science" with my allowance when I saw them on the magazine rack in the Five & Dime (or wherever), but other than that I depended on hand me down issues of "Road & Track" from a neighbor. Of course, I remember "Popular Mechanics" being around, but I guess I never looked at it too much, for whatever reason.

Thanks, Dave - I think the better tires made a huge difference. It's not really a difficult kit to build if you can accept it for what it is, take your time building it and apply some more contemporary materials and technology. I built this one quite a few years ago, but I think if I were to do another I'd strip the chrome and re-do it with Alclad or the like.

I'm not sure what the situation was by '67, but I have heard that in the early sixties side mirrors were dealer installed, which accounts for differences in styles and placements.

I can't remember exactly which ones they are, but I used some tires from The Modelhaus when I built mine: Get'em while you can!

This Baron Margo creation:

Frank, the only background I have is some real world experience with cars and a history of building models off and on since I was a kid. Like anybody else, I've developed my own perspective and tastes. My sincere apologies if you felt like I was telling you what to do. What I was trying to say (like I think a lot of other posters here) is that there are a lot of kit choices out there today - everything from late 50's multi-piece body kits, through early 60's promo-style kits, and right up through the modern sophisticated detailed tooling of today. The trick is to find a kit that's right for you - especially with the cost of a model kit these days - and I think this is where this forum works well. From what I can see, I don't think there are a lot of folks here with axes to grind when it comes to assessing the merits of a particular kit, and I think there's freedom here to discuss the negatives as well as the positives. This kind of debate is healthy if it helps someone to decide whether or not to put down their hard-earned money for a model. I'm not trying to change your mind about this particular kit - or anything else - just trying to show that there are several ways to look at this issue.

Replicas & Miniatures makes a nice set of Weber carbs and 289 manifold (sold as a set).

For my money, I'll take a well proportioned but simple kit over a more detailed but inaccurate kit any day. Case in point: AMT '64 Comet vs. Trumpeter Falcon. Not trying to brag, but here's what can be done with a simple curbside: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=98929&hl= Like others have said, do your research before you buy and make your choice accordingly.

I have the Heller Lotus 49B and the Union re-branded McLaren M7. Apart from the tires being a bit square and un-realistic looking, they appear to be excellent kits, but not necessarily easy to build. I've sourced some better tires from Hobby Link Japan and I'm planning to make a start on the Lotus sometime this year.

I have one of those Dodge Phoenix kits, too - very well done indeed! It's near the top of my "to build soon" pile, which means I should have it done in about ten years (haha).

I've got one of those JL Futuras - it's a beautiful piece and the color looks really right!

Yes - mailed in my registration, reserved a hotel room, and booked a flight. This will be my fifth time attending. Be sure to check the website for the latest news and info: http://www.gslchampionship.org/news/