Snake45

Yup. That's been SOP in Model Airplane World since at least the '70s. Micro-Scale even turned it into a marketable "system" and made a fortune off the products. Glosscoat. Decal. Set (soften or dissolve) decals. Regloss if deemed necessary. THEN, flatcoat over the whole mess. Done right, it looks magnificent.

I know exactly what she meant. I've said to my own son many times, "I'm glad I'm my age and not your age."

And as if the day couldn't get any worse, Tom Petty has left the building. I'll remember this sad, sad day for a long, long time.

I've actually thought about doing a Silver Sharpie tutorial. If you're going to buy, buy AT LEAST four. I've found that not all of these are created equal. One might work well for a model or two, and then BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH out. Another will do three or four or five models before giving it up. Yet another might be junk from the start. That's why I like to always have several new 2-packs on hand.

Yes, you usually have to at least double-coat, but the stuff dries so fast you can usually do the whole job in one sitting.

Looks like you did about as well as can be done with that kit without major rework. I've got one I've taken out and put away many times. I know it needs fixes of various kinds, but I'm not sharp enough on '71-'73 Mustangs to figure out what's wrong and how to fix it. But maybe someday....

That is EXACTLY what I was going to say! Always good to see a survivor restored. It's tempting to rebuild them completely, but IMHO it's a much more rewarding challenge to restore them to back-in-the-day glory.

They're great for window frames, wheel moldings, wheel trim, etc., not so much for fine emblems unless they're pretty pronounced. Rubbing alcohol takes them right off. I've never seen any tip size except the ones I buy. It's pointed, I guess you might call it "semi-fine."

I've done that too, putting the phone right next to the radio playing one of my favorite talk radio programs. Might as well educate them a little while they wait!

I get mine at Walmart. They used to sell singles and 4-packs, but now it seems they only have 2-packs. They're much cheaper than Molotow (though probably not quite as good). DO get several--at least 4--because sometimes you'll need to have them standing on their heads to "drain down" while you use one. They don't last forever, but they're (relatively) cheap. I buy a pair at Walmart every month whether I need a new one yet or not, just so I never run out. I've gone through 8 or 10 or 12 of them so far--I've lost count. Here's what you're looking for: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sharpie-Metallic-Permanent-Markers-Silver-Set-of-2/14906303

Looks great, and was also great to hear the Silver Sharpie worked out well for someone else. I love the things!

I saw a real one (coupe) a couple weeks ago, and it is TINY. 1/22 would look right at home on a shelf full of "normal" 1/24 models (even though it's "too big").

Agree on all counts. These snapper Vettes are just lovely and fun to work with.

Local toy show. Moebius '65 Plymouth, new in box: $15. Revell '68 Charger, new in box: $10. VERY nice diecast '71 Mustang Mach 1, black: $5. Slightly distressed Chezoom diecast: $8. Two Corvette diecasts, red '63 and a beautiful 5G of some kind, $5 each. Not a bad day.

HAHAHAHAHA! I don't think "motorboating" was a thing back then. Well, it might have been a thing, but I don't think anyone called it that yet.

The metalflakes will only look good if brushed on a very small area, such as trim of some kind. The red, for example, could be used for taillights, or the blue for some kind of emblems.

I think at least some of the Playmates might have gotten to pick what they wanted. I'd be willing to bet that some, though, were clever "product placement" coups on somebody's part. I'm sure deals were wheeler-dealered on many of them. IIRC, one year the girl got a boat. Hope she wanted a boat.

Mine actually had some of the Good Stuff, for a change. Got two '63 Vettes, two TV buggies (who knows when we'll ever see those again), and a Fruit Wagon T, always a parts mine. Forgot to get a Jawbreaker! Oh well, gives me an excuse to go back next week. Maybe they'll have the Piranhas then.

Well, somebody once put one in a '67 Camaro. For real. (I don't get it, either.)

Pretty nice. I need to find one of those, cheap.

I bought this kit because I need a stock VW chassis to put under an old AMT ’68 Corvette body (somewhat inaccurate) and make a phantom “kit car” out of it. I thought this would be a reissue of the old Revell Beetle from the ‘70s/’80s. It isn’t. It’s a reissue of a much newer Revell Germany kit that seems to have debuted around 2013. First thing I noticed was that although the kit’s in the “California Wheels” line, it does NOT have updated aftermarket wheels/tires nor flashy graphic decals, both of which are a hallmark of most if not all of the “California Wheels” kits I’ve bought. No special wheels/tires, no engine hop-up parts, no custom or racing or aftermarket parts of any kind. The only option seems to be to build it as either left or right hand drive--strictly stock. Having already done the math, I was planning to have to stretch the VW’s chassis from 94.5” to the Corvette’s 98” (about .15”, not a big deal). However, a quick test fitting showed that the wheel arches on the VW chassis line up almost perfectly with the wheel openings on the Corvette body. At this point I noticed that the Revell box doesn’t say 1/25 scale—or any other scale, for that matter—and neither does the instruction sheet. A quick google search showed that the Revell Germany Beetle was originally boxed as 1:24. By happy coincidence, the 1/24 VW wheelbase is almost perfect for 1/25 Corvette. (The sides will need to be narrowed a bit, but no big deal.) So, to sum up: If you want a very nice stock(-ish) ’68 VW in 1/24, this is your kit. If you’re looking for parts to restore a ‘70s-‘80s Revell VW kit, or want a true 1/25 Beetle, this is NOT the kit you want.

Nice! Interesting to see one without the hood in matte black. A guy in my town has the '69 6-pack hood on a '68 RT, all painted turquoise, and it takes a little getting used to, but once you do, it's pretty hella cool.

More likely, the gills ate up too much valuable decal (sponsor) real estate.

IIRC it was just Model Master Leather sort of semi-drybrushed over black.

Did you miss mine?