peteski

Micro-Sol is alcohol based so it can attach painted surfaces. Micro-Set is acetic-acid (vinegar) based and usually safe for solvent-based hobby paints. Or is it the other way around? Just go by smell. If it smells like vinegar, it is the milder solution.

I have seen clear yellow headlights on some customized American cars. Yellow headlights are very popular (or maybe even mandated) in France. And of course, before driving lights were popular in cars I had a pair of yellow fog-lights installed on my Camaro (in the '80s). Fog-lights were yellow while driving-lights were clear.

It is just a regular #11 blade.

Nice looking kit! Too bad that it continues the current trend of molding tires with featureless sidewalls. I guess we can thank all the lawyers who protect the trade names of tire companies for this. It is so silly. A model is basically a free advertisement for a company if the logos appear on the model.

Decal glue is water-soluble. So if it was just glue, it should have come off with just some warm water and gentle rubbing. I wonder if what you are describing is leftover clear decal film (with the glue underneath it)? If that is the case, you cold try lifting the clear film using a piece of masking tape. Just press it against the spot and lift it. The other possibility could be that the decal was applied using a decal setting solution which not only softened the decal, but also the paint underneath it. If that is the case then the flaw is in the paint. Then you would have to try sanding it, then polishing.

Over the decades of modeling I have collected many pairs of tweezers, but 90% of the time I use my favorite small tweezers. I don't even remember where I got them. There is a logo on them, but I don't recall what it shows. They are not stainless steel and they are oxidized (um, rusty), but for some reason I really like them. I But if I need some specialized pair for some task, I have them all handy in my homemade tweezers holder. My favorite pair is in the front row, 3rd from the left.

Jason, while we do have all sorts of modelers here, this is mainly an automotive forum. My recommendation is to ask your questions on a forum which caters to military modelers. For example, if you go to FineScale Modeler forum they cater to the military modelers, and even have a specific section just for ships. I suspect that members there will be able to assist you better.

I absolutely agree with you about the disappearance of quality work. This is true for both, the unskilled and skilled tasks. Crappy sidewalk repairs and crappy car repairs for example. But most of those unskilled laborers don't want to clean bathrooms or hotel rooms, be short order cooks, or do many similar jobs. But you are right, lets not get too deep into this here. Just to let you know, I agree with your rants I read here about the rampant incompetence of the today's world. I also do not see this problem going away anytime soon (if ever).

Oh, was that the gorgeous scratchbuilt fire truck?

Sure is! I was just trolling a bit - I admit it. But I agree that at some point our society will be in a dire need of old-fashion laborers. Unless all those glued to computer screens can design robots (which will then be manufactured in China) which will be capable of doing all that manual labor.

I guess at that point we will have to let in all those people from Mexico and South America to handle all those manual-labor jobs nobody else is willing to, or capable of doing.

Stand, because there is nothing to sit on in the area where I airbrush.

Some years ago I was going through Michaels and saw one of these. I was fascinated and bough it. But I just never really warmed up to it. Maybe I should try it again. If interested, look for Fiskars 163050-1001

Is that a "cyclops" driving light on the front bumper? I don't remember ever seeing that (except on a Tucker of course). My mom worked for a lady who owned the same car (same colors too). I always thought it was a cool looking car. One of these days I'll build my Matador kit.

Over the years I accumulated a collection of nozzles and tubes from various spray cans. I also adapted some nozzles by pulling out or drilling the orifice, then installing a tube which fits snugly.

I agree with Kurt. Just pour some isopropyl alcohol (I use 91 or 99%) around the hot glue perimeter it should come off in sheets. It seems that the alcohol instantly breaks the glue's bond.

That is a nice model, and not bad at all for a 15-year-old kid.

Since you are not running any kit manufacturing company (or are even employed by one), you don't have to consider anything or anybody. You opinion doesn't matter either way. You can flap your jaws (or your typing fingers) here all you want, and you will not be accomplishing anything. If you want to even try to make a difference and have some of your exciting racing car models released, contact the model companies and let them know what you want.

No harm done. I"m not complaining about Fernando's prices either. Yes, I have few of his wheel/tire sets and they are all resin castings (except for (stainless steel?) wire spokes. Also, Fernando is in Europe (Portugal or Spain).

I didn't know - thanks Rob! Like I said, I have never seen these models before you just mentioned them recently. Looks like I messed my Brititish nomenclature too. Eh, these are models of Italian cars anyway!

You think so? Labor is cheap in USA? Why then the U.S. companies keep moving all the production to China? I'm also not sure how this applies to the current discussion. What setup and machining? Fernando is a small cottage-industry manufacturer. The wheels are made from silver-painted resin-cast components (likely made from Fernando's hand-made master patterns and then cast in RTV molds). Just like other small resin casters do. Then he is likely using some sort of a jig to keep the hub aligned with the rim and then wraps continuois wire around the assembly to depict spokes. The tires are also urethane resin castings painted black.

He sells just the wheels/tires on ebay (and probably elsewhere) and they are surprisingly affordable. They are not perfect (individually hand-made), but pretty BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH good! I have few sets. Took one apart and they are very cleverly designed and executed (and I can see that it doesn't take all that much time to lace them). I wish I knew his secret so I could do my own wheels that way.

I have strong suspicion that there were no takers for their business. After all, one has to be willing to work really, really hard and has to be very fastidious to consistently produce high quality resin kits. Most of the fastidious currently active resin casters have their hands more than full just keeping up with their offerings. Taking on another large casting operation would not work for them. Just my view of this . . .

Just to follow up on my earlier post (above), after few PMs and email exchanges with Greg and Dwayne, my kits are now of "Modelhaus Quality". Thanks guys!

I was lucky enough to pick up couple of these from him before Bob passed away.