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peteski

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Posts posted by peteski

  1. If I didn't say it before here, that Lindberg/Life-Like/Pyro Auburn 851 Speedster is a very good example of just how primitive model car kits (and the design/tooling process that brought them to market) was in 1954 when that kit was designed and tooled up (first introduced in 1055).

    Art

    1055?  That is really ancient Art! ;) 

    I do understand that it is a primitive kit. I wouldn't mind sanding off and re-scribing the raised door lines if that was all that is wrong.  But this kit has so many major inaccuracies that to me it is not worth the effort.

  2. You guys are losing me on this purchasing designs or getting free pre-made files and just printing them on your own printer. How is that different than buying a plastic model kit, some resin model, or detail parts?  You can buy those without spending money on your own 3D printer and having the hassle of maintaining it.  To me the reason to own a 3D printer is so I could design and print my own unique items not available elsewhere.

  3. I permanently borrowed this thing from my dad in the early- mid-1980s, it's formal name is the "JC Penny Microworkshop", and I have the whole thing just like what is seen in this recent auction page. It finally needed a bit of oil in the bearings a few years ago to get rid of the increasing vibration, but otherwise still works like a charm. What I like about it is the rheostat motor rpm dial which allow me to choose any speed above 10k rpm to I guess some annoyingly high speed. Wish I could slow it down further, though.

    That looks identical to my Weller unit (even the Styrofoam insert and the case). Looks like the unit was sold under multiple brands.  I even added variable speed controller to mine.  I upgraded to a variable-speed Dremel tool when they started using ball bearings in them (that eliminates the longitudinal play on the motor shaft).  But I did use my Weller tool for many years.  I still have stashed deep in my basement.

  4. Never knew what these bits were officially called, I just used 'em. Assuming you have a motor tool of some description, you simply use the bottom edge of the cutting tool to grind whatever you need into plastic dust, as in what I just did to the ribs of this unfortunate plastic piece.

    cutting_tools.thumb.jpg.4f67622f82001950

    Wow!  That looks like a Weller motor-tool!  I had one many years ago (before buying a Dremel).  Is this an old one or do they still make them?

  5. Nice equipment!

    As far as car stereos go, I still have my Vector Research car stereo (bought in the '80s in a Tech HiFi store). It was a re-branded BELTEK unit. It is mounted in a BENSI box (anybody remember those). You needed one of those living in a thickly settled urban area.

    BeltekCarStereo.thumb.JPG.df312361ff6d53

  6. You've built some nice replicas Alan!

    I'm involved in a carnival project, but on much smaller scale. :D  Friend of mine and  I modeled the Royal American Shows Carnival as it appeared in the '60s in 1:160 scale (N-Scale). He does all the kit and scratch building and I do the animation and lighting.   The carnival is part of a set of NTRAK modules (model railroad) which we display at many train shows.  My friend also modeled the entire Royal American Shows train.

    This thread shows how I made the bumper cars (and gives you an idea of the size of those models) and also links to couple of videos of the carnival.

  7. I can easily see a well-weathered beater beat out a nice shiny paint job.  Maybe people think that weathering is easy, but  good realistic weathering takes time and skill, and I would say that it is as difficult or even more difficult than a good glossy paint job.

    I also don't polish my paint jobs and yet I have won some pretty prestigious awards for my models. If I had to spend hours sanding and buffing my models I would quit the hobby - that is not for me.  To me my paint jobs are good enough without polishing, but I know that everybody's different.

  8. I just saw some info on the Spotlight Hobbies board (posted by Tom, the proprietor there). I figured I would re-post it here:

    Don Holthaus called to bring me up to date on their progress, and asked me to pass the info on to you. They received so many orders when they reopened their site for 7 weeks early last summer that it took from October to January just to do the orders for May 15th, and they’re now finishing up orders from the 16th. Orders placed just before the site closed, in July of 2016, are well more than a year out, possibly spring to summer of 2018.

    Please just be patient, they’re working their fingers to the bone, and when your order comes up it will be shipped. If you have to talk to them they’d rather you call than email, but keep in mind that every time you write or call them you’re just causing orders to be delayed further. Thanks.

    Actually, the first thing he said when he called was that he heard I bought the Modelhaus and wanted to know when I’ll be by to pick it up. I’ve heard that too, so just for the record, the rumor is absolutely not true.

     

  9. That would be my opinion too. The main reason modelers use spray-cans is to minimize cleanup after the painting is done (or so they say). The Preval sprayer seems to need a cleanup similar to what an airbrush would need. So why not just get an airbrush? It will allow much finer spray and full control of the air pressure and paint volume.

  10. I used to love the really detailed kits, but I've grown to appreciate simple fun builds over the years. I found that it was getting to be too much like work..

    That was true many years ago, but now thanks to inexpensive digital photography, you can take close-up photos of all the parts of the model which will become hidden and then create an album which you can place next to the model and which will show all those photos of the hidden items. Just like the restorers of 1:1 cars do when they display their cars.

  11. Glossiness of the model's paint is not the main deciding factor when the model has so many layers of paint that they almost hide the door lines or other details.  It might be polished and shiny, but it doesn't look good or realistic.

    As far as judging goes, when my the judges judge models at our club's model contest, we use the pont system.  The model gets certain amount of points for overall paint finish.  That includes body, interior, undercarriage and engine compartment. Pretty much all the painted surfaces.  If the body has a superb paint job but the interior or engine is poorly painted, that model will get fewer points than a model which has quality paint jobs on all of its components.

  12. Looks good, but I like more chrome on my Hogs!  But I also know that's not the "in thing" right now (and that is how the kit depicts that bike).

    I have that kit (unbuilt). How stiff is the bike's plastic frame while supporting the weight of the model?  Does it flex or sag?

     

    I've built the previous 1:6 Fat Boy bike Tamiya produced over a decade ago (for a very short time, only available outside US).  It was an older Harley. That one had a diecast frame which was really sturdy.  These are fairly heavy models and that is why I'm worried that a plastic frame might not be up to the task of supporting all the weight.

     

    PeterWien_9web.jpg

  13. I have used these pens on my real 1963½ Ford Galaxie 500 XL for the plastic interrior trim where the plating had wore off over the years, I even tested to repair just a part of the trim where the original plating was cracked and you almost can't tell where it's done when you look at it now.
    I have also tested it on some model stuff and I'm happy with the results so far, it will not replace Bare Metal as you can do that over and over easily without damaging the paint, but it's for sure a complement...and it's easier to use than Alclad II.
    The smoother shinier surface you start with the better chrome effect you will get, let the paint flow from the pen to the surface and I found out if you blow on it slightly just after you put it on it clears up instantly and gets very shiny.
    This will not work well on primer or any other surface that's flat and absorbs the paint, the finnish will be just plain silver, the surface has to be smooth and shiny from the beginning to get a good result.

    Here is a couple of pictures of the plated plastic interior trim on the door panels on my Galaxie.

    Before the Molotow treatment:

     

    After a couple of minutes use of the pen:

     

    Looks great, but how does it stand up to regular handling that the door panels see in everyday use?  For example, doe the silver color rub off and get smeared onto the brown vinyl?  How about when you clean those door panels or use some sort for protectant (ArmorAll or whatever you use)? Does it affect the shine or make the solver coating spread to the brown panels?

    As far as the reflectivity of this stuff goes, it is just like any other shiny finish (including the real chrome).  It will only be as reflective as the surface it is applied to. Real chrome is usually applied over very smooth layer of copper plating. Alclad chrome needs a glossy undercoat. To maximize the reflectivity of the Molotov stuff, it should be applied over smooth glossy surface.

  14. That is Shapeways, not Shapeway. There are zillions of 3D printed items available there and if you know how-to, you can design your own items and they'll print for you.  As far as how those take paint, it depends on the material they are printed with.  Some materials are very porous, others (like FUD or FXD) have a waxy coating which has to be washed off before painting.

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