peteski

Same here - on eBay since 1999 (1,164 transactions) and have bought and sold mostly problem-free. Same with PayPal.

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.

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.

I smile every time I see this type of info being posted. Even if the 3D printer is given to you free, it is useless unless you know how to design objects in a 3D CAD program. Sure, some simple shapes can be fairly easy to learn but if you want to do anything more complex there is a steep and long learning curve.

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.

Thanks! I got tired of looking for all of them on my workbench.

Tamiya makes something similar: https://www.tamiyausa.com/items/paints-finishes-60/finishing-supplies-62000/masking-tape-for-curves-2mm-87177

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?

What scale?

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.

Nice tip (pun intended)! I put either a piece of thin wire insulation or heat-shrink over the tip of some of my tweezers. In this photo I used red insulation on one of them.

You've built some nice replicas Alan! I'm involved in a carnival project, but on much smaller scale. 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.

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.

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.

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.

All putties and fillers are junk! I only use kit parts filed to perfection. No gaps or sinkholes in my models!

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.

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.

Good to know - thanks Danger!

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.

Nice curves!

If you think that the kit you are building has too many parts you should see some of the 1:35 scale military vehicle kits - many of those have between 2,000-4,000 parts! More modeling time for your buck! Many of those parts are for the track which is built one-link-at-a-time. But seriously, some of those are a bit of an overkill.

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.

Never heard of Super Clean? You have to read this thread !

I know what it is but finding the specific make/model took more time than I was willing to spend. It will be interesting to find out who made it.