Mattblack

You aced it! The yellow wheels are spot on.

Much as like to see a rodded Model A, that's a cool different take. Only problem is I have the theme tune playing in my head now...

Sharp build, the fleet number is a nice touch.

I'm intrigued... do you have link?

Very sharp! I built the 'before' to your 'after'...

Probably about 30 to 45 minutes at a stretch max, from once a month to 3-4 times a week.

You're right, I don't even know if the others I have in mind will fit and can see myself getting into world of pain... It's funny, they just look 'odd' to me, but when I think about it an engine with it's ancillaries on generally isn't symmetrical anyway.

Thanks, that makes sense. I was 99.9999% sure they were right, but don't recall seeing asymmetrical headers before. Now, do I swap them anyway, having spent ages getting them lined up using the engine as a jig... or invoke the 'you can only see one side at once' rule?

I'm hoping that someone who's built the AMT '37 chevy kit can help me out. I've built the headers up separately and I'm pretty sure that they can only go together one way... but I've ended up with 2 different shapes... ? I did trim the ends of the top one to try to 'adjust' the angle of the collector. If it's just how they are (it is an old AMT kit after all) I may look at swapping them for a pair from the spares box.

If you use polystyrene chips, I'd advise to put the models in sandwich bags first. I had an issue with the chips 'attacking' the tyres on one model when I packed mine away some years ago. Apparently it's a know thing.

^ You guys don't know how lucky you are, I can only dream of a selection like that in a store in the UK. (Probably a good thing for my wallet, though...)

I think 'Badman' was the first 'proper' kit I built, probably the first one I finished anyway... I was probably in my early teens. I painted it dark blue with a satin black hood IIRC so didn't even use the decals. I probably didn't Know what '396' meant anyway. I think I painted the interior silver 'cos you know, gassers have aluminium panelled interiors... ?. I built the black Street Machine issue some years later when I got back into modelling. For me it's all about the 'look', of a model or 1:1. And boy, Badman had the 'look' to me then, and then some.

I use the Revell Contacta Professional as above for bare styrene, but I don't know if they've changed the formula as it seems a bit thin now? I use Loctite superglue gel for small chrome parts like door handles, and PVA for glazing. Funny this topic has come up as my Mum gave me one of those UV cure glue kits yesterday, has anyone tried them on a build?

Looking good! I always use bleach to strip chrome, I can't recall it failing to work. I've just done some parts of an old AMT kit and it took seconds.

Thanks for the positive feedback. The photos flatter it TBH, but I suppose overall I enjoyed doing a build as I would have done 'back in the day' if I had the patience and 'skills' (LOL).

Another one (finally) done... This is my take on the Italeri MK2 Transit British Gas van. I've used a 1979/80 registration as I was going for the look of a van that was done in the mid 80's. The overall look is traditional custom van but the colour matched door handles, mirrors and headlamp surrounds are of that time. I won't bore you with the issues I had with the build, suffice to say they were mainly down to me, not the kit. It's a 'ten-yarder', but then so were a lot of the 1:1 back in the day... The mods: Roof spoiler is a narrowed Revell Oldsmobile 442 rear spoiler, tailgate window panelled in and Matchbox/AMT Model T van side window fitted, tailgate handle shaved and frenched number plate, number plate recces in vallance filled, frenched rear lights, flared rear arches are made from a Airfix 1932 Chrysler Imperial spare wheel cover and plastic sheet, portholes from the AMT 'Vantom' kit, kit front spoiler moulded in, narrowed grille from the Revell chopped '48 Ford coupe kit, piston gearknob made from spue, C.B. from the spares box, seats from the 'junkyard' (Ford EXP?) The wheels and tyres are one piece resin items from ebay, as luck would have it they fitted neatly over the kit wheels. The low profile tyres are too modern for the era, but meh... Paint is Rustoleum 'painters touch' Cherry Red rattle can, just because I had half a tin on the shelf. Not my best paint job by a long way, it won't be a paint I'll be using again in a hurry.

I'm glad it's not just me... See the set of little storage boxes on the left of the desk? The other day I took a set of the wide steel wheels from the MPC Dodge Monaco kit out of there to look at using a pair of them on another build. Dropped one between the desk and the plastic drawers on the left. Pulled everything out, looked in the drawers incase it had 'jumped' into one... nothing. I only need a pair for what I'm planning, but still...

I can only repeat what's been said above... fantastic! Only the thickness of the wheel spokes give the game away.

Radical! I'm loving the sidepipe treatment.

Great idea on the strapping/tread plate, I may have to 'borrow' that...

Great builds, I've got the buggy in my kit stash. It I thought it would make a good shelf mate for the Revell buggy, from a quick look through the instructions it looks to be a bit more detailed. I'll be leaving the figures out though...

Some serious bench envy going on here! This is my set up. Cheap 'flat pack' desk. Small/frequently used tools in the plastic drawers at the back, larger and less used stuff in the toolbox on the bottom left. Favorite coffee mug on the right! Paint is in the draw and needs to be better organized really. The plastic drawers on the left contain sprues with parts left on them and loose spares, a 'junkyard' of (mainly) bodies that I bought on ebay a while ago and gets picked over fairly regularly, decals and bare metal foil and all the bits and pieces of wire, craft felt, ribbon ect ect that will come in useful one day... I like to keep it tidy, I'll have a few tools out but when I'm done with that 'stage' I'll put them away. Painted sub-assemblies go in a small plastic food box until required. I'm glad I'm not alone in sitting too far from the bench and losing parts on the floor, though I don't have a cat... My other hobby is tinkering with old small engines and small generators ect, and my motto there is 'the bench is for working on, not storage'.

As above, great weathering. Just needs a beat up old bike in the back now....

Thanks for all the positive comments! ?

I've had this on the bench since Christmas... 2021 that is! I recon it was a record slow build even by my standards. Based on the Joker getaway car version of this much re-issued kit the idea is a backyard mechanic has hotted up an ex-police car for a little Saturday night action. Wheels, front tyres, front seats and hood scoop from the spares box. Homemade exhausts and decals from a 'Days of Thunder' set from eBay.