crispy

Polar Lights GTO is actually an LS1 from 2004, but the Drift version, although the same kit engine would be an all-aluminum 6.0L Gen IV LS2 V8 engine with 400 hp and 400 lb-ft torque. Either way the LS engines will look the same on the outside. I will agree the GTO engine is soft, but you have that big cover over it. With a little extra work though you can make it look realistic. Really depends on what you want. Me, I'd do the LS7 out of a Z06..... Chris

I'm a big fan of Fujimi Enthusiast kit box art. This is probably my most favorite: It'd be easy to pick one from each manufacturer. But that's my favorite. Chris

Brendan, it turned out great with all the nits you had to deal with. It looks great! I really wish RoG would think about putting this kit out to go against their Audi kit. Chris

Brendan that is spectacular work. Thanks for your input on the Scalefinishes clear coat. That will help me in future models. Can't wait to see the final product. Chris

I believe in a week or two Michael's will be offering a 50% off coupon. I can't remember the dates, but I read it in our weekly update. I'll double check tomorrow. Chris

I'd love me a Grand Am to build because of the memories I had with one. Or shall I say in one?? LOL A girl I dated owned one in black. It was such a cool car. IT looked just like this one: I've always had a thing for those cars. They are just too hard to find these days. I'd be down for a Laguna as well. Those just had a cool look! Chris

Oooooh, Andy that is clean! Even back in the day the skyline had a really nice look. Great work! Chris

That looks great Mike! I love the 12.5 in the window. Little details really make this pop. Chris

Although we had our distraction for the day we still ended up having a good time. A couple of shower bursts came through and the show closed early. Not a big deal as we were there for about 4 hours or so. Still some pretty nice stuff. I'm sure today will be jam packed! On our way up to the show we had followed an 18 wheeler with a flatbed full of hay. He rolled his truck over. I didn't even think about what I was going to do. I jumped out of the car before my friend even stopped, dialed 911 and ran over to the truck. Wheels still spinning, gears engaged and smoke. I looked for him in the cab first, thinking he would be buckled in. Not the case and I believe when he was rounding the curve he was A) distracted with his log book, or was having a medical of some sort. I didn't want to move him, but a nurse and a construction worker rolled him over. I cleared his airway and the construction worker was pumping his chest. I was trying to keep his head stable as he suffered some serious head trauma. Like I said , myself and the construction worker kept him with us, but as soon as Paramedics arrived he kind of just let go. What seemed to be minutes passing before the paramedics got there was only probably 5 minutes. They responded quickly. I didn't think it would be tough to block out of my head, but all I thought about last night while trying to sleep was the lazy truck rollover and that mans family. Out of all of it, all I can say is wear your ###### safety belt. This was the 5th wreck at the same curve in 2 years. All other drivers survived because they were wearing their belts. Again, thanks for reading. It seems to help me get it out. Here's a shot of the truck: Alright, here are a few pictures of the show with a lot more at my link: Supper at Hooters(my buddy Troy with the girls): You can see all 261 photo's at My Fotki Chris

Brendan, that is looking great! You're really flying along on this build. What type of clear did you use? Chris

Looking good Tonio!

Nope. That's it. He brought the car up one time. I got these shots just as he got there, after that you couldn't get close enough to the car to see or take pictures. Car has been in a few magazines too. This is all I was able to get: Chris

How about a Venom 800 Twin Turbo Viper engine? Chris

Welcome back Chris! Looks like you have a handle on it very well. You stuff looks great. Thanks for sharing. Chris

Terry, I look forward to seeing this! At the last car show I was at their was a replica there. Not that you need the reference, but I'll post a link to the pictures and you can look at them for yourself. Chris Page 2 Little Bastard Pics.

Just added outdoor pics to my original post. Chris

Terry, that is awesome. I will agree with the look of the tire size, but all the same, it looks great. I love Ferrari's and even though this is an odd one, it certainly is worthy! Thanks for sharing. Chris

Had to go to work before I could post it. I hope to take pictures outside tomorrow. A few tricky things with it. I'm fine with it, but could be happier. Cobra Colors Atomic Orange. Flocked interior. Basic box stock build. At least when I do my regular Corvette I'll know what to look for. Couple of more pictures of the car can be seen at MY FOTKI Will take more pics tomorrow! Chris After seeing the pictures blown up on my computer I have a few more touch-ups that will make me happier. But it is done. On to the next one. Chris Here's another indoor one I took with the better camera as well: Again, thanks for the comments. I really appreciate them. Chris

Phil, that is cool. I hope you'll be keeping it the way he built it. It will definitely be a cool piece once your dad is gone. My mother just about sold everything my dad had when he died. I have one hubley kit that he built, but it was so damaged I have to get spare parts for it. All the same I am going to try and build it in the colors he did. Just a good memory. Thanks for sharing that! Chris

Well, I've read the replies here twice. I thought, why not let these guys know a little bit more about me and my start in modeling? Here it is, it may be lengthy, but I'll do my best to shorten it where I can. It was 1979 and I lived in Brainerd, MN. My dad was diagnosed with cancer. Before life would change we had taken a trip to Mankato and stopped at Don's Hobby. This store had such an air about it. Wooden creaky floors, copper ceiling with ceiling fans flinging about, dim lighting and that smell. You guys know that smell. Some of the best and oldest hobby shops still have that smell. This store was packed floor to ceiling with everything you could imagine. My dad was into H.O. slot cars and N scale trains. He dabbled in model kits and was a huge fan of Hubley metal kits. As a 9 year old I was in awe. Don, the owner(aptly named Don's Hobby) was the friendliest man you could ever meet. He was big into stamp collecting. I walked in and he called me over and gave me a bunch of stamps. About 4 years later I was into stamps just because of that. Move into 1983, Dad finally succumbed to cancer but was smart enough to know when his time was coming and moved the family to Mankato so Mom could be near family. About a week after my dad's death my cousin picked me up and down to Don's Hobby he took me. There I bought my first model kit and officially started on this model journey. It was Monograms Dodge Challenger T/A kit. We built it together and it got me through my toughest time. 1992 and I'm now a father. I was a Don's Hobby "regular" now. For the next 3 years I would work for Don's Hobby on the weekend's and holiday's for, get this, FREE. Well, actually, I was able to take a model kit off the shelf after work each time. That was my payment. 2003 and I am now working at the newly located Don's Hobby which moved in 1999. Bigger location, more room and way brighter features. However, with that move it lost that Hobby Shop feeling the old store had. The ambiance was now sterile. I worked for Don's Hobby and became the assistant manager. The only thing I didn't do was payroll. Sadly, the store closed in May of 2007. It was quite a sad day for me. I was happy to have gone full circle with the store and its owners. Like everyone else I was always called when new kits were available. Then when I was there I tried to get every new release while making sure the old standby best sellers were there. Times would get tight and I know the customers knew it too. It was a great shop and one that I will miss, but I will always have the great memories of it. Good times and bad times they were their to help me out. Now, I have to drive over an hour to get to the nearest shop. Just recently their was an ad in the home magazine(local penny saver if you will) about missing the store and to call a number to see what we could do to get another store back into the community. Time will tell, but the old Mom and Pop stores are few and far between. I wouldn't say the hobby is dying, it's just rolling with the changes. It had it's golden years for sure, but I still think good times are ahead. Speaking of Hobby Lobby and Michael's. I started working at Michael's as a supervisor with nods to management as soon as the position opens. So, if you are in my neck of the woods it is not impersonal at our store and I love to talk plastic whenever given the chance. I only wish the chain would rotate stock similar to Hobby Lobby. Trust me, I go to Hobby Lobby with a 40% coupon and buy a kit. Yes, I never get help. Yes, I've helped people in the kit aisle, especially at Christmas. I may work at Michael's, but I try to move the hobby when I can. If you shop at Michael's the only thing I can say is start emailing them about rotating stock. I can only do so much from the inside. The customer's at Michael's really do have a say. We just need lots of them saying it. Chris

Brendan, nice work! I look forward to your progress. This is one of those models I was hoping Revell of Germany would produce. I like the looks of the Porsche RS over the Audi. Thumbs up on the Scalefinishes paint. I love it. Chris

Congrats Clay and Andrea! Welcome Amelia! Chris

After some scary weather on Friday we woke up to 50 degree morning after a 95 degree blast furnace, hence the storms. The show was small, around 150 cars or so, but some really nice stuff came in. Here are a few samples: Rest of the pictures can be seen at My Fotki Chris

I like Hobby Lobby since they rotate their plastic model stock. However with that said, I do believe almost every Hobby Lobby has no help when it comes to asking for a particular item. I've found the embossing powders at Michael's near the scrap-booking section. Chris

I utilized Bill's tutorial for a long time. Depending on what I am doing and what color I tend to use Elmer's white glue most of the time. I don't work fast enough with the flat colors as I poke along with builds. The white glue however stays wet for awhile and gives me the time I need. Chris