Danno

Uhhh, George. You've lost it, dude. "Cars" was released in 2006 ... FIVE YEARS AGO. Those 'kids' are teens now. And "Cars" has been a continuous big seller in DVDs, kids' clothing, games, toys, collectibles, ... virtually every branded product. Most of those 'kids' attended the theater showings with parents or grandparents ... who have incomes and spend money. A sequel, "Cars 2" is scheduled to be released in June (2011 ... yes, THIS year!). The release of "Cars 2" will no doubt refuel the frenzy! And, not only 'kids,' but the teens who still love the original "Cars," will rush to the theaters. With their parents and grandparents. And their money. Everyone who has seen "Cars" and will see "Cars 2" loves Doc, the Hudson. In both his NASCAR persona but also in his "retired" clothing. So, I think you're way wrong. I think Dave Metzner and the Moebius team have their fingers firmly on the pulse of a marketing gold mine. Release of the factory stock Hudson in April will start the fire with those of us in the lunatic fringe, and timing it a couple of months ahead of the release of "Cars 2" will give them an opportunity to be ready for the second wave that will no doubt follow the new movie. Very, very astute and clever, those Moebius guys! *The only thing they could do that's even smarter will be to crank out a snapkit version when "Cars 3" comes out in a few more years!

I'm liking that.

Thanks, Mark! I know it will delight him to no end!

Hey, Randy! What is the WallyWorld product ... name ... series ... appearance of the package? I want to go check it out & WW is a lot closer than Sally. Besides, my wife gets suspicious when she asks where I've been and I tell her 'I spent some time at Sally's place today.' Mike! Big shout out for this excellent tutorial and for opening up another new area of modeling exploration! Thanks!

Our "24hour" build events don't permit any 'pre-running.' Each participant is to unseal his kit at the starting bell. Two years ago one "enterprising" smart-alec showed up with a prefinished '58 Edsel kit. It had never occurred to us that a 'no-prefinished-kits' rule would be necessary. There is one now. "Pre-Paint," as he is now known, has not lived it down. He "finished" his model within the alloted 24 hours, even while sneaking in about 12 hours of sleep (while the rest of us toiled)! Periodically, other prefinished Edsels show up at club events to memorialize the "Legend of Pre-Paint Doe*." * - His real last name has been changed to protect the guilty. We have had great mirth at his expense, and he won't go near a pre-finished kit any more!!

Urrrrp.

Actually, it's a lot of fun, Rob. It requires you to really plan your build and build to your plan. You'd be surprised what you can accomplish in a short time when you are focusing and concentrating. We've done this a couple of times (our club) and it turns out to be a real hoot. Here's a Magnum I cranked out at a 24hr Build ... Try it, you might like it!

Nice, Wayne!

That's way past cool. It's Cooool! Nice job.

Whoa, Nelly! Kewl!

For anyone who has marveled at the beauty and detailed intricacy of the 1/25 Cobra replicas being meticulously created from virtually scratch by Bob Peeples, for anyone who has been awed by his talent or inspired by his craftsmanship, please take a few moments to dash out a get-well-soon card or a cheery note and send it to him. Bob's in the intensive care unit of a Mesa hospital since collapsing at home Sunday. He's been fighting cancer for some time now and is just spent. He has many friends here locally, and we're going to stop in for short visits as he can tolerate until he's stronger and able to return home and to the work bench and to our club; he says his immediate goal is to make our February meeting on the 19th. But he's a humble guy and just doesn't realize how much he's brought to the hobby's table. I told him that several people around our modeling community had asked about him, and it brought both surprise and joy to him. So, if you have a few minutes and are so inclined, please think good, positive thoughts for our friend, throw in a prayer or two, and maybe jot out a card or a note to buouy his spirits and encourage him on. We really want to see him strong enough to resume sharing his fabulous Cobra project ... and his dry wit ... with us! Bob Peeples ICU 206 Banner Baywood Medical Center 6644 East Baywood Avenue Mesa, AZ 85206 (It's ICU - flowers, balloons, calls ~ not good. Cards, notes, mail ~ good.) Thanks so much, friends. Dan Moonlight Modelers of Phoenix

Eh, you're right, Dave! That was the intangible I was having trouble putting my finger on ... personality! Back when I was young ... I had a gig as a disc jockey at a medium market radio station. We were an upstart FM Stereo operation in a market dominated by an established AM rocker that had owned the market for at least a decade. We kicked their corporate, starched-shirt, proper posteriors in short order (even before everyone had FM Stereo radios) and took over for the next couple of decades. They didn't see us coming. The listeners ... and advertisers ... did. Why? They were cranking out formula, cookie-cutter "proven hits" on a strict play-list with rigid, inflexible precision ~ and scripted verbal microbursts. They were dumbing down to reach the lowest common denominator and achieved a virtually automated "sound." We were personality radio before 'personality radio' was cool. We invented it. More spontaneous, more interactive with our audience, more fun. No cookie cutters, no stuffed shirts, almost no rules. We were human and the listeners could tell we enjoyed the experience right along with them. We partied while they studied the past demographics. We invented the future demographics. We redefined the market. The corporate stiffs at 'that other place' never did get it. I see a parallel. Thanks for reminding me. It's that "p" word again!

Well, maybe. But they suck less.

Are you calling him out?

I agree with you, Peter. I certainly did not intend for my observations to seem like complaints about SA/noE. For my part of this discourse, I was merely trying to set out the distinctions I see between the two brands. And, I will continue ~ as I said previously ~ to purchase, read and preserve for future reference both titles.

On that we can certainly agree!

Uhhhh, actually, Harry, it WAS General Burkhalter. I don't think 'he' would still be with us.

Ahhhhhhhh ... vintage stuff: toothpaste rubbing compound. That takes me 'way back! Great job on that paint finish! Toothpaste rub & Future coating; Oldschool and New Age all in one!! Kewl.

It looks like an electronics resistor. I've used them, too, for in-line fuel filters, but I've usually painted the bodies silver to represent the typical over-the-counter fuel filter and to reduce the Radio Shack look. Nice build.

Well, count me firmly in the minority, too: by and large, I prefer MCM. For many of the same reasons already mentioned, MCM just carries a character that seems more adult, more serious, more avant-garde (gawd, did I say that?). It has a cachet that just seems more 'real modeler's magazine' than the SA/E of many recent years. I just find MCM's content more consistently better. (I just wish I could find MCM more consistently. ) That homogenized corporate newsletter from Wisconsin just seems to dumb-down nearly everything to the beginner level to the point that nearly every issue is predictable and ... bland. Seldom does anything ... different or intriguing come from the paper-thin pages. Admittedly, when it does, it is usually pretty good ~ but still a little like sifting through a lot of coal to find the occasional diamond (usually Boyd or Hamilton or Hermel). And, it just seems like the mag keeps recycling a lot of the same 'back to basics' stuff every few months. Having said that, I admit ~ I buy every issue of both. I just won't have any gaps in my library until one or the other stops publishing. Long live MCM ~~~ whenever it shows up, it's a guaranteed treat.

My Director of Homeland Security, Kodi the WonderDog, gives four paws up for this post! I also wholeheartedly agree.

Uh, it wouldn't stay up 4 posts!

Time to start planning for DESERT SCALE CLASSIC 7! April 16, 2011 in Phoenix. Biggest model car show/contest and swap meet in Arizona! More than 25 classes for adult competitors! Awards for 1st through 3rd in each class! Master Awards! Classes and awards for Juniors! Competitors from seven state region! More than 30 aftermarket and vendor sale tables! Huge all-day raffle! Refreshments and Food Concession On-Site! Make-N-Take event with free kits for kids! Primer/Project Display Table! Something for everyone!

Decent looking '53! (The blue one; I'll reserve comment on the unfinished one until she's done.)