Rick44

I've had quite a few cameras, and personally use a Kodak P850 for good photography, and a Nikon Coolpix L11 as my "pocket camera." I like the fact that the Kodak is one of the few digital cameras I've found in the sub $1,000 price range to which I can attach an external flash. Its "only" a 5.1 megapixel, and it does take a proprietary battery ... but it came with a charger that also serves as a dock for transferring its contents to my computer. I've got two extra batteries and one charger for it ... seems to me the WallyWorld price on a battery and charger was under $40. It seems the main criteria any more for me is what kind of memory card the camera uses. I've become standardized on SD cards. The price on them seems to be coming down and down and down and they're used in many types of devices (I've just ordered a digital recorder that will use up to a 4g SD card for recording sound from four built-in microphones!) Sony cameras are excellent ... but they use Sony's own memory stick which doesn't seem to come down in price...even though other companies offer compatable sticks. And nobody else seems to be using Sony's sticks in their products. I haven't even mentioned the many, many types of SD card readers you can get ... I've even got one 1g SD card that folds in half and inserts directly into a USB port! I guess you might say I feel the cards are stacked in SD's favor! Rick Sampson

Ehr, let me see....hog out the castings to leave just the framework, back it up with colored acetate. That looks pretty good....except the acetate is now "backless" and doesn't reflect. Aha ... why not back it up with some sheet stock covered with Bare Metal Foil? That's better! Now it looks like the lens areas were painted with Tamiya clear red, but the prismatic effect has disappeared.

Many moons ago, another magazine did an "April Fools" article on air boxes. Finally, something to put together what wasn't in the boxes!

I think Wayne Moyer's feature needs one addition in the "UNDER THE HOOD" box ... the scale of the car/vehicle being reviewed. Often times, the review itself doesn't mention the scale. In looking back thru dogeared copies of "that other magazine," I notice that Wayne usually included a film box (remember those?), a set of keys or a coin in each photo to help visualize the size of the vehicle. I started modeling in the 1950's when I was in, or approaching, my teens. Today, my hands are too stiff to assemble the tiny parts in many kits ... so I collect. Much of my collection is 1/18th, but it gets smaller from there. Remember the HO scale cars Revell did, and later Con-Cor? There are now some on the market even smaller but with just as much detail! And no, I'm not talking N scale railroad accessories. These would fall in between HO and N, but they are beautifully detailed. In larger scales, I don't mind upgrading with a little paint here and there, some accessories if available, etc. ... in other words, I collect because I enjoy and not because I'm waiting to see my collection increase in value. By the way, a recent road trip took me to Iowa City, Iowa where I stopped at a hobby shop looking for the latest Model Cars. They said they didn't carry it .... that they used to, but "their customers didn't like it." I didn't like that answer, so I won't be going back there. Sad to see a hobby shop that won't carry the best ... especially if those who say Wal-Mart is getting out of models are right. I'm in Cedar Rapids, IA ... the former corporate headquarters of Revell/Monogram and now home of Hawk/Lindberg. I just finished building the Hawk version of the Dodge Hemi, which I got from Wal-Mart's clearance aisle. Also in the same aisle are a bunch of Wierdos, but back in the (much reduced size) kit aisle is a new Lindberg Dodge semi/trailer/40 Ford combo kit! I also noticed several of the Revell "Donk" kits on clearance, but some newer Revell items back in the regular aisle. Now for a little Hawk/Lindberg update. J. Lloyd is the corporate name and the owner is recently divorced from the woman who owned Gearbox Toys and Alpha Industries (the former Revell/Monogram parent firm). She ended up owing him large sums of money from the divorce case, and I understand he settled by taking over the assets of Gearbox after she'd shut down operations and laid everyone off. Wonder what will happen now? Will Gearbox still make diecast toys? Will J. Lloyd become the new maker of Big Wheel riding trikes? Tune in tomorrow.....