robertw

Neat. My first car was a '54 Studebaker Champion handed down to me by my father. Drove it for a few years then when I graduated from high school and got a job I traded it in on a newer car. I rather regret that decision now!

You've done some very nice work and your photographs of it are very creative. Well done.

That shade of blue is perfect.

For many years I've used one of those swing arm style lamps that clamps to the back edge of the bench. I use a GE Reveal 100 watt incandesent bulb in it and have stock piled enough of those now banned bulbs to last the rest of my modelling life. I tried one of the magnifier lamps but found it too big and always getting in my way. The light from flourescent and curly bulbs is never bright enough, distorts color and bothers my eyes after a short time. As for the heat given off by the incandescent bulb, my model room is small and during our long winter (it hasn't ended here yet) that one bulb is enough to heat up the room to a comfortable level within a half hour. I might try the LED bulbs someday but the flouescent bulbs, never again.

I agree with you Scott. I have the Graham history books and one on the history of Airfix and one on the Matchbox era in plastic models. I also find their kit lists useful on a regular basis. I wish someone would do the three big model car makers that you've mentioned and I'd also love to see histories of Lindberg, Hawk etc. rob

Your take on te classic Corvette Nomad, this is going to be interesting to watch. rob

Nice work and isn't that Revell kit a treat to build. It remains one of Monogram/Revell's best.

Have built a number of the snap kits or improved promos. You're right it's a great way to get a quick build done and a new project on the shelf. Since I don't build for contests and there are no model shows in my area I'm quite content building shelf models for my own satisfaction.

I built this Gunze kit a few years ago and it was a bit of a challenge but with patience produces a nice looking curbside of this classic VW. What I liked about the model was that the hardtop is removable thus creating the rarer convertible version of the Ghia. The vinyl folden tonneau cover doesn't quite have the shape right but that flaw can be easily ignored. I wish this Gunze line of curbside sports cars would be reissued although I'd prefer it if all the interior elements would be cast in hard plastic rather then vinyl. rob

Well done. These classics of the past can be a treat to build, physically big enough to provide for easy extra detailing, colourful and a nice change of pace from what we mostly build. I built an Italeri '33 Chrysler Imperial a few year ago and enjoyed it so much that I've been picking up the odd Monogram big cars since then. I have the Monogram '41 Lincoln on the workbench right now and hope to do a few more of these by gone era classics in the years ahead.

All the time and sometimes as soon as I get them home but I put them in the stash anyway. Who knows someday I may decide that I've just got to build that particular kit and if it happens only once then it justifies the impulse buy.

The variety of subjects is almost overwhelming. There are ideas there that you know will never be kitted but it is nice to know that there are others who share some of my own unusual tastes in models. I voted for so many that if even a quarter of my voted for models were actually to be produced I'd still be building from the list well into my grave. rob

I've never made working ones but have often cut off the plastic coils because of the heavy and hard to sand off casting lines. I then wind my own coils from whatever wire looks like it would look best. Rather then brass I use aluminum because it is easier to cut.

I've used the Detailer line primarily as a panel line wash. Tamiya make a similar product called Panel Line Accent Color. I prefer the Tamiya product as I find the Detailer is a little to glossy.

I enjoy your builds each time. Thanks for providing so much detail in both pics & text while you build each new project. I'll be eagerly watching for the next one. robw

Beautiful model, definitely the one that I'd put on my shelf. When I get around to building one I hope mine is half as good. rob

Never been a fan of the '58 T-Bird look but this is how it should look. One very fine build and a great look for this car. rob

Beautiful job ! rob

Very cool. Have always wanted to build one of these Revival kits, just for fun. I wonder if the molds still survive? rob

Lot of my kits are stored in an uninsulated wood storage shed, down to -40C in winter, up to +35C in summer. Have not noticed any problems. I agree with what some have said remove decals and make sure tires are separately bagged or removed (just to be safe) rob

Haven't done the GS conversion yet but plan to. It wouldn't seem to be to difficult and my plan was pretty much the same as Len's. Doing the Z06 convertible is an easy one, the convertible rear deck is an easy fit when you cut out the coupe roof and hatch along the hatch lines which match the trunk lines almost perfectly. David, I talk to Ismael every few months and unfortunately he's not modelling anymore. A Change of jobs, big increase in work load, finding time for the family........something had to give and it was time with plastic. I hope that someday he'll return to the light.

I just posted under General that there will be both a 2014 Pace Car promo & a 2015 convertible pormo coming out this fall. Since Round 2 did the molds for the previous promos then used them to do kits I would guess that we'll see snap kits eventually. rob w

I received an email from my promo dealer to inform me that two new Corvette promos will be out this coming fall, a 2014 Indy Pace Car coupe and a 2015 convertible. I'm assuming that these will be using molds from Round 2 since it was their molds that were used for the C6 promos. I would assume that will mean that at some point in time we'll see both molds producing snap style C7 kits. Let's hope this lights a fire under Revell who I hope would choose to do a kit of the C7 Z06 that was shown this year and will go on sale next year. rob w

That looks like some of my old builds from the 1960's. It will be extra work but you'll have a model to be proud of when you are finished.

Yes. This was a Round 2 snapper that came out last year. It was based on the pre-finished promo that was released in 2010 to depict a 2009 Indy 500 Festival Car.