pjacobs

I didn't see anything in this thread about Revell rereleasing the 1985 Pontiac Fiero kit, but my April issue of Collectible Automobile has it mentioned with a picture of one as a 2025 release.

So I'm working today at school-yes, everybody is on break, except me. The boiler guy has to be here you know. Anyway, I keep a stash of models here that I bought this past year and went to go count-There are 60. I know I built 10 kits this year, but those are home kits. My problem this year is I found I guy that makes the rounds at car shows selling full kits, but pretty cheap (15-25 bucks). The kits are basically an opened box-all there and in, non taken apart status, or damaged box, etc. This guy has thousands of kits-I've been to his pole barn. Not included in this count are some bodies from Too Many projects, kits from A&N (pricey, but fun). I seem to buy more as I get closer to retirement. Plus this 3D printing thing is eating up a lot of my money too. Maybe that should be the question-How much "accessorizing" have you bought too? Producers like Fireball Modelworks, VCG Resin, Iceman, Texas 3D, and Andy Lesiak, to name a few are starting to take all my money just to change the already good kits from Moebiu and such. Oh the days of being able to only raid from other kits is long gone!

Sounds like Keith Kaucher is bringing back his line of resin kits. I never got a chance to buy one. Can someone who has used one in a build give any info? Sounds like his stuff was being done back in 2006.

I've ordered form MCW over the years-before and after their major move to where they are located now. I've never had anything later than was told. I've been on the phone with him and he is very much on top of things from my perspective.

I ordered 5 different bodies about 6 months ago. I got it all at once and in a timely fashion.

I could not find any model kit current or 3D print provider making a replica of the Ford 6.8 V10 motor. Anybody have any interest or better info than I could find? Thanks!

How about either a free pen with a 3 year subscription or for a cost price-sent with your first subscription/renew issue? Or something in that line of thought.

Fireball Modelworks has this too.

I use the same spreaders for real cars on model cars-I just cut them down into strips. They are sold in various flexibility types too. I've also had good results with of all things, cardboard. The nice thing about the cardboard is just throwing it away. If you leave enough filler on your spreader when your done, it does just peel off when it dries. Too thin and you start scratching the spreader, making it tough to reuse. I would suggest using a separate,clean spreader to actually apply and a spreader or whatever for mixing separate. In my years of painting real cars, it seemed like the partials of hardener and filler worked their way up the spreader I was using to mix. I've had good luck with Evercoat, easy sand, flowable polyester finishing and blending putty.

It's been fun reading all the memories talked about here. My take: My Mom would take me to Motorsports Miniatures when it was off of Grand Ave (I think) in an old house. I went to some classes downstairs. I was around 10-11yrs old. I remember Gagers in Southdale Mall in Edina and the old Hub Hobby locale on 66th, just past the Bridgemanns. Mostly for train stuff. I've been going to the big basement on Lexington and University to Scale Model Supplies my whole life. It's where I spend my model car money. A funny thing about Hobby Depot being mentioned. Around 1984-6 I shopped a lot at the Hobby Depot on 66th. I ordered tons of model car stuff from a guy named Gregg that owned the place. Didn't think much about it. It closed and I got busy with career and family. Fast forward quite a few years and I go to my parents' house and guess who moves in across the street? You guessed it-Gregg. With a family attached. He is still there to this day. He has one really nice railroad set-up. His garage looks like a hobby store itself as a lot of the guys he knew big into model railroading are passing away and their wives are trusting him to sell all that model railroad stuff on Ebay. When he opens the garage door and I'm across the street, I drool. But the wife said model railroads or model cars. The cars won out.

I'd be in for a new modern car hauler. That F550 mentioned would be great, especially with a low profile dump trailer! I'd be in for a Mack Anthem too. I see ST Supply carries a day cab version, but a sleeper version would be what I'd like.

I've got one of those too I've been working on and off for awhile. I'm in agreement with your comments if anybody is out there wanting to know a second opinion. I bought all the same stuff: upgraded suspension, motor, and grille guard. Yes it was trying, but fun too. My issue was I dropped the #@$%& thing right after getting the chassis, suspension, and motor all together. So off it went into a box for a long time. Now I'm just getting to where I've finished getting the body the Flame red that was available. Next is a Fireball Modelworks LED lightbar and his new Wrangler Duratec tires. I'll post when done. I love the detail and yes, like you I was thinking I'd bust that body or interior trying to get it in there. Just like you mentioned in the magazine, I bought the 3500 without the added detail (motor, suspension) and am doing it in one of the low production colors, yellow. So far it's going ok, but it isn't very different from the 2500 so nothing to add there. Yours looks pretty good. I like your ext color. One thing, did you have any paint issues as I tried duplicolor self etching primer, then their bumper paint for the bumpers. The paint never seemed to dry-kind of sticky, enough to get fingerprints. So much for trying realism. I went with some Tamiya primer and paint instead-worked fine. Last-I used Tamiya primer and Zero Paints, Starsky and Hutch tomato red with a Tamiya clear and that worked great. What were you successful with?

Like the pole barn set-up. REALLY like the John Deere tractors!

I bought some Scale Finishes Saturn Yellow and it just seems too "light yellow". I've looked at models presented in the under glass section and they also seem brighter. I'm not saying anything bad about the paint, how it works, etc. That isn't my issue. I completely followed the instructions to a "T" with primer, paint, and clear by them too. Comes from my auto body background I guess. I know 70's colors don't have the "pop" that technology has provided for today's brightness so maybe I'm just used to those. I just thought Buick's yellow would have been brighter. The goal is to replicate a straight from the dealership in 1970 so if this is right than so be it. Looking at chips and cars on the internet is not the best way too get a proper look either. Anybody out there have thoughts?

Thanks for your time and I really appreciate showing the rim picture.

Same with the wheels?

Hi Marcos, One thing I noticed on your build is that you got in and around the bumper area with the body paint to correctly mimic how most American seventies cars were. I'm currently building this same model and am painting it with Splash paint's lime green color and am trying to use that same paint with a brush to do both the rims and bumper area, but because it is in reduced form am having trouble getting them to look "full color" like you did. Any tips? Great looking build too!

Nice truck. Like the story. Don't feel too bad. My brother- in-law and I both worked at the same garbage refuse company back when we were in our early twenties. I drove rear end loader and he drove roll offs. One account was a glass company where you drove inside the building for pickup. One day my brother-in-law for some reason forgot to lower the roll off after picking it up. He sure was reminded when he was suddenly stopped by the overhead ceiling of the garage opening. He also didn't get fired.

In full agreement about all that. It's fun, but you still gotta make a buck and have time for life. Just because some people think something will sell well for the reason they like it doesn't always apply.

I concur with the thought about updated bumpers, both front and rear, being produced. Even some of the current roll bars, utility racks and such I would think to be popular. I've built both of A&N's 3d printed 2019 Ram 2500 and 3500's and they are begging for accessorizing them with such. Just go to a website like Black Horse Off Road for ideas and a away we go! I know it's easy for a person not into producing, but just building to say it should make money. As a business owner, I know a lot more is involved. Cheers! I do appreciate what all these cottage industries do for our hobby! I try to show it with dollars too.

Are the triple whitewalls made by you or come from somewhere?

I just got my 99 ford 4door cab from Trailer. Pretty rough, but workable. I wanted one bad enough in resin to work on as I have a 99 supercab and wanted to make one look like mine so I'll be cutting it up a lot anyway. I'll try to show pictures if I get a chance. For now, think of a diecast being dunked in resin as the chassis looks like a bottom plate with molded in bottom engine, exhaust, etc. Basically if you are expecting something in the line of quality like Fireball, Missing Link or such I wouldn't bother.

After seeing your fire truck/Scout ll model with Burnsville decals where I grew up and now Mpls/St Paul decals here. Just coincidence? By the way-the models look great!

Anybody ever do an auto body shop-more of a modern type with a spray booth, rack with towers, and such?

SMP decals sells the three colors: green, yellow, and blue in sheets and Slixx sells the yellow.