Rich Chernosky

Very nice builds, that's a lot of decal work.

Nice build, these are tough kits to get right and you pulled it off.

Nice job, these are wonderful kits, was looking at mine just yesterday.

Very nice build Mark, did you use Tamiya TS36 flourescent red.

As always Gary, thanks for the compliment. I have had this kit in the stash for probably 25+yrs and always thought of doing this type of paint on it. Wanted to replicate the markings on the Scarab bug. Then I got some of the Splash Chameleon paints and just had to try it. It was fun and I am pleased with the result.

A decent job Mitch. Yah...the camera never lies. Can't tell you how many times I have touched up a model and re-shot the pictures.

An unusual kit of an unusual car. The Scarabeo was produced in 1966 by Alfa Romeo. It used part of the Tipo 33 chassis and the engine was a 4cycl Alfa from the GTA model. It was mounted transversely in the rear. This was supposed to be an affordable two seat mid engine sports car but productions problems and other interests in the racing program prevented it from coming to production. Only two were built and a third prototype started but never completed. The kit is a fairly rare issue by Bandai and features working suspension front and rear, opening bonnet, engine cover and interior enclosure. Paint is Tamiya TS14 gloss black with 2K clear. The Scarab motif was made from an image sourced off the web and transferred onto a completely masked body. It was then carefully cut out and then sprayed with Splash paints Chameleon colors in both green and red. It was done to represent the irridescent colors of the Scarabs body. See below photos fro additionally information. This was a fun kit but not with out its problems as it was an early production kit. Here is the completed bodywork basking in the sun to cure. This is the best shot to show the graphics. Rather simple interior. Fitting the back into the center section required pinning it into place (not the gold pins) This forced it into position and caused problems later on. The center section had to be glued in place prior to painting and everything fit nicely at that time. The interior opening operates nice and smoothly now and fits surprisingly well after a few adjustments. Side view, I added several coats of smoke to the spokes of the wheels to calm down the chrome. Windshield wiper seems small but I suppose it would do the job. It it covered the entire winshield it would have obstructed the veiw. It does not appear on photos of the real car but I think it needed it. Rear veiw give you a good idea of the profile of the car. Note the unusual taillight arrangement. Top veiw of the car showing the compled model and its unusual graphics.

Looks good from here. Never seen this kit before.

Well Done

Kurt...I normally keep a pretty clean and organized workbench but on occassion it needs a good de-cluttering. When its all nice and clean I just like to sit there for awhile and admire all the clean workspace and tools all in their places. However....it doesn't take very long for a project to land on the workbench. To me, an organized and clean workspace is just a big invitation to work on something. Just the thing to get you out of a slump. Most of those parts come from either a Playstation or DVD player. Am i right?

We could probably commiserate for hours on the problems we had. On mine if you stood on the gas hard in low gear you could get the clutch to slip. Under normal driving conditions it was OK but i knew it would go sooner or later. The people who bought mine took it on a trip and the clutch let go many miles from home. If you know about these cars then you know the engine and radiator have to come out to get at the clutch. Kinda makes you feel sorry for those people.

Nice job on that one Mark. 1/43 is not the easiest scale to work in and you pulled this one off beautifully.

Its cool to build a car you actually owned. One way of getting to own it again. I have a model of my 1988 944 using the same kit. I liked the car but the repairs were getting scary.

Nice conversion, detailng is spot on.

Turned out sweet Dave, that was a lot of conversion work but it paid off with a decent model.

A classic Gary...and thanks for all the background information.

Very nice, this was originally issued by Modeler's.

Very nice job on and the Ghia....is this the Gunze/Sangyo kit.

Thank you for the compliment Lou....we would luv to see your gullwing.

I know for a fact those decals were a real terror, and you did a great job on them. Looks great.

Gary...that's actually the first time I have attempted that. So the compliment is most appreciated.

Not a problem there...you know the door is always open for you.

Outstanding......

Dave...we model builders collect all sorts of stuff that we think will work. I was the manager of a paint and wallpaper store and one day this small sample book showed up. We were never going to sell any of that stuff but the minute I saw the book I knew "I" had a use for it. It went home with me that day and i still have it. Its not a matter of going out of my way to think about it. It was more like using some of the things we have on hand.

Thank you Gary. The kit was not really all that difficult so I am sure somebody else must have built one. Maybe this post will bring them out of the closet.