LL3 Model Worx

Well, the thing I noticed (my hobby lobby and Ollies are within 200yds of each other and less than a mile from my job, so I'm there ALOT) is most of the kits that come thru are there for a reason... they never sold goof to begin with. Like the prehistoric lindberg ships/planes etc... I even bought 1 of the bismarks last time I was there... idk why. Anyway, as we all know, some of the kits are actually quite good... the linberg 64 dodges (I bought a ton of) are great. A few AMT kits here an there that aren't too bad. And the MPC stuff that are usually only good for certain parts... My last Ollie's haul came a few weeks ago, think I got about 20 kits from 5$- 8 on average over the course of 2 trips. I have no sympathy for the "pickers" at all, they should have known when they saw something at a closeout store marked down to rock bottom prices that it didn't do well at retail or even below with all the various sales and coupons available. I check on HL all the time though and they never have a sale on kits... not since that 1 time a few years ago. Hoping they do it again SOON. Not to mention, I think I'm the only guy who buys kits from Hobby lobby around here... no joke.

If you have a dollar general nearby (I think they are literally everywhere) you can get the 4 packs of duro for 1 dollar.

Nice booth! Unfortunately I do not have a window in or near my hobby room. So I've been spraying in the garage. However I do have a bathroom attached to my hobby room, and have contemplated running a duct to the bathroom exhaust fan. I figure a good length of flexi pipe should do the trick... but then have to figure out how to clamp the hose in place. Oh well, another project for another life.

100% agree brother. Besides prep and application outweigh the product being used 99% of the time. What are you clearing over craft paint with just curious... lacquer?

Na man... my store here dosen't do it that frequently. I'm literally check all the time. It's sad. But man, when I see those orange stickers, my wallet will nearly burst into flame!!

Yup those "other guys" are making considerable profit... Let's take a gallon of unreduced basecoat (straight color) from one of the "high end" buzzword names like ppg or HOK... (I mixed this stuff "professionally" for about 16yrs) let's say you paid $250 for gallon. By the time you reduce a gallon for 1:1 use, you have 2 gallons sprayable... a thinned gallon is enough for most cars if the painter is any good. So in the case of modeling you reduce even more than for 1:1 but let's stick to the 1:1 ratio. That's 128 2oz bottles of paint... at 9.99 per bottle (scale finishes) so you are making nearly 1000 dollars profit from a single gallon of paint. If you count reducer/ and flake you may be looking at $900-950. Darn good money... Oops, I forgot to account for bottles and packaging... Profit may go down to $800 a gallon. Still...

I've been guilty of the garden hoses 3 times. But I'll never do it again. On this build I was actually trying to replicate what was originally there, so wrong was right for once.

Pigment is usually the biggest expense in ALL paint. Actually acquiring and processing it can be an extremely expensive and difficult operation. Certain natural pigments are practically extinct from the planet as far as we know, and have to be made by synthetic means. Colors such as Ultra marine blue were processed from lapis lazuli... extremely hard to come by, as most comes from mines in the middle east... wich can present a variety of challenges on it's own making it an extremely expensive material, so most you see is synthetic.

Apparently he claims there is another tote... but he hasn't been able to locate it again. Supposed to go look for it tomorrow. So maybe I'll yield another haul. Here's to hoping.

I feel your pain... I have two 3 month old kittens that INSIST on being on my lap while I'm at the bench... No matter how many times I pet them and sit them down, they will not take no for an answer. Got some hair in my primer just this morning! But its sanded out pretty easily non the less. Now, them with the Christmas tree is a whole nother can of worms!

That is fair... Until that big brooding ford man is judging your model lol!! Just kidding, I wouldn't know as I've never been able to attend a show.

I just wish that they would throw some of the stuff on clearance again... it happened once a few years back, and go figure it was at the 1 time I was really strapped for cash due to buying a house... If they ever do it again, I'll back a truck up to the door.

Well I got a call from my dad last night saying he had found a box I may be interested in out in the storage building So I stopped by after work... Turns out it was some kits from when I was a kid! Some are half built but at least 4 are opened but untouched! Thought they were lost to a house fire years ago... Score!!! Not pictured is a 70 Boss 429 mustang 71 Cuda convertible. Johann Sox and Martin 71 Cuda. AC Cobra 65 Riviera And some year of a GTX that I haven't looked at. A 55 Nomad 62 Impala convertible And another giant box of parts!! It was like Christmas came early... and it's all my old stuff!! And 2 of my dads old build from his childhood. I'm thrilled!

Surely not a lock... that would be absurd and a bit premature I would think. Some folks just don't like it when others are having fun and have to go ruining it. Like this guy. Well, if the Gif don't work, its Reece Bobby getting thrown out of Applbees.

That's funny cause I use the same duro brand... except I get it a Dollar General. It doesn't seem to fog much on me either as I too have used in on my last 2 builds for glass. I've found that the large bottles either dry out... and they usually have a big clunky tip on them. I have also really been liking these tips and this glue. Really nice for precision as the name implies. But those tips are amazing.

No doubt. During my years in the body shop we only had maybe 2 or 3 vehicles we did the big flakes on... where we literally used the same stuff used on boats. I recall one was a Chevy G30 conversion van and another a motorcycle. I think we did one that was a old fiberglass dunes buggy. But yea, not at all common and a PAIN to do! Modern urethane paints are both great and not so great depending on how you look at it... Look at the majority of new cars and they are orange peeled like crazy... because of urethane and the fact it is extremely durable, manufacturers can apply it so thin and so quick that imperfections (orange peel) often occur and you cant buff it out because the clear is so thin it's pretty unbelievable. Unlike the days of lacquer (even when catalyzed) where you had to apply more to have the same level of durability, coverage and longevity, so it would also usually have less obvious imperfections due to a wetter slower process. So modern urethane is a good product that allows manufacturers to be lazy/cheap painters...equals bad looking tough finishes. However, did you know all white new Toyota trucks are actually single stage!! They revived a 70yr old paint system for one color!! I think they just found a good deal on it though. Sorry for rambling ..

I've been guilty or "garden hose" plug wires...3 times to be exact... no more. But that rule of firing order doesn't always stand true... lots of different orders out there.... most fords are different. But I get your point lol.

I agree with you in the context of building a realistic replica of a factory vehicle for sure. But as for the customs/and Gassers like you mentioned the wild flakes may be desirable... that context wasn't offered before, so that is why I said ite subjective.

I've been guilty of that before lol... that's one thing this hobby has taught me, patience. But yes I've done exactly what you describe, because I was in a hurry and didn't wanna work.

I can thank of one very prolific modeler who makes that claim also... I won't mention names.

Thanks for the tip, I'll do that. I think I have one of those Frank Iaconio camaro kits tucked away in the stash, maybe they are in there.

Agreed. I downloaded a pdf of all NHRA's rule books for a few decades in a matter of seconds. Then just reference when need be... Easily overlooked things can blow a build for sure. Not to say it will not still do well for great craftsmanship.

Yea, you are... Everyone is entitled to build how they choose. But seeing how what we do is subjective art, we are all also entitled to an opinion on the subjects within the art form. I personally love watching hpiguy on YouTube and he does tons of "no no's" he dosen't clean mold lines, and he shoots paint right on the tree... To sit and say things like mold lines and sink marks irritate you is perfectly fine imo... they are both text book examples of poor modeling, as decided by IPMS and nearly every other model organization out there. No malicious intent here man, just laughs about the things we see and the observations we've made. No one is telling anyone how to build.

I don't particularly care for the "bass boat effect" either.... But that is at least subjective? The mold lines are just plain and simple poor modeling.

Ok, mines gonna be weird... But I either listen to others build or talk about the hobby on YouTube... I listen to guys like Fred Henry, hpiguy, Charlie Mac, Hunter Selby, Luka Cee, .... and "reruns" of Donn Yost vids, because he cracks me up and I like his style... he's one of those personalities that I find highly entertaining. And Bob Ross, as it keeps me calm and relaxed while doing precision work or scratch building. As far as music, I throw on Dokkens Back for the attack... or Ratts Out of the cellar... or something very guitar centric. I'm a modeler but also a guitar player of 23yrs... so I gotta have it.