The Creative Explorer

I guessed you missed your target here Robert @Matija, sorry, I missed that. Brett luckily found it already. The info was right on the frontpage of www.revell.de

I don't think the tour itself is open for general public, only prearranged. But they are nice people over there, so just email them. The X-shop is open during normal business hours, unfortunately a bit far away, otherwise I would be poor by now. I'll update with the purchases on saturday

@Matt: you're right. The best base for a lightweight would be to start with a convertible, since all factory lightweights were based on the convertible. Some used a hardtop or even molded the hardtop into the body. There are a few exceptions, one of 'm is the Lindner/Nöcker XKE, which was a factory convertible, then wrecked and from the wreck it was made to look like a FHC again, but with some differences. And now you've brought a different scale into play; One kit to rule them all:

Naah, not really. The US scene is way bigger. Over here, it is overshadowed by airplanes and military. But I believe it is somewhat global.

I've been a couple of years to the warehouse/HQ of Revell in Germany and loved the X-shop. I managed to buy me a few American kits over there with I believe 25% discount on the RSP. The Dutch IPMS has an excursion to Revell again and I figured to go with them this year again, it is always nice to see what new stuff will come out, the technical sides of a mold and such. But also to go back to Department X and X-shop I think I am going to make a shopping list of parts that I need for projects...

In addition to Matt: The Heller kit is available as FHC and DHC (Fixed Head Coupe and Drop Head Coupe) The Gunze kit is available as a simple curbside kit or the mentioned High-Tech series. Where the first has only plastic and rubber parts, the high-tech is barely plastic. The Gunze High-tech is also reboxed by Airfix and Testors. Monogram/Revell has a FHC and a DHC kit, I believe the FHC was the old Aurora kit and the DHC is a bit newer and recently reissued by ROG Airfix also issued a FHC that ressembles a lightweight version

Everything screams real, panellines look goofy, but other than that; I'd go with Real.

I never knew it was thanks to AMT, that we got 24 hours a day! One is never too old to learn

For the sake of the game, I give it a try, but not as intensive if it were a car that could be tracked down. When you have an idea to look in which corner you have to search.

The thing was that it is a featureless 4 door sedan, there where basically no clues whatsoever. It was obviously Asian, but there it stopped.

I had to think and search for it, but I am going for a Toyota GT86, that is the only kit I've found of a just released car. My other option is the LaFerrari, but that thing doesn't do it for me at all. I kinda dispise what Ferrari is up to lately. Just a bunch of marketing products and way too far off of their history. So, I ended up with the GT86. I was thinking just black and white and fill in the colors myself on the computer. Not that I don't trust anyone with it, but this way I could contribute at least something myself . This also answers your other question; yes, it can be on the computer. It will have my preference, that way I can easily corporate the drawing in the card itself. Which needs to be send digitally to the printer. Thanks John! Can you sent me your e-mail? That will simplify our datatraffic a little bit.

Wickedly awesome John!

Nailed it! @Marcus; that is also a great idea. How about mixing it with the initial idea? Put the car in a stroller

Not like a portrait, more like a scene. The three cars next to each other in a slight curve around the new car. Let's say the baby in the middle of the clock and the three other cars at 11, 12 and 1.

I don't think it is oversized, I believe it is spot on and I drill the holes with a 0,5mm drill. Works perfect!

I have read the interview at the time of the first Cars movie and it is basically to what John says; to be different. 'Everybody' already uses the headlights as the eye's. This way they had a different 'product', and my guess it looks ok. It somewhat makes sense and it doesn't @John; yes thank you, basically it is what I had in mind, it's just that my drawing skills are not good. I am still thinking of the right composition, but I have a global idea for that.

Radioshack gauge wire, comes on a little role. Cost about 5 bucks for about 15 feet.

That thing has absolutely nothing going for it.

No, I had our own actual cars in mind. So I would be represented as a '89 Renault 5 GTTurbo, my wife as a '04 Renault Megane GrandTour and our son would be represented as a 2011 Dodge Challenger. We do not own a Challenger, but in honor of his birth, I build a custom Challenger. So the perfect car for him. For the baby I am not sure yet, I chose the Challenger for Thomas, because that was a kit of a car from his birthyear and a good representative of the design of that year. For the baby, it has to be something similar, but I am thinking at the moment of a GT-86 at the moment, since I want to build a model of it too. I hope it makes some sense. Let me look for some pictures.

We're going to have another baby in september and I found great inspiration for our babycard. I want our family represented in Cars cars around the new addition to the family. But my drawingskills are mediocre to say the least and I know there is drawing talent on this board. The question is logically; Who is up for a challenge and willing to draw 4 cars in Cars style (black and white)? I can't pay a lot for it, but will do something in return.

Thanks guys; I think I agree to that. It is coming pretty nice, especially if you think I never worked with pewter before. @Tommy; I have to disagree, I like 'em both. Both have their own elegance and (not considering the Frankenstein 2+2) have their own distinct beauty. In my opinion it is the most pretty car designed/build so far. Maybe some PF Ferrari's might come somewhat close, they don't have that something. @Skip; seems to be a bargain geez what a price on it. I wouldn't mind ever owning a Bandai, but not for that money. I would spend that money on something completely different, I spent a 1000 €uro's last week on a compressor, airbrush and some new hoses. But not for a overpriced modelkit. I mean, I can get the Revell 1/8 kit usually for 50-75 Euro's over here. And they are basically the same. Not considering the collector's value, since I tend to build them. As a matter of fact, I was talking to a guy at the Jabbeke show 1,5 week ago who collects modelkits and we got to talk about the 1/8 XKE. He told me he wanted to add them to the collection and I replied that I had 6-8 laying around at home. He asked me if I wanted to sell and I told him that they weren't for sale but to be build. Upon which he said he would buy them later on if I didn't were to build them. When I told him that I already build 2 of them and now in the process of building my 3rd, his eyes opened wide and said; You were not joking? You actually build them and going to build them? The look on his face was priceless

Well, I don't want to have an argue about something so silly, really. I can understand that it might be annoying, but that is why I made the watermark as invisible as possible, but good enough visible so it can be seen. It is just so frustrating/annoying/irritating if someone other than me, claims to be the author of the pictures. I had it even happen that 2 people tried to sell a model of mine on eBay. Seriously. I am aware it won't stop it from happening ever again, but at least I could do something about it. So guys, please let this rest, understand my point of view and respect this. It is certainly not to annoy the hell out of someone who is genuinly interested in my builds.

I think this might be a workable situation

That is up to you, if you wish to be defeated by a little watermark and respect my choice, that's your choice. However, I was going to try to make the box of the watermark disappear and keep it with letters alone, but I am not sure if my program can do that. It will stay in the same place, mainly because one can not get rid of it and I still think it is not that bad.