The Creative Explorer

There is not a whole lot to know about it, it is a RoG kit, quite simplified. But even though it lacks some detail, it does has accurate dimensions and will built a nice replica of a Testarossa (not the 512!) You paid a decent price for it, 84 is overpriced for such kit, but 30 is doable. I paid 20 euro's for mine, which would be 26 dollars or so, so in the same line.

Nice one, I like that idea. What was the base for the roof?

They are all over the place in Europe, so best bet is to look around on eBay.co.uk, but I bet there have been a few imported into the USA, I just got no idea what they want for it. Store prices are between 50 and 60 dollar US and then you need to add shipping, it isn't that bad for something quite different, but you are almost talking Tamiya money. http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item588c5eaca0 This price is actually not that bad at all. I purchased this one: Where the Landrover has a bit more cartoon-ish dimensions, the Austin has good proportions and you can build it into a nice panelvan.

Or get a 1/12 Austin (not for reference ofcourse, just for the fun of it)

2 options come to mind; the first is bold and not seen on a lowrider, but sand the roof flat and use carbon-fibre, to give the project a complete different twist, that I think could go well with the lowrider theme. The other one is a bit more common, but you can also vinyl the roof. Give it a bit more classic look it.

What I do miss, is Gregg and his point of view. There have been now 2 topics with people that are dissatisfied with the magazine, yet Gregg has not given a defence, his opinion or just a notice of reading. But there has been made a new topic today with some appraisel for the latest magazine and Gregg did replied there. I don't want to provoke anything, but I think it would help if Gregg did enter the discussion, shared his opinion and let us know why it appeared late or why choose to do something that particular way. Just my 2 cents No pun intended towards anybody.

And done The wheels got some paint to match the front wheels All the parts so far And the interior tub Pick up bed is colormatched as well.

Thanks guys, Yes, I omited the lanterns, I had no idea why I would want to use them, since they don't look all that good anyway. What I am going to do with the rear light is still unknown, I do like your idea, maybe I will put that in work. But only on one side and not hanging. I think this will be the last update, most of the parts are now in color and each part is being single bagged. I also improved the radiator, it looked quite simple and I made a shroud and used some mesh for it. I started with adding some styreen to the both radiator plates, so it would add strength Then on the top I removed the radiatormesh part one side at a time, to keep the measurements correct. I used styrene strips for strength and length Both sides have been cut off In the meanwhile I worked on the rocker-cover By spraying them in gun-metal, added BMF and filled the slots with red. Some perseverence needed for glueing the mesh to the radiator Testfit in the shroud Backside

Don't care for F1 at all, I'd rather watch this:

I am going to do a 24-hour build next weekend (4th and 5th), but appearantly our IPMS chapter has a different view; we just build for 24 hours, that is it. Doesnt matter what you do, how much you or whether you actually going to finish something. It is just for the fun and spent some time together, and share the hobby together. I, on the other hand am trying to finish a 1/8 model, since it is virtually impossible to start from zero, I am sanding and painting all the parts up front, so I can focus on assembling and detailling, but I am also bringing other projects to work on whenever I feel for it. This will be my first 24 hour build, and I actually never build on a meeting ever before, so I have no idea what to bring either. 'we'll see..........:-)

Picture looks a bit shabby, why is there a DOT behind 'Oldsmobile? Boxart-style doesnt seem to be correct either, but correct me if I am wrong; When they did the black bar in top, they usually used pictures of real cars, not models. When they used models in the boxart, they didnt had the black bar: Although I already found exceptions... The car in the boxart of the Olds is definately an Oldsmobile, but I've never seen it been made by AMT

They're out there, check eBay, emodelcars and craigslist. Just keep searching, since they do tend to ask ridiculous prices for them. I've gotten the trans-am Turbo through a swap through this forum and it is a nice kit. Actually, I am closing a deal at this moment of 3 '79 Firebirds from one person. I am quite happy with it, since you hardly see them in Europe and I only have to pay 150 Euro's for all three

Actually, it was a third part. This is the first, then they did 'Death race' which was a lot better and had actually good acting and story to it. So I was interested in Death Race 2, but that was quite a dissapointment.

I do like both magazines, I have had a subscription to Scale Auto and when I was in the States, I bought a couple of MCM magazines at a local hobbystore. Personally I don't have huge funds and living in Europe doesn't make things easier. We don't have any car-only modelmagazines, so it has to be imported from the States. 2 years ago, I chose Scale auto because I didn't knew MCM existed. now I am in doubt, I have a strong preference for MCM, but it's price is working against me. If I go for Scale auto, I have to pay 89,95 for 18 issues over 3 years. When I choose MCM, it costs me 123,00. When I break it down, it is 4,99 for SAM and 6,83 for MCM. I know it is easier for SAM to ship and makes it cheaper, but with all the words about the late issues and getting damaged, it doubts me a lot.

Thanks guys. The ghostflames and puzzlepieces have not been seen before and therefore questionable where they fit together, I think they can. Both are ghosted and the puzzlepieces is a nice break from the checkerboard. I think when the clearcoat comes on, it will have a nice effect to it. As you could see and read in the previous posts, the car had been primer before the accident, so that was not the problem. I've been working hard in the weekend in between my scheduled responsibilities to get all the panelwork in color, I had to do the frame and the bed with latch. For the frame I had the idea to implement the project name; Granny T. When I was spraying the car, it had the same color and sheen as the Granny Smith apples, therefore Granny T was quickly born haha.

It is just a matter of preference, but I don't like working with CA glue, instead I use bondo.

Are the engraved lines so shallow or do you have a thick primer? I always had that problem when using spraycan primers, they always filled up the panellines, since I use the airbrush, it is pretty much gone and such a relief. The van looks great, what colorideas do you have for it?

Yesterday and today I worked hard on getting the car back in primer and giving it's color. I think it turned out pretty well after the first disaster. I chose this time to go for the airbrush and when I looked through my colors, this color appeared to me rather well. I shot the car in primer and then in Green pearl, but since you all know me; I can't do standard paintjobs. I had an idea, I wanted to do the puzzlepieces again, since I thought they were a nice alternative to the often used checkerboard. But instead of using hard colors, like I did before, I wanted to ghost and make it very subtle, so that you had to look twice to see it. Next to that, I also wanted to do some mild ghost-flames. After I did the puzzlepieces, I started making the flames and used flat white paint for that, After I was satisfied, I got the green paint back and since it is semi-opaque, I shot a few layers till it basically disappeared. And I was happy with the result. I used the same style for the front radiator, that I painted in the evening

Don't like it, although it looks a bit better than the ###### Ferrari has designed after the 360. I hope that Ferrari starts soon to make beautiful cars again, if I had the money, I would not buy a Ferrari anymore and that is too bad, since I've liked Ferrari as I was little.

Time for the first setback, I have not used spraycans for a very good reason; they are difficult to stick to the plastic. No matter what, there is a fragile line between good or bad. I swore off the spraycans long time ago, and went onto the airbrush to much satisfaction. Because of the size, I went for spraycans again. I had them laying around and I thought; why not. I know now why not, I am not going to explain everything, but let the pictures do the talking

I had problems with this too, ever since I am full on with the airbrush, the problems are over. Simply because the primer I use, is acryllic based and does not interfere with the plastic, so just sand it smooth, primer it and the ghosting is gone. I had it just once after I completely used the airbrush and that was because of the Alclad primer, which is not acryllic based. But seriously; acryllic paints are just so much better and a huge step forwards. It is different to use, but when you get use to it, you don't want back. Way less toxic, way cheaper and you clean the airbrush simply with water! And most say; yeah, but you need a airbrush and compressor and it is expensive; think about it! The rattlecans go crazy now in prices and for 200 dollars one can buy a airbrush with compressor or just 20 rattlecans that last like 20 cars if lucky. Just my 2 eurocents

hehe, you go DOWN DOWN? what kind of prahse is this you talking about? No, definately not going to Alclad all of it, only a couple of things, most will be color-coded. And the carb; it does not look good now, but in essence, it has some nice molded in detail.