Joe Lange

I have good friends in Sweden, England, and Germany. When they send me a small package or shipping envelope, it gets to me between 1.5 to 2 weeks tops. They email me as soon as it's in the Post. The biggest 'hangup' isn't the Post Office, ours or theirs, it's U.S. Customs. Sometimes they can be very fast, (especially around the holidays), and then as slow as........at other times My issue is vendors who can make their own shipping labels from home. They create a label with a tracking number on it but then it sits for several days before the vendor actually takes it to the Post Office. When you check the Tracking Number, on line, it states; 'Label created, waiting for package'. The label for mine was 'created' on 9/12 and it arrive at the P.O. on 9/17. There you go.

John, don't hold your breath. My package of decals finally made it to PostNL on 9/16. Since then, it has fallen into a 'black hole' and the last date it shows is 9/17. Today is 9/23 and I just checked again and ..................nothing. Still showing "9/17 - Delivery Time Is Being Calculated."

Next step completed. Interior finished. Added rear speaker grills, telephone under dash, turn signal stalk and auto trans shift stalk. Also drilled out holes in steering wheel. Thanks for looking!

Thanks Craig, the engine detail was really disappointing. But then, the whole kit was crying out for more TLC. With such a big engine bay the engine really needed some help. Interior photo coming soon!

Thanks Paul. It seems the green was becoming quite common in the builds. Needed something different, but still 1960's.

Greetings All, After a summer of helping friends working on their, and my 1/1 scale older, (collector?), cars, thought it was time to get back to the model bench. Picked this piece up off Ebay last winter for a 'decent' price with a few minor parts missing, but it was not started. (Thank God) I've seen several folks on this site do a great job building this car and keeping close to what Renwal and Mr. Exner intended it to be so,.....I decided to go in a slightly different direction. This is as far as I got last spring before turning off the workbench light. Starting up this weekend and will be sending more WIP pics. Thanks for looking!

PM sent

Wow! Nice job. Thanks for the lead. I'll check it out.

Hi Alberto, yes, I agree every generation has its share of individuals with poor ethics, manners, and business practices. It just seems that in today's world of more and more on-line businesses and less 'Face to Face', (Brick & Morter) shops, poor business practices are becoming more tolerated and accepted. Really sad. Thanks for the suggestion about Ray's North America, and Sunbird93.

Hi Scott, I've used STS before, but only for decals that are listed on the site. Nothing 'custom'. Which is why I tried 'Ray's Decals'. He already had what I was looking for listed on his web-site. Which,(I assumed), meant the design was already loaded in a computer and ready to print. Might check out STS in the future for custom work. Thanks!

As I stated in original post, "His web-page clearly shows '3-5 Weeks". If it's not...Change It! You're misleading your customers! If you are having production issues,....CONTACT your customers and explain and don't ignore customers messages! We are talking decals here, not a resin kit that is casted after the order has been placed, or a custom made metal, wood, etc, piece. This is one of his 'stock' sheets, (which I'm sure), has been saved on a computer. As far being out of the U.S.,..I have ordered many items from Europe, (Germany, France, UK, NL), from reputable people and it's never taken 3+ months. AND they COMMUNICATE! Both my wife and I have small web-based businesses, so we know what it is like keeping up with it. And we also believe in keeping up with our orders and communicating with our customers. I suppose I'm a bit old fashion and I still believe in common courtesy and responsibility, something that the 'New World' generations don't think is very important. Making excuses is so much easier. Unless of course, it's them who are being 'stung'. Also, after months of having my emails being ignored, I again messaged 'Ray' asking him if I should ask the folks on the 'Model Car Magazine Forum' if this was his S.O.P. for doing his business. He replied in LESS THAN 10 MINUTES! He apologized, refunded my payment, and told me I would be seeing a Tracking Number from PostNL for the decals 'tomorrow'. That 'tomorrow' has been several days ago.

Just a note of caution let you all know that on May 2nd I placed an order for some decals from Ray's Kits Decals. Yes, they were on his site so they weren't 'custom'. His process time states about 3-5 weeks, (+ shipping time). It has now been 5 MONTHS, (18 WEEKS), and no word of decals. He responded to one of my emails about 7 weeks later when I ask for an ETA. Gave me some 'half-baked' answer, which wasn't clear and promised me 'something extra'. Never responded to any email since. No idea if I will ever see the decals. ($42 worth) This is not a trustworthy individual to deal with. 'Brick and Mortar' shop or 'Web-Based', you COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR CUSTOMER! Whether it's good news or not! Be Warned!

Really nice job Emre! I just found another one of these kits, (sealed!), at a garage sale this past weekend and could not pass it up for $20. Have no idea what I'll do with it since I've got more future projects than time!

Completed! A little nerve wracking trying to get the chassis, interior, and body to 'get together' one last time, but.... success! I will post a couple of photos, outside the 'shop', on the "Finished Model Car" section. Thanks for looking!

Great build Emre! Glad to help get the creative juices flowing!

Thanks Bill. Kinda makes the twin, single barrel Solex's on my Beetle look puny!

Continuing on! Interior finished, adding body details, fitting engine and compartment details. Thanks for looking!

Ralph who? Thank for the comment on the paint. I have become a big fan of Tamiya spray paint. Looking forward to 'clearing' it.

Thanks Carl, It's really one in the same engine. I took a photo of it from both sides and with and without the air cleaners. I am holding off on attaching the cleaners permanently until the engine is in the car. Not sure if the engine will fit through the bottom of the body with the filters attached!

Greetings All, Starting to spend more evenings at my model workbench now that my VW 1/1 scale project is completed. 500 miles and no issues! Good to have my old friend back on the road. Purchased 2 resin pieces from Air-Trax last year and I am starting the 'Bertone' Corvair concept car. I am a bit of a Corvair fan and have amassed a few books and magazines on them but, nowhere have I found this particular Bertone concept. That includes an internet search. No matter though, I still like the styling. I am using an AMT '69 Corvair kit for parts. The 'kit' from Air-Trax is the body, decklid, taillights, front turn signals, and bumpers, (not chromed). After cleaning up a few small casting imperfections, sizing up the interior tub, cut out headlight lenses and the window 'glass', I gave it a primer coat and used Tamiya 'Metallic Green'. Going to use some BMF and then give it a coat with Tamiya clear. The engine is from the AMT kit with carb setup from '3dscaleparts', (Ebay), and air cleaners from 'Scale Production', (Internet). More photos to follow.......Thanks for looking!

Thanks EMRE, but I'm afraid if I bring home one more VW toy or model, my wife will put them, (and me), on Ebay. Yea, I've accumulated a 'few' over the years along with my other model car kits.

Thank you guys, for the good words!

Greetings All, It has been a long summer. Visiting aging parents in Florida and aging in-laws in Arizona have taken its toll. (All are in Memory Care.) As most of you know, it is a sad reminder that time is nobody's friend. My one bright spot this summer is that I have finally completed my 'biggest model car project' ever. (My wife's words, not mine.) I've had this '73 beetle since 1985 and used it as a daily driver for many years. 15 years in Florida and about 6 here in Alabama. Took it partially apart to do some 'minor work' and wound up taking it totally apart because I wanted to build it back 'My Way'. Work, family life, and everything else got in the way, so........there it sat, in a 'million pieces'. After 15 years of on and off work it's finally done! Oh-yea...........it WILL be my daily ride again. However, since I'm retired now, I don't have that much 'daily driving' anymore!

Very sharp Corvair, Steve!

Really nice stock build. Great color and finish!