Casey

I could see something like that happening, though I think the new parts would be added without anything existing being deleted. I think even a more typical single carb intake manifold and open element air cleaner, similar to the aftermarket pieces included with the '67 Vette kit, would be a welcome addition. The cross ram dual carb intake is rather obscure and was essentially a race part for the street, and the chambered exhaust system Revell-Monogram decided to include with both it's 1/25 and 1/12 scale '69 Camaro kits similarly obscure.

I understand the point, Harry. I just don't think it's as close as you do, don't think it will be as affordable as quickly as you do, and see other problems and challenges this technology will bring into play, challenges injection molded kits never had to face. If people want to build slammers with windows painted black from the inside, or models with no chrome plating, no decals, and no rubber/vinyl tires, this technology will be perfect. I have my doubts the average consumer is going to pay $29.99 for a model kit, print it out at home, then spend the time to figure how s/he is going to fabricate clear "glass", search and pay separately for decals, seek out a chrome plating business and also pay for that separately, then wait for it all to arrive so s/h can build the model. They'll probably have spent close to $60 for all the parts needed to complete the model, and they're just starting to build it. Suddenly that injection molded model they can pick up off the shelf at their LHS or Michael's for $29.99 which already contains all the parts needed to build the mode is looking awfully good. Sure most of us are willing to pay $10 for an aftermarket decal sheet of spend another $30 on detailing parts, styrene/brass/aluminum tube/rod/sheet to make our own additional details, maybe even get the hang of Alclad and accept it as being an acceptable substitute for vacuum chrome plating. Fine for those of us who are on the fringe, but for the average consumer, who makes up the bulk of model kit sales, I've got to be honest and say I don't see that happening. I have no doubt some of these challenges will be met in another decade or so, and maybe some won't. People continue to use VCRs, CDs and other electronic products as example of how 3D printing will make IM technology obsolete, but IM is wide-ranging, adaptable, and used in a product we put our hands on every day of our lives. I agree that digital music is much more convenient and easy that buying and using a 5" CD, but you still need the player to use the music file, and the music file comes complete, ready to use, with no additional work required by the consumer. Models have and always will be made by hand and involve a totally different set emotions, skills, and consumer habits. People are willing to invest days, weeks, year in a model, then keep it to display, while most consumer products in the same price range (say $30-$60) are viewed as disposable. Charlie mentioned Objet's ability to print clear parts in another forum topic, so I have no doubt that obstacle will be overcome without too much trouble. Here's another example of a company printing transparent objects: http://www.stratasys.com/materials/polyjet/transparent It's still not clear to me if the same printers can print both solid and opaque mediums, though. There's also the issue of people not liking hard plastic tires, for whatever reason. To most they seem to be viewed as toy like and not fit for use on accurate models, and while I don't fall into that category, I do have to acknowledge those feelings and that attitude as another challenge 3D models will need to overcome.

I think this pic is from the '80s...I see acid washed jorts. The '71-'74 Javs were pretty brutal right out of the factory. Split vinyl tops, fender blisters which made it look like the lug nuts were never tightened and the wheels fell off, crushing the fenders, and that grille...whoa that's ugly.

You beat me by a few minutes, but going with this "endless options" idea (which I love BTW), how far will the company go in designing the extra bodies, hubcaps, trim pieces, etc. for each model or sub-model? Are they going to pay a designer to design the specific parts for a '58 Chevy Yeoman 4-door wagon kit option when only eleven people may ever order it? We're also forgetting about the fact that while this 3D prinitng technology is quickly improving, it may also be obsolete in twenty years, replaced by something faster, more efficient, and cheaper. Injection molding has withstood the test of time for 60 years, and is still hugely popular today, so I'm not convinced it's the dinosaur some people think it might be. And even if it is that dinosaur, they sure had a pretty good run.

I'm still with Cadillac Pat on this one. It's good to see Moebius getting involved with this technology, but using one RP body to check how the design is coming along is a far cry from printing a set of 148 parts, with smooth surface detail....20,000 times. Yeah, the technology IS here, yes prices WILL go down, but it's still not practical not cost effective to mass produce kits, much less parts right NOW. I don't think comparing Revell, Inc.'s and Round2's tooling archives to Moebius' is much of a comparison, either. Revell and Round2 have what, 10,000?, 15,000?? kits in their inventory and Moebius has maybe twenty total? It's a lot easier now for a relative upstart (and I don't use that term in a demeaning way) to jump into the new technology, though. I am all for it, and hope the other companies get involved, too. I just hope people don't get too giddy thinking this technology is some miracle elixir which will magically make every new kit perfect and provide each of us every subject/kit we ever wanted. I get the excitement, and I get that my opinion will come off as being a ol' stick-in-the-mud, needs-to-get-with-the-times type, but I'm tempering my excitement and holding down my own expectations until I see a part which equals the definition and texture/smoothness of an injection molded part. I haven't seen it yet, and though the American Racing Vector wheel Chief Joseph showed was very nice, it's not yet on the same quality level as injection molded parts, and where compared on a part(s) per cost basis, is nowhere even close. Using the Moebius 1/32 scale wheel/tires as an example of current cost, we're at $12.85 for a set of 1/32 Frosted Ultra Detail medium printed wheels and tires. I can hear the "I can almost buy an entire kit for that!" cries already, and while $12.00 may not be bad for a custom, one-off set of wheels (that's in my "I'd pay that! range), is Moebius really going to offer 12 different wheel options for each kit? That would be great if they did, but it might end up being a very slippery slope if they do. Then again, this is sort of uncharted territory, so we'll probably all have to wait and see what shakes out.

Careful what you wish for. Someone will consider that a personal challenge.

Quite honestly, you use whatever bolt size the real car uses in various places. 3/8" hex head is common for bolting fenders and inner fender to the main body structure, 5/16" or 3/8" for oil pan bolts, 1/2" or 9/16" hex head for water pump bolts, bellhousing to engine block bolts are 9/16" or sometimes 5/8" hex head, and so on. Divide the real hex head dimension/size by the scale you're working in, and pick the closest size RB Motion or Scale Hardware offers. You might only need to use the threaded rod or threaded bolts for things like the motor mounts or control arms, since most of the time only the bolt/nut heads and washers are visible. Looking great on the FI unit, Cameron. That's a lotta plumbing.

Hmmm, if you like your plastic molded in color, you're gonna love these three from Round2. AMT-849 1/25 1968 Plymouth Roadrunner (Yellow) AMT-850 1/25 1940 Ford Coupe (Orange) AMT-851 1/25 1975 Chevy Rescue Van (Red)

Not yet, but Ma's Resin is working on one: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=64370&page=1

What about when the Rampage returns to the lineup? Sorry, Jeff, your line just got a little longer. Nice work on the ElCo so far.

Oops, sorry, Sam. I didn't think there was competition to make a '41 Lincoln COE.

There is only First Class and Priority to Canada as far as I can tell. For U.S to U.S. packages, we have a 13 oz ceiling on First Class packages, but that ceiling is much higher (heavier?) for International packages. Not sure if you can go to USPS.com and view the rate charts and click on the "Calculate a price" tabs, though. International USPS First Class from the U.S. to most common international destination countries (Canada, UK, Australia/New Zealand, Japan, Norway/Sweden/Netherlands) is $6.16 U.S. for a 3 ounce package, and goes up from there. USPS First Class U.S. to Canada, 12"x12"x12" max size, two pounds weight = $14.54, Priority for the same specs is double that at $28.76

Oh, the one from Europe. Motor City Resin Casters does a '63 for considerably less: http://motorcityresincasters.com/63N600.htm

Maybe you should follow Rob's lead and head over to the CBP he started for stalled projects...and finish 'em. http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=49084&hl=%2Bstalled+%2Bprojects#entry541755

Perfect, Erik. Thank you.

Nice YouTube slideshow of Ford N-series trucks, too:

I think I test fit the F40 tires on a 1/12 '69 Camaro I had at the time, but they looked a bit too small to me. If someone has both the 1/12 '69 body and a set of tires from the 1/12 Shelby GT500 kit, I'd be interested to see how well those work together.

...and it would require a much more complex body mold core if the rear wall was in place.

They are inside the body shell in the second picture. I didn't have a clear detail shot of them, so that's the only place they appear. Ditto for the white-molded seats, interior tub, and both roof/top pieces.

I hate to do this, but I think it's time for a cool off period. This topic is locked until tomorrow.

A stock Willys Americar kit is not going to happen. If the kit can't spawn multiple variants, it's a longshot at the start, and considering Revell already has two distinct '41 Willys Coupes in their lineup, how much good would a third, stock version do them? The '60s era Revell kit can be built stock with some kitbashing, as shown above. Almost all the parts exist already (maybe not the embossed rear bumper, but I think there's a decal for that) to build a stock '41 Americar, just not all in one box.

The most recent reissue of the 1/8 scale Revell (originally designed by Monogram) Big Tub kit is molded in orange, black, white, and silver, this kit also features plenty of chrome-plated parts, six very nice semi-soft vinyl tires, a huge decal sheet, and plenty of optional parts.

I like how the Ice Patrol build-up was photographed at a low angle to minimize the visibility of the top of the windshield, with its two connecting bar ends. Then, the Billy Carter version has a picture of the real truck, so no problem there...but then we see the problem on the Big Red version. Not only do those connecting bar ends stick out like a sore thumb, the top edge of the windshield is 1/32" lower than the body opening.

No, but the Revell '66 Chevelle wagon and '66 El Camino have separate, chrome-plated door handles.