Vessey

The ACME show is only a month away, on October 25. This is one of the top shows in the country and well worth visiting. If you've never been, expect loads of top quality models on display and many great vendors. Additional information and early registration can be found on their website: https://acmescalemodelers.com/2025-southern-national-show-info/

Here is my first finished car model of the year, started back in January and finally finished in September for a show. This is Tamiya's kit of the car as it competed in the 1998 Rally Monte Carlo. The body paint is Subaru World Rally Blue from Scale Finishes. From the kit decals I chose the Piero Liatti/Fabrizia Pons option rather than the more popular Colin McRae car. I magnetized the light pods so the car can be displayed with and without them. Photoetched seat harnesses from the Tamiya INGs wing set and PE hood pins from Zoomon were added. I also used metal pins for the roof antennas and the dashboard toggle switches. This car was my first attempt at body weathering. Although Monte Carlo is primarily a tarmac rally, reference pictures show there was enough snow an dust on the course to get the cars nice and dirty. I mainly used a mix of white and brown enamel wash, sprayed on by airbrush and then manipulated by blowing on it with the airbrush or wiping it with a brush. I also used some Mr. Hobby weathering paste or pigments mixed in matte Mod Podge to add texture in a few areas.

Great looking model and good job on the pictures. They could definitely be mistaken for a 1:1 at first glance.

Good tip for unusually shaped parts. The vernier calipers can be used with double sided tape to line up small parts parallel to each other, such as the end plates of this 1/43 F1 car (skip to the 4 minute mark): https://youtube.com/watch?v=TMmx2iWaJtc

Just got a bagged 2000 Monte Carlo NASCAR kit, sans decals and instructions. Needed some serious cleaning, but the price was right. $3.84 after a $10 credit on Mercari... Shipped! Haven't decided what to do with it, probably put the chassis under a street car body. If anyone can post or link the instructions I'd appreciate it.

https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/various/ford-mustang-v8-dark-horse-engine The better option would be a print of this model with the S650 style intake. I see a couple people selling it on eBay, but I'm not familiar with the quality of the sellers.

Looks good! I'm a big fan of cutaway/cross-section style models. I'd like to do one myself sometime, maybe a NASCAR next-gen car.

Looking good so far. I've been wanting to make a sprinter van conversion but haven't been keen to chop up an expensive resin kit or do a full 3D print. This toy looks like a good place to start.

I dug my R8 GT3 kit out of the stash to take a look. The tires fit snuggly around the wheels as they should, but the wheels are noticeably deeper (wider) than the tires. If the tire is pushed all the way down, the wheel rim will protrude past the tire "bead" creating a shadow that looks like a poor fit. Ideally the tire should be installed with the "bead" close to flush with the rim as pictured below and any excess wheel width trimmed off the back side.

I like the color in your inspiration photo, looking forward to seeing it on the model. I painted this kit green as well when I built it. For the wheels, the factory Civic EK9 wheels look similar, but they are smaller. I believe the ZoomOn NSX-R detail kit has the correct wheels, you could ask if they would sell them separately. I also found a file on Cults3d if you have a way to 3D print them.

I don't plan to start on this project this year, but I couldn't resist testing it out. This will be a Cosworth DFV powered Lotus Seven hot rod.

Wow! The level of detail and quality of finish are top notch.

Good work! I have this kit in a different livery and can confirm the molded detail is underwhelming and the suspension is fiddly. Your extra work really brings it to life.

If you already use Scalefinishes you can email them the paint code to request colors that aren't on the site. They will send a PayPal invoice, so let them know if there are other colors you want in the same order. When I got a custom color it was no extra charge and shipped within a couple days of paying.

I finally got my hands on my holy Grail kit, the Profil24 1956 Jaguar D-Type Le Mans winner. Looking at the parts I can tell quite a bit of work will be needed, especially to get the hood to line up with the body, but it has the basis for a beautiful model. Funny enough, I had mentioned this kit to someone last year and they said maybe it would show up on eBay. Sure enough, that's where I found it, and even managed to pay a bit less that it cost new. I also received a few 1/43 kits directly from BBR in Italy. The are impressively detailed and only cost $35 each after shipping.