Howard Cohen

Ask your customs people, they will tell you.

There is a TVR dealer in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and he brings in whatever people want but the demand doesn't seem very high.

In this area we are very lucky. Within 30 minutes drive, I have 4 quality, well stocked hobby shops specializing in model cars, parts, aftermarket, paint, glue. There are probably another 10 hobby shops that specialize in radio control and they also carry model cars and paints. The hobby is well served here. Recently, my favourite computer/electronics chain (Tiger Direct) closed all their retail stores. I bought my last 4 computers from them, as well as monitors, cables, etc. They also did repairs, upgrading, etc. When I emailed, they said that I could buy online. I asked who was available to show me and explain the new products and they said, 'no one'. Now I have to find a new computer store. I prefer to shop face to face when I am buying a new product. I understand buying online to save a few bucks but when your 'favourite hobby store' closes, was it really your favourite? And when you have a problem with a kit, have fun returning it by mail Some of the local hobby shops have had people come in and ask for help with a problem kit, such as a warped body or missing parts, and they tell the person to take it back to the company they bought it from Remember the James Garner movie 'Support Your Local Gunfighter'? Try supporting your local hobby shop as well

If the promo is an old piece from the late 1950s to early 1960s, it is almost impossible to fix it. The problem is not warping but the plastic breaking down. The old plastic was very porous, filled with miniscule air bubbles, and as the promo sat, the air bubbles would burst and the air would escape, thus causing it to change shape. It may look warped but you cannot reshape it back to it's original shape. The best way to stop it from changing shape is to disassemble the promo and coat all the painted/molded in colour parts with a clear coat, thus sealing the plastic. You will notice that it is very rare for the chrome plated parts to change shape, that is because they are coated. The plastic changed about 1960/61 for most promos and the problem stopped. (this explanation was given by the late John Hanley many years ago)

What type of paint do you use on 3D printed parts?

I first built a Monogram 55 in the mid 1960s, then again about 15 years ago. I have one stock, one custom bubble top.

Doug - you are not the average modeller since you seem to have the ability to make your own 3D printer. I still say that 3D printing is not feasible for the average modeller the same as resin casting is not for the average modeller nor is home made photo-etch nor home printed decals

I was talking to a friend at one of the model manufacturers a couple of years ago and he told me about some of the requests they get, such as...I have a 1951 Ford station wagon. Can you make a model kit if it? I need two for next week...I have a 1958 Bonneville convertible with the Tri-power. Can you make it in blue to match mine?' I recently chatted about adding resin engines or parts to the kits and he said it wasn't feasible. The same might be said for using 3D printing to make a model, 'not feasible'. Sure, if you are a computer genius and won the lottery and wanted to make a set of 3D blueprints for every part, then spend countless hours finishing them, sure you can have a 3D printed model I know someone who recently did an 8th scale hot rod with 3D printing and he sort of admitted to spending over $3000 on it! My feeling is that he spent a lot more! Where do you draw the line?

My opinion on 3D printing... First, the original purpose was to make prototypes, not finished products. I saw many types at a local show last year. They are expensive by the time you add in the printer, the computer, the program, the scanner, etc. Will it help this hobby? I don't think so. It may help a few but not the majority. Most people have way more model kits now than they will ever build and their biggest complaint is that 'model kits are too expensive', at about $25-30 a kit 3D printing will be a lot more expensive, so I doubt it will be feasible for most people. For example, 1 24/25th scale Chaparral 2C body is about $39/44. Just for a body. They also make an 8th scale body for almost $900! (and you thought Pocher was expensive) The 25th scale Jaguar is nearly $90. Okay, now how realistic is it that the average modeller will buy one? Will the price come down in the future? Sure, but it still won't help the average modeller. Oh, the length of time to print a 25th scale body is several hours, so how long will you wait for a part? It's new and improving technology but it isn't the saviour of the model car hobby. That's my opinion

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Because of the change of date for the Toronto Indy from July to June, I will be at the track most of the weekend and will miss most of the 24 I may get to watch a few minutes but being at the track 12-15 hours a day doesn't leave much time If you go to the 24 website, they may have a direct link to online streaming. Just watch your time. depending on your internet program so you don't run over your allotted time/broadband allowance.

It's tough living in Hawaii...all that sun and surf and stuff It obviously has had an effect on him Now it makes me wonder if he ever built the original car? One thing I will say...I am glad I still have my original award winning model that I built in 1966

In order to have the names of the parts, the instructions would have to be in several languages...caused mostly by people who speak other languages In the U.S., most of your packaging is English and Spanish. In Canada it is English and French. In Europe it is English, French, German, Spanish and Italian. In the Orient, it is various Asian languages. Maybe the kit manufacturers could add the names to their websites and we could print off the names in our favourite language

Bob looks pretty good for 77 years old

My friend and I looked at buying a hobby shop in Toronto 15 years ago as the owner was unsure about his health. It had a good location, lots of inventory and fixtures and a good customer base. We did some research and found out the rent, various utilities, stock, and staff would cause a break even if we were lucky. The owner had a full time job to support his hobby and that is what kept the store running. Then the owner changed his mind when he got a clean bill from the doctor. Running a hobby store takes a great deal of money and time and desire and I can't think of too many that stay in the family.

I believe that there is a swap meet at Englishtown NJ and some of us are hoping to attend next year on the Friday. According to Google Maps, it's about an hour from Wayne NJ. No racing, just a huge swap meet.

Greg - side note...a few days after Ted passed away, his widow destroyed the funeral home. She hated it! I guess she saw it as a bad omen that people die. Ted always had a good laugh watching the people look at the funeral home.

One thing the club should consider...is it time to build their own diorama? Should you build a new diorama that reflects the current membership of the club rather than the membership from 35 years ago? The current club members seem to have the talent and abilities, so why not build your version of a dealership or a drive-in or a garage or a speed shop or whatever you want? There are several easy ways to do this from buying a pre-made diorama kit to buying sheet plastic and cutting your own walls. That would allow you to show that you are capable of building your own diorama and not using a 35 year old building that someone else built. You will find yourselves having as much fun building a new diorama as building anew model kit

I spent Friday at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, aka Mosport For many racers this was set up day, practice day and qualifying, so you will see pit action and track action.. There was also the first race of the weekend (video below). Lots of different types of cars from Hondas to Ferraris, Mercedes-Benz, McLaren, Porsche and many more. There are over 700 photos, so enjoy http://public.fotki.com/howardcohen/victoria-day-sprint/ Video of the start of a small bore race...

There is also a PDF file of the show at the same link, I just opened it

Last year I talked to the local Tesla dealer and was told Tesla have no intention of ever having a model of any of their cars.

I have the resin Tucker and it is good but not well done, the greenhouse seems out of proportion. The Franklin Mint version sold very well and was excellent with all the usual opening features. As for the design, I like it. It's a matter of personal taste. I read a few people here think it's ugly...so was the Edsel We had a Tucker at our car show display this year where I volunteered for a day. The number of teenagers and young adults who swooned over the car was much higher than I expected. After I gave them a brief history of the car, some of the mechanics and safety items, they were very impressed. A full model kit would be great. A curbside would be a waste as the engine/driveline is unique to the Tucker. No other car in history used a modified helicopter engine.

Many years ago a friend of mine accurately measured a 25th scale kit. He was, and still is, a graphic artist and architectural artist and did many scale works for customers, not just cars but also buildings. When he compared the scale model to the real car, he found that the 25th scale model was closer to 26th scale, but it looked correct, so he built it. There was also the theory that many models were scaled to fit a standard sized model box of the era. The scales may not always be right nor accurate and they may have to do with things the average modeler doesn't care about, such as international scales. He said that 25th scale was quite common for architectural models whereas 24th was a modeling scale developed my model and dollhouse companies. If you only build based on scale, you are missing out on some great model kits in other scales If you have trouble building 25th scale because all of yours came out poorly, maybe it isn't the kits but the fact that you need a little help with your techniques. I have built models in many scales from 72nd to 6th and the model is only as good as the way I build it. Don't let a scale ruin your hobby

The same thing happens here on our local internet buying/selling site. I have seen new kits listed at $50 when the store price is $25. I have seen new kits on Amazon at stupid prices, such as Moebius Hudson Hornet for $149 plus $25 shipping. Of course, the kit never sells. Good

A very nice brief history of AMT. Well presented but not necessarily accurate FYI...there are books about Revell and Monogram and they have been available for many years and both are very good. AMT history has never been done in a comprehensive form but who knows what the future will bring. Some of his facts may not be exactly correct. I have read that Revell produced more car model kits in the1950s than anyone, so I guess each company wants to be #1