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Everything posted by Howard Cohen
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Anyone else have this problem ?
Howard Cohen replied to Dave Wood's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
I have had the same problem for the last 2 years! I have been using BMF for about 30 years and it was always good...until this cracking problem. I did return 3 bad sheets to BMF last year and they were replaced. The replacements were good. The other 4 sheets I purchased from my local hobby shops has had the same cracking problem. I always store it flat. Putting it in the fridge doesn't help. I have been trying to find another source for foil but nothing so far Can we send this thread to BMF so he can see our frustration? -
I am currently driving a 1999 Chrysler Concorde that I got from a previous employer as part of my severance. It has almost 415,000 Kilometers (about 257,000 miles) on it and it runs pretty good. It's not perfect but it is dependable, recently passed the provincial safety and clean air inspections and gets good mileage, between 25 and 35 (more on a long drive) mpg. It has had all of it's regular maintenance since new, I only use Mobil 1 synthetic oil and I take care of it. The company I worked for had several Chryslers from a '84 Minivan to a Spirit, Intrepid and more, about 10 in total, mostly all good vehicles (the Intrepid needed a transmission the first week), but they were taken care of. I believe that if you take proper care of most vehicles, they will last 300,000 miles or more. Now stop and think back like I did...when I was in college, my Dad had a '68 Chev Biscayne. At about 20,000 miles, I took it to the school's shop for an inspection. We replaced upper & lower ball joints, inner & outer tie rod ends, drag link, idler link, center link, 4 shock absorbers, 4 brake drums with shoes and hardware kits, both fan belts, a transmission service and an oil change. At that time, that was regular maintenance that was done every 2 years or 20,000 miles, whichever came first. Now we get upset when our vehicle need anything at 100,000 miles...hmmm. Our new cars are really a lot better overall but we get upset when we lift the hood and can't do our own maintenance. I would rather flush an injector than rebuild a carb Our fuel economy now is twice what it used to be when I was in college. The interiors are much better, the suspensions and tires are far superior to 20 years ago, electrics and lighting are better and the cars are much safer. As for imports being better than domestics, the car is only as good as the service it gets. If your dealer has bad technicians, your car is in trouble. Oh, check 'Consumers Reports' for overall reliability. I had an email from a well known automotive broadcaster last year that said Toyota is number 12 for reliability behind Lexus, Porsche, Chrysler, GM, Ford, Nissan, Mazda, Honda, Hyundai, (not in proper order) etc. I know a few Toyota dealers who tell me there are lots of warranty repairs and even silent recalls but the media never tells. Just find a car you are comfortable driving, take proper care of it and go build a model
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The highest I ever saw in person was at Toledo about 20 years ago when I saw a red 1967 Corvette coupe promo sell and the buyer handed over $1200 cash. I have seen a Brooklyn diecast prototype sell for about $3000 cash. The highest I ever saw online was in November 2000...a Cox Chaparral 2E slot car kit, iso-fulcrum chassis, mint in box, still sealed in the plastic from someone in Spain to someone in the U.S....$12,600! I know because I had been watching the auction and missed the final bid. However, Ebay was kind enough to send me a note with the final selling price and I still have the note. The highest I ever paid for a kit was $90 for an original AMT 1960 Chevy Impala conv.
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Holy Hell This is COOL!!!!!
Howard Cohen replied to Joe Handley's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
I read about this car elsewhere on the web and it is a real concept car, the operative word being 'concept'. There are many new materials now and more coming in the future, so the possibilities are endless. I was watching 'Autoline Detroit' last year when they talked about a new material that was a composite of plastic and metal. This new material changes shape when heat, or electically generated heat, is applied. The demo started with a small coil spring that was stretched several inches, then dropped in warm water, where it instantly regained it's original shape. One of the applications for this new material is a gas cap door without a hinge. Apply heat and the gas door opens, remove the heat and the gas door closes. This new technology will soon be applied to regular car doors, windshield wiper arms and much more, according to the program. Can you imagine a dent in your car? You apply some heat to the area and the dent goes away. I found this new material, and the technology, very interesting. Every day there is so much new technology that we don't know what tomorrow will bring. I can see the new BMW material improving in the next few years and being sold on a very limited basis, much like the hydrogen powered vehicles in California. On the other hand, fabric covered cars are not new, just look at the vintage Bentley Blower LeMans car of the late 20's -
When you build a model car that well and take photos outside in that setting, it looks real! Great build of a great car!
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There was a 1:1 car like that around southern Ontario about 20 years ago. It was built by a guy I knew at the time. He chopped a '49 merc and then added a full chassis from an old Busch style race car. The motor was taken from a wrecked Pantera, rebuilt and installed. The whole car was smooth as silk, even when it was in primer. A neat and true story. He was driving the car to a paint shop when a guy in a Porsche came up behind him and pulled out to pass. The Porsche guy looked over, pointed at the old primered Merc, laughed and drove by. Wrong idea. Gary (not his real name in case the cops are reading this) decided to have some fun and promptly passed the Porsche. The Porsche re-passed the Merc. Gary trailed the Porsche and was behind it at about 120 when he pulled out and passed it again, this time flooring it and leaving the Porsche standing still. About 10 miles later, Gary pulled in for a pit stop and as he was leaving, the Porsche pulled up. A few polite words were exchanged and Gary told him it was a stock flathead. Then got in and drove off, leaving the Porsche guy standing in awe. When he told the story, we killed ourselves laughing and he swore it was true. Now seeing your excellent Merc in racing gear makes me want to build another one...as soon as I finish the first one.
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Best Settings For Digital Photos
Howard Cohen replied to m408's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
I have the same camera and for indoor model car shots I turn the flash off (as long as there is good overgead light), set the camera on macro and shoot. I have a mini tripod, a fulll size tripod and a monopod for walking around car shows. I am using mini-fluorescent bulbs with an outdoor natural white light. They are about $10 for 4 and are supposed to last 10 years. They give off good, clean light and almost no reflection. I have it set on 'S' which is 640x480, which I find good for overall shots of models. If you increase the resolution, you can get different shots. Experiment with a bunch of shots indoors and out. I took about 100 shots testing it. I have a pair of 2GB cards and I can get a lot of photos on each one, well over 9000 at low resolution. about 1400 on high resolution. However, low is easier to email and store. I also prefer to use the viewfinder to focus most shots and I use the screen only for real closeups. Using the screen kills the batteries real quick. Using the viewfinder, I can take about 250 shots on a pair of batteries. I am using Energizer Rechargables. So far I have taken over 1100 photos and no problems. I like it...it's a good camera, easy to use and carry. -
I was talking to BobDude the other day about this. I said just book a hotel or motel close by and make sure you have a place to stay. As for Friday Night Eats, I wonder what would happen if everyone just picked a hotel and met in the hotel lobby 200 guys sitting around gabbing about models and cars...or maybe we'll all go to Tom's house. We could take turns driving his Barracuda
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I built my first model when I was 12 (1962). I was in the hospital recovering from surgery and my Mom's friend brought me a car kit. I have no idea what it was but I keep having this craving for an AMT Junior 1960 Chevy wagon snap kit When I got out of the hospital I got a few more kits, some car magazines, saw a race on television and only 45 years later, here I am.
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I believe that a removeable hardtop was also added as an option for '54.
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That looks just like the Perrys Resin Malibu wagon..is it a clone? The wheelsbases on the 1:1 Malibu wagon and the El Camino are not the same...I believe there is a 4 inch difference.
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Gee..this is getting scary If you were in Globe25 in 1990/91, then I may have met you at a meeting I attended while visiting Montreal. My old friend Glen Norris (not Chuck's brother) took me to a meeting and I brought the Surf Woody I was building in my motel rooms while on business trips. The meeting was in a school room. It was a lot of fun and I tried to use my Wagar High School french...bad idea. Gary Heavysege works at Karbelt head office in Ajax, Ontario in sales. I just called and he is off sick today. Must be old age syndrome...wait, I'm older than he is 1-888-karbelt should find him. Now I live in Toronto. I was born here, moved to Montreal in 1955 and back to Toronto in 1970. Gary moved here in 1989 after his Mom passed away and stayed with me for a few weeks...turned out to be 2 years. We did every car show and rod run within 500 miles, every hobby shop and toy show; models & car books & magazines all over the apartment (no women allowed) and watched every car program on television. Now he's married and totally ruined He's building a hot rod but I can't remember what it is. I have known Larry & Cliff for years, since they were in our model club many years ago. Larry has quite the collection of small cars...and model cars...and toys...I have to pay him another visit this year, it's been to long since I drooled all over his collection. A bientot mon ami
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The Show Mart in 1963 was my first car show. I nagged my Dad for a month! I took part in the Revell-Testors build at the show. Do you remember that? I took a Revell Attempt 1 and tried to build it in an hour. Then they let us take the stuff home...a kit, paint and glue...a kid's heaven. My Dad was happy that I went home with something. The following year I had a model display...10 cars sitting on top of the centerfolds from Car Craft Magazine. Funny, a few weeks ago I came across some of those same centerfolds. The next year I think it moved to Place Bonaventure. There was a wall filled with model car displays. I have been doing car shows ever since. Follow the link to see some of the dash plaques I still have. I also competed at contests in Westmount Hobby (my favourite), Verdun Raceway, Don-de-Sloterama, and a few other places I can't remember. My oldest friend from Montreal now lives in Oshawa and he also competed in contests and shows. His name is Gary Heavysege. The other member of the 3 modelteers was Len Sekora. We would walk in to a contest with a couple of models each and always walked out with a trophy or award of some sort. We never fought, we made friends everywhere and we had a ton of fun. I lived in Cote St. Luc and then N.D.G. until I moved back to Toronto in 1970. I went to Wagar High, then a year at Lachine Trade School. Snowdon? You must have gone to Snowdon Deli & Orange Julep! BarBBarn! The Forum! Beaver Lake! Some other modelling names from Montreal...Josh Bailis, Guy Perreault, X. Miron Auto Body. Sheesh...we could go on forever. Howard http://public.fotki.com/HowardCohen/dash_plaques/
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'I's be gettin' me some white litnin' right soon...soon as she finshes drippin' inta the buket...then I'm gonna por me a few drops inta my faveoright botl and have me a taste You been drinkin' it by the spoon? Ain't that a mite slow way to drink? Shor is hard to carry 'round that way two This is a photo of the Revell 49 Merc painted with the Testors Diamond Dust...wow...it is a high solids paint that covers well and may need sunglasses when outside. I like it! Today I picked up a can of the White Lightning based on your spoon test, Thanks.
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Hi Raymond - didn't they also have a display at the Montreal Custom Car Show about 1966? I used to display there from 1964-1970 and there were lots of model displays and bicycle displays. I'll email a friend from Montreal and see if he can remember. I entered the contest at Central Aquarium and a few other hobby shops for many years. I often went home with a ribbon or trophy for finishing in the top 3. Remember the contests at Morgan's? I also slot raced and got to the Montreal finals, racing against Armand Christafaro, whom I beat for the concours award but lost to him in the finals.
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Big Day For Gregg Tomorrow
Howard Cohen replied to Gregg's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
'Model Cars', the official state magazine of Hawaii Does this mean 'hula girls' in the magazine I have an idea of how you feel as a friend is the new Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and I was thrilled to meet him in his official capacity on New Year's Day. That smile you incur will stay with you for a week or so. -
I have 2 favourites: The Uncertain T that I first built in 1966, my first 1st Place Trophy (first photo) and rebuilt in 1986 after it had been damaged (second photo). As you can see, I still most of the stuff from the kit plus the trophy that Monogram gave to the contest winners. I don't know how many entries there were but it doesn't matter now, I still have the trophy. Monogram '55 Chevy 4 way kit (third photo). I built them when they first came out but over the years of moving, they disappeared. I was finally able to get a couple at shows and built one completely box and factory stock, including polishing the molded plastic rather than painting it. The second one is built with all the kit supplied custom parts including the bubble and painted red. The custom parts were designed for Monogram by Darryl Starbird, my favourite customizer. (I met Darryl at our car show and he autographed the kit and a spare bubble) Both of these kits take me back to my youth when hobby shops were small mom&pop stores, chains were uncommon, a Saturday bike ride meant a trip to the hobby store and a 10cent burger and a milkshake on the way home. Now that I am a few years older, I still build for fun, just like a kid. That way I don't have to compete againt you guys
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Questions About Taking Pics
Howard Cohen replied to Rudy's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
As an amateur photographer, I really appreciate all the info and advice presented here. The only thing I do differently is using fluorescent bulbs marked 'daylight' in my ceiling light. It holds 4 bulbs and I use the equivalant of 4 - 100Watt bulbs. My background is a light white paperboard and a black&white photo of a Darryl Starbird's shop. Now after reading these messages, I am going to add an extra light or two on the sides and turn off the flash. My camera is a Canon Powershot A460 digital point&shoot with 2 different marco settings and I have let the camera brain do the thinking. It is 5megapixels with 4X optical close up. I don't use the digital closeup as it only causes distortion. Now I will play with the settings and see what I get. Thanks everyone. -
Show Your T's
Howard Cohen replied to Terry Jessee's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
I have two versions of Monogram's Little T; one is semi restored from a glue bomb with the turtle deck, wheels & tires from the L'il Coffin; the other is from leftover parts with a wood tank and wire wheels & tires from the Monte Carlo SS. I also have an 'Uncertain T', does that count? Oh, and a 'Tognotti King T' I still have to restore. -
What Would You Like For Christmas?
Howard Cohen replied to Gregg's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
Like many of the others, mid-60s annuals, especially: 58 Pontiac; 60 Chevy station wagon; 62-4 Corvair; 63-65 Imperials; 64 Grand Prix (having trouble restoring the butchered one I have now); 64-67 MPC Corvettes with the working suspensions; on the showrod side...all of the Zingers; Chuck Miller's Fire Truck; Those will keep me busy for a year or so...Thanks for asking -
How Its Made Tv
Howard Cohen replied to Dead Gargoyle's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
I thought that Lindberg or Aurora was planning to mold in the U.S. or was that a rumour? Canadian show and pretty much produced in Canada. Doubt that they would travel to China just for a few hobbyists... Good thought tho! -
March 14,15,16, 2008, Performance World will welcome special guests Herb Martinez, famed pinstriper, making a return appearance and Boyd Coddington (without the Hollywood cameras and schtick). For more info about the show, go to WWW.PERFORMANCEWORLDCARSHOW.COM and check out the many other features including the 'Suede Nationals'.
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Newest New Guy Here . . . .
Howard Cohen replied to tfurgeson's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
Getting out of a funk is easy...pick up a simple kit and put it together, then show us a photo and you're back in the groove...have fun... -
New Guy Here,...
Howard Cohen replied to Albert Wallace Jr.'s topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
Welcome Albert. I am still kicking myself for missing you in Toledo at the NNL and I hope not to miss you the next time. Glad to see you here. I'm looking forward to your warm California builds and photos while I freeze here in Toronto. -
Can You Identify This Car?
Howard Cohen replied to 7000in5th's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
Very neat looking car, smooth, stylish, powerful looking....do I want one? To quote from Monty Python 'Search for the Holy Grail'...no thank you, I already have one...in my dreams! Does it come in pearl white? And since when does Mr. Obsessive need a kit to build a model...Bill, just scratchbuild the extra parts you need Probably end up with working turbos...