Gregg

Added quick pics to main site: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/tamiya-mercedes-benz-300sl/

Thanks for all the show updates. If you haven't added them to the online MCM calendar here on the forum, please do so. That's a good idea for the Google calendar, but I wonder if that would be like doing it twice, since the MCM forum calendar links directly to the forum? Still need to update the club directory, and other references.

First issue is out. Being mailed, but due to glitch in my brain cells, or cell, mailing did not go through smoothly. We have to mail them out in batches. You can order the mag straight from the office, 303.296.1600 Online ordering is being set up, digital version, like MCM, is still hitting glitches. We can't control the sharing of the digital version yet, so until we can do that, digital is still work in progress. No, we can't get with Zinio, too small.

Rick, thanks. Craig, Chris, Bob, Joe, Jonathon, others..., ditto

Yes, there are posts/threads/messages that were lost. Notice was posted/pinned that there was a problem with the current server. Posting new topics was asked to be curtailed, until the problem could be fixed. The migration is done, and the new server is up and running. Yes, there are some lost posts/threads/messages. But, warnings were posted. A final sync was done, but it missed some things. Couldn't be helped. As for all the complaints and armchair quarterbacking on this issue, let's put it all to rest, and get back to building. The new server should be able to handle the growth of the site/forum for a while now. Yes, it's a lot more expensive. It's no longer a "hobby" site. It's a full-blown enterprise solution, that costs major bucks. How major? Just go do some research to see how much it would be host your own dedicated server, self-managed, at an enterprise level. The site gets over 1.4 MILLION hits a month, MILLION. Over 40,000 unique visitors a month. Wait, sorry, that was a few months ago. Now, I just checked stats, it's 1.6 Million, and over 50,000 unique visitors. As for bandwidth, let's just say LA Traffic at rush over! Could the "lost" posts, topics, threads be restored? Probably. Are we going to spend the time and money to do this? No. Cut and dry. Plain and simple. Notice was put on the site. There was bound to be problems/issues arising, and there still are some. Still working on reseting some of the settings/records of the server, still learning along the way as well. A self-managed server is not a DIY'er type of thing. I get stuck, dazed, and confused a lot, and David is doing his best to knock some cents into me, and do what he can to help. (Yes, I spelt sense cents) The moderators do their best with the time they can afford to give, and they work for free. The forum wouldn't work without their dedication, and I'm so thankful for all that they do. Even with all the complaints, egos, and whatnots they have to deal with. There's no need to post threads, topics, or other discussions on this. It's pau, finished, kaput, move on. If there are MAJOR problems that you see or come across, let me know. Some things will be on your own end, like cookies, cache, refresh browsers, etc. Try the simple things first. Your computer was so used to being pointed to the old server, the new one on your system may just need or take getting a kick in the okole to be reset.

Please post, or send me, all your 2015 Show Dates, Times, Places, Info, etc. In the same format as published in the mag: Example: January 1 (Sunday) Honolulu, HI 135th Annual Hawaii NNL. World's oldest running model car show. Honolulu Model Car Museum, 801 S. Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96813. For more information, contact Honolulu Mayor, Gregg Hutchings, mayor@modelcarsmag.com, or visit the web site, at: www.ItsNotForReal.com This is an example of the format.

The new server is up and running. There seems to be no problems There is a problem/issue with the mail servers, so you may not get you forum email/notifications. Working on that now but everything else seems to be fine no glitches, knock on my wooden head.....

We will have to turn the forum off for a while to do a full backup, migration, and then a final sync of all the data here. Hopefully it will only take a day or so, have to wait and see.

Maybe hold off on any major posting/updates to the forum for a day. Just look and troll, I know, what? TROLL? Just for a day still trying to get it sorted out and with migration, may loose a day or so of data/posts.

There is a serious root hack going on with the web site/forum. They don't know where it's coming from. If it happens one more time, the forum will be shut down for a while until it is figured out. It could be an upload to the forum, disguised as an image, or something worse. Moving over to another server, with better tech support also. thanks for your patience.

The real thing. email me and I can send pics of ones we found. I'm not sure if Gilbert has any around also. What we also discovered, or deduced, was the side F350 emblem/plate are different colors for diesel or gas. It looks like the diesel versions have a red wash, and gas engines have a black wash.

From what Gilbert and I have seen, the single cabs have no ribs on the roof. The indent/galley/groove is there, but no ribs.

Thanks, Mike(s) I will try and get one from Modelhaus and we are still trying to find some dually wheels. I may try and get some Alcoa-style aluminum ones made, still working on that as well. This will be a great addition to the hobby. I'm glad MENG did it, and I think it will open the doors for a lot of new aftermarket parts for these trucks.

Couple of notes on the kit: There is no steering box/linkage, at all. There is a tie rod that allows the front wheels to turn. There is no front panhard or whatever it would be called on the front of a truck, that keeps the front end from moving or shifting from side to side. The AMT/MPC Desert Dog tires fit the stock MENG rims perfectly. The Aoshima HiLift SuperSwampers fit, but they balloon the sidewalls a bit. MENG has said they will send out replacement chrome, but check your chrome first, see if it does peel I would like to follow this, and so would MENG Gilbert saw some of my bigger Aoshima Mega Rims, and they look amazing!!!! I know a lot of guys will be doing this set up. This a set of resin Hobby Design rims that were sent out for chroming.

Want to see if the Modelhaus Utility bed will fit the MENG F350 Does anyone have one, or built one? Service Bed (Utility box) utility box and canopy roof Price : $38.00 conversion made for use with any 1/25 scale pickups with 8 foot bed. This is a Knapheide style bed with 40 inch high sides, 20 inch deep side boxes, and tread plate rear bumper. Includes bed, canopy roof, doors, glass, taillights, box covers, and license plate.

I did some touch up on the photo from the box art on the kit. This should help with the painting/detailing of the motor.

See if you spray a couple of light coats of the DupliColor Primer Filler/Surfacer on it. Then wet sand it and see if stays the same as surrounding areas. I have had this before, and it came out okay after the primer coats.

It was a quick build, focusing on the fit of the kit, the parts, etc. I took liberties with the painting as I said before. I also forgot to paint the muffler bearings, and I think I have the 750cfm Carburator the wrong color. The piston return springs were not included, but they can be fabricated easily enough. The turn signal fluid reservoir was not in the kit as well. Get it? It was a fun, quick build, to see how everything went together. If Marcos did the build for us, it would be perfect, of course. I had fun doing this, and I really enjoyed it. Like I said, the turbo plumbing was the hardest part, but take your time with it, look at the pics here, and more on the main site soon, and that should help. We will do more one-to-one Up Close photos for reference soon as well. a hui ho! (till next time/tomorrow)

They are from this Tamiya kit:

Well, as I would say, it's pau! I like it, a lot. I will be ordering more, at least two more, maybe four? I know Gilbert is getting three of them, maybe I can "borrow" one of his? Enjoy the pics, and hopefully this will help you with your build. It was a custom painted truck, and I took liberty on the color and painting of the body. The instructions do a good job of giving you the correct factory painting colors/areas. The hardest part was the turbo plumbing. I used Alclad Polished Aluminum, and I think that works the best for the tubing. Mahalo for following this. I switched back to those off road Tamiya tires that I started with. I left the side windows off, even though they do fit flush and I dare say perfectly.

Post your pics, ideas, plans, etc. on what you would like to do, or will be doing, on the new MENG Ford F350 Super Duty Crew Cab truck kit. This should be an interesting topic, and I for one can't wait to see what you guys come up with! Let the games begin!

Vince, maybe we should start a new MENG Ford F350 thread so everyone can post up their ideas for what can be done with this kit. Sound like a plan? Can't wait to see what you plan on building my friend1

Hopefully I got everything in the right place! The tubing, hoses, and placement of all the turbo hoses, intercooler hoses, lines, etc. was a hit-and-miss affair. Hopefully by the time I get the review done, we will have a detailed Up Close of the 6.4L Turbo Diesel PowerStroke motor. This will help with the placement of all the hoses and such, and give you super-detailers out there something to do. The decals for the engine parts are fantastic! I swear, there is little or no clear coat outside of the color portion of the decals. Everything went down perfect the first time. Even the little reservoir caps fit right dead center, with no clear going over the side from the decals. I love it! Did I saw that already? Some engine pics: The small coolant (?) tank on the side of the radiator was kind of hard to figure out how it was attached. This pic out of the truck shows how it mounts up. It also rests on the Intercooler hose tab, but that's evident when the radiator and intercooler are installed. Follow the sequence numbering in the instructions. Don't skip a step. I ended up mixing some Testor's Zinc Chromate and some flat white to get a sorta kinda maybe correct color for the big reservoir tank. It's not perfect, but then, neither am I…

I should start shooting it with the kit tires. These tires are the off road-style ones from a Tamiya kit.

Hai The only issue so far is the peeling chrome, and hopefully MENG will have a reply soon on this. Domo