Gregg

I know, late as usual... I finally got the 2013 calendars from the printer, and they are nice! Jairus Watson did 12 months of art work for this year's calendar, and I know there have been comments, mostly sarcastic, that they aren't worth the $10.95 (plus $3 shipping) since it's already three months into 2013. But seriously, doesn't almost everyone here cut out, tear out, or just rip out the months with the pics that you want and tape on the walls by your workbench? This way, you get there months of art work by our own talented, funny, and all around great guy Jairus to hang on your walls. Harry did the layout and design of the calendar, and I have to give him a big mahalo for that. You can order them from the magazine site: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/calendar. Thanks for looking! and please, keep the sarcastic comments to yourselves.

This is actually an upcoming article in Model Cars Magazine.

OMG Da Big Kahuna speaks. I just went through this with the AMT/Model King '69 Camaro Funny Car kit. Granted, the box art that our friend Sean Svendsen did is fantastic, and makes you want to buy and build the kit, but the fit of almost everything in the kit is horrible! I lost the last two remaining hairs on my head on this one. The front end caused me so much problems, I ended up sending Sean a note, asking for some more pics and clarifications. He came through like a champ, and this should help with an article on the build of this very cool kit. The old AMT instructions don't match up to the kit parts, the kit parts don't fit, and nothing goes together like it should. Too bad it wasn't re-engineered to today's standards, they would have had an incredible 5-star kit on their hands! Thanks for the help, Sean!

Yes, Lee is correct. Plastic Fanatic is still owned by Plastic Fanatic, Inc. Model Cars bought the mailing list/accounts from PF. small technicality, but that's just the facts :-) Long time no see Neil!

Where are the decals from? They look great! None of the shadows or outlines I usually see. I love the valve stems, nice touch, and the wheel weights. Now you are getting me even more inspired to build those 1/12 kits I just got...

I agree Bruce! I got this kit from a Craigslist ad here, but no more instructions or decals. I want to build it, Thomas has giving me inspiration. I got this and the two 1/12 Lotus kits: 72 D and the JPS Mk.III

While doing a review for the 1/32 scale Revell SnapTite Peterbilt 352 Cabover, I saw a photo of a Gulf transporter from the great days of automotive racing. Then the brain cell clicked (yes, the last one left...). Why not try and make a slot car Gulf Transporter from this kit? It was easy, came out okay (except for the booboo on the left front corner, and once I get the flat bed area figured out, it should be pretty neat... (The booboo on the left front corner) (The other side)

I really like the Alclad over Bare-Metal Foil nowadays. Especially with a gloss coat to spray the Alclad over. Yes, the taping is a pain, but then again, so is laying down "perfect" Bare-Metal Foil (BMF). I have seen too many disappointing models with BMF that has been applied over a rough windshield frame or side trim. WIth the Alclad, that lessens the "look", as it seems that the paint is more forgiving that the BMF over the rough stuff. Yes, you can sand down the windshield frame to create a perfect smooth surface to lay down BMF, but I still have not seen too many "perfect" BMF windshields or other side trims in my humble opinion. That is what distracts me most from a model: poor, or rough, window openings. Marcos, your panel lines features have cleared up the other nagging problem, or pet peeve, that I have had with models, and now, hopefully, with the Alclad over at least the windshields of models, this can help others get that "perfect" finish da Big Kahuna looks for!!!! I know, what an ego :-) But you know it's all in fun. Okay, I pau

No progress on the Datsun, yet. The wheels are from an old set of Aoshima Aftermarket ones, I probably did a wheel roundup back in early 2000, would have to go through and find that issue.

Thanks, Jonathan. Haven't done much GT5 either. Probably first time in months been here.

I started playing around with the new Revell '50 Olds kit, I couldn't leave it stock now, could I? The side trim is in progress. This is part of the Alclad Chrome series of articles. I am starting to do chrome trim by spraying Alclad instead of using Bare-Metal Foil. The problem with doing it this way is that you will rub off the Alclad if you have not finished building the model first. This photo like I said is in progress. I will probably redo it after the model is finished (I know, me finish a model?). Probably will tape up and spray even after all the glass and everything else is in. I love the results from spraying over the clear coat.

I don't cheat, I just want to win....

Actually, this round of 1/24 won't work with 1/32 scale bodies. The front aluminum wheels are set screw-type, and as such, that determines the front axle width or track. The body mounts are the same as the previous versions, the sliding angle pieces that Jairus did that cool trick with the light behind the body and Sharpie to make mounting points/holes. I started gluing in styrene square stock to inside of body panels, then tapping in 2mm thread holes, and then using longer R/C car allen head screws to mount body. This chassis/slot is from the first round of releases. I added a lot of Jairus' mods to it

Round2 sent the new and improved AMT 1/24 (OOPS, SORRY!!!) scale slot car 1962 Catalina today. They fixed almost all the old problems, some of them better than others. They added new aluminum rims, aluminum ring gear, brass pinion gear, and better tires. The front guide problem they resolved by making a new guide, with basically a stop built into it.

I followed Jairus' hop ups with the AMT Chassis. I did switch to the Urethane coated rear tires, since we run on the plastic tracks here, and added one magnet underneath. The body is the Fujimi Porsche kit, that has been curbsided. I didn't change the motor. It was $40 or so for it, didn't want to spend that much on a motor. The stock motor flies!!! Well, for me, it does. I love it! I picked up some of the grey styrene angle irons to make body mounts for other cars. I love these kits. I would love to see them change the design to fix the errors of their ways.

I was trying to work with a couple of companies to develop this for us modelers. So far, it's a no go But, I did find Delicious Library for the Mac, which will let me scan in the bar codes, and it does find most of the kits, through a Google/Amazon search. it's not perfect, but it is the only one so far that does what I want it to, somewhat. For those unfortunate few who still use a PC, can't help you there. I have worked on the MySQL behind IntelliScanner's software, but that's a story for another day.

Thanks, Chuck. Hopefully we can get some great pics and run some coverage in the mag. If not, I know one mag that will run them for sure!!! (Hint, hint, wink, wink.....)

I was playing around with the track tonight. Had some fun! This came out so cool. I'll work on the setup of the shot more later, when get time.

Yes, very true, we have no animosities here. Macus Nichols over at Tamiya Model Magazine (the" other mag") is a very nice guy, I consider him a friend. I have no problem mentioning his magazine at all. Heh, I even get his digital versions

Joe, let me know how this works out. I know there is an iAPP thingee, don't have one, so can't check it out. I did set up the main web site to be "responsive" where it would adapt to the different browsers, and I think that is working okay.

There should be no pop-ups at all. The Google Ads are a static java script, that should show up on the Index Page only. If you have a pop up, it is more likely than not from using a Proxy Server. The Google Ads are a test, to see how they do. Still playing with the sizes, look, etc.

I know. The thing is incredible! You can even test motors by themselves. I have a plastic pinion I split on the end, with a small piece of the reflective tape, and I can check which of the exact same motors are the fastest. It's pretty cool. Maybe a jig to hold the motors in would be the ultimate add-on for this. I'll ask Mark about that.

sorry about that. fixed it still working on the site