Brett Barrow

But what are kids today actually into (and will they be into it for more than 5 minutes)? Nobody has ever been able to give me an answer to that. Isn't it wiser to find the kids and young adults who are into the types of cars you already make? Believe me, there are plenty of kids and young adults out there who are into traditional hot rods, kustoms, super stocks, gassers, funny cars, show cars, VW bugs, etc... there are tons of Facebook groups devoted to these types of cars and they're not just full of greybeards. That's the group to go after, the ones who are already into the stuff you do. Just remind them "Hey guys, models still exist! We're still around!" I get that all the time from customers - "Models? I didn't know they still made these!".

This looks shopped. I can tell from the pixels and seeing quite a few shops in my time. Not to mention it's a two door, the only Tucker to compete in NASCAR broke an axle on the opening lap of its first and only race **dang big 3 conspiracy!!!**, and this is the real picture: I think the way to get a Tucker model made is to take the Wingnut Wings/Peter Jackson approach - convince Francis Ford Coppola and/or George Lucas (both Tucker owners) to start a model company! One could make a small fortune making Tucker models, provided they started with a large fortune! It wouldn't totally shock me to see Moebius do one, as they naturally cater to a smaller market, but if Revell were to do one, I'd demand mandatory drug testing on Revell's entire management and product development staffs!

Modelhaus does(did?) the Tucker.

Grand Theft Auto doesn't use real cars, they're like bizzaro-world cars that resemble (some more closely than others) real cars.

I don't know why there haven't been Gran Tourismo or similar tie-in cars done. They could have a code were you buy the model and unlock the car inside the game. Tamiya and Dragon both ran a World of Tanks promo where you got in-game credit for buying kits with World of Tanks stickers on them. I had a bunch of people ask about it and even seek out kits with those stickers because they also played the game. Definitely something to think about. A bigger question is what cars are American kids into? Because I can't tell and I sell these durn things I don't think they're that into cars in general, and the ones who are into cars are just as likely to be into classics or even old gassers and dragsters than they are anything current.

Revell-Germany was still part of Revell-Monogram at the time, so it would have also been sold in Europe. There were others IIRC, that was just the first one I found on Google.

I don't know that it is or will be a success, those Halo models just came out. The memory of this flop (and the $8 million down the drain to develop it) looms pretty large over the US industry...

And speaking of video games vs. modeling - do they not get video games over in Japan? Because I'm pretty sure they do, and on top of that they're waaay more into both video games and modeling than the US. Modeling participation numbers in Japan are off the charts compared to the US, thanks to the genius of Bandai's Gundam series (50%+ of the Japanese market) - Gundam doesn't even try to hide that's it's a big model kit commercial, the current series is actually about kids building Gundam models! And in true "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" spirit, Bandai even makes video games (makes - they don't just license them, they are a video game company - Bandai/Namco Games). Plus Bandai now makes video game tie-in models, we just got these Halo figure kits in the other day -

When I was 15 none of my friends built models either. That was 22 years ago and the hobby's still alive. I work in the business, it is what it is now. The hobby has found its niche, and that's what it is, and that's what it's going to be - a niche. We're constantly comparing the state of the hobby at any given time to the 60's, when it was a fad. Will it ever be a fad again? I doubt it. But I think it's found a comfortable spot, we've gotten the large toy companies out of control and actual model people back in charge and I think the hobby is better for it. I've heard a story about how one of the model companies (I believe it was Revell, but it may have been AMT, the storyteller had worked for both) that they saw their revenues cut in half the year Pac Man came out. So video games aren't some new force the hobby has to compete with, it's been competing with them for years. As to American car modeling in particular, I have a theory - "As Detroit goes, so goes the hobby". If Detroit can get young folks (and adults) excited about cars, then they'll get excited about building car models.

George Toteff (created the 3-in-1 kit and one-piece bodies while at AMT, founded MPC, resurrected Lindberg) was obsessed with 1/20th, I've never really understood why.

It basically boils down to this: "Dear Model Company, could you spend $250,000 so I can spend $25 for a plastic kit instead of $60-80 for resin? Toodles!" Seems fair... Regarding the High and Mighty - it is doable... http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=86189

And what do Ralph Nader and swing axles have to do with the AMT Corvair Funny Car?

I don't have one, but here's the instruction sheet - http://public.fotki.com/drasticplasticsmcc/mkiba-build-under-c/amt-instructions/straightline-competition/amt-corvair-funny-car/ *edit* - Pictures are fuzzy, but it appears to be based on the Hemi Under Glass kit as was pointed out below by Daddyfink Very simple, similar in its execution to the AMT altered wheelbase kits from around that same time. One built up box stock here about halfway down the page: http://speedcityresin.com/Model%20Gallery%20Page%202

I haven't built it, but Dave Thibodeau did a full build review in the other magazine. He mentioned some flash, and there is a goof in the instructions regarding the parts used if using the Foose wheels. Do not use parts 87 or 91 and use part 24 on the rear axle. This may have been corrected in later printings of the instruction sheet. The body parts are now molded in white where older versions were orange. Rest of the kit is black. Kit photos in this thread, starting on page 8 http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=75156&p=1083281

I have to agree with Hakan. I use the 18-55mm lens on my Nikon D40 (not the one that came with it, but a replacement that has IS) and it's plenty sharp for me (although one major factor that lead me to choose Nikon over Canon was that pretty much every review said the Nikon 18-55mm was better than Canon's). I do have to remind myself to get further away from the subject, usually 18-24". I usually shoot in the midrange on the lens (I've learned that it doesn't like being at it's extreme focal lengths, I'm usually around 35mm) and will often have to crop out the edges of my light box. The 18-55 is the only lens I have, it can do tack sharp closeups. This shot was made on my desk using available light, handheld. This was shot in my old homemade light box. It doesn't have the EXIF data anymore, so I don't remember the exact settings. Been trying to find something I shot in my new lightbox besides product shots for work.

VW brochure from 1970, earliest one I've found that uses "Beetle", though a few earlier made mention of "bug" or "Bug". http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/70cdnfullline.php By 71 with the introduction of the Super Beetle it was pretty much in all English VW literature. But I'm sure in Germany they were always officially "Type 1" or whatever... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/71whatyearisit.php

Yep.

The Munsters cars are still good sellers. And the Monkeemobile didn't do too bad the last time it was reissued. I think they got their money's worth out of those.

BTW, Fujimi recently re-popped the old Modeler's Chaparral 2D.

Between the two of them, they have it covered.

Hmm, we've already got the new issue in, but missed the May issue somehow. Maybe it's just hiding in someone else's office. It should be hiding in mine!

Jay Ohrberg and/or Bob Reisner built the car, they were partners at the time, but would soon split. Reisner received credit in contemporary press, but Ohrberg claims credit for it now. He owned the car for a long time. Note that Ohrberg claims to have built pretty much every car to have ever appeared on a TV or movie screen, so take that into consideration. Conflicting info on whether it was commissioned by the show, or repurposed from Reisner's California Show Rods line-up. Apparently there were some Olds Tornado components under there somewhere.

All those Camaros, and not a mullet to be found... A bit disappointed. Nice cars and nice pics!

I haven't gotten into building mine, but I did notice that the side pipes aren't symmetrical either, so I'm assuming they worked it all out in the design and it was all done to clear the steering box.