charlie8575

The Shark0nose Graham is one car I would LOVE to see kitted! The possibilities for almost every type of modeling are expansive. Charlie Larkin

Will that be the Monogram stock A coupe? Every time I try to get one on eBay, I miss it by pennies or didn't see it quite soon enough. As to the rest. The Jag is of interest, and I've said already, I'm seriously contemplating a case of DelRays. There are enough conversions out there for them that I can make them all, starting with one of MCW's '56 Bel-Air Sport Coupe. I might also try my hand at making a conversion kit to produce a non-DelRay 2-door sedan interior. Might grab a VW camper. Can that Chevy van be built stock, or at least with some other options or leave those flares off? They kill it for me. Charlie Larkin

There is definitely some interesting stuff happening, or has the possibility of happening. And I want a Snoopy plane. Can that LaSalle be built even sort of stock? Charlie Larkin

With the new developments coming, I wouldn't be shocked if re-issues of all the '58 annuals, in annual style did come, or like the Nova, with options to build a full-detail kit. Charlie Larkin

I, for one, am very excited by what I'm reading. That Round 2 is now seeing fit to essentially re-create tooling, and not just a few pieces, but actually re-create one of the classic, highly-desirable kits, and then make a few improvements, is very encouraging. There are literally dozens of kits or promos they could do this with, and probably have tremendous success. I suspect that many of the drawings for the moulds still exist, and while it might require some re-engineering to work with modern injection-moulding machines, with a large part of the most difficult work done, and even with some revision to make parts, better, the design is still better than half-done. The other thing to remember is that the costs of designing and tooling are starting to plummet. Between 3D printing and other new design and production methods, in a short time, this could become a very inexpensive, and possibly regular, occurrence. Imagine that within the next few years, many of the lost tools from not just AMT/MPC, but many of the other manufacturers like Jo-Han, Aurora or Hawk, among others. Right now, 3D printing with a blend of sintered A2 tool steel and liquid urethane is beginning to become more common. You can cut, grind and polish it, everything except weld. And the 3D-printed tool steel can produce and almost production-ready mould, needing only some final polishing, saving tens of thousands of dollars in labor, and having virtually identical durability to a conventional mould, per Startasys. The printer is a hefty investment- about $175,000, and the material isn't cheap, and at least now, the print area is small, but it represents huge promise for a tomorrow not that far away. In the meantime, buy this kit. This is, in many respects, a very risky experiment by Round 2, and we want to see more like it, it needs to be successful. Charlie Larkin

? Now that I got my giggles out of the way.... 1. The auto parts branding isn't a bad idea. Decals are cheap, and I'll bet NAPA or Advance would be willing to sell NAPA or Western Auto and Car Quest branded trucks and such (Advance, I believe now owns both Western Auto and Car Quest, and most of AMT's tooling predates the Advance branding). 2. I think it's time for new 1967-'72 Chevy/GMC trucks. The tooling for all of them are pretty messed up. The GMC stepside got ruined when they converted it to the '72, and I don't even know what happened to the rest of it. Moebius has proven that well-done trucks of that vintage will sell. Time to step up. That said, I might still grab one of these. Charlie Larkin

Definitely due for some kind of re-release, then. Charlie Larkin

What a cool little model. I like the green. Charlie Larkin

All of a sudden, I feel like a Rhodes scholar. ? Charlie Larkin

I seem to remember a variant of that being referred to as a Chinese curse...."May you live in interesting times." Charlie Larkin

Wasn't this the trailer that was included in the '76 Caprice, or very similar? Charlie Larkin

I hear all of this. The last ten years for me have been a disaster. I'm eyeing several different things, including buying an apartment building if I can find anyone willing to work with me. Whether it's my chosen field, or anything else that I find interesting, interviews are non-existent, and have been for the most part since c. 2009. Charlie Larkin

The idea of renewal kiosks at grocery stores is brilliant. The Registry should do that here. Charlie Larkin

Incredible work. Charlie Larkin

That blue is pretty close to Marina Blue, which I think you could get on the full-size cars, I know you could on Chevelles, Novas and Corvettes. I saw mention in here of an eBay seller making more stock-like wheelcovers, and I can't find it again. I want to get a set. I also found a bench seat. Heare's House of Resin on Facebook, and he'll direct you to his eBay site, where he sells. At least in photos, the seat looks pretty good. I'll know more when I get it. Charlie Larkin

I'm very sorry, Carl. I hope things go as well as they possibly can. Charlie Larkin

Well, I went through my feedback, and found this as a review. Nothing derogatroy or mean, and an honest assessment. We all know resin is prone to manufacturing issues. And I'm very serious, this thing will be killer once it's together. If we get another cool/dry spell in the next couple of weeks, I'm going to probably paint it and get it ready to assemble. Two large air bubbles inside, should fill easily. Will look great built. If this is what triggered it...wow. Charlie Larkin

Possibly? I'm thinking of seeing if anyone I know knows this guy, and see if I can get some kind of intermediary set up. If I said/did something, I want to at least try to make it right. Talk about petty. Charlie Larkin

That's disappointing. Looks like it'll be the airbrush stuff, Tamiya, or I've considered trying SEM. Charlie Larkin

First, Larry, I honestly mean this when I say Gregg has made an outstanding choice in your appointment. I sincerely wish you all the best. Secondly, I've been considering doing some writing for some time, and if you are looking for a contributing column or a semi-regular writer, I'd be interested. Feel free to send me a message via Facebook, and we can see if we can help each other. Charlie Larkin

It's a good question. However, right now, as has been the case the last ten years or so, I think massive risk-aversion has taken hold of the planning area for most products, not just models and hobby items. The markets today are changing so rapidly, that nobody wants to take a chance on something, which is unfortunate, because taking chances is what makes a company successful if they play their cards right, and market research is a fundamental part of it. That said, bold chances have also netted massive success, and it would be nice to see a bold chance taken by someone. Moebius did take a bit of one with the Hudsons, and they made out pretty well on those. AMT, Revell and others could stand to follow their lead, and see what might happen. Charlie Larkin

Yes. Especially odd considering I've said nothing negative, and have publicly praised the work I've seen and his casting. Mine had a small issue, but appears fixable (thin spot), but the work...very nice. I know I couldn't do it, and have it come out even 10% as well. Charlie Larkin

Many body-shop jobbers still carry good-quality sandable grey lacquer primer, formulated with mild solvent, for around $20/quart. I'm seriously thinking of switching to that. Problem is it only comes in grey, nobody seems to make red or white. I'm also seriously considering saying screw it, and move to all Tamiya primer. I've been able to use it under most paints without trouble. I wish I could still get Plasti-Kote around here. Nobody seems to carry it. Charlie Larkin

No PayPal issues. I can't even get a bid in. I submitted my bid, and it was blocked. I'm thinking of bidding on something else from another seller, and seeing what the results are. Charlie Larkin

I had a very weird occurrence. I went to bid on a resin kit, and for some reason, I've been blocked from bidding?? I had no rules violations (that I've been made aware of), and it also appeared I've been selectively blocked, despite prompt payment. And I can't find out why because individual questions have been blocked, too. I find this a bit distressing, and and also a little upsetting. Especially because I can't get answers. Charlie Larkin