charlie8575

Very nice build. I like the red on it, too. Charlie Larkin

WOW. Good thing you're all safe and things are better. For the record, which kit were you referring to? Charlie Larkin

It's great to see you back. Some tips for maximum happiness: 1. Find a club nearby and get active. 2. Get active on a couple of boards, especially if you have a specific interest, like racing or class 8 trucks. Check the links section here for directions. 3. HAVE FUN! Now....on to your questions. 1. Glues- I like Testors tube and liquid glue. The tube glue as you remember, dries slowly, giving you time to work with the parts. Liquid cement is great for small parts and things with big seams, like engine blocks. I don't use epoxy as a rule- it's a little too heavy for my tastes, although I will use it for metal-to-plastic or resin. I've had mixed results with white glue. I may experiment with epoxy on my next window unit, although Testors does make a speically-formulated cement for clear parts, which is essentially a small amount of solvent in white glue. Those who have used it swear by it. I also plan on trying some of that myself. For super glue, I like the inexpensive $1/3-4 tubes stuff you can get at Wal-Mart, hardware stores and big boxes like Home Depot. I just tried some Permatex superglue (item # 75187) and found it to be very nice. 2. Putty- I've never tried any of the two-part products, but I do use the Squadron white putty, and generally have good results with it, it does, however, take some doing to sand and shape. If you can find it, many people like Tamiya putty and Miliput, as well. 3. Paints- Plasti-Kote primer is the best all-around choice. You can get that at your local Car-Quest store, and some other auto parts store. I use both white, gray, and red oxide from time to time. The primer-sealer is good to use over parts molded in orange, yellow, red, green, purple, and other plastics that have colorants that ten to bleed. I use Testors, Testors Model Master, Tamiya and Humbrol paints, and find all of them work well with proper priming, although the Humbrol seems to be less sensitive to the presence of primer. The Testors one-coat lacquers are also very nice paints. I've used Tropical Turquoise (1957 Chevy color,) and was quite pleased with the results. These do need a clear-coat, however. I haven't tried Tamiya spray lacquers, but those that have like them. The Testors lacquer bottle paint, which I've used for engines, are superb. A word of caution: their lacquer thinner is the best way to clean the brushes. I've been told that 90% alcohol will also remove this paint. Standard lacquer thinner doesn't seem to touch Testors/Tamiya's lacquer. Welcome back. Charlie Larkin

Nice job on that. Charlie Larkin

I'd be interested in buying one possibly. I do think the idea of some newer vans is a nice one. Charlie Larkin

Interesting subject and a nice color scheme. I'll be keeping an eye on this. Charlie Larkin

70% alcohol will also work, but it dulls the finish a bit. I found that the semi-gloss black thinned with 70% alcohol makes it a much more-believable level of gloss. Best thing to do is experiment and see what you like best. Charlie Larkin

I was just thinking that, too. That is a decal I'm guessing? Nice work so far, keep it coming. Charlie Larkin

Now I can get another kit to build a panel truck with one of Jerry's bodies. Very cool. That's a nice kit. Charlie Larkin

Talk about "zoom zoom!" Cool, Ron. Charlie Larkin

Nice, Mike. I've had a devil of a time finding Gelly Roll pens. It seems none of the big chains here carry them anymore, and we don't have any independent stationers anymore, at least within a reasonable distance. Where did you find yours? Charlie Larkin

I'll agree with Lyle. Neither a nicer guy or better modeler you'll find anywhere. If you decide you'd like to try your hand at a model, Kenny, we're all here to help you. Charlie Larkin

Funny you mention this, Terry, I was just thinking "paint it silver, put "STATE POLICE" in the middle of the light bar, and it would look somewhat like a Connecticut State Trooper car. Actually, Donald, if you want to, it would be pretty easy with a stencil and some paint to do an old New Bedford, Ma. cruiser. http://s112.photobucket.com/albums/n195/charlie8575/New%20Bedford%20Police%20Crusiers/ Charlie Larkin

And, for you ambitious builders....the 261 was used in the Canadian Pontiacs, too. I think the block was a bit bigger, although I'm not sure if it was enough so that it would be noticed in scale. And making a Canuck Tin Indian is NOT a simple task. Perhaps someday when I have enough confidence in my skills, I might give it a whirl. Charlie Larkin

Another masterful build, Peter. And a very tasteful color combination. It was truly a pleasure to meet you at NNL and see your gorgeous work up-close and personal. Charlie Larkin

Nice work Chuck. Next time I have a little money and run across one of those, I'm grabbing one. That way I can build the pickup and the roadster. Stock, of course. I'm looking forward to the telephone booth coupe coming back out soon, too. Charlie Larkin

Many happy returns, Kris. Continued success to you and your business, as well. Charlie Larkin

What a nice experience. I really have met some of the nicest people I've run across in this hobby. Please continue to support it with shows. Was this a contest or just a swapmeet/sale? Charlie Larkin

I agree with Mike's statements. However, while Al-Qaeda may still exist, I also feel that with most of their chief leadership out of the picture, that containing them will suddenly become much, much easier, as many of the people in the lower echelons simply do not have the sophistication or resources needed to conduct wide-scale terrorism. I do think that the end of large-scale terrorism from the Near and Middle East may be coming closer than we originally thought. Let us all that is so. Charlie Larkin

A lot of people also have summer/winter hobbies, Rob. For example, they'll go R/C racing, fishing, tennis, golf, whatever, during the warmer weather and during the cool weather, tend to do more indoor things, like building models. I tend to do stuff year-'round, but I pace myself in all things. I try to avoid burnout of any kind by not concentrating too much on one project or aspect of my life at one time. Here's what I tend to do. Tired of one project on the bench? Pull out another, revisit it later. Need a brake from modeling? Go read or write. Need to do something else? Go do it. No hobby, or career, should create burnout. Nothing is gained from wearing yourself out. Charlie Larkin

Florida's way too humid for my tastes. I'd consider Arizona, Nevada, Texas or New Mexico, and back home for the REALLY hot weather. New England is experiencing a nice, if a bit slow, warm-up. Right now, it's running around 60, has been for most of the last week, and will be most of the upcoming week. Charlie Larkin

Morgans! I knew I was forgetting something! I love Morgans. Yes, I'd love to see one or two more of them in 1/24-25. Some other really nice picks I'm seeing. A few others I've thought of. Jaguar SS (the pre-war car that started it all.) I agree with the calls for a Jaguar XK-120/140/160 Some 1930s MGs would be nice. Some of the common pre-war cars, like a Morris Cowley, Austin 7, Mercedes Berliner (170 I think is the number,) or Stuggart, Renaults, perhaps an early-ish Volvo. Some more weird French cars would be fun, like a Puegeout 402 or something like that. Pre-war Vauxhalls, Woolesleys, maybe the larger Morris. Some Tatras or Skodas for something a little different. An Alfa Spyder does sound nice, too. Some of the big luxury cars- big Fiats, Hispano-Suizas, Isotta-Frashini, big Renaults, etc. Charlie Larkin

I actually have that 850 wagon- nice kit. And it's part of the plan I have for this dio. That 760 Mike and Rodney showed are the same kit- Testors did a lot with Italeri; most of the Italeri Classic cars got issued at Testors kits. In fact, I think I own only Testors issues; no Italeris. The 760 would be okay for what I wanted; I'd just have to change my concept slightly. No biggie. I found a few things on eBay and I've watched them. If some employment comes my way soon (and it finally might be,) I'll see what's available when the time to actually buy is here. Charlie

Nicely done. I didn't even make the connection until you said it. Nice model, too. Charlie Larkin

I like Harry's redesign better. Charlie Larkin