charlie8575

Looks good Lee. Charlie Larkin

Nice build-up on that. I have a Delahaye downstairs I'm going to be working on sometime before much longer. Charlie Larkin

Nice model, and the dull side of the black posterboard works well as a back-drop. I'd suggest getting a white or light blue one for darker-colored cars. Charlie Larkin

I love it! Charlie Larkin

This is one of my current projects at the moment. I bought this kit when it was first issued in the late 1990s, and it's a very nice kit. As it was one version- factory stock, that was fine with me, too. That in and of itself, makes it a little different, as almost all of these on the boards seem to be some kind of modified. So far, I've started doing some painting and a small amount of assembly I've decided to paint the car in two-tone India Ivory/Twilight Turquoise. I just finished the interior, aside from some Dull-Cote for the carpet. I used Humbrol Satin White and Model Master Turquoise, which is amazingly close to the turquoise used on the vinyl, carpet and metal trim. I also painted the engine and transmission. I may end up having to touch-up a little, but it's just about there aside from the tops of the armrests, which should be turquoise. To simulate cast iron, I painted the transmission in aluminum, and then put a heavy dry-brushing of Testors flat gray over it. Once everything completely dries, I'll then hit it with a light dry-brushing of rust to enhance the realism a little. More will come as weather and time allow. Charlie Larkin

Really nice work on that interior, Mike. Charlie Larkin

Marlborough, Ma., on the back of French Hill, 4:00-ish P.M. Dad took this picture. Sooooo much fun. Yeah. Right. Charlie Larkin

I couldn't get to school yesterday- my windsheild wipers fell apart due to cold, and Monday night, I discovered how bad my car is as it kept overheating on the way back home; what I thought was a bad thermostat turns out to be a bad radiator. The weather yesterday morning was creating enough trouble that I just turned back- I was about halfway there, but I couldn't do it. Car aside, all the main roads were stopped solid in both directions. I shoveled out after it stopped snowing, as was done in about an hour. This morning, Dad stayed home and we just had at it. Took about an hour and forty-five minutes for about half as much snow due to the weight from the water. We have literally run out of places to put it. Our neighbor came by and punched out the end of the driveway as best he could- when he runs out of room to plow the snow, you know it's bad. And now....more for next week? BLECH! Charlie Larkin

Personally, I'm not getting excited over this until some reviews are in. Partially for Trumpeter's infamous gaffes of the past, and partially....fifty bucks!? All I can say is, even at street prices of $35-40, it had BETTER be good, or they should just concentrate on their aircraft and armor after this one. Charlie Larkin

I'm building too. Hopefully, we'll get enough of a break in weather so I can get some paint on. Charlie Larkin

I usually find it's easier to paint the lighter color overall first, mask off what you want to be the lighter color and spray the darker color over everything. Less chances of things going wrong. Interesting color combination, Donald; I don't think it's factory, but it'll look really nice. Charlie Larkin

With a reaction like this....she'd be out. If I was feeling generous, just out on the couch! I'd love to do this this year, but my space limitations and paint-proof weather make it impossible this year. Perhaps next year. Charlie Larkin

Although I've not had cause to contact Revell, aside from a request for a replacement part (which was attended to quickly,) I've contacted both AMT and Lindberg, and found their responsiveness to be quite good, and thorough. Charlie Larkin

Looks great, Mike. I hope you can make it to MassCar this year, even if it's on the primer table, we'd love to see it. If you can't and would like for it to be displayed, let me know, I'll work something out with you. Charlie Larkin

Looking good. Charlie Larkin

Close-up, it almost looks real. Great story line and build. You should consider taking all these stories and doing some Continental Op-style short stories and novelettes, Mike. With proper exposure, I think you might be on to something for a nice extra income. Charlie Larkin

Spinnaker Blue sounds nice for this, Steve. I believe that was available for the '76 Model Year. I know some kind of soft, pastel blue was. Another good option would be Deep Sherwood, and if you look around, you still might be able to find a can of Dupli-Color on a shelf someplace. I'll enjoy watching this. Are you using one of the MPC Monacos for the running gear and chassis? Charlie Larkin

Too bad G.M. didn't do this in 1:1, I think it looks pretty good myself. I'll enjoy watching this come together. Charlie Larkin

Neato. Round headlights and snowflakes or Rally IIs. Charlie Larkin

James.... Several points. 1. If the price were reasonable, say $10-20/year, I and a lot of other people would probably pay to use the site. Right now, it's free, and I do hope it stays that way because.... 2. Right now, I doubt the market or economy could support extra fee-based services or products. I know given my own situation, I couldn't. After a year of effective total unemployment, which amounted to a financial situation that left a cup of (99-cent convenience store) coffee a carefully-considered purchase, I haven't bought much of anything in the last year. I haven't had any extra money. That That said, the things I've learned, and I can honestly say the FRIENDS (and there are quite a few) I've made have made this experience worth a ton, and if Gregg decided he needed to charge to keep it going, I'd find the money. 3. "Take the milk and honey for free and diss the magazine. Nice of you folks to do that." I think you're missing the point. Much of this isn't meant to "diss" (i.e., "to disrespect," for those whose first language is not English or amongst those less hip,) but rather to point out shortcomings and deficiencies in a product those of us who have commented on this post care about and want to see made better. This has not been disrespectful, at least up to the point (your comment) I've read, but generally a civil, polite, but quite frank discussion. And one that needs to take place. Certain exceptions have been..."noted," and dealt with accordingly. Before he was at Chrysler, Jim Press, who ran Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. was quoted as saying (more or less, I don't remember the verbatim,) "we don't want to see any of them [Ford, Chrysler or General Motors] go out of business. To do so would be bad for the industry and bad for consumers; it would overload the surviving manufacturers and take choices away from customers. That's not good in the long run." Mr. Press' thoughts extend to this market, too. To be a leader in your field, you need more than one entrant. Competition makes markets and products healthy and better for everyone- including the competition. Improvement and innovation inspires others to be better and helps everyone by creating better products and services no matter which you prefer. This is a nice article that sums up the theory, and I invite all of you to read it. http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/small-business-and-entrepreneurship/ Please understand that in no way, shape or form do I intend my rebuttal towards you to be harmful, insulting, or injurious in any way, shape or manner. Rather, it's to help you understand the main point of this topic, which I feel may have been lost in your view of things- it isn't necessarily wrong (and were this a whining session, it would have been completely within reason,) but I fear you may have rode to the defense of something that didn't need to be. Charlie Larkin

One trick I learned to keep paint from drying out is to store the paint jars upside down. This helps seal the air out. Also, make sure that little cardboard insert remains in the bottle, that's instrumental in keeping the pain solvent. And yes, keeping the lids on tight is an absolute necessity.

That is coming out nicely. And he's going to do a stock one, too! YAY! I can build that pretty two-tone tan and gold car like the brochure had! And a bunch of other combos, too... Charlie Larkin

Perry's makes a 1981 Malibu coupe, which, with a little tinkering on the grille, could repreesnt a '79. I believe R&R also offers a 1979 Malibu coupe. Charlie Larkin

Personally, I've begun to prefer Model Cars over Scale Auto, and did so many years ago. Ever since the present proprietor of Scale Auto took it over, I really feel it went down hill. I don't buy many magazines right now, even ones I want. I simply can't. Yes- there are issues (no pun intended) with Model Cars re: timeliness, distribution and mutilation of issues received by subscribers, and YES- they must be fixed if the market is to truly take it seriously. I don't know too much about magazine production, but I do know a little about production management as a broad topic, and the bottom line is the product must be out when it's supposed to be out. Of course, problems happen beyond all our control and those need to be dealt with as they come up, but a consistent predictable production schedule is the first thing that needs to be done, whether you're dealing with magazines, cars, stoves or service goods. I don't know what I might be able to do to help, but if you need a scheduling manager, I'd be more than willing to give it a shot. Charlie Larkin

While Darren sounds like he'd like to complete more- and honestly, who wouldn't, I think perhaps the spirit of the question is more how is it done, not necessarily "I want to do this myself." The clarity of vision alluded to does probably help. If you know you want A-B-C, it come to being. Similarly, if you're not quite sure what you want, that model may sit for a while until It's done and ready. For some people, it's the amount of time they have- that certainly affects the speed at which you build. Re-allocation of time isn't always possible, so you do as much as you can. Also- productivity is key to being happy. I can vouch for productivity leading to happiness, although for different reasons. Everyone defines productivity differently. Some at the speed they build, some the quality. Some are people who have discovered how to produce quality and quantity together. If you simply wish to find out how to get more accomplished, and accomplished well, which, for whatever reason, will increase your satisfaction, there's no harm in doing that, either. Charlie Larkin