charlie8575

AMT and Lindberg also make nice display cases, as does Pioneer Plastics. My favorite, though, are still the Jo-Han Sho-Cases. They're interlocking, sized well and keep the model clean. They turn up on e-Bay now and then, periodically, I've heard of people still coming across them at hobby shops, too. Too bad Okey didn't put those back into production- he almost could've rebuilt Jo-Han simply on the sales of the cases. Regarding the Static Master brush- I asked my dad about them, and he seconded that as being a good choice for dusting models (he does slide film and medium-format photography, too.) He also said that the Amazon store Mike linked to seemed a bit high price-wise, and strongly recommended shopping around. There are several reputable photography suppliers in the Greater Boston area that will ship nationally; many of them have very competitive prices. Those listed below have great service, too. Recommended by us are: E.P. Levine, Waltham, Ma. Calumet Photo, Cambridge, Ma. Zeff Photo Supply, Belmont, Ma. Hunt Photo & Video, Malden, Ma. Wheaton Camera, Worcester, Ma. Smaller shops that are still good: Scorby Camera, Neeham, Ma. Noble's Camera, Hingham and Cohasset, Ma. (friends with the owner.) K. Ellis Photo, Dartmouth, Ma. (Excellent prices, very good service.) Charlie Larkin

Well, George, as someone who, at 35, might be a kid by some definitions.... I've always had a very strong interest in Hudsons since high school. Before then, I just thought they were neat old cars. Then I found out more about the innovations they made- how they actually tried to truly build a better car; often the case with the independents. I was sold that these were a superior car, even by today's standards in many respects. Then, I found out about the Jet- and how it probably is the one single biggest factor aside from lack of a V8 that put Hudson out of business. By then, I was in college. Sure, I knew about the Jet previously, but the article in Collectible Automobile really brought things into focus for me. Later, when I changed my major from education to a self-designed general studies degree, the Jet became the topic of my Capstone Project- it was the perfect storm of poor market timing, bad managerial decisions and management interfering with the engineering staff, ruining what might actually have been a very competitive, well-executed small car. Then I joined the Hudson-Essex-Terreplane Club as a result of my research for my project, and learned even more about Hudsons in general, and Step-Downs in particular. I became thoroughly hooked. Sounds like your friend's Hudson was pretty well beat when he had it, I wonder if that's clouding your thoughts? While it's true that everyone's tastes are different, I certainly wouldn't call them unattractive. I like the bathtub (Hudson, 1949-'51 Nash, 1948-'50 Packards, 1949-'51 Mercury) cars as a group, and most cars of that vintage as a rule. I think they're certainly better-looking than most of the under-designed schlock being foisted upon the automotive public now. I for one can't wait Charlie Larkin

I saw this one last night at MassCar for the in-house contest, and it's as nice as it looks. Charlie Larkin

Ooooohhhhhh......pretty. I see mine in Symphony Blue-Green Light with a gray interior. This kit, even if it were left alone, and I can now say this seeing one in full color, is absolutely stellar. This is a fine, well-made representation of one of the greatest cars ever produced in America. Even if it's not all at once, I will be buying a case of these... I can't wait. Charlie Lrkin

Great work, Ian Charlie Larkin

That looks really good, Art. I hope you're considering bringing it to NNL-East, seeing that you won't be able to make MassCar this year. I'm looking forward to seeing more progress on this. Yes, Tony- you did kind of join this mid-way through. See here. http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=30337 Charlie Larkin

Very nice; I would've thought with the black base it would've turned muddy. I like that color- a lot. Have you found the Paint Shop paints too aggressive for plastic? I've been told some people have had...less than desirable results using that product on plastic. Charlie Larkin

Too bad it's high-contrast black-and-white, color pictures, especially of the interiors, would've been very helpful, but the information itself is ABSOLUTE PURE GOLD. THANK YOU! Charlie Larkin

An amazing piece of work, Ian. I've thoroughly enjoyed watching this. Charlie Larkin

Very interesting build and a nice job making that into a regular-cab. Had I done this, I would have used a Slant Six with multi-port fuel injection or a fuel-injected first-generation Hemi. Charlie Larkin

Sunday, I purchased my entry for the Revell contest. One 1957 Bel-Air 2-door sedan, a can of Testors Tropical Turquoise lacquer and some Acryl semi-gloss for a bunch of projects. Charlie Larkin

Try hitting the paint with a toothbrush; you might be very pleasantly surprised. I do know that Easy-Off works very well. I use the fume-free. It should also be remembered that Dupli-Color has apparently re-formulated their paint to some degree, so that might be a factor, too. Charlie Larkin

Both of those, Bleche-Wite whitewall cleaner, ammonia, brake fluid and supposedly 91% alcohol will all do it. Charlie Larkin

Very interesting decal issues, Mike. I'll keep that in mind, as a long-term purchase of mine is one of these kits- I think this one of the nicest-looking current-production cars. I'll be curious to see how well that Krylon primer works under the Tamiya lacquer, although they claim that lacquer is mild enough to place directly on plastic. Enjoying the build-up so far. Charlie Larkin

Perhaps not "cool," but something I'm still proud of nonetheless. When I was quite young, my parents were told by special education "experts" that the chances of me graduating high school were slim, at best. The teachers told my parents "He's smart, but just not school material- he thinks too independently. You should be happy if he gets a G.Ed. and some kind of basic job and if he can support himself." Well...one Bachelor's degree, a teacher's license, real estate salesman's license, thirty credits of graduate work, 3/4 of the way to an associate's degree to get retrained, and looking at going for a J.D. now that it took almost a decade for me to fully figure out why education is so screwed up (like my early experiences weren't enough...)later, I can say I proved them all wrong. I went from a kid that was considered too "strange" to succeed or as one teacher suggested, to even deserve success, to a college graduate and then some. I wish I knew how to track down the people that told my parents all those years ago I couldn't. I would've loved to have shown them the picture of me receiving my diploma at Commencement. It did take me a little longer than I anticipated (seven years- a couple of part-time semesters and a major change will do that to you,) but as my dad said "I don't who was smiling more, you or the president." If I could one thing over again, it probably would be to have gone to law school in 2000 or so, instead of waiting and wasting my time teaching high school in the atmosphere education has now become. Had it not been law school, at least doing something else, or putting the money together to start a business. Other things over the years that've been important to me: -Learning how to be relatively self-sufficient. -Joining De Molay. -Joining the Masons. -Having found some of the best friends anyone could've asked for. Charlie Larkin

Very nice, Ian. More than even bet an order will be forthcoming from me as well. Charlie Larkin

Very nice job, Curtis. That racing white does look like a pretty good representation for that slightly off-white (parchment for Pontiac, dove for Buicks,) interior that was used. You should consider building more of these, you do a masterful job. Charlie Larkin

Scale Equipment also offers several patterns of woodgrain decals. Charlie Larkin

Generally, by the early 1970s, in response to demand for better corrosion-resistance, most GM cars were coming through with a type of undercoat applied. All of my late '70s GM cars I've had (four,) had some type of mastic applied. This is best simulated by applying flat black to the floors and painting the frame rails semi-gloss black. Even if this wasn't a standard feature, it was a very common option up to that point, and almost guaranteed to be present on any car sold in the northern U.S. or Canada. Charlie Larkin

Nice work on re-working the panel; I would suggest either foil-casting the letters or using photo-etch for the scripts, though. I think they just look better and will probably last longer. Brian- very nice job on your car, too. Charlie Larkin

Very good work on the door-jambs, Jared. This is coming along nicely. Charlie Larkin

To return to Phil's question.... Yes, a spray booth can (and probably should) be used with spray cans, airbrushes, and anything else that sends paint flying. I would suggest rigging a filter of some kind though, to catch the paint particulates. A furnace filter can be fitted in the box or off the back of it very easily and inexpensively. Charlie Larkin

Very nice job on this. Charlie Larkin

Actually, the two-door wagon in 1958 was called the Yeoman; Handyman was used from 1953 or '54 to 1957. Bruce- great job. It's too bad G.M. didn't do this one, it looks fantastic. Charlie Larkin

Great-looking pair. And a very nice job on them. Charlie Larkin