keyser

Unknown where it was made. Coming from JP. German co does resin version, 32 grams, seems basic. This thing has fans/drives, looks thin. I've looked for many years. Had RnD ages ago, but I'd never heard of rm_craft. looks like one of the nice styrene slot bodies you see occasionally. Here's what I saw a couple weeks ago . Runs well, was at Goodwood in '12

Never saw one before. Had resin, but this is plastic 1/24. Just saw 1:1 at museum, had to have it.

None of these errors on any of these kits are forgiveable. I'm not a rabid tri-5 guy, nor a Fox guy, but I like them enough to buy them. I've got hundreds of projects and more kits, and I don't have many dupes. Basic body design elements aren't forgiveable. Earlier in this thread someone said proto kit was based on the snap coupe kit, which is decent. Here's a bare metal new body. Taper of door is readily seen from any angle. Test shot looked adequate, but I used to assume they'd get stuff right. I don't assume that anymore. Close enough isn't. I could fix it easily if there's enough plastic to keep interior/body alignment. I could add sheet to realign interior. I could finish the conversion on an AMT HT I started 30 years+ ago. Or for $20 I could expect to trim flash, parting lines, and build it as is, and it'll look right. No matter what it depicts. I'll be happy if I'm wrong, but I ordered >1 yr ago on faith. How could they screw up a car they have 6+ related tools, and 4 1/24 tools that are cautionary tales? And a year delay to get even the Xbrace correct/installed? Wonder if the guys that buy new 1:1 body would be ok with same error?

Trapezoid is glass sunroof insert. I always wondered if Farcon was actually '80s JDM Falcon. L really doesn't exist in JP language. On the T/A, the missiles would probably not do rear spoiler much good, melted mess each launch. Good hits, keep hunting. Thx for pics.

Really? Kluge job on the only 1/25 57 Convert done? Despite months of delays for X-brace? Stuff the X-brace, get the body correct. It again is not the point we can fix it. We shouldn't HAVE to fix it. I don't want to fix it. I don't want to buy it if it's wrong, another friggin' project at bottom of pile. This is indefensible. Not like they don't have reference material in boxes sitting there. Keep saving money, your business plan s--ks. You'll need it. I pre-ordered it from Tower day it was announced. I cancelled it and every other RM kit I had ordered today.

Couldn't resist...tried... Go book'em, Danno! Well put. Hope car ends up with original owner.

Yep, Great proportions, stock wheelbase IIRC.

Almost sniped you, but freight was more than kit transatlantic. Article on a build out there, rear end could be longer IMO. Nice hit.

Packard is great kit, dual cowl body never offered in plastic, the styrene Monogram Packard is a phaeton, quite different. Chassis and chrome also vary from plastic kit. I've got a couple of each, and a resin conversion of the Duesy with correct clamshell hood like the real Whittell car it duplicated. There is a Duesenberg boattail in the series, also not offered in plastic in the styrene 3 Duesy series of Monogram. The T-Bird was a 56, same as plastic tool, as were the MG-TC, XK-120, and an incongruous metal model of a 53 Vette. These 4 never reissued in metal, and the 2 classics never seen again after first issue. The metal kits are very nice, that price is decent on your side of pond, here usually $20-25usd, occasionally $15. The 109 is nice too. Here's a pic of a built one, not mine, and a 1:1 car. Really nice looking classics. Lots of reference photos via Google. HTH

Oops, sorry Brett. I posted gif after you posted latest. Yes, that's latest. I ran out and got last one with tiny Future label. Cool that gif posted.

Here's article on uses, and trade names around world. Updated last year, 2013. Pretty awesome. It's a horrible dessert topping though. http://www.swannysmodels.com/TheCompleteFuture.html See if this works, it was a gif in link. "Australia - Coles Supermarkets, Woolworth's, Supa Valu, Newmart, Bunnings. Belgium - Delhaize Supermarkets, Colruyt Supermarkets. Canada - Loblaws, No-Frills, Sobeys, Canadian Tire, Wal-Mart, Valu-Mart. China - Wal Mart France - Auchan, Leclerc, Intermarche, Atac, Castorama, Carrefour, Monoprix. Germany - in DroMarkt or Muller stores, Marktkauf and Drogeriemarkt Muller. ATTENTION GERMAN MODELERS! There is a source for the REAL FUTURE in Germany. A small company is making and selling the product in large bottles and you can contact them directly at this website ..... www.Modellbaufarben.de Malasia - Ace Hardware Netherlands - In superstore's like Edah and C-1000. Also look in "Super de Boer" and 'Albert Heijn' which is locally referred to as 'AH'. New Zealand - Woolworth's, Pricecutter, 4Square, Pak-n-Save, The Warehouse, Countdown, Bunning's Warehouse. Philippines - Available at Ace Hardware, Home Hardware, the DIY Store, and grocery stores like SM Super/Hypermart and Rustans. Singapore - Handyman DIY and at a hardware store called Home-Fix in Tampines One Shopping Mall Spain - Bosque Verde floor wax "Cera". Not exactly the same but very similar in properties. Taiwan - Geant United Kingdom/Ireland - Sainsbury's, Safeway, Tesco's. USA - Wal-Mart, Giant Foods, K-Mart, Kroger, Winn-Dixie, Food Lion. If all else fails take a look at US Army/Air Forces Exchanges Services stores (AAFES) and in some large area commissaries or you can call S.C. Johnson direct at 800-848-2588 and ask for the Pledge "Premium Floor Finish with Future" Shine and they will ship some to you. This is a service they offer for customers who cannot find one of their products. One final note on product availability, if you just have to have the original USA Future you can always order by mail from Amazon.com. "

And a dessert topping...

I've made tons of posts about Lego. Company was nearly dead 10y ago. Same skill set. Wrote about parallel marketing, not teaming up with game manufacturer, but picking various cars in huge games like Forza, etc. Good players spend a huge amount of time tuning cars, designing liveries, photographing them. Just like modeling, similar skill sets. Vid games are 3D, but not tangible. Lots more potential builders out there than manufacturers believe. End result of my posting has been the "flat-earth" manufacturers/society doesn't want to risk it. Myopic. Happy there's some young modelers here, some with 1:1's too.

Brad's motors are awesome as were Norm's. The white TR is 0732 Lucybelle II. Well documented car, friends owned it many years ago, was second Ferrari I ever rode in. Now is the first of 3 pontoon-fendered TR's I've been in, drove 0742 ex-Bardinon, and 0718 ex Chizar now Stroll too. The white car Lucybelle II did NOT win the 58 LeMans. Phil Hill won that in 0728, which was the only non-prototype non-pontoon fendered 58 (0704TR was similar, but was 500TRC based second prototype). It was part of a trade to Bardinon in 3 car deal with Dick Merritt for 0742 and ex-Rodriguez 246 0784 in '81-82. The red car is likely 0734 Ex-Gibbs/Pappalardo now Lauren. The black car is 0714TR, sold for 9M euros in '10 IIRC Here's 0728 Hill/Gendebien 58 LM winner at Goodwood recently. Had private sale for $24M in '12. A steal, actually. Refs, some owners incorrect, some timelines a bit off. e.g. 0732TR spent time in JP http://www.barchetta.cc/english/all.ferraris/detail/0732tr.250tr.htm White car http://www.barchetta.cc/english/all.ferraris/detail/0728tr.250tr.htm http://www.barchetta.cc/english/all.ferraris/detail/0714tr.250tr.htm Black car http://www.barchetta.cc/english/All.Ferraris/Detail/0734TR.250TR.htm Red car Lauren. Also, 0714 was the 4th TR built. 0666TR was first prototype with removable nose, like 0710TR. 0704TR was TRC based but was a TR, and it shared the non-pontoon nose with 0728TR the 58 LM winner.

That's brilliant. 5-10 minutes, a sense of accomplishment, and a nice replica. Makes them want more, parents content, and kid/modeler happy. Plus, first time kit out before 1:1 in a few decades? That's what kids expect. That's what I expect. Revell and Ford nailed this, need to get glue kit out ASAP.

You can't repaint/rebuild a stamp, coin, or painting/sculpture if heavily damaged. Cars can be rebuilt/restored from a tach needle. Case in Point, Auto Union C, and a very early Porsche Gmund coupe 356 that was at best a tach needle, build plate, and oil filler cap to start with. Original cars are devalued some by rebuilds, but as long as parts original, value changes little. I've owned, driven, and vintage raced some pretty valuable cars, and never cared if they got damaged. It's a car, it can be fixed, even restored to better than new. $3M car gets $300k damage, that's only 10% of value. You don't insure cars like that for anything but total loss, theft, and liability. Premiums nuts, better to bank premium and invest it, use if needed. Raced at Historics, then showed at Pebble, FCA nat'l meet, took classes with minimal cleanup. Pebble Beach has the PB Tour, if concours cars tied on points, car that completes drive or raced at Historics gets points for being used. Drive'em. Too big for paperweights. Price is relative, I think 3.5M for that 'Cuda is stupid, and the owner ground out 200k with lots of drama. Rather have a Duesenberg, pre-war Bugatti, Ferrari, or good vintage racer for that. Less money, and more potential for appreciation vs. top of market sale. Same reason people use Stradivarii, hang art in galleries, etc. Share and use, but protect from loss. Investments ultimately in that price range,

$14 straight kit price + 15-20% for increased wage/insurance (health and liability if some kid chokes on kit pieces) + 10-15% for shipping/overhead/tooling/etc. + licensing (% who knows, didn't exist before) - manufacturer underwriting/assistance with tooling/design (expect 5-10% perhaps? on annual) So, conservatively, costs to do business 40% higher than in '68 at least. $14 kit becomes $19.60 or more if we had actual idea of new costs/licensing/etc. Looking at net jobber prices, as WM, HL, HTUSA, etc all negotiate based on Net, and when many on board refuse to buy at MSRP, instead using 40% off coupons, you can bet Hobby Lobby is NOT losing money on those kits, just making less. Figure net is 45-50% MSRP. MSRP of $25-30 kit implies $12.50-$15.00 net. Since 68-69 kits moved to $2.25, margin less since kits far more widely distributed, so $1.80 net about right. Using same calculator above in reverse puts a $12.50 net kit NOW at a $1.80 net in 68-69. We all have old kits from Woolworths, Kresge, K-Mart that were $1.76 or so from even early 70's, so net cost may even be less. I think kits are about same, but much less profit per unit, and greater costs.

Awesome. Courtesy is misspelled on decal. Cut and paste is so hard.

If the Raptor Snap is any indication, they'll be out in '17. Get'em when they're hot. Box art will be NEW '14 Corvette. C7-R should be ready 10 months later. Had my Maisto 1/24 convertible about 7 months now. Glad GM is particular, someone needs to be.

Tylar worked hard for that car, awesome first car. Enjoy it safely in health and happiness. You did great job on that great young adult. Happy father's day, you earned it. Mustangs forever.

Offy with a Centrifugal blower off a Duesenberg. All American 4 banger.

Myopia isn't what it used to be

Quick Google for pic of nice Baja front end. Another common variant seen are the closely placed center headlight noses, I like these better. The Revell is nowhere near this, has a canvas nose I've never really seen on 1:1. Like that Cabrio Tom, Hot Wheels has a similar ragtop coupe that is neat. As far as market research, I've gotten hooked on Forza 5 by my kids, and I look at what is being used by HUGE numbers of gamers to set fast times at each track. There are dominant cars in each class at each track, and are used by literally thousands of people. At Indy, for example, there are 110,000 people on the "leaderboard" with fast times. There are 3 cars that are very competitive, only 1 modeled (Tamiya TS-020 Toyota). Out of 110,000 competitive racers, I'd think you'd sell 5-10% of them a kit or 2. They've paid for these cars with either purchased tokens, or earned credits, and spent time tuning them to be fast. Quite tough to get into the top 250 fastest, I have no idea how to get the last couple .1 seconds out of my car. Patience needed to do that, competitiveness to do that is EXACTLY what good modelers use. Spread that across 20+ tracks or more, and I have 165 cars in the game, many have more. They're going to buy, they already have. Just need to take notes and reach them. They use forums like this, my son makes livery designs that could be sued to advertise indirectly in games (not his, just an example). Market research is done, results available at end of each race. The Lotus XI resins were Tom Coolidge IIRC. Nice corrections. May have done Strombecker Scarab and Finless XK-D as well. Biggest issue at hand is releasing the 2010 Raptor in 2014 when the all-new 2015-2016 Raptor is due within months. Or the recent Camaro or Corvette a couple years after fact, right before taillight facelift. 2015 Mustang is first kit in a long time that's come out before the real car. The Airfix Bugatti Veyron is first kit of that car, just in time for its discontinuation after about 25 trim variants and 4+ years on market. Don't need market research to decide current is better.

Was talking about video game cars including Lotus XI. No kit of the XI save for a Merit from 50's-60's. Point was cars that are popular kits aren't popular in Forza 5 or other games. Relevant to reaching new builders, or casual builders that cant afford a real XI etc. Pointless trying to make the flat-earth society understand the huge gaming/Lego market that is ignored by even Japanese companies (though they do anime kits endlessly, which I don't understand). Guys that mutter about facespace and use flip phones will never relate to kids who have the newest smartphones at $200+ each, buy $70 Lego sets, and use Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Different bunch than those who recognize 30's Fords etc. Couple guys here see it. Rest say kids don't build, that's it. Just like Fotomat, record stores, Blockbuster, and hobby shops-dead businesses that failed to follow new customers. Not doom and gloom. More "pull your head out". #notgonnahappensadly. Merit Lotus XI

There is a sweet diecast of a Stude pickup, and a phantom 2 door woody based on it as well. Common, and sells, but not well. I've got a couple, and they're easy to mod/rod. Lonestar Roundup was awesome show, 1800 cars registered. Lots of rockabillies, middle agers, but I didn't see a lot of hipsters or mainstreamers despite huge crowd. I had chemo mask on, and felt really out of place, but amazing builds, and some great people. Wish my kids could have met you Tim, they love your builds and SVT products. Here in TX I see 8-10 Raptors daily. Niteowl, I obviously agree, and Moebius has an awesome niche. I've already checked boxes on their choices though with high end diecast, or resin from my old friend Art, that I also agree with. The Ford F's are going to be huge. But the snaps and pre-paints will give "completion gratification" that keeps us all going, even those of us that are a few thousand behind. SJS IIRC did late 40's-early 50's Stude PU too. The tuners RM did way back were DOA, old body style. They're back again, but they're spooked. Drift cars (NOT GTO) like Focus ST, Mustang, etc. have huge following, and are close enough to stock appearing to make Japanese decal variants possible. Do reasonable run of something, and just box art and decal changes/separate decal instructions would give you 3-4 variants off 1 run. 25-35 yo's build old Fords and Studes as that's what's available. How many posts hammer these kits as new tools? People have no idea some of those kits are older than their dads. The Deuces from RM, the Camaros, Chargers are Iconic. The Airfix Lego-style Bugatti is only kit of that car, ever. No idea if they'll make it here, but Airfix so hard to find, doubt it'll sell to anyone but hunters. Games have old cars too. 40 Deluxe, 57 Belair, old Mustangs, 71 Javelin, etc. Not a one is used greatly, nor sets lap records for class out of hundreds of thousands of players, many older too. Latest car pack in Forza 5 had Lotus 11, current Ecoboost Formula Ford, Brabham BT-24, Audi 90 silhouette racer, and awesome 39 Maserati 8CLT GP car. Current look-alike Indy series cars popular. Simple snap+ kits in various decals would cover ton of teams, as would re-issue of Miata in club racer form with rollbar, decals, and perhaps wheels. For nearly 25 yo tool Amazed Tamiya hasn't done it. Sorry for novella. A plethora of replies.