Dragline

Super cool resin kit from AMT. Just need to put a piece of "glass" over the board and maybe a wash or two to bring out a few highlights. More fun than a barrel full o monkeys! Scratchbuilt power cord for giggles.

These are very nice. More like vignettes I'd say though. A tad small to be diorama's. Great nonetheless though.

This entire thread is academic. Buy and build what you like and you'll be happy. I'll wager that were you to put a copy of my main shelf [mostly newer builds] and say the guy who builds only 1/25 cars and ask the average person to come in and view them and then ask them which one was more "Entertaining, attractive, colorful, artful blah, blah blah.." mine would win a great deal. Why? Is it a measuring contest? Nope. It's an aesthetic thing. My shelf will tend to attract more eyes because of color, shape, and overall variety of subjects. I've recently said it and it bears repeating, I build what makes me happy. We are artists after a fashion all of us, and limiting yourself to one scale, subject or anything else for that matter is the enemy of expression. I've looked at a great many shelves of well built 1/25 scale cars and even as a car modeller at heart I find them often to be a bit tedious. With few exceptions it seems lifeless to me. I once stood in front of large shelves of impeccable 1/20 scale Tamiya F1 and came away with a sense of almost sadness as the entire experience left me a bit cold. So much precision and so little life in what I witnessed. My esteem was in the overall craftsmanship to be sure. As I viewed each model I was in awe of the execution and cleanliness. But when viewed as a whole it was less inviting. Those that cannot build a subject because it's in 1/24 scale I say that I am sad for you whether you want me to be or not. What a pity that you limit yourself because of some seemingly arbitrary number. I am aware that those that are staunch seem to be OK with their decision to limit themselves. I suspect a deeper underlying resentment of having not been heard although the range of that scale would indicate otherwise. There are all types in this hobby, from rivet counters to obsessive compulsive's. It's the nature of such a precise and real world example type of subject that sticklers of realism and accuracy be a vocal and near militant group in their desire for what is plainly obvious to them. I build armor and am a member of Armorama. If there ever was a set of rivet counters to be witnessed look no further than there. But building a well made Dave Deal caricature is no less artful. It is rooted in reality since Mr Deal laid down the pencil, inks and watercolor that inspired the kit in the first place. That art exists in the world and is lauded as being not only well rendered, but as pop art at it's pinnacle. It's scale is irrelevant. This type of thinking exists within the automobile, aviation and military modelers community almost exclusively. And I understand why it does. It's being able to render something you may lust after and wish to own. Or simple economics says you cannot have a garage full of Cobra's due to financial and spacial concerns [I'm looking at you Cobraman]. And that is as valid a reason as there needs to be. You are correct in wanting what you want, but know that the world doesn't always hear you. I want the latest funny car and top fuel cars in scale. Am I going to get them? Probably not. That we got the two that we did nearly ten years ago was a blessing I didn't take lightly. I embraced the Hawaiian and Chi Town cars as positives, built a few examples and have a few in the stash. So, build what makes you happy. If it's sticking to 1:25 so be it. Know that you are limited to the subjects available, and don't belittle others who see their hobby through a larger lens. But I have been a bit guilty of this myself. I criticised Claude T's 1/16 scale Daytona as being downright ugly. To my eyes it is an ugly race car and said so. He didn't design the car, but he chose it as something he would use his considerable skills to create. Am I wrong in calling it ugly? Perhaps I should have kept it to myself? I think so. But I didn't and he was gracious enough to brush it off for what it was. My perspective and nothing more. Could I have been more tactful? Certainly.... Sorry Claude. There, I've ranted some, made some sense and perhaps added to the conversation. I'm just a guy slinging glue and paint for enjoyment, nothing more.

Bring on all of em. I'm down for the Superfly for certain and can see it in candy Magenta. Do up some leopard seats ala The Elvira T-bird and we have a winner. Throw in all the rest mentioned and I see it selling out very quickly.

Or just do what Armor modelers do and buy some at the hobby shop. If they don't have some they can order it. But the work you put into this is certainly worthwhile.

Pokemon can be annoying but it is cute. I'll add that Ban Dai kits are really second to none. I have a few Star Wars pieces and they are some of the nicest and best engineered model kits I have ever had the pleasure of building.

Thanks man. Warhammer is never short on details. These kits are expensive but you get a lot for the money. Not only that, they are playable in mighty battles that last hours if not days at times. There will be more forthcoming 40K builds. I have personal stuff as well as commissions, and as word has spread I find the workload almost overwhelming. One thing is for sure though, Warhammer players have no seeming shortage of money to get the pieces they want for their armies. It's been lucrative.

Very well done Cruzer. That seat is very convincing and good call on the cables. I've been looking for something suitable for my build so it sit without them until I find something.

Thank you both I appreciate it.

Even after an explanation as to the "why" a certain scale is preferred over another I am still no closer to understanding it. I prefer building "other" types of models these days and the scale thing is pretty much out the window as far as scale fidelity is concerned. If the figure or item seems the right size for the level of detailing it has that's usually all I need to make a decision about whether I'll buy it or not. My shelves have 1/25 and 1/25 scale cars parked next to each other with a Warhammer 40K and a 75mm resin figure kit to each side. Then next to those are the odd Tom Daniel or Dave Deal creation. Those who view my model shelves are often taken aback at the diverse collection of things I've built and the randomness of items on display. I have a shelf here that has two 1/12 scale HD motorcycles flanked by the Tom Daniel Roar and Peace chopper and Leap Hog three wheeler with 1/24 and 1/25 scale drag cars to the outside of those. That shelf alone caused quite a stir that some have said that they didn't know models came in such a range of sizes which started a conversation about other things as we left the room.

I've always remembered Matchbox kits with a certain fondness. The box art was always first rate, and they made subjects that others seemed to pass on. Building Matchbox kits was another matter usually. I became disheartened in the late 70's with a car kit that I barely even remember. I just recall it being fiddly [this coming from a guy who built 60's and 70's Revell mind you], and a bit hamfisted. Perhaps it was me. Years later I would build a couple of their classics and was pleased with the results. I believe there was a Harrier in the mix at some point. Building grail's is something of a letdown to me. At some point what is in your mind and reality eventually meet. The result is often a shortfall of expectation dashed with a smattering of failed memory. I'm glad you didn't let yours fail you.

I personally will never understand the entire 1/25 Vs 1/24 thing.

A few more shots.

This is a commission build for a local Warhammer Fantasy Battle client. I'm not versed in its workings or power within the game but it sure is a neat model. Mostly Citadel and Vallejo acrylics used. I used the airbrush for the green mystic mist fade and pigments and washes for the rust and weathering effects. It was challenging to meet the customers expectations but judging by their reaction when I initially unveiled it at game night they were pleased. Warhammer gamers are a picky bunch since the bar is set pretty high by the internet and levels achieved by some of the absolute artists that paint and compete in this hobby. My journey to push my personal skills continues as I try new techniques and products with every build.

Glad that some seem to like her accoutremou. She's been finished a while and the epoxy holding her cape can be trusted so here she is now complete. And a snapshot of my next project which is already well under way.

A few that just never got finished and really need to.

Adorable in a good way. Bright colors Mark?

I ordered one. How could I not?

Nice paint on such a simple kit really makes it pop and look real. Well done.

Vinyl is almost no different from resin in how they build up. Use acrylic paints of course and super type glue. Regular filler works well on vinyl as long as it is glued firmly.

Fantastic dio. Top marks!

Broadening one's horizons has never been easier. It's not as simple as just buying a kit I recognize that. But the world isn't just gears and cogs after all. Build what you like. Love what you build.

On eBay where else? Go to Models & Kits, Character Figures and pick resin kits. There will be THOUSANDS! Not just Anime, but every conceivable Barbarian, Orc, Hot Chick et al... Just watch the sizes. They run from 35th scale all the way to 1/8

I got this as a challenge from my sister in law. She loves Anime and since I build models it follows I could build a garage kit for her. My brother has a cabinet full of my stuff [Mostly Tom Daniel and Dave Deal stuff], but Sonia doesn't have anything I built to call her own and she is a miniature maniac. She is always dropping by my mini studio to see what I'm working on. She loves Warhammer but it's not as cute and cuddly as Anime. I have no idea what the name of this character is called but there are also big billowing cape pieces that need to be attached. They are currently drying after highlights and a matt coat were applied. But suffice it to say it's quite dramatic when it's all together. The paint scheme was left to me as the established character has certain colors but the hair matches the on screen since that was one element I was told not to change. Resin can be tricky to work with but the pieces were very high quality with no parting lines at all. Fitment was a bit different and each piece must be fit in relation to another to make certain it all ends up in the right place. Mostly Vallejo acrylics with a few enamels where acrylics wouldn't cut it. Yes, I painted the eyes. What a learning curve that was, as I watched more than a few Youtube tutorials on painting Anime eyes. It's an art that I'm only scratching the surface of. I liked this project so much I bought one for myself to try out. Should be good fun. Enjoy.

Revell eh? I didn't know they even made such a kit in that scale. Very nice finishes.