SSNJim

I'm here in Miami, FL for the next few days for work and wondering if there were any good hobby shops here. My GPS showed several, and I see some in the phone book, but I find the traffic here rather trying and would like to have a known good destination or two. I'm staying in Doral, but am willing to travel some as necessary. I've got my scooter, so getting around isn't a problem.

Since you're in MD, at the MAMA meeting in Greenbelt the third Sat of the month, directly from Norm himself. He usually brings most of his line to the meeting.

That makes three of us - you and me too. The scale on the box really has nothing to do with the scale of the model. Sometimes a kit originally issued in 1/24 will be reissued in 1/25 - I believe Revell/Monogram's early 80's El Camino was like that. Jada's Shelby Mustang is labeled as 1/24-1/25. I really hate to mention this, but I have the last issue of Lindberg's Gremlin that has 1/24 on the box, but is actually 1/20 scale. Most 1/24 or 25 scale models seem to run between 1/22 and 1/27 in scale. I too build what I like, with little regard for whether a particular model is 1/24 or 1/25. It really doesn't matter, and by limiting to one or the other scale, one would severely limit one's modeling subjects. That is a great picture. I see that type of photo in model railroad-dom all the time, but only with models. Very cool.

I prefer the non-roll soft coated handles, preferably in different colors so I can remember whether it's the knife for BMF or the general use knife. Excel is one manufacturer, and X-Acto's Gripster is another. I've got several ranging from the gen-u-wine X-Acto to Excel to the dollar-store set handles. Each has different characteristics, and different blades.

Of course, if you're into HO scale, there's http://www.williamsbrothersmodelproducts.com/cars.html . All their vehicles are molded in clear.

Yes, it's a phantom. Dodge never produced anything like it.

My vote is for one of the two above but I think I like the 3 spokes better on the Matador. After all, if you're trying to be different/creative/weird/offbeat, why not try something different? Of course, you could just go with the wide whitewall/baby moon combo or the American Racing 5-spoke look if you want the car to look just like darn near every other car on this forum. Think outside the box!

I'm glad to see you making progress again. It looks like those scoops will work pretty well. I'm looking forward to seeing this in primer.

Model Car World produces a resin 51 Coupe with that roof style. Of course the rear fenders and grill opening are different, but those should be easily rectified. MCW says that the AMT 51 Fleetline is the donor kit, but who knows about the 53/54s? That was the only affordable 49-54 coupe I was able to find in either plastic or resin when I needed one for a project.

I'm not sure if I'm going this weekend. It is kid-friendly, as long as the kids are well-behaved. The aforementioned resin caster and a well-stocked vendor are usually there, along with members selling some excess built and unbuilt kits and parts. There's also a raffle held after the meeting for all kinds of stuff. There's generally a pretty good turnout - I'd guess 50-75 people, many of whose names you will recognize. It is well worth the trip.

Only a few... http://www.mamasboyz.org/ Next meeting, Saturday in Greenbelt. Check out the Find MAMA link for directions. I don't make it as often as I would like, but it's a pretty good club.

Check out optional aero side skirts in the Revell 92 Thunderbird lowrider, or any issue of that era TBird. The scoops in them look almost identical to what is on the bug.

Check this link out. http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220702032573 The instructions appear to be from MPC kit 7202, which is being sold in the second link. No box, just the car and instructions.

GM has done several mid-engine Corvette concept/show cars since the early 60's, but keeps building the front-engine Corvettes. Google mid-engine corvette concepts for more info.

By the mid 70's, there weren't all that many changes to a particular car line. 1974 was probably the biggest change when all cars got the huge guardrail bumpers, and the kits were updated to reflect that. Other than that, most changes were paint, trim and wheels. It's been mentioned before on this board that there are many stock cars out there that we will never see reissued in their original form because the molds were updated each year. The '69 Whizbang Sport may get reissued time after time, but you won't ever see the '67 or '68 again unless they create new molds. Others were modified to become race cars, monster trucks or customs. They were created from Official Factory Blueprints! There couldn't have been any errors! Merry Christmas, All!

At one point in the early seventies, about all MPC produced was annuals. Lessee, there was the Vega, Pinto (sedan and wagon), Mustang/Mustang II, Dodge Trucks, Demon, Duster, Charger, Camaro, Caprice, Pacer, and some others I don't remember right now. Almost all had at least two versions you could build, if not 3 (stock, drag and custom). I used to look forward to the new year models as much as, if not more than, the real cars. The AMT 1976 Caprice is one hold over from the MPC annuals, along with the 1971/1973 Mustangs. AMT also had a pretty good line, though not as comprehensive as MPC's.

Thanks for the info. It is a unique car, and quite eyecatching.

Very cool. The first car I bought was a charcoal grey 73 4 cylinder 4 speed Capri. I love those early Capris. I've seen a lot of custom Capris, but never a funny car. I just googled the car's name, and found a bunch of pictures of it and other Capri-bodied funny cars. Who knew? Did you put that "power bulge" on the hood? The Doyusha kit I have (Nostalgic Heros series, maybe?) doesn't have one - the hood is flat between the headlights. Your car is looking good. I'm looking forward to seeing its progress.

Google and Wikipedia are your friends: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aa_battery That should be a good starting point; be sure to check out the links, too.

There is; I think I have an unbuilt one in my stash. If I can dig it out, I'll post pictures.

VERY nice. You nailed it. I'm a big fan of Greenbelt's cars; I lived in the apartment complex behind the Greenbelt Police Station for seven or eight years until I moved to Bowie. They are definitely some of the sharper cars in the DC area, with a lot of variations in their markings and equipment. I've been wanting to do one for years, but knew I'd have a hard time with the decals. I always look forward to seeing your work; It's neat to see familiar, local equipment modeled. I admired your Glenn Dale fire equipment, too - I saw it at MAMA's show a couple of years back.

My main interest is motorcycling - mostly long-distance riding and endurance rallies, but I don't need much of a reason to hop on my scooter. My main ride is a 2007 Honda Gold Wing, but I still have my 1988 Kawasaki Concours, too. Just need to get it running again - the poor thing hasn't moved since I got the Wing. Model cars is my longest running interest - I've been at it since the mid-1970s. Maybe one day I'll improve. Other interests include pretty much any mode of transportation (submarines, trains, and Thunderbirds/Porsches/70's Italian exotics particularly fascinate me),technology/computers (especially VMware ESX and other server OS/hardware), all models in general including model railroads, and the Battle of the Atlantic in WWII.

Very nice. That is one of the best Beetle conversions I've seen. It's hard to get the rear half of a bug right, but you nailed it.

It's the same as all the other glue Ranger kits - hood and tailgate opens. The Splash kit has the special grille/bumper and stepside bed, and decals. I always thought the glue Rangers were pretty decent kits - they did do some promo/SnapFast Plus long-bed 4X4 versions. Maybe that's what you saw? There have been several versions of the glue kits out. They all have multi-piece front and rear suspensions (no metal axles), clear/red head and tail lights, a 4.0L V-6, separate exhaust and optional parts/tires. They're certainly no worse than any other AMT pickup kit - which ain't bad. I've certainly been happy with my Ranger kits.

So that explains the 427 C.I. decals on the hood.... I always wondered about that.