Randy Kern

Superior job Nick, it really looks good! This being your first model using the polishing system, it's almost as good as the teacher. Right, Cruz?. Great job, now do your homework!

That clothes dryer looks very familiar! Cruz, you need to get Norm's 429 resin kit in that. It looked really good in Sandone's '32 Coupe that got the theme at NNL East! You're off to a good start with the chassis and rolling stock. Maybe a little more California (uhh... Arter) rake!

Looks fantastic, Tom. Those HOK oranges are my favorite colors. Subtle, yet still has that 'gotcha' factor.

Well Bill, you have my attention, as I finally just snagged one of these great kits. What will the style or look be that you're going for? That's a nice shade of red, also. Tamiya Mica Red?

Craig, that's a little airbrush touch-up on the model on top of the box. Not sure why, though, as the grille is the same, and it looks OK on the side box photos . That year has to be one of the best styled Fords for a street rod!

I just picked this kit up Saturday, at the Super September Showdown contest in Gilbertsville. It says it has a 'lowered' suspension, and along with the 'Budnik' looking wheels and low profile tires, will sit pretty low. They are one of the nicer sets of bigger diameter wheels and tires in the newer kits. Also included are white walls for this set. The only thing I would have liked better is if they were big-'n-littles. This kit does still have the VERY nice big-'n-little Cragars and tires the earlier version (yellow car on box) had. It also now has a 'modern fuel induction system' on the small block Chevy. They should have just put the Speedwagon motor in it, but oh well. The new decals also have some new graphics, pinstriping, and disc rotor detail. Hey Tom, Lyle was there, too!

Hi, everybody. I'm Randy Kern. I live in New Holland, Pa, a small town amongst the Amish, about an hour from York or Philly. Married with a daughter, step-daughter, son and two dogs. I'm 51, and have been building model cars off and on since the early '60s. It took a recent operation a few years ago to get me back into the hobby for good. I build mostly street machines, some drag racers, sports cars, street rods and a few trucks. I joined a model car club recently that's near York, the Central Pa Model Car Club, that I really enjoy going to meetings, field trips and shows. The club members are some of the best builders in the hobby, and I'm proud to call them my friends. They seem to like me, as I've been voted to VP of the club, and I haven't gotten too much flack yet I have a 1/1 running project car, an Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite that needs more dollars put into it, that lately have been going toward dumb stuff like furniture, home projects, etc. I think this forum is a great place to hang out and learn more about the hobby!

That's pretty cool, Lyle. It's got the perfect 'period' look of the fifties. Always a fan of the early 'Vette grille, too. Another fine Willits (er, Woddington) custom!

Another amazing build, Cruz. I am proud to say I belong to the same clubs as you! I love to see these different color shades, especially ones not used that often. This Chevy looks perfect in it, along with the wheel choice.

Austin, the best tip I can give you, is if there is a model car club in your vicinity, join it! I get a lot of good advice and tips from this forum, but nothing beats getting together with your club brothers and trading advice, getting help with problems, finding parts or kits, watching a how-to seminar, or just talking model cars. You will definitely see your builds improve, and have a great time, also.

There aren't many real passenger cars that can look cool in a coat of rust, but that Beetle does! Yours is coming along great, Dave. I also like the Empi and 914 'Porsche-look' wheels on old Bugs, too. Can't wait to see it done.

For being twelve years old, that's fantastic. Heck, that's a great job for any age! Keep us posted on this build.

Happy birthday to ya, too! I'm still looking for that Lug Bug kit to give you one of these birthdays.

Curt, I think this would be the kind you want. I'm pretty sure they are made by Fujimi, the best rendering of a Minilite you will find, and particularly the Panasport. I got lucky and just scored a set on E-bay, as they are no longer made, and I was looking for a set for quite a while to put on a Bugeye Sprite I'm doing. The old Mini's wheels are only 10 inchers, so they wouldn't work. If Bob Downie could post a pic of the cool Bugeye he built, I think that's what he used. Bob?

Marc, this car is going to be KILLER! I am planning to use the Tamiya Metallic Green on a Lotus Europa, so I want to see how your Camaro looks in it. Dave, is that Gary Busey in the passenger seat? (One of my son's favorite car movies!)

Just a quick reply, as far as teachers Steve, I think I had two of the best, the Cruz and Geary team! I'll have to show it to them first, and I thought I had enough clear coats (4) to be OK, but maybe add a few more. Kurt, I just put down a heavy coat of Elmer's white glue, poured on the powder (unsifted), let it dry, and that's it. I even managed to screw it up on one side a little, by poking it before it dried. All I did was smooth it slightly, let it dry completely, put down another coat of glue and powder, and it looked like it never was touched. I struggled with flocking, and this is so much easier! Hey Bob, that's a pretty cool feature the 'other magazine' did on you! Just got it yesterday, and NOW I see all about priming AFTER I did the Lambo

Hi, Gregg. Thanks for the kind words. BTW, it was cool to have you unexpectedly show up at the mid-Atlantic NNL, as I had a chance to meet and chat with you a little as you took photos. Here's the embossing powder I used. As I said, they have a good selection of colors, including clear, that you might not even need to paint over. There was a post about this a while back, and I'm not sure what brand was used, but this type works great. A couple of fellow club members have had good results trying this, also. Apparently it's used for stamping crafts, and they melt it into stuff with a heat gun, so wherever they sell those kinds of crafts, they should have this powder. The two big chain stores that would have it are Michael's and A.C. Moore. As for the masked dog, he's a Pug, named Chumley.

This is my first try at a work-in-progress, as I thought it would be sort of cool to see the actual progress I make on this kit, with a few new techniques I've learned. This is Hasegawa's recent release of the 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV. It does have an engine, but when done is mostly hidden. Being a curbside then, I'll mostly concentrate on the body and interior. I started with Dupli-Color white sandable primer, then a basecoat of Tamiya Silver Leaf, leaving the rocker panels this color, then the color coat of Dupli-Color Orange Mist, followed by Tamiya clear. A dehydrator really makes quick work of those steps! Next I have to polish out the body (first time trying that, but I have good teachers in my club). For the interior I'm trying the embossing powder technique. I think it looks better, with a finer grain, and much easier to work with! I left the driver's side un-painted. This is the color of the powder. The passenger's side was painted with Tamiya Metallic Gray, as was the seat. Michael's had at least 10 to 15 colors of embossing powder, so you probably wouldn't even need to paint too much. Well, that's all for now. I may need tranquilizers polishing the body!

Ya know Dave, I can see a new thread started here; 'oldest surviving models'! This and your Fairlane look great after all these years.

Hmmmm....... an angry or evil insect. Yeah, I can see that! Now you need to see what colors match a wasp or hornet

I've tried their current two part lacquer system with great success on a Road Runner, mainly because I wanted the Moulin Rouge (or Panther Pink) color. For some reason though, I could only find these paints at one small, not local hobby shop. The Hobbytown nearest me doesn't even carry them. I hope this new line will get more mainstream, as I think the newbies getting into the hobby will like the fast dry time and good results. I also noticed my local WalMart no longer carries the Shimrin's HOK paints, which I use on occasion.

There may not be celebrities like Gregg at the show, but Lyle comes close to being one, and I'm sure he'd be happy to give autographs

Wow, incredible build in every way. I also took a peek at your albums, you have an amazing collection!

That is gorgeous, Rob. That's one of my favorite colors, and there's plenty of sheet styrene to show it off! It turned out very cool, and the interior looks great. Nice!

My only ones I built recently, Herbie the Love Bug and the Monkeemobile.