Chuck Most

I still don't get it... when The X-Files came out, AMT/Ertl didn't say "Hey, Mulder and Skully drive a Taurus... let's turn our SHO into a rental-fleet trimmed model, slap an X-Files logo on the box, and rake in the bucks!" But it appears that's what MPC did, even though Barnabas had no hot rod! Not saying a base-model early '90's Taurus kit wouldn't be of interest to anybody,but still...

Same here... both times. The modern-style customs in Custom Rodder still influence quite a few of my modeling projects to this day. I'm also a big fan of Car and Driver- not so much for modeling inspiration as for the sharp wit of John Phillips! The magazines which DO inspire my modeling are Model Cars Magazine (well, duh!!!!!), and 'those other two' (One's title rhymes with Sail Otto, the other with Wine Snail Toddler). Others include... Old Skool Rods Rebel Rods (which, I believe John Teresi's dad is involved with) Hot Rod Rod & Custom Street Rodder Custom Classic Trucks Vintage Truck Rodder's Journal Hot Rod Deluxe Amusin Cruisin' (Spin off of Rebel Rods and recently canceled) Jp (They're Jeep only, but they are almost as entertaining to read as the late Stuff) And the few old 'little page' publications I have

Well, you can use it for parts to restore a glue-bomb MPC Chevy.... A Vampire Van reissue will be donating most of its chassis parts to this one. The reissues can be gotten for pretty cheap prices, far less than a sealed original Panel, or even an original VV. Or, you could do something really nutty, and turn the Vampire Van into a '32 Chevy Pickup Rat Rod... Combine it with a few more spare '32 Cabriolet parts, and you could even do a replica stock or rod pickup version, if you weren't against a little scratchbuilding and kitbashing! (For a detailed analasis on the meaning of these two terms, see Harry's recent post! )

Three words... Barnabas Vampire Van. Why MPC chose to take a kit that could have had a long and sucessful life as a replica stock,light commerical, or rod model took it and butchered it into a promotional tie-in for a TV series which didn't even have a vehicle that resembled it has always confounded me! Sure, the Vampire Van is pretty cool for what it is... but wouldn't you really rather have the '32 Chevy Panel back?

I've seen the misuse and mix-up of "scratchbuild" and "kitbashed", but the one that always makes me chuckle is when a model is presented as "box-stock".... except for the wheels, intake, decals, and tires from other kits. Forgive me if I'm mistaken here, but doesn't 'box stock' mean, well, BOX STOCK!? I'm rather fond of the ones who add the "Copyright 1989 Revell-Monogram" engraving, or whatever, to various parts. Really kicks it up a notch or two!

Dig the Farmall 300 radiator shell!

Man, that thing is AWESOME! Looks kind of like the space shuttle.

Very cool and thoughtful build. A model with a purpose! Who knew all the colors from those ribbons would work so well on one hot rod?

Seems to be direct hit or near-miss, quality wise. I've bought two of the '56 (actually '57) IH A-100 pickup kits- both had some very huge pinholes along the rockers and several thin spots along the inner walls of the bed. On the other hand, I've seen R&R stuff in the stash of other modelers which is equal in quality to anything you'd get from Bandit or Flintstone, so maybe those were 'worst case'. They're often pretty rough on the inside, too- but that's something I usually don't factor into my overall view of the product, as it won't be seen when the model is together. The '38 IH coe cab from R&R, on the other hand, was actually pretty nicely cast... all the pinholes were in the flash, and there were only a few surface blemishes that needed dealt with. This is how the '57 IH looks completed, haven't finished the others yet, but overall, I'm pretty happy with the outcome on my first completed R&R kit! Pictures, you ask? Why, surely...

Amen, brother... I feel precisely the same way. What you said sums up my attitude on what should be done with model kits perfectly!

Bandit Resins does a flat hood for the Maverick, which is what I'll be using on mine when/if I ever finish it!

It is funny- Dave mentioned the semi-gloss black crazing the plastic, but I've never had that problem. I like to use the Rust Tough Krylon- perhaps it's forumulated a bit differently from regular Krylon. (Note- No, the reason I use Rust Tough is not because I fear my models will rust! I use it because it seems to cover better than regular Krylon- which sometimes seems a bit 'watery'- and because they sell it at work and I can buy it for 20% off!)

Shockingly few, considering how many I build. About 200 at last count.

Or a first gen A-Series Scout! That Duel rig would be cool to have, too! But, I digress... I'm just happy to see how far along in development the Lonestar is, and I can't wait to get my hands on one. As a modeler and International truck freak, you can NOT imagine my excitement over this one!

Thanks for the info, guys! And once again, Bob... killer job on the model!

About time! Good to see the end result... looks every bit as jaw-dropping as expected!

Well, here it is... rough paint, a few chips, missing parts and all! Like I said, this is an old buildup for me, but it's fairly typical quality wise of the stuff I was building at the time. Maybe it's time for a "Glue Bomb Redeux"?

Pulling my foot out of my mouth here... It's not a 'Triple H' engine, which is what I called it earlier. Triple H is a WWE wrestler, not a Hudson mill! TWIN H, Chuck, not Triple H! I will now return to ogling the pics...

Shave the door handles, and nobody will notice that.

I've heard much of Ulrich's Mini Men, but have never had any in my posession... maybe that'll change soon. I've heard so much about them I feel obligated to have a few in my stash!

He knows notzing...

Probably my 'corrected' Scout II...

I hope their second truck kit is a first gen A-series Scout! What? A boy can dream, can't he? I'm not one bit disappointed in what I see... this looks like it's every bit as incredible as we've expected. I for one can't wait to get my mits on one... I might even rob that Triple H I-6 for use in a hoodless hot rod.

That's exactly what screwed it, right there! As a former Neon owner, I wonder, why try to perfect imperfection?