mikevillena

Hi Harry, I sure do remember Mages....all three (or was it four?) floors. Bought my first cross crountry skis and bindings there. I used to wrench on bicycles back in the late 70's for Cycle Smithy on Clark St. I've seen plenty of Motobecanes along with Peugeots and some of the first Cannondale aluminum bikes. Gosh, there used to be thirty or more bikeshops in Chicago back then... Kozy's, On the Route, Oscar Watzyn's, Belmont Schwinn, Sportif, Buckingham, Turin, Park West Schwinn, etc... If you guys ever get nostalgic, check out the vintage bikes at Cycle Smithy 2468 1/2 N. Clark St. Owner is Mark Mattei who's something of a heavyweight among vintage bike collectors. I've worked on a few of his pieces including a couple of Bowden Spacelanders BTW, he has an absolutely jaw dropping collection of promos and car kits. Oh and a top notch slot car collection.

Turned out beautiful, Pauli. Don't forget that the engine has a long and illustrious history in various versions; Guilia Sprint, GTA and GTAm's that won multiple Touring Car Championships for Alfa.

I remember working on several of them during my brief stint as a mechanic at Motodelta (small import repair shop in Chicago). The all alloy engine was a lovely little thing and sounded magnificent especially with proper pipes fitted. Looks a lot better with the additional work that you've put in especially the intake.

Various shades of Metalizer paints airbrushed on and a wash of artists' acrylic burnt sienna, ultramarine blue and Tamiya acrylic clear orange to replicate the heat discoloration around the welds. This is in a slightly larger scale (1/10th) but you can still use the same technique.

Imagine climbing on board a C-Type Jaguar with a tremendous hangover and faced with having to drive a long stint at the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Having to endure a bird strike at over 120 mph; no, not on the windscreen but on your face thus breaking your nose. Having the balls to continue driving and heaven forbid winning said event. How about crashing into and knocking down a pole carrying overhead electricity during a GP race thus knocking out the power to half a town. Then being carted off to a hospital only to awaken in a darkened emergency room with a surgeon and several nuns hovering over you. "Why is it dark in here?" you mumble. "Because the pole you crashed into fed this hospital’s electricity," replies the surgeon. "Why aren’t I anaesthetised?", you ask. "Because the anaesthetist went to watch the motor race you were in." "And what are these nuns doing here?" "They are to give you as much port as it takes to numb your pain. Or the last rites. Whichever comes first." A true gentleman racer and a larger than life character. Duncan Hamilton of course!

Hey thanks guys! I've been checking out model kits on line and I'm on the fence as to which one to buy; Minicraft's 1/16th scale MGTC or Airfix's big Bentley. If I go with the MG-TC I would like to convert it to an Airline Coupe (a LOT of work). I'm also going to have to pull my old workbench back together and stock up on supplies. This is so much fun!

@ Ray (cobraman).... that sounds vaguely familiar. Was it somewhere on the southside? The only place I remember on the southside was Trost. Actually, I've been to their wholesale warehose several times with my friend Mark (late 70's). You'll probably wet your pants but I helped him carry an unopened case of COX IFC Chaparrals which he bought for pennies on the dollar. Anyway, I used to go to Toys R Us too when they used to carry model kits. SIGH

Just checking in. I'm in Peoria. I used to live in Chicago and I've attended several of the shows at the Hillside Holiday Inn with my good friend Mark Mattei. In my teens, I used to buy all of my model kits from Benty's Hobbys which was next to the Belmont Ave. "L" stop. After they closed, I ended up being a regular customer and a part time employee at Stanton Hobby on Milwaukee Ave. Gosh, those days are long gone. I sure do miss the old hobby shops.

This might be the same "Senna" that's on Netflix streaming? If so, it's a great documentary with excellent racing footage. Netflix also had "Truth in 24 II" at one point but they pulled it. However it's on youtube as posted by Audiofamerica.

Thanks High octane...... I know, I know. Just as easily doeable as my resolve of building it completely "box stock" eveytime I open the kit box for the first time.

Hello to all. It's been twenty or so years since I've worked on 1/24th scale model cars. Like most I once had a literal closet full of model car kits that took me ages to collect. Some like several IMC Chaparrals & GT 40's along with a case of Lancer slot car bodyshells and Cox IFC 2E & 2D slotcars were utterly irreplaceable. Unfortunately, life and job changes forced the sale of everthing so I'm having to start over. Anyway, I'm glad to have found this forum and I am so inspired by so many highly skilled modellers and their craftwork. I guess I'll have to start building the collection again only this time I resolve to build every kit to completion

I'd have to say "model" (and a damned good one at that!) The wipers give it away.

What a wild and crazy project....I love it! Should give muscle cars pulling up next to it a rude surprise when the light turns green BTW, the PS paint is made for polycarbonate (lexan) bodyshells which are clear and meant to be sprayed on the inside. The paint dries to a matt or semi gloss and is flexible. However, you can polish it after it's fully cured but it won't give you the super deep shine. I was forced to use it on the bonnet of my last project because Tamiya doesn't make the colour (Corsa Grey) in TS: The paint is simply rubbed out without any clear coat. Anyway, I will definitely be watching along with the others.

Absolutely brilliant and inspiring build!