sjordan2

As an ad agency creative director, I think 90% of all the examples posted here are totally second-rate or worse -- crude, unimaginative, etc. The only ones I would call "art" that go beyond bland commercial art depictions are Heller, Hubley and the Batmobile, which also include better overall graphic design and typography. Italeri has also done many very nice painted illustrations, and once upon a time there were some nice Johan paintings (but bad graphic layouts). The Moebius stuff has great car illustrations but poor overall layout and typography. And why would you include kit photos? Almost none of the box art here is particularly classy or artistic.

I go with the "News and Reviews" angle that keeps things pretty much the same but makes the direction clearer. I also agree with: 1. Less speculation about a kit that hasn't appeared yet. 2. Show what's in the box. 3. Show a build. 4. If you've built it, list the pros and cons like the magazine does.

MUST-SEE TV FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN THIS SUBJECT. Acknowledging that home 3D printing is a growing force, today's episode of the Katie Couric show (ABC, Monday, Dec. 2) began with an opening segment about 3D printing. A rep for MakerBot showed some of its uses. Then an amazing story about a father whose son was born without a hand; he found a program online that allowed him to make a working, articulated, prosthetic hand for his son; then a cautionary tale about the ability to make guns (over 100,000 downloads so far). Look around on this link for access to the show... http://katiecouric.com/2013/12/02/how-3d-printers-are-changing-our-lives-ed-burns/

This may be a slightly better blue plaid. (PS: don't use plaid on the 300 SL roadster -- It was only used on the Gullwing and other race cars. The roadster has pleated leather seats, and the Gullwing plaid was never used on pleated seats. The seats in the Transporter cab are from the Gullwing.)

CORRECTION: Correct scale is ten alternating stripes horizontally, 13 stripes vertically on the seat back insert. EDIT: The red plaid I posted in this space is all wrong for the #722 SLR kit you appear to be building (the Stirling Moss car that's in the Mercedes museum/Classic Center). I'll have to look into that.

You can get inkjet printer fabric at most hobby/crafts stores. I got mine at Hobby Lobby (or was it AC Moore? Or Joann? One of them). I have a regular HP Photosmart Express printer. I would recommend letting the ink dry, then hit it with fixative. It prints out nicely at 1/12 and 1/16 -- I haven't tried it at smaller scales. http://lesliesartandsew.blogspot.com/2013/02/inkjet-printing-on-fabric.html Also available in silk. Just Google around for inkjet fabrics.

This is the correct Mercedes blue racing plaid that I recreated in Quark XPress. Prints out very nicely on inkjet fabric. On Gullwing seats, correct scale will be 13 stripes across the seat back. Depending on your printer, you may want to print the darker blue a hair lighter.

Hopefully, these bodies will be affordable. The only other kits 0f the original 340 Mexico in 1/24 were curbsides made by ABC Brianza (kit and built-up) and MG Model, which are impossible to find and cost hundreds of dollars.

If it were a real kit, the fun would be making it WITHOUT visible internal workings. In this vein, I would love to have a kit of the Svedka Vodka robot girl.

I haven't seen this come up in this thread, but for those who want to plan ahead here are a bunch of good reference shots of the original 1952-53 1/1 plus a short article. http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/cg/3119/Ferrari-340-Mexico-Vignale-Berlinetta.html Here's more reference on the Gullwing America recreation: http://www.gtspirit.com/2011/09/15/gullwing-america-creates-the-ferrari-340-mexico-berlinetta/ EDIT: Ace found other info on the recreation in post #24.

Killer. Great find, Harry.

Nice job on a tricky kit. Is this the 1/24 or 1/16 version? It would be nice to see some interior shots. Or did you glue the doors shut?

Great job, and especially so in getting the front wheel camber just right. Does the kit allow for that or did you have to play with it?

One thing about foiling vent windows. There are so many cases where fully foiled vent windows don't look realistic to me. Real windows have seals in the frames -- felt or rubber, which should be black or dark gray -- and it makes more sense to me to paint the inside edges with a chrome type paint, add the seal color, and just use the BMF for the outer and inner surfaces instead of wrapping all the way around.

One caveat -- I recently tried using these glass beads for another purpose and they don't cut well -- most of them ended up crumbling.

I am commenting on the images that I clicked on. I've been around here for a while.

The photos are very dim and small, and it's hard to see what you've done. The only critical thing I could say is that the convertible shouldn't be as shiny as it is.

Perri the squirrel is one of Disney's forgotten legends, but I have it on DVD. It was half a typical Disney "True-life Adventure" and half a special-effects fantasy way before its time. Quite a good show.

It came with a jar of liquid glue to brush on, 3 shades of fuzzy fur and a squeeze tube to blow on the fur.

You'll get a different story depending on where you look, but most of what I've seen points to The Beatles. Most covered song is either "Yesterday" or, surprisingly, "Eleanor Rigby." http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/the-10-most-covered-songs-1052165.html

You're evidently new to this, but as has been said and proven time after time, Harry never modifies the subject of a Real or Model post. Never. In Auto ID quizzes, he will clearly block out badges, scripts and license plates because of the nature of the quiz, but that's it.

I think the subject, detail, dust, tire finish –– and outside mirrors –– say real. Those rear window blinds would be a bear in any model scale.

I've never seen that kit done better.

Nice work. Is that a metal body kit?

Beware their 1/12 Mercedes Gullwing and Ferrari 275 GTB -- two of the clumsiest, ugliest, most inaccurate kits ever issued by anyone in any scale, including Pyro –– and reissued by a clueless Revell under their label.