sjordan2

I agree. I'm confused.

You got here before I edited my response above: Why don't you do the same as you suggest here (and change your avatar to something more positive. How about "Hello, Kitty")?

So, you used to be a very valuable contributor on this forum, then you joined the Dark Side. Why don't you do the same as you suggest here (and change your avatar to something more positive. How about "Hello, Kitty")?

So..I recognize your signature, but I'm too lazy to go back to find your last screen name, which was....?

Don't forget, guys, as Luke57 posted on an earlier thread, that these are diecasts – very nice ones. Where did you get them? This manufacturer does very nice stuff. As a matter of fact, this post might belong with an earlier thread, "show us your interesting diecasts." Otherwise, without advising members that these are diecasts, some confusion could result. http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=14390 Speaking of which, is anyone interested in adding a Diecast section to the new forum menu? After all, every one of us is into many types of model cars.

Apparently, it's a dead-on replica, based on this from "Jay Leno's Garage"... "The sad thing about the Atlantic is that only four were made, including the prototype, which no longer exists. Two others were meticulously restored by their current owners, Peter Williamson and Ralph Lauren, each taking Best of Show at Pebble Beach. The story of the third Atlantic is more shadowy and tragic: after a checkered history of ownership, the car was purchased by the married Monsieur Chatard in the name of his mistress. He was just teaching another attractive blond how to drive it when they were both killed in a horrific train crossing accident, which totaled the car. In 1965, its remains were discovered in a French junk yard, and the car was rebuilt around the chassis. Jay's Atlantic is pretty much an exact supercharged copy built on a genuine 1937 Bugatti chassis, with the small additions of an electric fuel pump and radiator fan. Even though it was very expensive when Jay bought it twenty years ago, this Atlantic's worth isn't so astronomical as to prohibit him from actually driving it!" Speaking of all that, here's an awesome 12-minute video hosted by Leno, showing off the car in the garage and on the freeway, http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/at-the-garage/bugatti/bugatti-type-57-sc-atlantic/

Here's a little more info on this, plus some added detail on the sketchy history of the one that was rebuilt after the train destroyed it. http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/4089/Bugatti-Type-57-SC-Atlantic-Coupe.html

How about a cardinal red Firebird?

This is one of the most useful tutorials I've seen around here, and applies to a multitude of purposes. Many thanks.

As I mentioned above, the headlight stone guards are the main issue with any of these kits, and I think they're the make-or-break thing that keeps them from looking right and not like toys. They are a signature feature of the 1:1 and I've never seen anyone get them right in scale versions. As for which brand to buy, ya pays yer money and ya takes yer choice. The best approach I can recommend is very patient thinning of the plastic mesh with teeny needle files, using a magnifying apparatus.

What scale is your Traction Avant? For Heller's 1/8 version, I have seen one build journal after another that went nowhere, being eventually abandoned (even, apparently, by the great Mario Lucchini). On that large-scale kit, most people complain that everything is too heavy for the suspension and they have to scratchbuild metal parts. Seems to me that Citroen always had great engineering ideas but fell short in execution (such as the innovative, beautiful but horribly problematic Maserati SM collaboration). That doesn't stop me from wanting a 1:1 Traction Avant with its colorful and ubiquitous European history. In the original book of "Casino Royale," it was a Traction Avant that chased Bond's "elephant-skin" blower Bentley into destruction (I take the elephant skin reference to mean that the Bentley was covered with somewhat distressed primer).

Hey, Dukefan69, that's a very realistic and pro-quality build. Nice work. Great chest box, and I love the fact that the bed looks like it's been used. Based on just the little that can be seen of the interior, that also looks like a 1:1. From what I can see, it should go in "Showcase." Outside of the forum, it should win awards.

I have asked the same question and have looked all over the place for answers to improve the wheels and tires on my 1/25 Aurora/Monogram Maserati 3500 GT, which I believe to be of the same series as your Aston Martin. I have found that most people do not understand the large difference between these 1/25 kits and 1/24 kits, and they often recommend Model Factory Hiro wire wheels of Borranis (intended for Ferrari 250 GTO kits with larger rear wheels) and Satco tires, all of which are much too large for these 1/25 kits. To increase the realism of the kit wheels and tires, I recommend the following: • Use a dark acrylic wash on the wire wheels. • Do a small amount of filing down on the wire wheel hubs and on the gluing side of the knockoff spinners to reduce their prominence. • Apply an acrylic dull coat to the tires. Probably the best result will look like the Maserati at this link: http://cgi.ebay.com/1963-Maserati-3500-GTI-/300422793817?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45f2980a59 Other than that, you may want to look at the 1/25 Shelby Cobra as a possible donor, though the wires are a bit thick and not chrome. I'll watch this thread to see if anyone has knowledgeable answers.

A beautiful girl with a beautiful model. I wish we could get more women into this hobby. Not to stereotype, but I find their crafts skills to be amazing.

Agree.

Thank you Gregg, this is a great subject. I think much of the success of this will have to do with the right description on the categories. One mistake that I think scaleauotmag.com makes, for example, is in their category, "Racecars and sports cars." This lumps together everything from a Willys Gasser to Gille Villeneuve's Formula 1 car, plus stock Ferraris and Porsches that should be entered under "Factory Stock." I submit the following topics for consideration for adding to the forum... • Rods & Customs – cars & trucks • Add Funny Cars to Drag, and others of this ilk (I don't know how many classes to add here) • Trucks, from pickups to big rigs • Pre-1960 classics • Stock production road car builds (I don't mean just OOB) • There needs to be some sort of description for major Euro-style racing, such as Open Wheel (Formula 1, IRL), LeMans, etc. EDIT: Wow, just since I started typing this there have been a bunch of great suggestions.

Seems to me we could have at least a couple of more categories that put similar approaches together, such as "Rods & Customs," which would accommodate any type of road vehicle with that description, car or truck.

While I have zero interest in trucks, drag cars, NASCAR models, etc., I still check out those sections because you can find outstanding work to enjoy, plus new tips and info on resources that help model car builds. True, some posts are difficult to categorize, such as the "Rommel's Rod" thread, but it mostly takes just a little judgement. What I'm saying is, despite my primary interests, I don't overlook the other sections. By the same token, it's helpful to check out other sites that offer amazing and useful insights into building aircraft, armor and boats, among other subjects. One more thought – scaleautomag.com does not have specific categories such as MCM's "on the workbench" or "under glass"; it's up to the forum member to identify the status of a build in the title of the thread – for example, in "factory stock," you will see titles such as "59 Eldorado WIP," or "'65 Shelby Cobra FINISHED." A lot of threads on this forum need to have more specific titles anyway. Doesn't seem too hard to me.

Aside from everything else that's beautifully done here, it's nice to see wires and hoses that look like the right scale.

Is there anything at modelmotorcars.com that you can work with? http://www.modelmotorcars.com/store/store_hrdwr.htm

Outstanding. Isn't nanoscale great?

Spectacular. That's about as good as it gets, and there's always something to learn and strive for when aircraft modelers turn their attention to cars.

The build is terrific, and the rear bumper is spectacular. Is that kit chrome or a rechrome job? If it is, where was it done?

A modest proposal: I think MCM should take a page from others' tactics and toss in pop-up windows or a special thread about the contents of each new issue on the newsstands. There is nothing wrong in this community about promoting such a core part of the enterprise.

What paint did you use on the Blue Devil? Is it a pearl? In the photos it seems to have plenty of luster but lacks the curse of metallic paints.