sjordan2

What most consumers want is authenticity. I don't see that in self-serving arguments that challenge the competition by employing their own practices, suggesting we should behave as the competition does, instead of as who we are. Is that good business?

Edited

Okay fine. A beautiful piece of work by Bob Downie, as usual. But I've got to say that one thing that sets this forum apart from Scale Auto -- and here's where I depart from my esteemed friend Harry P. -- is that NOBODY ON THIS SITE CARES about the magazine/forum competition, (although the SAM guys apparently do, but that's their deal). There have been many times when I posted a link from here to that site and others, and nobody carped. What's wrong with a totally open conversation? Don't we all share the same interests? And many of us are members of both forums. Leave it up to the members to decide what magazine they want to pay money to, either or both. Actually, there have been many times when I posted links from there to MCM and other model car sites, using a bit.ly link that disguises the URL so Jim Haught and his editors don't get in a snit. But SAM forum moderation has been almost nonexistent for a long time. Just my observation. Nonetheless, I think that although I've made critical comparisons here, I hope no one will use this forum to slam the other guys. They do what they do, and we do what we do. No need to be like them. Let it rest. Kumbayah,

Nice car, great shots, excellent ghost flames.

I have the Disneyland TV space shows too, and they're still cool to watch. Strombecker also offered this: Interesting how Kubrick used a more advanced version of this wheel design in "2001."

Looks good -- did you open the wheel slots? (Can't tell from the photo) Getting the proper track width on the front wheels might interfere a bit with the steering, but it'll still look a lot better.

Great stuff. And that tip about how to glue on the bright wire is brilliant.

So we need a new racing series that adheres to the standards of old-time stock car racing on the beach? Everything else in the world evolves, even in the ancient, slow-to-change and revered world of golf equipment, which has been around since before the 16th Century. But let the games begin, with a sanctioning body that can make everything work on a somewhat level playing field.

Hey, those are replacement aftermarket springs (from modelmotorcars). Of course they're going to look newer

Meanwhile, back to the subject. I truly am surprised that there is no rust on the exterior after all these years. The only reason this car remains an icon is because of its unsurpassed styling. Under the skin, it's a bucket of unreliable bolts and sloppy craftsmanship, and even Coiln Chapman once said that Jaguars, going back to the C-Class, are race cars with about a 3-year life expectancy. Anyone who owned a Series 1 3.8 E-Type with its horrible Moss gearbox can tell you it was a total piece of junk. Having had some experience behind the wheel of a Series 2 4.2, I can tell you it wasn't much better and was not ready for the road or long-term ownership.

What on earth are you talking about?

Most of the leaks will need to appear on the floor under the finished build.

I censored myself on this one.

I agree. And more entertaining than oval racing, at least to me. Also enjoyed Sunday's Sprint Cup race at the Sonoma road circuit. Carl Edwards won, due in part to owner Jack Roush having set him up with a road racing coach to hone his skills.

Superb. I miss my GT Sprint Veloce more than ever now.

I don't believe I said that I did that one time only. And I was very familiar with the road, so no surprises. But the thing about a car like that is that it doesn't matter how fast you can go. It's how fast you can go fast, and you can experience that time after time. There are plenty of opportunities for responsible drivers. I won't even go into the opportunities for irresponsible drivers.

Within a week after I bought my 6-speed C4 Corvette, I went out onto the Interstate near me on a Sunday morning, here in Knoxville. There were zero cars around, and a very long view down the road. 115 mph, and one section with all four tires off the surface. I'm sure I'm not the only person who has taken such an opportunity in a responsible way.

So far, this is the cleanest and safest NASCAR road race I've seen. Much more entertaining and a better driver / team test than oval racing. Hope it keeps up.

I love all racing, especially NASCAR, but I always wonder why there aren't ways for them to adapt to winding road courses other than oval tracks, such as today's Elkhart 200, and carry on in the rain. All other race series seem to be able to deal with those issues, such as Le Mans, F1, Indycar. NASCAR would be far more interesting under the circumstances the other race series face. I understand the dangers created by the incredible speeds and specialized car set-ups, but it seems that only NASCAR races get shut down this way. There must be a way for NASCAR teams and drivers to adapt to different racing circumstances.

What specific paint and flocking did you use on the interior?

Another stunner, as usual for you. This kit has probably never been done better. I'm a fanatic about dashboards, and I'd love to see some tighter shots of this one.

Just to amplify what I implied a few posts ago, EVERY manufacturer of ANYTHING faces ridiculous pressure from management to get products to market as quickly as possible. Some management is smarter than others.

Sounds to me like a case of trying to get to market too fast without sorting things out properly, and waiting to see how things go on the road. As we say in the TV commercial business, if a shot doesn't come out well, "we'll fix it in post." But nobody gets killed or maimed (depending on the nature of the client.).

Looks pretty nice, and I agree that the wheels could use a little wash. But why are the headlights painted white and not clear? That's kind of fatal for a quality build.

His wife had a staffed hospital wing built onto their home in Switzerland (supposedly about $2 million), prepared for his convalescence. He is out of the coma, but far from being out of the woods.