Erik Smith

Just out of curiosity, Ed, if you were going to sell something, say a rare old kit, where would you go that 1. Has the customer volume of eBay 2. Has the ease of international currency (Paypal) and 3. Is a completely protected marketplace (both eBay and Paypal have provisions for unscrupulous/illegal sellers and buyers)? Not calling you out or anything, I just don't see any other avenue that offers the service and exposure that eBay offers - and, since they employ people and maintain a business, charge money.

Any photos of the restored Fiat?

There is no free lunch, so I agree with this... Why not try to open your own hobby shop? Or, better, list on CL so some meth head can steal from your garage while the other stinks up your living room... Shipping fees CAN be set by the seller, but really, most are just set by how much the seller estimates the package ways (plus handling fees is so desired). Some try to make up for the fees by adding a little here and there...

The '61 resin wagon in the first photo, behind the '62 hardtop body, the one you cut the roof off…Lindberg's first round of that kit had the cowl shaped incorrectly - they fixed it in subsequent issues - but the resin wagon you chopped the roof off looks like it was based on the original… I am not really contributing anything, just saying... I will be watching the long roof transformation, though

Gimp and Inkscape are ones I have used - both have a bit of a learning curve, though, as there isn't a lot of "stock" designs, etc. I end up spending hours trying things out, watching "Tuts" and having fun, but not really accomplishing much. Then, I forget how I did something and have to start over... When I had a PC, I used MS Publisher and Word for easy text graphics and resizing images robbed from online sources. You can actually do quite a lot from those two. You can do good text graphics, use images to fill shapes, etc. Google things like "free tiled images" or "free seamless patterns" and you can get different textures for fill or fabrics or what have you. To be honest, for me, none (outside of Publisher and Word, or the related Mac versions) are really easy, but I guess it depends on what you are trying to do. …BTW, GIMP has been buggy since the last update and won't let me drag and drop images, so I quit using it…plus, I don't think GIMP does vector graphics...

Cool, and nice work so far. Man, it looks like the resin wagon was based on the ill-designed first issue of the Lindberg Impala…little extra bow in that windshield cowl area...

Nice work removing the side trim. I like the look without it... Nice thing about this kit? No need to grind off molded in wipers.

We have a club in Spokane, too, but that's a longer drive

Modelhaus only has the the type with inserts - to the best of my knowledge...

They show up now

PC or Mac?

The Papilio white is thick too, Bernard. I have used it with dark colored decals but had to touch up the edges to hide the white edge Cadillac Pat has done some work with the clear film, white base, mask, and paint.

Dante - the problem with most pad printed tires is the registration - seems like they are all a little off (well, not ALL, but a fiar amount). You can easily paint wide whites with acrylic paint, air brush, and a simple circle template (either tape the tire to the template or cut out a masking tape "mask"). Also, look at vinyl stickers or consider the snap in variety - both look failry convining and the snap in ones register true every time. But, if your looking for the already done ones, the AMT tires are pretty good (if possible, look at before buying as some are off center or have another paint defect). There is also an eBay seller that sells painted tires…I can post a link if I find it.

or you don't have to have an awkward conversation with the hobby shop worker about Magic Cards... I have always enjoyed shopping and selling on eBay. I don't get mad at the gocery store if Kraft makes crappy mac and cheese...

Unless you print on white decal film, there is no way to get gray - or any variations of white (unless you apply to decal to a white base). So…your options are to use an Alps printer or find somebody to make them for you. There are a couple guys on the forum that have Apls printers (that print white), Chief Jospeh from Fireball Modelworks is one... As to the raised square - are you using a setting solvent? Like micro set or micro sol? Those products will melt more of the decal film and reduce the "edge" effect.

As long as the base coat is perfectly smooth and glossy, it doesn't matter what you use - that is, to make it look good. If you use lacquer as a base, the Alclad will not "bite" into it and it becomes very sensitive to over handling-it will rub off. I use Alclad black base (it works pretty good, but tends to get globs (clogged tips) and the lid gets glued on!) so I started using Rustoleum Enamel Gloss black and it's worked fairly well, so far...

Great looking model. Great photos. Looks like your on top of a building? Cool back drops, textures, and lighting...

Great looking model. I like the color choice.

Tape off the whole door and respray - no need to blend the different levels of paint. White is soooo hard to do...your paint (prior to ole murph) was looking good!!!

It's really simple. More supply - decreases demand - lowers prices.

That's cool. I have looked at the TDR engine and imagined it placed somewhere it doesn't belong. A lot of cool features on that car. Eye candy for sure.

There is an app for iPhones (maybe others) that takes a picture (or a series of pictures, as you move around object), converts it to 3D and allows you to print out the object. The example I saw was pretty rough, not quite crude, but still had a ways to go. But...think of the future possibilities?

I think it turned our great. A little different take on the Manx. I like the dark blue color and the wheels. Great work.

Great looking models and awesome photos!

The ones that have the most value have only been issued once or twice, obviously... When they reissue a kit, it makes it easier to find, so builders and collectors aren't after the same models - less competition. Take the AMT 62 Buick - recently reissued in a nostalgic box. It's easy to find multiple versions of that kit, therefore, the original 1962 version sells for a lot less than say, a 1962 Tempest, which saw light of day once. So, yes, it does make their value lower.