highway

Donald, I can't really help you on what engine you should use, but I can give you a better alternative than building engines before putting them in your stash. After almost 25 years of building and getting smarter as we age (which could still be open to discussion in my case! ), as well as being 35 standing in the middle of my stash scratching my head trying to figure out what kit a particular part I just found laying around is from, I had one of those "THAT'S IT!" moments about six months ago. It was so simple I can't believe I didn't think of it before, since I've been using the same idea for protecting kit glass for years. My simple solution for keeping track of parts now is, drumroll please: ZIPLOC BAGS!!! Like I said, I have used them for protecting glass for years, and that is what led to my "THAT'S IT" moment for keeping track of parts. I had accidentally left the glass sprue in it's baggie out of a kit I was working on, then later found it had slipped off the desk and was not even noticed until I was looking for a part that went flying. I then spent the better part of a month trying to figure out what kit it came from, and thought about from now on, marking on the baggie what kit the parts are from with a Sharpie. If I had just thought of that before, I would have known instantly the glass was from my 69 Trans Am! I now have four boxes of the cheap Walmart Ziploc bags, all the way from the little snack sized bags for small parts all the way up to gallons for large parts and entire sprues, that never leave my desk. When I have custom parts from a kit I'm not going to use, I just put them in the appropriate sized bag and write the kit manufacture, kit name, brief description, and sometimes even kit number and parts numbers if I know them in the case of parts I discover already in the parts box. It also makes life much simpler in trade situations, too, because if someone is asking for ABC part for XYZ kit, I don't have to post a pic saying "Is this it?", I know I have that part!

I don't think I even want to know what that means!!!

It's not that Don, I was counting it into the "Time flies when you're having fun" category!!

Did you ever stop to think before you started your thread asking for comments yesterday maybe nobody commented on these just because of the simple fact THIS WOULD HAPPEN!?!? I stated in your "Comments" thread I look at almost everything new when I come online by viewing the "View New Content" or if I'm online and something new is posted, I usually look at that then. I did that same thing when you started this thread last Sunday night, and if you think that the honest comments Terry posted yesterday after you started crying because no one commented on these in the other thread is "stupidity" and just following, here is your wakeup call, I SEEN ALL THE SAME FLAWS A WEEK AGO RIGHT AFTER YOU POSTED THEM!!! Terry offered you EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANTED, CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM! This is one reason I DID NOT comment here, because I've learned that, with the exception of a select few, most don't want to hear what's wrong! The select few I will offer my help to also receive that helpful constructive criticism while in a "On the workbench" thread when it is easier to change things. The few finished builds I will offer the idea maybe to do this or that different on their next build. Along the lines of constructive criticism for your next build, and to go along with this comment you gave Terry, maybe you should look at it this way, models are scale representations of the 1:1 counterparts, and whether or not a build of an actual car or not, the model should at least represent something that COULD BE DRIVEN! I actually like the idea of the custom, and may try that myself because a Cord is a car you normally don't see customized, but here are the biggest things I would do differently and suggest you think of if you would choose to rebuild yours, which are lower the rear end to a lower height and make sure the custom exhausts match. I noticed just reviewing your pictures, the drivers side exhaust is fine, the droopy passenger side exhaust should match and not be dragging the ground.

Yes, while it is true you can't tell what type of emotion someone is using just by reading the words typed, if more (at least here) would use the emoticons (the little smileys), it might help others understand what tone you would be using in face to face speaking. For example, if you are asking a question where you are unsure of why the poster used a certain color for something, using the "unsure" emoticon may help the one posting the model understand you are simply asking them a valid question instead of slamming their color choice. Another example is if you are saying something in a joking fashion, why not show that you would be laughing while saying it in real life with the lol emoticon ? If you click on the smiley face in the reply box's toolbar, the emoticons will show up on the right side of the reply screen, and maybe that will help show what tone your typed words are being said in.

George, you hit the nail on the head!! I just looked at the DPMMC Instruction site, and I found this one: http://public.fotki.com/drasticplasticsmcc/instruction_sheetsh/instruction_sheets/monogram-3/monogram-the-snake-/ Even though it is not the samee issue, it is the same kit. If you look at the fourth pic of the side of the box, while it says the body was molded in yellow, the windshield was molded in BLUE!

This is not meant to offend anyone or start a fight, but I do look at most every new post when I log on, but I didn't know it was required to post a comment on EVERY model! I have seen work from probably 99% of the posters in this thread, and of those, the models have all been very nice, but I'm not going to post "Nice" or "Nice work" 1000 times a day just because not having a reply is hurting egos!

Don't you mean "Glad I thought of that" Rodney!?!?

Me too!

This is just a matter of personal taste, but I have used Accel caps, rotors and plug wires, (and not the cut to fit wire, the PROPER wire set for the car) and on a few occasions the spark plugs, too. I would call them anything but cheap, and I'm not talking price! The quality of Accel products are far better than the parts store stuff, and I would never think of anything less on anything I own with a gas engine. I've even had a couple cars where opening the hood and seeing those pretty yellow wires and tan distributor cap was the nicest part of the car!

Sounds interesting, and I like the "No Timeline", maybe I can finish one for once! I don't have an idea for sure yet, but maybe this might be the thing I need to drag one of Trumpter American LaFrance's off the shelf!

Yeah, probably because Gregg was looking at the real models while Sheriff Haught (I like that! ) was looking at the snaptites!!!!

Very nice Ray. How did you make or where did you get the hood spot mirrors?

Eirk, I think the biggest statement in Bill's post is the word "perception", and in my perception of the term "factory stock", you are both right! I also believe it depends on the contest as to their perception, too, if you are building for contests, but even at that, the contest the model club I was a member of until we disbanded a few years ago never took into account the color of the spark plug wires. Honestly, like I said, both of you are correct. I see it this way, a factory stock is supposed to be like the vehicle left the factory like Bill said, but that same car can be 20 or 30 years old and still be factory stock like Erik said. I see it the same as a beautifully restored car in the 1:1 world, that car may not have every part that it originally left the factory with, but if it is built just as it looked on the day it did leave the factory with the same type of parts, is it not still factory stock? I see it the same way with those of you who may take your vehicle to the dealership to have your car serviced. The Ford dealer is more than likely putting the same spark plugs and spark plug wires on your 2002 Taurus as they would be a brand new one, so unless you put a sticker of your favorite NASCAR driver, floormats, or a Ford Racing steering wheel cover on it, would the old Taurus still not be just like it left the factory?

Jordan, I'm not 100% certain, but in Tamiya paints I'd take a guess the XF57 Buff or XF59 Desert Yellow bottles are about the closest you might find. If you'd want to spray it, TS46 Light Sand looks like a close match to most Cummins I've been around. If you want to look, I found a paint chart here: Tamiya Paint Charts They are kind of hard to read, even after clicking on the image to enlarge it, but readable enough if you look close or have really good eyesight!

Which one?? I just checked all the ebay listings, and none have a ship from for central Arkansas. The one with the big truck stuff is from Louisiana, the trailer is Pennsyvania, and the other one that is a link to a store is in Florida. Unless you're driving to Louisiana to ship, but if you're in central Arkansas, I'd think Little Rock would be closer! And by the way, I'm not trying to start anything with you, I'm just wondering!

I have got to say that my all time favorite kit to hate is the old MPC/AMT Pontiac Trans Am kits, all the way from the 69 TA all the way until they (AMT) had to come out with the new tooling for the 4th gen cars. The 1st through 3rd gen kits are just junk compared to the comparable Monogram/Revell kits, but the only way to have some of the versions is to buy the MPC/AMT kits. Here are just a few examples, and take in mind I'm just talking about kits, no resin conversions or bodies. 1969 TA-MPC is the only one to make the iconic first Trans Am, Revell would hit a home run in my book if they modified the 67/68 nose in their greatly tooled 68 Firebird kit. 1974 to 1976-Again, MPC annuals are the only choice. Again too, Revell would get my love for a modified 70 1/2 kit with the 74 nose and modify the 78 TA kit for the 75 and 76 when the TA went from the flat rear window to the wraparound. 1979 to 1981-I know with this, yes, Monogram had a base stock version of this car, but most I can ever find is the modified one with the stupid wheel fairings and other custom mods. I have been a lifelong fan of the Trans Am, and I build them stock! Anyway, the most important cars of these years are the 10th Anniversary edition and Indy Pace Car, and in the case of the 10th Anniversary car, using the decal from the MPC kit wouldn't work on the slightly larger 1/24 scale body because the bird would not be right. The bird on that car was the only one ever to have the wings extend onto the front fenders. 1982 to 1992-The biggest AMT sore thumb here is the 20th Anniversary Indy Pace Car. Yes, Monogram made the 20th Anniversary too, but most of the Pace Cars I've seen have T-Tops, where Monogram's offerrings of these years had no T-Tops. Yes, I could paint them on and make it look like there's T-Tops there, but what if I want to replicate my old 1:1 1988 GTA the way I usually drove it, with the tops out and in the trunk? In my honest opinion, MPC/AMT Trans Ams were junk, but I have to love them, well at least until Revell gives me better!

Me three, I usually also use their sealer primer for bodies molded in anything other than gray or white, too.

Nice! I think this is the first truck that I've seen the driveline brakes added to the Rockwells.

No, Harry, I wasn't even born in 1975!! Now maybe the mechanic I go to when I can't get something figured out or need tools I don't have a garage for might be, or maybe us WV hillbillies ain't caught up to the times! Of course the fact that I've known his son since we were 5 years might help too!

That's what it sounds like, and threw in 30 year old decals as a bonus!

Not a problem, well except for photobucket's problems! According to what it says for my photobucket, I might be able to get back in it tonight, but if not, hopefully I will be able to get back in tomorrow morning.

I know, me too! If you'd hear what I've called them while working on my 1:1, I'd be looking at the ban hammer INSTANTLY! As for the karma, they're probably the type who pay a mechanic $40 an hour to change them!

Mike, I have the Revell Challenger painted in the Testors Custom Lacquer Hemi Orange. If you want, after photobucket stops playing around and I can bet back in my photobucket account, I have some pics taken of it if you'd like to see how it turned out.

Good to hear it wasn't a big fix Terry. Jake, I'd like to do more than smack that person!!! Nothing beats a good old worm gear clamp!