Matt Bacon

I don't remember the details, but I have a feeling it was a result of a short-lived period when there were possibly going to be EU regulations about the average fuel economy of all the cars produced by any individual manufacturer. I think it became clear that this was pretty silly, pretty quickly, and these days I think there are exemptions for "low-volume" manufacturers, which is why the Cygnet is no more. I also remember that one of its "selling points" at the time was that it could be easily craned aboard the luxury yacht that serial Aston owners would have, and function as an "on-shore tender..." I guess someone also figured out that it would be cheaper to hire guys (me! me !) to drive your Rapide and V12 Vantage from London to Monte Carlo than buy a whole new over-priced, body-kitted iQ... best, M.

Maybe it's just me, but the new MX-5 RF looks really cool to me... a mini 599 GTO! With a red body and black roof and flying buttresses, I think it would look fabulous. An at £33k for the top spec, it's a tad more affordable and available than a 599 GTO, and probably 95% as much fun on normal roads in daily use! best, M.

I don't know why "if they get kits from model companies they'll give good reviews" keeps coming up. I regularly read a number of 1:1 car magazines including Evo, Top Cear and Car, and I read Car & Driver online pretty regularly. All their cars are provided by the press offices of the car companies for long and short term tests (with the exception of Ferrari, which doesn't like have a LaFerrari tested head to head with a P1 and 918, so that review required one borrowed from a friendly owner...). I don't see any sign of writers and reviewers pulling their punches or ignoring the defects that they find. And those magazines get a good chunk of their money from car company advertising. Why would it be any different in the world of hobbies, where the stakes are, let's face it, rather lower...? bestest, M.

...anyone built one of these? I just snagged one for a very good price, and it looks exquisite in the box. Any build guidance much appreciated! best, M.

See, this would have been the giveaway: It's basically a motorcycle with the ultimate fairing, not a car at all... Best, M.

Ahhh... this sucks. So sorry to hear. Be strong, Harry... stay with us. You've always been an inspiration to the community, and now the community is rooting for you: I hope you feel it. Rage against the dying of the light, and come back to us. With the very best wishes, Matt

Dann... don't get your hopes up for the DB5. It's a whole different ball game, and very much worse. There are five generations of Airfix 1/32 scale kits: 1950s: vintage cars, much like Revell Highway Pioneers. Most of the 1/32 vintage cars began at this time, and it shows. 1960s (1): "modern" cars (ie up to date when launched). Includes the DB5 and E-type that are still in the range. These moulds are mostly pretty tired now and fit and detailing are highly variable. Some of the more "ordinary" cars (Austin Maxi, Vauxhall Viva) have become quite collectable -- as well as the rarities like the Mercedes 280SL. The Triumph TR3 and Ford Escort have been out more recently as well. The best of the bunch (and pretty rare) is the Jaguar 420, which is very well detailed. The DB5 is long overdue for replacement. 1960s (2): racing cars, originally intended for adaptation to slot racing as well as scale models. Includes the Ferrari 250LM, Ford 3 Litre and Porsche 917. Good shapes, but simplified (virtually non-existent) interiors to leave room for motors etc. 1970s: a few, very high quality, vintage cars, including MG K3 Magnette, 1933 Alfa Romeo and Vauxhall Prince Henry. Very detailed, a bit fragile, but beautiful models when finished. Also "Monty's" Humber Snipe staff car, though that appeared in the military range. 2010s: Modern racing cars, sharing some heritage with new Scalextric toolings (since both brands were now under the Hornby umbrella) Includes the XKR GT3, Aston DBR9 (another great kit), Mini Countryman and Ford Fiesta WRC cars. Better interior detail than the earlier slot car derived tools, with simplified chassis, though. Scalextric has just announced a new 3D-scanned E-type, so there's some hope that might lead to a new Airfix one, one day. Equally, Scalextric has HAD a brand new and very nice DB5 as a result of the 007 license since Skyfall came out, and there's no sign of that in an Airfix box... bestest, M.

That looks really good... and I know what you mean about the decals. The only thing I'd suggest is cutting the "leaping" Jaguar head decal where it crosses the door shutlines... bestest, M.

Who got it right? Only dw1603 carsntrucks4you Well done, guys! best, M.

You know the rules... answers by PM to me before end of play Friday. Answer posted Saturday morning GMT. Please don't use reverse image look-up. This is a 1953 Ford Comete Facel Coupe, though the sharp eyed among you have spotted that it's fitted with the later 1954 "Monte Carlo" bonnet (hood) with fake airscoop and the chip-cutter grille. It has the underpowered 2250cc V8, not the later 3.9 litre Mistral engine. This was an "under the radar" project by Ford France, with just over 2000 built. best, M.

I love everything about it except the wheels. Which, frankly, to me make it look like one of Hot Wheels' more "caricatured" models... which is a shame, since the majority of the build is so nicely done and authentic-looking. YMMV, clearly... bestest, M.

I think sometimes you just have to let the past be the past: an awful lot of German soldiers rode to war in a GM truck, and an awful lot of Americans bought a "Strength through Joy Wagen" in the 1960s... The Mitsubishi selling cars in the 1980s is NOT the same Mitsubishi that built the materiel for Pearl Harbor, any more than the VW that will sell you a Tiguan today is the same company that created the "peoples car"... bestest, M.

Actors: 1. Dustin Hoffman 2. Kenneth Branagh (see "Much Ado about Nothing" and "Conspiracy") 3. Glenn Close 4. James Stewart 5. Leonardo di Caprio 6. Jimmy Cagney 7. Cate Blanchett 8. Jack Nicholson 9. Robert de Niro 10. Gene Hackman Stars: 1. Marilyn Monroe 2. Sean Connery 3. George Clooney 4. Errol Flynn 5. Elizabeth Taylor 6. John Wayne 7. Julia Roberts 8. Steve McQueen 9. Paul Newman 10. Elizabeth Taylor and special mentions for: "Actor for whom I will watch any movie if he's in it": John Cusack "Actress for whom I will watch any movie if she's in it": Sigourney Weaver best, M.

A big +1 to that. And I'd maybe add: try to walk a mile in their shoes, or if you can't, at least recognise that while their shoes shoes might not fit you, they could still be a perfect fit for them. bestest, M.

That looks absolutely fabulous, Harry. So crisp and neatly detailed. I wonder how the performance compared: I suspect the little'un could run rings round the monster in a real race... Now if only they'd add a couple of similar Alfa classics to that range... All te best, M.

Who got it right? Only one... dw1603 Well done, Dave... maybe the rest of you were distracted by Real or Model... ;-P best, M.

I'm so sorry to hear that, Harry. My thoughts are with you, and you know we're all here for you. I don't know whether there's an equivalent in the US, but these people: http://www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/index.html were fantastically helpful to my brother-in-law, his wife, and child when she was diagnosed and treated. There are a lot of support materials generally, and good advice on how to to talk to your children about it here: http://www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/coping/talking-about-cancer/talking-to-children With very best wishes. All the best, Matt

Guest presenting, at Ken's invitation. You know the rules: year, make and model by PM to me before end of day Friday. No reverse image search... And that would be a 1994-1999 Caterham 21. Similar underneath to your more familiar-looking Lotus 7-alike Caterhams but with a nice curvy body on top. Sadly, also a heavier body, which did nothing for performance...

This showed up today: I've wanted one for years, and now it's been paid for by money for a car modelling magazine article, so I can justify it! best, M.

Just be aware that the Airfix kit isn't exactly 1/24, so your interior will need some adjustment to fit. Thanks to the type of construction, which is designed to be plug-compatible (see what I did there?) with a well-known make of construction bricks, it's 1/26 in one direction and 1/22.5 in the other (I can't remember which one is which). That said, it's by far the best plastic construction kit of the P1 that there is... bestest, M.

Makes me wonder... did anyone EVER successfully pull off the "Classic European styling with bulletprood American reliability?" Facel Vega, Iso Grifo or Jensen Interceptor, maybe...? The Cobra and GT40 are the ur-beasts in this respect, but the Cobra lost the European styling somewhere along the way, and the GT40 was never really homologated as a road car. I suspect there's a philosophical mis-match between American engines and European chassis, which no amount of curvy bodywork can smooth over... bestest, M.

...I think you're missing the point, slightly... ;-P ..and there are only four pieces that didn't already exist in Lego... best, M.

http://www.lego.com/en-gb/technic/porsche-911-gt3-rs Keep your Pochers... this has 2,700 parts and is "only" £250... I want! best, M.

I'm sure there were Ike Asimov stories where people were prosecuted for driving cars on "manual"... Surely the only way this works (for at least a few decades) is if the human "driver" is always responsible for the behaviour of "their" car? It's gonna be a while before cars are smarter than horses, given that the current state of AI is about at ant level, if that... The biggest factor is going to be communication, not intelligence. As Tom says, it's the ability of one vehicle to tell all the others around it if there's a problem developing. And the ability of a "cloud" computer somewhere to learn from the behaviour of all cars in the same place over months and years. To take a specific example: cruise control. In the 50s/60s, you had a cruise control that held a specific speed. By the 80s you had one that had a "default" speed that it returned to even when you speeded up or slowed down with the pedals. In the 90s my Mondeo accelerated when you pressed the gas pedal, and slowed down when you braked, and held whatever speed you ended up at. Nowadays, they use the front parking sensors (and maybe radar) to lock onto the speed of the car in front and track it. Tomorrow they'll get a feed of "I'm thinking this...." from the cars in front, and those behind, and adapt their driving style accordingly. It's still a smart robot, though... ...when they start to think "I think this guy's a bit timid, I'll overtake him, but I'm not going to be tempted into a drag race with this idiot over here..." THAT'LL be AI... bestets, M.

Great build, Curtis. This is one of those great kits that not enough people build. Super-cool original, and a fabulous build of a beautifully engineered kit as well... Alfaholics would be proud! best, M. (though I don't know how you resisted the big snake for the bonnet/hood!)