johnbuzzed

Another thing to remember is that all those gadgets, gimmicks, etc just contribute to the "What can possibly break on my car?" factor. And, all that stuff adds weight to the car. I can understand power windows, locks and seats- maybe even outside mirrors- but the rest of the stuff is just silly add-on-to-the-cost BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH.

That's looking good, Jason. I like your logic in adding the details to the subassemblies. I might have to copy that on my current build.

Neat, clean and cool. Not everything has to be super-detailed to look good.

Looking good. Nice color choice, and the stance is more appropriate for the car- not so '70's looking.

The Switchers series of kits was introduced by MPC around '72 or early '73. The idea behind them was the ability to be able to switch the options included with the kit to be able to redesign and rebuild the model. Many of the parts did, and still should, snap together to allow this switching. The kits were typical of MPC at the time- not extremely accurate but with some good parts. I have one of the Phaetons that my wife got me for Valentine's Day about 5 years ago; it will be a box-stock, beater rod. I built another, a T-bucket, I think, about... 41 years ago. I no longer have that one- bummer . You can't get too serious with these kits but they can be used as slump-busters, just to get something built.

It seems like the technology is added merely because it can be done, almost to the point of overkill.

I took a lotta pictures, but I am most happy with these: ">http:// ">http:// ">http://http://s889.photobucket.com/user/jbuzz710/media/CAM00467.jpg.html'> I was humbled, honored and happy. I could have left right after this with no regrets, but we did stick around for a lot longer than I thought we would. Best part- it was FREE! Not even a parking fee, no admission charge. So I spent some $$$ on a t-shirt, a license plates, a magazine subscription (with free t-shirt), food and drinks... and saw a LOT of cool cars, including "Blasphemi". Hopefully, more pictures will follow. And, we did decide that the Power Tour is on our list of to do's- someday.

KInda like those toys in Target and Wal-Mart that can be found near the Hot Wheels cars. Four different buttons, four different noises. I've given some thought to incorporating that system into a model. But seriously- we drove a rented Camaro on our last trip to L.I. That thing had more electronic BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH than you could shake a stick at. Whatever that means. Problem is, none of it was really user-friendly or intuitive. I shouldn't have a hard time just turning on the radio. And just last week, I received a brochure for the 2014 Dart. Again, more electronics than needed. You can even change the instrument display, not just the illumination colors. I can understand the need to have electronics for the fuel injection and related items, but how much entertainment does one need while one drives? I don't even answer my cell phone while I'm driving and I'll change a CD at a red light or before I hit the road.

The tour starts tomorrow here at Charlotte Motor Speedway/Zmax Dragway and spectator admission is FREE! Richard Petty is scheduled to be signing autographs from 10-11AM. Yep, we'll be there, with both of my unbuilt Petty kits!

1993? 1995? Holy cow, it seems like just yesterday that this kit was introduced!

That's really looking good. The interior color is reeeeeeaaaalll close to that which you're trying for. Another build I gotta follow.

"This one is pretty cool, looks like a resto going on with the guy dumping all his money into everything but the paint... maybe. 30.jpg Let me know which one you guys like most.. I like the resto one and the yellow and dark silver... Advice/recommendations welcome! -Glenn" Glenn, go easy with the putty. A lot of modelers (myself included) will use strip styrene to fill in gaps, lines, etc. It won't shrink -EVER- and it's as workable as the original parts. Did you fill the bumper location with anything other than putty? That primered Nomad is running on NYS Rte 109 back in my old stomping grounds- Lindenhurst, NY, on Long Island . S&K Speed is still there, as far as I know. Cool picture! That's what I would go with.

But it MUST be real... it's on the Internet!!! Having just hit Powerball, Megamillions, the Iwish Sweepstakes and two one-dollar scratchoffs, I think I'll submit a bid. Just like Cary Grant in "North by Northwest"

Nice build; nice, subtle touches here and there.

Thanks to all. Bob, the grille isn't photoetched- it is the kit part, with a black wash. And yes, I did take care to align the headlights .

Pretty cool, and the interior pops- much better than all-black or gray. For a source of wheels, check out the old AMT/Ertl Dodge Concept Car ( I think it's really the Copperhead). It has two sizes of 5 spoke wheels molded in a decent silver-gray.

Got it.

I know someone has explained this to me before, but I forgot: What does "bump" mean?

We obviously all started building at some point in our lives and we all have our different abilities, our strengths and weaknesses. There are no secrets. The most important thing is to get "The Basics" down pat; once you do that, you can turn out some builds that will knock the socks off those who look at your models. Then, you can tackle the heavier stuff, like kit-bashing and aftermarket parts, but go easy- sometimes, a little is enough and too much is, well, too much. When you can deal with that, move on to fabricating parts. Well, maybe there is one secret: be patient. OK, two secrets: Each sub-assembly is a model into itself, to be incorporated into the final assembly. If you can get each one to be as clean, neat and accurate as possible, you've got a good thing going.

A couple more... ">http:// ">http://http://s889.photobucket.com/user/jbuzz710/media/65%20Mustang/100_4168.jpg.html'>

Built from the original (1985?) issue of the Monogram kit, finished in late 2009. The paint is one of Tamiya's reds. The antenna is a dot matrix printer pin. I had to replace the cracked, original windshield with a piece of packaging material of some sort, maybe from a shirt collar. The engine is stock except for the air cleaner and distributor. The mufflers were relocated and exit just before the rear axle. Wheels are from a Monogram Torino Talledga and the tires are from my parts box. I might have jacked up the rear a bit; I can't remember... The floors were flocked, I added seat belts and a little wear to the front seats and tried to paint the shift pattern on the shift knob. Some of the pictures aren't the best quality, but here it is. Comments are always welcome, good or bad. http:// http:// http:// http:// http://

No problem re: babbling, Al. I do it too. It keeps people wondering... I have the "Lynx" air cleaners from the kit stripped and ready for paint, and the headers will be a flat off-white, almost tan- trying to simulate the burned look. The pinion snubber won't jump out to an observer, but it will be a different shade of black that the rear end, so it shouldn't blend in too much. I'll stick with the kit's taillights but I will more than likely go for the Keith Marks decals. Yeah, it was a great time to grow up. I don't think I would want to do that now.

I think it would be cool if Revell could re-engineer this series, or produce all-new kits of the series, with all of the details and functions of the originals, and then some. Of course, that will never happen ... but it would still be cool . If there was one piece of original box art that I could choose as a poster (or even the original box) , it would be the '55 kit with the orange car on the cover. Nostalgia is a strong force as one gets older.

That is really looking nice and the little details are starting to add up. I gotta follow this build. One question- will you be substituting anything for the lug nuts molded on the wheel?

Nope- I'm fabricating a pinion snubber; it's a Mopar thing. And it will be Tamiya TS-54 Light Metallic Blue, which is pretty close to QQ1 "Electric Blue" listed for that year. But, TS-53 and -19 (Deep metallic...and Metallic Blue) are also in the running, especially for the interior colors. Thanks for following and the compliments.