johnbuzzed

Scale modeling of any type is basically a solo hobby. After a while, critiquing one's own builds or hearing the accolades of family (or friends) who do not build can leave a builder wanting. It is nice to have one's success accomplishments recognized by peers on any level.

I do go to contests and NNL-type events/shows. I didn't for a few years due to a relocation and some economic issues, but I got back into it last year. I have won my fair share of awards over the years (since 1969, I think), having left contests with multiple awards on occasion and empty-handed on occasion. That's life ("ridin' high in April and shot down in May..."). It's a good feeling to bring home the hardware but it's even better when people- i.e., other modelers- take pictures of and ask about my builds. Then, there's the magazine photo ops... THAT'S cool! But all of the events are about camaraderie, actually meeting fellow modelers and learning about modeling- all facets of modeling, from all types of modelers. Each has something to share and we can all learn from each other. As far as pictures on or in the Forum- I think I have some in my gallery and I am working on getting some more here or there soon. I just consolidated them on "our" laptop; now I just have to get them here somehow.

Andy's right (in my opinion). There are a lot of people who could qualify if the only means was building a fantastic model and having a feature in a magazine. I can think of three without even trying- Anthony Cairo, Vin Lobosco and Rich Manson. Have you ever seen their work up-close, live and in person? Phenominal. And there are MANY more who can and do build on the same quality level but go mostly unsung (if you will) for reasons unknown- Lenny Cromwell, Rich Seagraves, Bob Seagraves, Andy Behrens, John Panteleone... I know all whom I mentioned; they are (or have been) in the L.I.A.R.S. club (to which I also belong) and I have seen their work.

Yeah, but then he fooled around and lost her... Previously, he had been married to Janine, a porn "star". Wide assortment of women in his life, that's for sure. Then again, we really don't know what any women are like when they're not in the public eye.

I think if you Google Keith Marks Decals, you can see his products on one of the photo sites and info about ordering the decals is there.

I've read in more than one source that you could order a Mopar just about any way you wanted, color-wise and option-wise. You didn't have to buy a car that was on the dealer's lot. I would think that all the manufacturers operated that way "back in the day"; I remember seeing a medium metallic blue '69(?) Camaro with a green vinyl top in the early '80's. Of course, we must consider the little "custom" touches some owners would add to personalize their rides. A little paint here and there is all it takes.

Happy Thanksgiving to all on this forum. Here's hoping that you have much to be thankful for.

Going by the extreme references in some of these posts, there should be a LOT of factory stock and/or replica stock builds on the contest tables and in the magazines for some time.

All of these more-or-less "reality" shows involve way too much drama, whether the shows revolve around cars, motorcycles, houses, backyards, fashion or whatever. I must say, however, that I have seen some of the OCC bikes live, up close and in person and (in my opinion) they are works of art. Not practical rides, but art.

Pittsburgh with it's inclement winter weather (salted roads, anyone?) vs Phoenix without...

Nice build, good story. It's like dinner and a show ! Don't forget to seal that Metalizer or you'll be wearing some after you handle those parts (at least, that's what happens to me...)

They would have to alter the wheelbase, which would mean new molds, which means $$$. But it would be nice indeed.

Thanks for all the advice. I already have some of the Papilio and since there were four recommendations, I'll stick with that (pun intended). I will try some of the other tips, too, such as printing the images on regular paper first. I hope to get to this over the Thanksgiving weekend.

No way could or would I attempt to choose the best kit; as Jairus put it, that's way too subjective. The "best"- in what way? I can tell you it's most definitely NOT the AMT/Ertl Snap Fast '74 Barracuda, even though it is molded in yellow.

That is one very nice build,very well thought out and executed. Nothing looks overdone or underdone.

I will be generating and printing some decals on my HP (inkjet) printer and I would like some input and opinions on which decal material you guys find to be the best to use. Thanks in advance.

Nice looking build and great display, too.

Looks good so far. Don't be concerned about not having an airbrush- with the paints and finishing products that are available, you can get a really nice finish from a spray can.

Yes, the Duster kit comes w/ a six barrel induction system. And A/C, too.

I had a Dodge Challenger back in the early '80's that fit in there. It was rough around the edges, had a not-very-shiny finish, an ugly roof (as I had removed the white vinyl) and a lot of "homemade" touches, with some basic "speed equipment", mis-matched white stripe tires and a nice stance. My daily-driver, it was what I could afford and I enjoyed driving that car, especially to the first Car Craft Street Machine Nationals East in '83 and the occasional cruise on NY RTE 231.

"Artists" in the fact that art is their occupation, perhaps, but that does not mean that "we" all do enjoy or appreciate their works, nor the works of any other "artists", visual or audio. "One man's ceiling is another man's floor". Miley Cyrus, Beethoven, the Beatles, Lady Gaga, Aerosmith, Glenn Miller, Mozart... Art, like beauty, is in the eye (and heart and mind and soul) of the beholder. To me, Ferraris and other exotic cars- but not all of them- are works of art; I have the same opinion of rat rods and other assorted hot rods, street rods, race cars, model cars, etc.

We need to look at the original hot rods of the '30's, '40's and '50's, then compare them to today's rat rods. Are they really the same?

Eugene, during and after those relatively few years that I was in, I knew some soldiers who did see combat; I know a civilian or two who were on the receiving end, too. Both sides, friend and foe, Vietnam and WWII. Those who did experience do not often talk about it. Most of the "war stories" that you'll hear from those who have served are just tales of their general experiences of military life in garrison or away from any sort of combat. Those who did experience combat would likely tell you to be grateful and thankful that you haven't. I did not see combat; in a way, I feel... cheated?... yet, I might not be here to be writing this if I had. I don't think I'm a coward but I have absolutely no idea of how I would have handled myself under fire and while I did enlist and take the oath, I am ultimately glad that I was spared the awful, brutal reality that is modern combat. Perhaps if I were 38 years younger I might feel differently, but not now. But there are troops who just keep getting rotated back out there as we read this...

Sounds like a threat, almost ... maybe not the sort of thing one should post on/in a public forum.

$50 is cheap. You might have to apply a clear coat to the printed decals (and let that dry) before you cut the decals from the sheet to apply them. Then, the surface on which you apply the decal should be smooth and glossy, as has already been mentioned.