johnbuzzed

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but: "Unfortunately the LIARS organization is informing you that the 2012 LIARS Model Car Challenge has been cancelled. The Freeport Recreational Center is presently in a disaster recovery mode due to “Superstorm Sandy”. Facility will not have power, water, etc. restored in time to host our 2012 LIARS Model Car Challenge. LIARS has reserved November 9, 2013 for a combined 2012/2013 LIARS Model Car Challenge at the (same) Freeport Recreational Center. To those of you who have paid for tables, please advise Rich Argus as to whether you wish a refund or to apply the deposit to next year’s show. No decision has been made regarding the 2012 Trophy Package plaques to reflect next year’s event. Representatives from Revell, Inc. were to attend this year’s event. Hopefully the LIARS will see these representatives, our vendors, & more importantly you on November 9, 2013. Please spread the word amongst our fellow modelers, vendors, etc. The LIARS believes that this cancellation is in the best interest of all given the severity of “Superstorm Sandy”. Even if the facility could be made available, we are concerned about our fellow modelers storm recovery and travel restrictions that may still be in place next weekend." I have no further info but I will pass any and all along when and if I get some...

1. What is a model kit? A collection of parts and assembly instructions needed to construct a reasonably accurate replica of a given object. 2. What activities (e.g. painting, sanding, burnishing) do you associate with modelling? Cutting, sanding, cleaning, painting, measuring, researching, applying adhesives, assembling, fabricating, applying decals, brush painting, spray painting, burnishing, polishing, buffing, waxing, stripping... 3. Do you follow instructions when building a model? I do study the instructions before I build but I do not always follow them to the letter. 4. How skilled are you at modelling? I have been building for about 52 years. I believe I am more skilled than many but not as skilled as just as many. I am capable of producing contest-winning models as well as total pieces of ######. 5. What are kit conversions? Have you ever done a kit conversion? To me, a kit conversion involves using parts available from the "aftermarket", or parts fabricated by the modeler, to produce a version of a vehicle, aircraft, etc, that is not available in kit form. I have done parts-swapping, fabricating, etc, but I would say that I have never done an actual kit conversion. 6. What is kitbashing? Have you ever kitbashed? Kitbashing involves using parts from multiple kits to produce one model. Yes, I have kitbashed. 7. What is the object of model-making? What is the end product? To me, the object is to produce, in scale, a relatively accurate replica of a vehicle, ship, aircraft, etc, that I would not be able to acquire (in most cases) in full-size; something that I can appreciate for artistic, aesthetic or historic reasons. I can create miniatures with my hands and I get much satisfaction from that.

Yep, Rich, this does happen to me on occasion... just about every occasion. That's why I have notes for builds, even my in-my-head builds.

Stuff like this brings out the ten-year-old in me- I wanna do that, too! Now I want to go thru my parts box and stash... Thanks, Ira. That's so freakin' cool!

Very cool, very nice work. That's one of the best, most original ideas I've seen in a long time.

Does "in your own words" mean we can make up some words?

Well, I remember staying out til 330AM, going to bed only after feasting on a Jack in the Box taco, breakfast jack and fries after a night of imbibing and partaking, then going to work for 8AM the next day (Saturday). Of course, this was back in 1977 when I was 22... Now, the wife and I are dozing on the couch, watching Ghosthunters at 930PM. Not too long ago my late night build sessions could last til 3 or 4AM, depending on the situation. Now, I'm lucky if I can keep my eyes open past 11 or midnight. Life do change as one gets older.

I heard they were in that huge warehouse with the Ark of the Covenant (or, was that Warehouse 13...?) Whatever: it would be great if those molds were actually located and used for their specific purpose and not melted down for scrap. We can hop for the best.

I was stationed at Selfridge ANGB in Mount Clemens in '74 and '75, just a few minutes away from MPC, AMT and JoHan. Of course, I never went to any of them... who woulda thunk...?

I think it turned out nicely. With a little bit of patience (which I don't have too much of, either) and a color coat, it could be a contest winner- the Olds engine stands out from the usual small blocks that we see in these Deuces.

Sweet. One of my all-time favorite kits.

That is one very nice build. I hope you do make it up to Atlanta for the NNL; I'd l really like to see that in real life.

I have tried embossing powder over a similar color flat paint and it looks good. I didn't get the fiber-all-over-the-completed-model results like I do with flock, which seems to shed forever and gets everywhere. IIRC, the other magazine ran an article about using embossing powder with good results within the past year or two.

You don't do contests, yet you entered a contest... Which is it?

And if it does snow..?

Very cool! I'll be watching this one, too. My next-door-neighbor had one when I was about...15. I was a passenger when he raced a Coronet R/T on NY231- talk about wide-eyed! What a great car and I hope this build turns out to be a winner for you.

Harry, if you've never been to a contest, then you don't realize that contests are not set up for ties. Not all entrants can be winners. I have left contests both skunked and with several pieces of new hardware. The entrants don't want to be in a tie with someone else, the sponsor clubs don't (because most can't afford to) have multiple trophies for win, place and show and there will inevitably be hard feelings because someone in a tie situation will be going home empty-handed, with no trophy until one can be sent to him or her. Having entered and judged MANY contests since 1968, I can tell you that most modelers would not like this situation. I've judged contests in which some of the entries had components such as rear ends, wheel/tire combos or bodies that were loose- not secured to the model- and this was discovered by attempting to pick up those models for a better look. Those models were immediately out of the running, along with those with bad paint, glue blobs, etc. If one can't get the basics down, all the PE, scratchbuilt, fabricated, aftermarket, store-bought, parts-box, etc parts in the world won't help the build. That kind of situation is really tough when there are only three entries in a class and basics are lacking in all three. And, yes, there will always be something to set apart a winner from the also-rans, but sometimes, that does come down to particulars such as builder-fabricated vs. store-bought. In those cases, I would say that, all else being equal, I would go for the fabricated component because of the effort, artistry and skills the builder used to create that particular piece- no different than what should be applied to creating an entire build. A builder- fabricated component is a small model unto itself and if it is at least up to the standards of a store-bought item, that carries more weight than buying a component. I guess it would be best for me to say that, all else being equal between two builds (which would not be very often), my preference would be for the model that consisted of more scratchbuilt or builder-fabricated components than store-bought items.

In those rare cases of all else on a build being equal, I would agree with Peter- a winner has to be chosen somehow.

I am a contest judge. I enjoy building for and competing in contests. I also like to build for my shelves; those models do not have to be of contest-quality.

"Scratchbuilt" and/or "fabricated" does not guarantee quality; nor does "aftermarket". It's all in the fidelity (and yes, the fit and finish) of the final product. This is a topic that could be debated for a long time.

To build a model in one week is one thing; to build something this nice in one week is another. I envy your ability to do so. Nice work!

Perhaps you might ask your local authorities or contact a local attorney if you are still questioning this situation.

Then we can add purchased, aftermarket 3-D printed parts at some point. Just because something has been produced on a 3-D printer doesn't mean it will be of good quality or fidelity. Parts is parts and they can be garbage or good. There are variables; it boils down to the overall quality and execution of the build and incorporation of parts, no matter what the origin of any parts might be. I am a contest judge; I have seen too many builds with PE items added like sprinkles on a cupcake.

I like the rat rod idea; I may "borrow" it for my build. Have you considered a 340 6 bbl from the Ertl Duster kit? Small block Chevy headers should fit that w/little if any problems...

The chrome slots make me think "'70's fast-food cruiser; street marauder..." It's refreshing to see one of these built as a non-sled. Thanks!