Aaronw

All these oddball European cars are going to bankrupt me. It is a nice problem to have. It is not unheard of to find clear fuselage halves on aircraft kits with heavy glazing, so not really something new, although not common on car kits.

I primarily use it over acrylics, and my rattle cans are mainly limited to Krylon and Rustolium. Maybe it is less happy with some other paint types and I've been lucky not to use them. I always use it on the clear bits, makes the parts clearer and is nice insurance in case I get glue or paint somewhere it doesn't belong.

I don't know, I usually use black or grey but I'm going for an aluminum effect, not chrome.

I still have a tool box and work surface for mobile building, although I rarely use it for that purpose anymore. During my last move I added about a dozen new kits and got the new model room set up ASAP. All the new old house projects kept me busy for months after moving in, unpacking the stash took a few more but at least in theory I was able to dribble glue on plastic within 2 months of moving.

I've been using Future for 10 years and only had it crack if I'm impatient, I think it is due to applying it over paint that hasn't fully cured. I usually give it about a week before spraying over rattle can paint, maybe a day over acrylic. I've got a Paasche double action airbrush that I rarely use. I've thought about getting a simpler single action with the idea that simpler might equal trying to use it more often, but have always let the more airbrush savvy convince me that I don't need to... Maybe I will rethink that advice, looks like the H can be found for $30-40 so not a huge expense.

I now have a reason to get the Fujimi Toyota Prius Model

and here I was waffling about paying an extra few bucks for the RoG GTI... Definitely going to have to get one of these, my wife just got a job so I'll take that as a sign that I do in fact need this.

The flatbed would be nice, I'd buy one. I'd really like to see more 28 footers, the old external rib box trailers are the only 28s I know of. Done right (parts for a frame mount and a trailer dolly) and 28s could offer a lot of options, truck mounted for a straight truck, straight truck and trailer, tractor and doubles, or a tractor and single trailer for people with space issues. Boxes, tankers, flat beds, loggers etc. Outside of boxes and flatbeds I see far more 28' trailers than I see full size trailers. I've seen relatively few tractor trailer fuel tankers. 10 wheelers with a 28 foot tank trailer are much more common in California. Gravel trucks (transfer and bottom dump) are more common as doubles, and short flatbeds are very common in agricultural areas (loaded with big tubs of fruits and vegetables).

It has been ages since I saw a road worthy Maverick, I haven't even seen an abandoned in the ditch Maverick since the early 1990s. Seemed to be a decent car for the 1970s, so kind of surprised I haven't seen a few restored to go with the Pintos, Gremlins and Pacers that I do see on occasion. Ken Kitchen does several Ford I-6 engines in resin, not cheap, but well done. http://public.fotki.com/KenK/kitchen_table_resin_kits/

The base coat alters the final color, black is the usual recommendation but you can use others. This is true with paints like Alclad as well as polishing powders. A lot of the aircraft guys who do natural metal finishes will do a patchwork of undercoat colors to provide a subtle variation of color / sheen in the top coat giving the impression of not quite matching metal panels.

For the drive train you also might be able to get some ideas from some of the WW2 Allied tanks. There were versions of the US M4 Sherman and M3 Lee / Grant that used paired Detroit 6-71 diesel engines. The M5 Stuart used a pair of Cadillac V-8 automobile engines with hydra-matic automatic transmissions. The late war M24 Chaffee used a similar set up. Neat subject for a model, that is a big truck.

The Revell '29 Ratrod 3 in 1 pickup?

Good to know, I wouldn't have expected to see that. $60 is a bit steep but if the quality is good not out of the question (don't know the company, but the photos look good).

When I worked in Yosemite National Park it was not at all uncommon to see people taking photos with the old glass plate box cameras. It is a hobby and for some that includes less convenient methods. Kind of like buying pre-built diecast cars or building a model from a kit. My first camera was a Brownie Hawkeye which was probably 20 years old at the time. Also had a plastic bodied 120 camera at some point. As a teenager I had one of those disk cameras, then got fairly high end 35mm point and shoot from my Grandmother who ended up with two similar cameras. I used that for many years until buying a Canon 35mm SLR in 1999, I debated on springing for that camera and remember the words of the camera store salesman, who said digital will never be used for serious photography... Less than 2 years later that SLR was back in the box as I was using digital exclusively. At least the lens got back into use when I bought a Canon digital SLR in 2010. I remember having to change rolls of film every 24-36 shots, now if I'm taking photos of something like a car or other potential modeling subject I'll take 24-36 shots of a single object just to make sure I catch all the small details. I don't miss film at all, but I can appreciate those that consider film to be a part of the experience. No different that vinyl vs CD / MP3 or vintage car vs new.

Were the fuel tax stickers mounted on a license plate size plate, small stickers about the size of the annual registration sticker on a car? I remember seeing trucks with a second "license plate" on the front covered in small stickers when I was a kid. I haven't seen that on trucks for many years now.

One of the crew hauls broke down on a fire at work and this showed up to take it away. Brand new wrecker, this was its very first job, the driver was having to take stuff out of the plastic as he worked. We have several herds of Tule Elk in the area and one of their other heavy wreckers narrowly missed a couple crossing the highway recently, so they ordered a Canadian moose bumper on this truck.

Well technically not recently, but I did see this one awhile ago down by the Grapevine. I assume it is a high end car transporter.

Saw a VW Rabbit / Golf pickup. There are a couple of these around here, including a tan diesel. Gives me ideas for the new Revell Rabbit kit.

For RC aircraft they make a thin mylar skin. You put it over the aircraft frame and use a heat gun to shrink it into place. I built one years ago before deciding RC aircraft were too much work and expense for what I got out of them. I've never built a balsa and tissue aircraft, but would think the mylar might be an option in place of the tissue and dope.

This looks similar to SNJ / Hawkeye metal polishing powders which are now unfortunately out of production. I had pretty good luck with those powders for doing natural metal finish aircraft. They also had other metal powders which gave different sheens / shades. This is an example using the SNJ powder over gloss black. With those powders you had to use a cloth to remove the excess powder but the finish is pretty durable with dry fingers, moisture (sweaty fingers) will leave marks but it can be clear coated. I would assume this C1 stuff is very similar. Nice stuff for an airbrush challenged individual like me.

They also have a lot of art pens and markers on sale 30% off until the 19th. I picked up several fine point illustrator pens which are useful for detailing the panel lines around doors, cowl vents etc.

Wow, very nice and the car looks great in yellow and black.

Thanks Roy, I'll have to get a set of those decals for mine.

That is really nice. I like the color you used, kind of different but looks good.

Nice job on the Cobra. Which boxing was this? I just finished the Monogram 427 SC with the red car on the box and it seems to offer different options from yours. It came with wire wheels and did not include any decals for the car badging or the option of a hood scoop. Just curious if it is a different kit, or maybe you got some aftermarket for yours? Nice choice of colors.