Aaronw

Ok, that makes sense. Looks like a good choice for the Hummer.

Um, I see tires and rims on there, change of heart or something else. Looks good.

Guess I missed the earlier Celica kit. I don't see Aoshima kits much, guess I need to start paying more attention to HLJ.

5mph bumpers and proper ride height would have fixed that...

The Cruze is nice, but I'm far more interested in that Celica Rally car. Nice to see new faces and new ideas being added to the model making side of things.

I bet the chipmunks just came from a game of pong to get themselves worked up into a killing frenzy.

This is what I use. I put left over bits back in the original package with the uncut stuff, so I know what it is. Six tubes made from 3" ABS pipe, and 4 made from 2" ABS pipe. The base and dividers for the sheets are made from 1" pine shelving. I divided everything into like types, rod, round tube, square tube etc. The 4 smaller tubes (behind the 3" tubes) are for metal wire, rod and tubing. Behind it all is a slot for extra long material.

The cab is interesting. Looks like somebody made an effort at changing it into a Pioneer cab.

Wow a lot of changes, but it's looking really good. The Paystar bumper is a great addition. You know what might look neat is a bumper turret. You've got plenty of room up front now. A hose bin or short section of hardline is another popular option.

Thanks, wasn't sure if Tamiya had their own or not. Never too sure with Tamiya / Italeri when they offer something the other has done. I have a few Italeri / Tamiya kits and a few more Tamiya / Italeri kits.

If you can abide diecast Welly does a nice bay window microbus. We had a '72 when I was a kid and that was the only way I could find the later style. I think your wip was the one I was following. I could actually smell that old VW interior smell while you were doing up the interior. It is very strange how the mind reacts to some things.

Not a big deal to get the reducer, just didn't know how much it mattered and trying to keep cans of "stuff" to a minimum. Sounds like it matters. Also sounds like an outside job with a mask. Thanks

Because of its age I had to have a pint of paint mixed up for some touchup spots on my car. Since it is a color I could imagine using on a model (similar to Tamiya Mica Blue) and I'll have plenty left over, I'm curious about thinning it for that use. It is a fast dry acrylic enamel, can I use regular store brand thinner or should I get a can of the reducer they sell for it. I know they recommend the reducer for spraying a full size car, but don't know if that is necessary for the small quantity used for a model. Not that familiar with automotive paint, I know the two part urethane paints are pretty nasty, but assuming this being an enamel I should be ok treating it like a standard rattle can as far as safety precautions? Air brush and spray booth with good ventilation being adequate. Is this stuff any worse than Tamiya or Krylon? I do have a cartridge mask available, but honestly rarely use it unless using something notably nasty, and then I don't want to use it in the house. I know it may be hotter than most rattle cans so a good primer coat is assumed. Thanks

I just picked up an Audi Quattro. Says Tamiya but I'm not sure of actual heritage since Italeri and Tamiya have a thing going, and Italeri has the Esci molds. Cool if it really is Tamiya but I'm expecting to find Esci on the plastic.

I've seen a few builders come on here and get a little huffy about honest critiques of their work. I've also seen some of these same people after stoping to take a breath start to see that they are not being attacked, take the information provided and really start to improve. With that improvement came more willingness to accept critical comment.

I was thinking 2002 as well, although I don't know which came first as far as rip off goes. I've been hoping to see some of the Esci rally kits return, Fiat 131, Escorts, MB 450SLC, Golf Mk1. Actually Esci has several kits that would fit into this thread, nothing to oddball, but a lot of older (70-80s) European cars we don't have current kits for. Guess we are waiting on Italeri to dig through the Esci vaults.

Alvis 3 litre drophead coupe, not many built but I really like the look of these. The "funky" addition was to distinguish from cars that would surprise no one. Seeing another Ferrari, Porsche or even something like an Aston Martin DB5 retool may delight some, but it wouldn't have that never saw that coming thing. Doesn't actually have to be weird but it helps. Some of the cars posted are actually quite popular and / or attractive but fall short of that so called "license to print money" kit. Mostly just an excuse to post some interesting European cars that would make a neat if unlikely kit.

and what do you think led Rob to that industry, I'm sure the Atari 2600 and Commodore computer played no part in that at all. A kid playing video games has no less chance of that leading to a good career than a kid gluing parts together. They both generate an interest that could lead to a career, but neither promises success.

I've used embossing powder too. I just sprinkle it on the wet paint, then once it dries, give it a second coat over the embossing powder. It gives it a fine texture to suggest carpet and differentiate from vinyl or leather upholstery. A $3 bottle will last a long time since it only takes a pinch or two on most cars.

If only there was a way for kids interested in computers to make a living, hmmmm.....

That reminds me a bit of the old Dodge Colt (which was a rebadged Mitsubishi I believe).

Neat, I've been after one of these from Uptown for years, he never seemed to be able to get them in long enough to take new orders. I know what I'll be asking for this Christmas. Hmmm rescue, hazmat, dive team, mobile shop? There is a 1950s or early 60s GMC step van on my way to work, pretty tired looking but restorable. Has $2500 painted on the windshield, it has been there for a couple of years now... Cool looking truck though, would make a neat RV. I believe it started out that way.

Lindberg ended up with the AMT '34 Ford truck, supposedly over a debt AMT had with one of their contracted injection companies. It isn't out of the question that there is some free range Johan tooling out there with a vague paper trail. With all the stories that have been tossed around regarding Johan then and now who knows. I normally wouldn't be too disappointed in a curbside kit of something weird like the turbine car, but this kit loses a lot of its appeal without the turbine engine. That is kind of what makes it special.

The '57 wagon is neat. Personally I think the Nomad is a bit more attractive but it will nice to have another 50s wagon, even better that it looks like it will include a police option.

Agreed, but at the same time, it is no fun to get a laundry list of issues. Pick one and work on that. An obviously inexperienced builder is far more likely to respond to a post pointing out a way to do BMF better, or how to improve a paint job, or how to get the wheels straight, or focusing on removing seams. Any one of those is a perfectly valid comment and appropriately worded, helpful (tip on how to get better great, what a terrible paint job not so much), but all of those at once can be crushing. Also target the comments to the level of the builder, if it is a factory stock build with very good technique, but the color is wrong for a car of that year, perfectly valid comment. If the paint job is badly executed, then the choice of color is the least of their worries and just piling on. Last, is there really nothing nice to add, maybe even just the choice of color, or maybe the concept even if poorly executed? While I have seen (mostly in the past) some comments that I think were just mean, most that have resulted in hurt feelings were just tactless, but not malicious.