larrygre

Hey all, I have learned that due to licensing issues with M-B USA, the Revell of Germany Mercedes SLS AMG gullwing will NOT be available in a domestic Revell USA boxing. The same licensing issues may (and I say MAY as I don't have the facts on this yet) affect further importation of the German boxing. I have yet to get one, but I saw the parts at NNL East and it looks like another tour de force for Revell of Germany. Get yours while the getting is good.

DENCON Resin does a front end conversion for a '71 Chevelle that includes the side marker light panels and SS grille/bumper. Nothing is chromed, but all is very well done and quite usable. Might help with your conversion there.

Hey folks, For anyone who is on Facebook, I posted my photos there to share with everyone: My NNL East Photos on Facebook Please stop by!

Defnitely some of the BEST reworked diecasts I have ever seen! Congratulations!!!

Jairus, that puppy is sweet! Great mod to the Pie Wagon kit!

I realize I am using the dreaded "D" word here, but there are reasonably decent 1/24 Type 3 diecasts from Maisto - a Fastback and a Squareback. The Fastback's window dimensions need adjusting, but the Squareback looks to be OK. In the absence of any plastic kits, they are at least workable.

I have Scale Coachworks' Swinger, and it is really well executed. I'm on a Mopar muscle car kick right now, and its on the 'to do' pile. Stay tuned, I will post pics when done! Here's a pic of the resin parts I found in a search. If you can find one, buy it - its that good.

Thanks for that Mark. Great research! Now I can drag our my MRC Texaco kit and have at it!

Hopefully we will see some new parts, especially that barn door front bumper. But no matter what, this is a great little kit and has been a modeler's favorite since its introduction in 1994. Shawn Carpenter has a 1950 GMC conversion for this, and I remember more than one resin caster has a van/delivery body for this kit. 1954 cab conversions were available from All American Models and F&F Resin Casting, but sadly both are now out of production (hey resin casters! Here is an opportunity!!!) What I would personally LOVE to see is a resin ice cream truck conversion, including those all too prominent Good Humor or Bungalow Bar decals! What do you guys think?

Aaron, nicely done! I have the same thing planned for one of my Mongoose Dusters.

Jim, its SHAWN Carpenter, not SCOTT Carpenter. Name aside, his resin work has always been consistently among the best, including his GMC conversions.

Jeff, this one might just be your best yet!

I too like David's solution. Would be even nicer if such good work can be duplicated in resin as an aftermarket enhancement. I did a little research and found this, the only Hasegawa kit that offered interior panels. It was a limited edition and is pretty pricey when you find one these days. Look at it this way, guys. Most of us were never exposed to the original Revell 1959-vintage VW Microbus kit, and that had a multi-piece body that has nowhere near the more precise tolerances of the all-new Revell offering, not to mention 1959-vintage lack of fine detail. But for what it was, it was pretty decent and VERY workable. Between Hasegawa and Revell, oh boy do we have it good as far as VW Microbuses are concerned!

It's a very well molded kit, for sure. I reviewed the original edition for SAE back when it first came out in the '90s. Revell also boxed this kit in 2001-2002 with non-plated dog dish hubcaps. Only one edition of this kit came with interior side panels, and I believe those were cast in resin for Hasegawa. Also notice the open gaps in the doors on the one-piece body. This was done so that the doors could be cut open and positioned accordingly (or hinged, if a modeler was so inclined.) The lack of interior side panels was the dealbreaker for me as they are VERY visible whether the doors are mounted open or closed. Granted, there is a ten-plus-year difference between Hasegawa's tool and the new Revell one, but the level of detail shows that. The multi-piece body may put some off, and that may be enough reason to go for Hasegawa's offering, but the new Revell kit stands head and shoulders above in nearly all other aspects - resin surfboards notwithstanding. Just my dos centavos, mi amigos.

Son of Ford had the standard grille that kept on into all the kits we know today. Thanks for the update re the Amigo Pack kit with the bonus diecast - I had forgotten about that one!

Bill, some time agoi I invested in a pair of Tamiya's stainless steel paint mixing stirrers. Those have been like gold to me. One side is a flat thin blade shape (screwdriver-style) and the other end is a dimpled micro-spoon, just perfect for adding a tinge of something into the mix when you need to. They NEVER go bad and are easy to wipe down and clean. The coffee stirrers work OK and are throwaways so that's a point in THEIR favor. But because the Tamiya stinless steel stirrers arent as flexible, they will get the pigment out of the nooks and crannies of the bottles better, IMO. Just my $.02.

Thanks for all the suggestions, my friends. Also, Krylon Flat Aluminum in the rattle can is great stuff. Its great for simulating a cast aluminum feel and its NOT grainy at all. Give it a try. I also found a well-kept secret from the military airplane side of modelling. Xtracolor is an enamel paint similar to Humbrol and manufactured for Hannants of the UK. Their line includes Duralumin, Natural Steel, Oily Steel, Gun Metal, and Burnt Iron. You don't have to order the stuff from the UK as there are several Internet mail order houses that stock Xtracolor. And thanks to all of you who let me know thay have the same problem with Testors Aluminum, both square bottle and Model Master. Seems there is a problem endemic to the paint that Testors likely should be made aware of.

Both Detail Master and Model Car Garage sell printed gauge faces, both in classic and modern (digital) styles. DM's are on printed paper while MCG's are printed on clear acetate so you can paint the background in the colors of your choice. Both come with photoetched bezel rings. Here are pics of the MCG classic style offerings: Hope that helps some!

Outstanding work indeed! Thank you for sharing that with us!

Hey all, I've been using Testors Aluminum paint (the small square bottle) for a while now with pretty good results. But the other day, after brush painting an exhaust system on a promo chassis and despite mixing the living heck out of it, the paint dried with a glossy clear shine to it. Its supposed to be FLAT aluminum, isnt it? The bottle of paint is less than a year old. I used to love using Pactra Flat Aluminum when Pactra actually existed. Now thats a part of history. Tamiya's acrylic XF-16 is too "grainy" but IS flat in appearance. Humbrol 56 Aluminum is dark, almost what other paint makers call 'steel'. Any good suggestions for a brushable bottled Flat Aluminum? Thanks, y'all.

Chuck...oh yes he does. How you doing, old friend? Drop me a line sometime.

It is indeed the new tooling - in fact, it is simply new box art and decals for what was released in 2008 in the "Goodguys" series. The tooling is based on the 1995-vintage '55 Convertible kit (recently reissued) and is simply spectacular. Worth the $$$.

Nice one Lyle. Seems there is a resurgence of interest in mild customs like this, and it's good to see. Love that Orange Mist paint...love it so much I bought a half dozen rattle cans of it..!

The JZ mill is a straight six IIRC - and a serious torquer when tweaked! Nice job indeed, in the vein of the Tokyo Drift RB26DETT powered 67 Mustang!

Nicely done!