Scale-Master

They do have a cutter, it's called a CriCut and they have them at Wal-Mart and advertise on TV. But the ability for it to cut the level of detail I want is not there. The Roland Sticka line is better, but it is more expensive and still not high enough quality for what I want to make. The Roland GX 24 is again better, and also more of an investment. It's about what you want out of the cutter and how much you are willing to invest. But none of them are printers. They are plotters or cutters. To step up to a Printer/Cutter capable of the basic quality most modelers would accept you're looking at an entry level investment of a few thousand dollars.

I guess I did miss that, sorry... I cut the side and upper nose stripes from 2mil white vinyl, the rest of the white striping (on the lower edges) is decal.

But (using Harry's analogy) what if Baker A made her pie from apples she grew and harvested and Baker B used processed apples? Hmmm? Both taste exactly the same. Just because one person had to put more effort in to be equal does not mean they automatically should have the scales tipped in their favor does it? Another perspective is the one who was able to get the same quality results with less work might be a better craftsman therefore shouldn't they get the benefit? That is where blind anonymous judging to award the best piece is the fairest, assuming it is a contest for that. Once you start factoring in who did what under what circumstances (handicaps or special skill sets) it ceases to be a contest of the best built model and becomes something more convoluted.

Thanks guys! Corey, I gotta ask, Which Caterham 7? I've done at least six of them... At least 10 if you count Lotus's too.

When I am not making models, drawing decal artwork, racing cars or fondling women, (I am my own boss and I do have the weekends off…), I work on real cars… I took this: And made it look like this: No, it is not Photoshopped.

Wasn't there a member who got banned for writing in this exact same style a couple years ago? I remember he used to say he "spell-chicked" it too. But I don’t recall him using that writing style to ridicule other members either. It seems hypocritical, (for especially an ex-moderator), to do the same thing with impunity.

Thanks guys! Decals and clear have been applied. Still needs some issues attended to and some details added before final assembly…

And now the white border/pinstripe is done. Time to start decaling…

Got white? Yep…

The areas that are to be red and white were masked off and the Testors 1111 Blue was shot. Once it is dry I will add the white to the hood (what is gray now) and the dividing strip between the red and blue.

Originally I planned to shoot the white first, but after assessing the best way to apply the overall scheme I decided painting the red first would be easier. I masked on the center of the white side/nose stripe instead of painting white and then masking the thin stripe off. (It looks like the latter was the plan of the person that started this kit as you can see in the first photos I posted.) I used some old stock Testors 1103 Red enamel.

The louver panels were made with sheet styrene… Now onto prepping the body for color.

Strips of styrene stock were utilized to build up the lips around the ducts. (I masked off the areas outside the center of the hood to protect them from primer build up and the possibility of sanding the edges of the other louvers since they were already a little “soft” from the previous layers of paint.) Once the shape of the basic ducts and lips were done I took off the tape and feather edged the primer build up with 1000 grit sand paper. The headlight covers are body/scheme colored and provided as vac-u-formed parts. They were trimmed to fit and installed. Primed with Tamiya, it is time to make the four louver panels…

I don't think it did anything to the filler. I'm pretty sure it was a catalyzed polyester type, and I am guessing it was dry for at least a year, probably more.

Studio 27 kit of a ’94 IMSA car that ran at Le Mans. The hood is being modified with a different styled hood louver set from what was cast into the body. When I got it, it had been started and for some reason the body was painted even though the hood louvers were not finished. So this is where this project starts for me… I soaked the body in oven cleaner, but it had very little effect on the paint. Being resin with filler (certainly on the hood, not sure about elsewhere) I decided sanding is a better option than stronger solvents or strippers to prep the majority of the body for repainting. The hood is first thing that needs to be addressed. Using chisels, files, an X-Acto knife and sanding sticks I carved the main ducts through the hood. A little polyester two part filler was used to smooth out the low spots and sharpen the edges.

There are some interior shots here, in the in-progress section: http://www.modelcars...pic=61387&st=40 I guess I forgot to shoot pictures of the roll cage being installed before buttoning it up, but on page 4 in the above link there some shots before the window decals were applied. Bosuzoku? Maybe just a little... But since learning the history of it, not such a bad thing either...

OK, it is wrong, but since Fiat owns Dodge and Ferrari I can reconcile it to some minor degree. How’s that for rationalizing? Two Tamiya Enzo bodies were sacrificed, and one Lindberg SnapKit Caravan was used for the base. The front of the Enzo “body kit’ was widened a scale 12.5 inches. The rear bumper and lower sections of the fenders were fabbed up from sheet styrene. The Enzo engine, trans and rear suspension was also used along with a few scratch built and machined parts in the interior and on the engine. Wheels are Tamiya Porsche units with machined outer rims and trim rings. Tires are from a Tamiya GTR. A set of Enzo tailpipes are behind the mesh in the rear bumper, and a radiator with twin fans resides behind the front grille. A reflective coating was applied to the headlight covers and it changes from gold to blue depending on the light. A Revell ‘69 Hemi Charger scoop and hood section were grafted into the smoothed out Caravan roof. The rear wing is from an Acura Integra. SMS decals for the C/F. I opted for a suede gray finish to further the odd stealthy look I saw in it as it developed. And to give it a bit more of a sinister attitude.

It’s not getting any prettier, but it is coming along. Interior is installed… Head lights were treated to a transparent mirror-like film left over from a Tamiya cycle kit. It changes from blue to gold depending on the way light hits it, yet it is still see through. There is a radiator with twin fans behind the grille. The tailpipes are also installed behind the mesh in the rear valance.

Yes Brandon, you are correct, as I stated above "The intent was to show a contrast using the stock proportions of the van...". I agree, it is wrong on so many levels (only 1000 Chuck?) nothing can be changed to make it "right". But if I throw enough "wrong" at it...

I agree, a Viper engine is the more logical choice, (logical applied to this?), but I had the Enzo parts, and right now they are all relative being the under the parent company of Fiat. Chopping or sectioning the Caravan portion was never an option for me; first of all, it may work in Photoshop, but not in this actual exercise. You can create a lot of things in PS that don’t reconcile in actual building, just ask Harry... The intent was to show a contrast using the stock proportions of the van with the Ferrari fenders, (of which are not the same scale, nor is the engine). But I encourage those who think it should have been chopped or sectioned to do their own and show us how it looks in plastic.

Inspired by Newbomb Turk’s Pie Wagon in Hollywood Knight’s. Yes, I know it is not a Panel as shown in the movie, but then I am kind of a GM guy… I took a little artistic license with the colors of the side artwork too, and I guessed at what the Pie Man on the back might look like. But at least it does have the correct license plate from the movie…

Dash is in too…

Thanks guys. Oh yes, I am enjoying building it, and I still don't even know for sure what it will look like when it is done. I also don't know that there is anything to "get". Bizarre may be an understatement, but sadly due to prolonged exposure, it is looking normal to me now…

Thanks! Technically the registered trade name is Scale-Master Decals...

Seats from an RX-7 were mounted to a riser made of sheet stock. Seat belts were cut from vinyl patch material for an air mattress. I also cut the hardware out of chrome Mylar. A set of simple intake stacks were turned for the engine and some of the plumbing is done.