monkeyclaw

Rick; when you are planning to store silicone molds for a long duration; either put them in a ziploc; or a food saver vacuum bag.....Yhis will help the molds retain all of the silicone oil contained in the rubber; and they will be good for a LONG time....also; if you have heavier 2 pc molds, do not stack them; over time the addirional weight will distort the sides of the cavity mold shell........matt

Lee; No LSR....Just a radical custom Peterbilt....which is my current W.I.P. I always seem to be building stuff which requires mountains of reference data and photos....but for a "break" I decided to undertake a little styling exercise. See if i could do a full on custom truck; without the use of fillers....So far it is all plastic....only a bit of glazing putty for guide coats on the sleeper.... I know it's FUNKY; but when it's done I think it will come "together" nicely...and i have to say the last week doing this build up has been quite fun for me...Matt

Firstly; Which pete kit? The most common way to "lower" a big rig is actually very simple; Try mounting the axles to the TOP side of the springs in front (between the sping and frame rail; and also mount the drive axles on TOP of the mounts, rather then the bottom side , like specified in most bigrig kit instructions....In most cases this will give you at least a 6" drop....if you want to go further; you can grind down the mounting pads on the springs and mounts (where they mount to the frame rails) and simply slide them UP to the yop of the frame rails....this will usually get you another 4"-6" of drop; without a bunch of cutting and hacking; and allow you to keep nice straight frame rails.....I hope this helps......matt

Just wanted to let you guys know; I spoke with a Tamiya rep today; and indeed Taniya will NOT being holding Tamiya-Con (AGAIN) for 2009. I kunda had a feeling it was going to be off again, as there has been no word at all from them.....and it's now January. It's a real bummer that this event has been Cancelled for two years running; and I personally think that Tamiya is seriously hurting their U.S. market, by skipping out on what was one of the premier model events in the U.S. for many years. I just can't wrap my head around how Tamiya can be struggling....much of their production is now offshore; their kit prices have doubled in the past couple years, and God knows they haven't spent much on new tooling in OUR segment of the hobby....just the same old stuff (with $10 worth of P/E included now). I guess my biggest issue as a modeler is Tamiyas' unwillingness to listen to what their customers want....for several years now they have focused on doing these ridiculous and ultra expensive "pre-built" (masterworks) products.....what's not to get....modelers derive their enjoyment fromt he BUILDING process....and the simple fact that they have all of the tooling from the preassembled stuff; but refuse to jit it up in plastic just chaps my cheeks...one could effectively double the productivity of the tooling by offering the platic kit; as well as the assembled in a third world country, by people who have never even SEEN an Enzo Ferrari....but they just won't....At this point I hope that trumpeter does a good job with the GT-40, so that we might have some alternative building subjects....especially in the BIG scale.....(sorry for the rant) Matt

Pete; Again, Awesome work....And I agree...it is hard to know where to stop detailing these kits!!! I really like the display frame concept... I plan to do a similar display engine for my own 1980 935K Sach's car....it's the only way to truly display ALL of the twin turbo engine mods....BTW, I REALLY like the added detail to the rear engine mounts.....Keep us posted.........matt

guys; the space chariot is actually a very cool model kit...I picked them up for doing a few off hiway "swamp" vehicles....the model is pretty well executed; and has a GRIP of parts; the entire top 1/2 is molded clear; and has a multi tude of accessories, gadgets and even a 1/24 scale B-9 ROBOT...."DANGER< DANGER". The interior of the cabin is very well detailed; and has outstanding instructions as well! Even if you are not a big fan of TV sci-fi....you have to get this model....it is just plain cool.... The tracks are also very wide; and would work well for doing "sno-cat" type vehicles in 1/24....matt

Pete; AWESOME!!! That is a super nice pedal set; and will certainly add a nice bit of "POP" down in the footwell. That's why I love building thes big Tamiya Porsches....there are just so many thing like this that you can go through and super detail....and it really brings the models to life....Great work.............matt

Ed; This vehicle was used in an attempt to "win hearts and minds" in the provinces....they traveled around handing out candy and k-rats mostly....just one of those oddities that shows up in areas of conflict...matt

This is a "snapshot" diorama....Vietnam 1967...and does dipict an actual lvtp5a in use at the time by the Marines.....Merry Christmas! Matt

Another nice truck from the Michigan Peterbilt factory! Very Nice; great weathering....looks just like the picture...........matt

Nick; I thought this would be an "interesting" project as well; although taking on a project of this size and scope can be a lot of work; I think the payoff will be ending up with full detail models in this size! I am currently researching what kits are out there in 1/24; and what will be the best source for 3-d scanning; in order to bring the rest of the "guts" of the car up to scale; rather than hand fabricate every piece of the car....by using the technology available; it makes the parts readily replicable; and in the long run; saves me much time by having the parts readily available for building. I think these cars will be pretty expensive to do; my guess is between $8K and $10K per car, when you consider the cost of scanning printing etc. I know that sounds crazy; but it's not really about the $$$; just satisfying the wishes of my customer/friend, who is by far the most fanatic racing collector I have ever met. Thus far I have been able to replicate a bunch of HIS cars in 1/12 scale for his collection; and this 956 project will allow me to truly challenge my own modeling skills, well outside my "comfort zone"... and hopefully learn a thing or two along the way...which I think for me (like many modelers) is a big driving force in tackling these types of projects. I have built a "few" spec models over the years; and it is nice to have a customer that just wants it done...with the associated cost not being much of a factor...gotta love it! I will keep you posted as this project moves along....my focus right now is to finish up all of my builds that I plan to go to Tamiya-Con in April; which will be my current build (935 K3 Sachs car), and the other two 1979 Lemans team cars 935 K2 from the Hawaiian tropic team...yellow #71 & blue # 72 cars....ambitious , but doable...I think (LOL) If in fact Tamiya - Con is on for 09; it should co-incide with the American Lemans series race in Long beach; which will make for one heck of a good trip this spring..............matt

Paul; These 956 Porsches were factory promo kits from my understanding....they look to be intended for curbside display; and do include waterslide decal sheets that are nearly as large as a dining table!!! The kits that I have are both in Rothmans livery; and they are very simple; but mostly well executed...the wiper and mirrors are cast white metal; and the tires are blowmolded; and quite unattractive...but that's getting fixed for sure....the bodies seem to be ABS or perhaps PVC; and are either thermo-formed; or vacuum formed, about 1/16 inch thickness; and are done as tub and body (very simple) . I am handling this project for one of my customers; who wants to have an entire collection of them; especially the cars that won at Lemans; as he has also won there; and he has an obsession for collecting all things Lemans.... That being said; I am fortunate that this project is being approached with an open checkbook! As it will take a few $$$ to make really nice models from these cars...I will keeep everyone posted as this project unfolds...I plan to build one straight away; and use the other for Patterns............matt

Thanks guys! I am using this car as a "testbed" which is the prototype model....that way I can make sure it all fits together well; and learn how to (and not to) be able to use the patterns to make a good resin set that works..... I typically go through this stage; then to a complete model; then come back and use the patterns to make the actual parts for reproduction; I do plan on bringing this to resin, but it will not be until May that I am able to do so; along with the complete Twin Turbo conversion fo the engine as well....as I have plans for this car (among others) to go to Tamiya con in April 09. I very much appreciate the support; and hope that you guys like the parts and they serve you well in your projects....and for Brendan....I can ALWAYS use another parts car....especially the engine...it is really nice to display a standed engine along with these big cars........email me with details about the 935 junker..... Matt monkeyclaw62@aol.com

Bendan; The kits do have some rather bad tires (blowmolded) tht look like 1970's black naugahyde some one stuck in the blowmold machine....but they do have nice aero covers. I plan to have new tires done for them; along with aluminum BBS webbed rims for a little added POP. As far as ptutting a real motor....don't know enough about the gas powered R/C stuff to make it work; but I am sure there are R/C guys that could do it. I'll be happy just to get them to a decent full detail level.......matt

Thanks; I will keep you posted as this one progresses....BTW; Just had this car over @ Dick Barbours shop last week for Q/A , he is pleased with the progress on this car as well, and is looking forward to adding it to HIS collection.......After Tamiya-Con (LOL) matt

Hey Guys; I have just undertaken a log term project to get these BIG factory promos done. These things are HUGE....I mean the size of a coffee table! The bodies appear to be thermo or vacuum formed; and are intended for "curbside" display. This car wil be done in Rothmans livery; and done as a curbside; but I will be undertaking a massive (no pun intended) effort to develop all of the necessary stuff to convert them into a full detail model...I think that much of this can be accomplished with the use of 3-D scanning and printing technology; rather than fabricating all of it....I'll keep you posted as it progresses along the way..........matt

Hey Guys; Finally got this one back on the bench! I am building this car the way the real cars were built....using the A/B/C pillars and roof section from the Tamiya 1/12 Martini 935; The new roof Trailing section was fabbed and added; and then the new rear deck section. This car is being done with seperate body panels all the way around; so this had to be done 1st to establish the new "tub" shape, and mounting points....the chassis has already been radically modified to accept the twin turbo engine assembly and "upside down" gearbox and larger cooler. This particular car will be the 1980 Lemans Sach's car of Dick Barbour; I am using these body parts for "patterns" for future resin so that I can build several of these over the coming year (including the "Apple" car). The body has come along nicely so far with NO filler at all; but will require a bit to properly shape the new rear quater panels. Tackling the new front clip will be the most challenging part of the build up, due to the overwhelming amount of compound curves....have a look..............Matt

Dude...........SAWEET!!! The color is exceptional.....and the chromed steelies add a lot of POP!.....Nice work...........matt

The Revell"Al Zack" T600 kit is a thousand times better (if you want to build it). The AMT/ERTL T600 was not very well executed....same old 1970's chassis...just newer body work ; which didn't fit together well at all; and was more than "finicky" to say the least....the frame rails were totally warped in every amt t600 I ever tried to build; but usually just chucked them in the parts box....they really didn't even make good parts donors... I know some will disagree with me; and say this is harsh criticism... But I can sum it up in a simple analogy for you....If a YUGO and a BENTLEY were the same price; which one would you buy? matt

Dave; your are correct on all the parts! The front tires are the 4430 john deere tires; but they are resins that I did; with rim outers on BOTH sides; so they can be used on either side....the rear tires are resin copies from the John Deere backhoe....Yes the forwarder is 6 wheel drive; I used modified ZF axles for the rear drives (monster truck kits) and the front is the transaxle assembly from the Backhoe as well; I just cut it free from the little Yanmar that as molded in the kit. I have just finished up the crane/grapple; and ALL of the functions are operable....took forever to make all the little parts....but I am happy with the way it turned out; and will post more pix soon............matt

Tim; Forwarders are used in areas where it is not practical to cut additional logging roads...usually heavy forest/rough terrain...the basically pick up "bucked" logs; and carry them out to the logging "deck" and drop them into piles, where the loader puts them on highway trucks bound for the mill......matt

Dave; there is an old one on EBAY right now (11/24) Kinda pricey...but it's the 1st one I've seen for sale in a LONG time...........matt

Aaron; The "standard" in tutorials for me has always been the old Phil Jensen book (YES BOOK) "building model tucks".... I have recommended it to new modelers many times ovr the years. Although the projects in the book now sem dated, the basic principals are well covered in a clear, methodical fashion. You would think there would be a lot more books out there covering the subject; but there just aren't. I am sure there others; and I don't men to overlook any other authors; and I hope this information helps.............matt

Hey Guys; just a couple pix of my current project.......matt

Ray; The Dina 851 is the Mexican version of the 4300 style truck....Dina is basically Mexican IH. The 851 was the topline for Dina; and the big difference is the grill & headlight configuration....and of course the GIANT badges on the hood sides....for this one I will most likely have all of the badging done in P/E; and cast from the P/E parts for crisp lettering....rather than casting the entire hood; since it is correct in the kit..... this one will most likely be new grill, headlights and badges...it is much less expensive to make; and much cheaper for the builders that way. It amazes me HOW MANY of these trucks I still see on the road every time I go to Mexico... also kicking around a couple other IH conversion ideas as well.....perhaps a BIG sleeper? and perhaps a 9300 SBFA hood..........I'll keep you posted.........matt