Tom Geiger

Bill, to add to what Art has said, there is no comparison between the good ole days and today. As said, Johan had the inside scoop since they were working for the car manufacturer, and were provided original design documents to work from. Nothing like having an up front guarantee of a large number of promotional models, which in effect paid for all that model car tooling. And aside from basically having that kit financed by the car manufacturer, the number of kit units that could be sold was many, many times what our market absorbs today. So today, a kit manufacturer has to go out on their own and measure the subject matter, and finance the entire kit development, to sell maybe 10% of the kits that were sold in the heyday.

A friend of mine was in the US military stationed in Cuba. He had bought a new Toyota Corolla delivered there. After his service he brought the car back to New Jersey. Only once it got cold, did he remember that it had no heater! He suffered through one winter, and then sold it to some poor soul in the summer without saying a word!

I enjoyed the video. I always thought the Pacer was an interesting car. My friend worked at an AMC dealer at the time so we got to tear around in a few of these. Especially fun with a 4 speed. It must have been around 1986, I went to the Englishtown, NJ car show and a guy had a red wagon for sale. It was the early model with the lower hood (I don't like the look of the higher hood). It had a black interior, 4 speed, a/c and wheels on it. I remember miles being around 60k and the price was $1500. I took the guy's number and told him I'd call that week. I lost the paper! I wouldn't mind having that car today!

Hi Dave- We have both a show and a club here in NJ. The show is April 18th in Wayne. www.nnleast.com www.tssmcc.org

There are guys who will first spray clear over the tape line, then color. The theory is that the clear will do the bleed under, then seal it prior to the color coat. I haven't tried it. What I've found is that the bleed under is so insignificant that I can usually polish it away.

My monthly update: Still haven't started yet. All my time is going to NNL East preparation activities right now.

Agreed. I'm never satisfied with rushed results.

Wow! I walked away from this thread maybe a week or two ago when the name calling started. Now it's gone all the way down the slippery slope. When I've posted here, trying to describe the business climate and obstacles the model companies face in today's market, I get blown off the board as 'accepting mediocrity' and being a 'Revell suck up'. I was told directly by a hobby insider that when the tooling budget is spent, and the design will please 99% of their customers, they go to production. The guys who are very involved in the hobby, those who post on boards and attend shows, represent the 1% of modelers. The vast majority of kits are sold to casual modelers, through retail outlets, who don't have as critical an eye as we do. And the final thought on the subject. As people here pontificate on how stupid the manufacturers are and how they should all be fired, nobody has given an ounce of thought to the fact that these manufacturers are advertisers in Model Cars Magazine. And when the ads go away, so does the magazine.... and this board.

Funny thing. When I do go into the office it's like an hour twenty in the car. There are days I don't turn the radio on at all. Just alone with my thoughts!

Kinda snow balls, doesn't it!

You are correct, Norm said he is concentrating on turn around on his current orders and wouldn't have the time to produce enough product for the show. That's commendable and shows his attention to his customers. We are always happy when he does come to the show! We do have several new after market vendors this year.. There's Caleb's Custom Cases, they do display cases and truck aftermarket. C1 Models from Manchester, England is coming, their website is listed on our website. JDH Racing which does 1/25 scale slot cars, is coming from California and we just got Scale Concepts from Michigan signed up last night. So the show does go on!

It wouldn't get a second glace from the dullards who make up the general public. I was talking with a police officer who was also a car guy and modeler.. us car guys spot a Crown Vic a mile away, but he told me the stupid stuff people do right next to a marked police cruiser. Don't give the public too much credit... remember when you talk average intelligence, half the folks are dumber than that!

One thing nobody here mentioned is that you can put the Tamiya tape over an item, and cut it out with an exacto blade in the same fashion you would do to BMF. That's what I do most of the time for color separations

Although only playing a bit part in this movie, the horse on the right went on to star as Mr Ed.

Went to Pep Boys for some Duplicolor... guess what was sticking out of Bay 5??

If you are looking for a specific kit, put an eBay search agent to work for you. I always have a couple of them going for different kits. I get the regular emails when something gets listed. Then I bid what I want to in my snipe program. It can take a few months to finally win the right one at the right place, but it's a sport unto itself.

Kewl! I'll be watching this one, classic kit with all the imperfections of injection molding 55 years ago!

No biggie... I just read that they can print a working kidney! Now that's cool. We are fortunate to live in an era where we will see amazing things!

I dunno... GM Australia already had a great Ute that they've sold in places like South Africa and the Arab world as... get this... the Chevrolet El Camino! It would be cool to see it here in the USA. Note that when the manufacturers bring out these models... everything from the Viper, Prowler, 2 seater T-Bird and SSR, they're looking to put an image out there, not especially looking to make money on that car. And all three of these have held their values as used cars.

Back in the day, I delivered pizzas for a local shop one summer. It was always garbage day somewhere, so driving around the local towns I'd stop and pick up interesting stuff. Every Saturday I'd load up the car with this stuff and go to the local flea market. I made more selling junk than delivering pizza!

Hmmm... I think I bought the models you found at the dump!

See what I mean Brad?

Sorry to hear you won't be at GSL! I went for a ten year streak, then missed the last two so I'm stoked to be going. I'd love to make it to your show, I think I know about half your guys... who keep inviting me! It is the week before NNL East, and I'm usually running crazy then! In fact that's the day we will have our factory assembly line set up to produce the show goody bags!

Yes, get the BMF brand. It works really well. I coat mine with the Testors Decal Sealer too.