Tom Geiger

And what's wrong with snappers? Here's two of mine, the top on being that '34 Ford kit box in Greg's post I've quoted. They were both fun builds that weren't done to earn trophies, just some fun and relaxing time at the bench. And both look good on my shelf. I'll take any subject that we don't have a full detail kit of in promo, snapper or diecast form. At least it's something we can work with in our favorite scale...

Not a bad deal with free shipping. They look like candidates for the purple pond!

A three dollar kit... in Canada you wouldn't even get folding money, just coins! Maybe Nascar kits... we couldn't give them away as door prizes!

Cool dio Rich! I did the clean up bit right before the 24 Hour Build so I could move around better! I have that 'gator too! I believe he came from the old AMT '57 Chevy. I painted mine pink tones to match my interior.

My grandfather was 88 when he looked at me and said, "It all went so fast! Last time I looked I was 18!"

But can they be built stock?

The other evening they said on the Philadelphia news that we were a fraction of an inch away from number two. Then it snowed Saturday. We've had over 55 inches so far this year. It seems number one spot (2010) is within grasp if it snows the 2-4" we expect over night. I'm working from home again tomorrow so I don't care if it snows again. I'm frickin numb to it at this point. I just checked.. officially in third place with 54.8, we should hit second with 55.9 but don't want to go anywhere near first with 73.1"

Really, really cool model! Just excellent! As for a 1:1 just like it, I'm too fat and too old to be hopping over the sides!

Today is a holiday, I'm surprised there was traffic at all. Me? I worked from home. Amazing. I was out of work a year and working from my home office looking for a job. I wanted out of here so bad I could scream... so the job I find has me working in the exact same position. I sooo need to get out of the house!

Back when I did the box art truck for Model King, I advised Dave that the FORD was missing off the hood and the tailgate, as well as the non-existent side markers. (the side markers on my built model were painted on). I also told him the model designation on the cowl was too faint. I suggested to include it all on the decal sheet and Dave did it. I had also suggested that they provide some different model designations for the cowl, giving the builder several choices for different builds. That one didn't make it on the sheet!

His tone sounds like he had a problem with someone claiming he copied their work. And as far as 'legal action', yea right! Too expensive to do an interstate chase on someone over a few resin copies.

Happened here. My wife was unaccustomed to having a curbside mail box and parked the van in front of it. The mailman didn't deliver the mail, but gave us a form stating our mail wasn't delivered because the mailbox was blocked... the irony is that he had to get out of the truck and put this in the mailbox... so why didn't he put our mail in at the same time??

Sounds like the tooling was forgotten during changes in management or ownership. It wouldn't be the first time! And part of a long legacy of American kit tooling lost in the orient!

Very nice build. Just avoid bank drive in windows with the 1:1!

Agreed. Those of us who build in different categories can feel that. If you build factory stock or drag cars, you get loads of positive feedback when you post your builds. Those who build sports cars, light commercial etc, not so much.

NIck, that '34 Ford pickup is way cool. Nicely built, only needs a little clean up to be a nice shelf piece. Any idea how old it is? Is that engine wire, or thread?

And a side effect of a cold winter... my yard is one big dog poop freezer!

Oh, I think I'll come out and say what Brett so diplomatically tried to get across.... The average American car modeler is a whiney cheapskate! You can listen to them whine about when kits were $2 and the little Testors bottles were 15 cents. I've watched guys walk away from joining a club because they wouldn't pay the $12 annual dues. Every year someone has a hissy fit over the admission cost to NNL East. And you know what? They had a pack of cigarettes in their top pocket, probably a 2 pack, $16 a day habit! Where did Accurate Miniatures and Galaxie go wrong? They listened to US. Everyone was clambering for more sophisticated, higher detail kits and these companies stupidly listened. And when they produced that product, what happened? The same guys who demanded those kits didn't respond with their wallet. Yea, half the modelers sat on the sidelines waiting for these kits to hit the Odd Lots store so they could buy them for $5. And that's the road to the demise of this hobby! The Meng Ford F-350? It's not aimed at our market. It's being done in 1/24 scale for the Asian and European markets, where modeling is more widespread and modelers will pay realistic prices for the product. We'll see it at an import priced kit. Half the American modelers will not buy it because it's 1/24 and not 1/25, while the rest will balk and complain about the price! And both Revell and Round 2 are in a 'damned if they do, damned if they don't' position. As witnessed, guys will complain about not getting kits, and then complain about the kits when we get them. Thankfully we are only 5% of the kit market. There... I feel much better now!

Not a last gasp at all. (and thanks for your enthusiasm!) What I see is a model company that is doing all the right things. Note that Revell has been investing big money in new tooling for the adult builders market, capitalizing on the Baby Boomers retiring and having more time to invest in hobbies. As they produce neat new kits that appeal to us, such as the '57 Ford, '32 Ford series, 49 Merc custom and woody... they've added kits that will sell well for eternity to their line. So their strategy is to be here long term! It's evident that the 2015 Mustang Make and Take program at recent auto shows were a success, and we had no idea they were a pilot study for this new line of kits. Not only is Revell taking a positive step at attracting new and younger modelers to the hobby, but we all will be buying these kits too. I hear all the time "We want a (insert car name here), even if it's a curbside or snap kit!" Well, here we go. Obvious that there's less of an investment in tooling these up than a full detail kit. So guys like us will be buying and building them as breaks from more detailed projects and quick paint and detailing exercises. And there will be those of us who will use them as a basis for more detailed projects. We all will whine that kids aren't getting into the hobby, but what are we as a group doing to encourage that? We old goats, often called the 'lunatic fringe' only account for something like 5% of kit sales. Every time I go into Michaels, it seems the kits have all changed. And right after Christmas the model shelves were very bare. Somebody is buying those 95% of kits, and I'll bet a lot of them are bought and assembled by younger people. Not to our exacting standards, mind you, but built not much different than the way we built them as kids. And that's a good start. As far as getting off our duffs and leading by example, NNL East will debut the new "Sports Compact" class, which will encompass what we call Tuners and modern subjects. This is the first time in my memory that we've added a class. And it's important that we do this to attract younger modelers who build models of cars that are relevant to us. While NNL East isn't a contest, and there won't be awards specifically for this category, it will provide a space for the modern subjects to be shown together, and a gathering space for everyone interested in this genre of modeling to meet and share ideas. And this is the spirit of what NNL is all about. There is a new club in New Jersey called Diversified Scalerz, which is comprised mainly of younger guys who are into modern subjects. They have been coming to the region's shows, and have demonstrated that they want to be part of our overall community. So as a salute to them, and in the hope that they will encourage more young modelers into the hobby, we are happy to add this important class! And it would be really nice if some of our cranky old dudes welcomed them!

and they will be at NNL East. When I talked with Tom he said that they didn't get the masters and such from Chris Etzel directly, but that a friend of theirs went out west (I think it was Utah) to look at the remains of a model rail road aftermarket company and found the Etzel stash with it. Amazing find!

Getting past the static here... We've agreed that the FOUR old Johan kits in this series are...Rambler Pro Street, '70 Olds 442, 1971 Cuda, '69 AMX. I think I was told that those molds were not at Johan when the big Seville implosion happened, and thus were not part of the auction where Okey bought the remainders. So I don't believe Okey had or has those tools. Where did they go off to and where are they now?

The whole idea behind the snipe programs! You don't show your cards until six seconds before auction end, then it's too late for the competition to react. I don't bid high on any model subjects, but in my stamp collecting of the 1903-08 period, items come up that are unique and I'll never see again. These items should sell in the $15-25 range. It seemed that whenever I'd put in a $22 or $27 bid, someone always hit one increment over me. So I put in a $100 max, which is pretty much what they used to call a "BUY" bid, which is buy it at any price. Back before the Internet on stamp collector mail order bid auctions, you could literally write "BUY" on the auction sheet. With this tactic, I haven't been outbid nor have I paid outside the usual range. Yea, one day I could get popped good, but I'd making out fine in the meantime.

True / Not True depending on who you talk with. There are more young guys building than we know. Keep in mind our little club buys maybe 5% of all kits sold. There's another 95% of unidentified people out there buying and hopefully building those kits. I think one of the questions is, have we invited them to our party? We all know when you go to a model show it's mostly old guys. I haven't seen that much gray hair since I went to a Who concert! If I was a young guy, I think I'd be intimidated or at least not feeling welcome at this event. In NJ there is a club that's mainly young guys in their late teens and twenties.. called Diversified Scalerz. They build mostly modern subjects that they relate to. They are a nice respectful and friendly group of guys. And in our association with them we will have a Modern Sport category at NNL East this year, the first time we've added a category in my memory. Why? Well we felt that if this hobby is to continue, we have to bring in young blood and make them feel welcome. I also think that as car modeling becomes more high tech with 3D CAD and 3D printing, it will become more interesting to younger folks who are more technical and computer oriented.

I wouldn't be paying goofy money for any kit that's been issued (or repopped) in say the past 20 years. All that tooling exists today and it's just a matter of time before it is reissued. And it's usually reissued right after you pay goofy money!

It should go without saying that today's cars are 40 years of advancements better than a 1970s car. Think about it. When those 1970s were new, a 40 year old car was a Model A, quite a difference in car! And again there are 40 years of progress in new cars today. We tend to forget since it happened slowly over time, but if you want a wake up call, take a 1971 Pinto out on the highway for an hour. It's a rattly, noisy little box. Almost like flying a Cessna low, can't even hear yourself in the cockpit. We didn't know any better at the time, it was just the way things were. But a similar car (say Ford Fiesta) is quiet and handles like the largest car on the road. Yes, it's fun to be nostalgic and build models of Pintos and EXPs, as long as we only remember the good stuff!