Tom Geiger

Would kits of supercars sell? IF you had a world wide distribution network! Those cars are recognized and admired around the world. Not as big in the USA as in other places. BUT, here's the big problem.... diecast! Back when we were kids, this hobby started with people modifying promotional models... why? Because they were colorless and bland. Today, amazing diecast is available everywhere... perfect copies of cars can be had in the $20 range! No need to do anything but collect and admire. That scratches a lot of folks itch for cars. My 20 year old nephew grabbed me when I was at their family home and dragged me up to his room. He had three shelves FULL of Lambos, Ferraris and the like. He loves these cars, not that he will ever own a real one, and has collected his dream garage. And the wide variety of diecast that comes out right after the real car is astounding! Not that long ago I bought a Jeep Renegade and the Fiat 500 X version. I got to pick from several colors, and each of them are fantastic replicas. No need to pry them apart for any reason! A dozen years ago our department secretary asked me to replicate her husband's car for Christmas. She brought me a photo of a Verdoro Green 1968 GTO. I figured I was building a model, but upon checking around I found a 1/24 scale one in the correct color. Upon receiving it, I did some black wash on the grille, and all else I could think to do was add his license plates from Acme! And he was very happy! Thoughts?

Probably "won't" ! They treated me like dirt and told me my car was too old for them to be bothered with. It was a 7 year old Breeze with less than 50,000 miles on it!

Once my father retired from the army in 1974 they didn't go on vacation for like ten years! So I never got to Disneyworld as a kid. Can't complain since we had been to nearly everywhere in Europe! Once I had kids we waited until the little one was old enough to appreciate it. We spent a week there, and two years later went on the maiden voyage of the Disney Cruise Line. Great memories for my kids. Once my daughters were 18 and 22, my wife and I went to St Thomas on our own. They were upset we didn't include them and planned "their own vacation". They went to California and one of the adventures was Disneyland. My wife and I were a bit apprehensive about two young girls going across the country on their own. In fact one of the debacles was filling the rental car.. being NJ girls neither of them had ever pumped gas before, and when they asked for help, no one in California believed they didn't know how! Anyway, worrying about them, I enlisted the help of a few model guys I knew out that way. They had my daughter's info and my daughters knew if they got into a jam to call one of them. So one day I'm at work standing on the lunch line in the cafeteria and my cell phone rang showing my daughter's name. I panicked! I answered rather apprehensive... my daughter said, "Daddy listen!" and then I heard music "It's a small world after all!"

Doesn't surprise me. Mopar dealers stock the last five years parts or so. When I had my Breeze, it went back to the dealer on a shifter recall. They said it was my starter and couldn't get one thru their network... said it would be a few weeks. I told them I could see Pep Boys from their window and they had the starter. They said they couldn't install a non-Mopar supplied part on the car. Of course they were blaming me that the car was seven years old! I dragged the car out of there, bought the starter at Pep Boys, installed it myself and lived happily ever after!

Interesting! I had remarked on a Facebook group that this was the most fantasy model box done by Round 2, and immediately some clowns came at me saying it was real. I never said it wasn't.

I had an uncle who would ceremoniously cut the seat belts off on any new car he purchased. Must've been hell at trade in time! ? Me? My father was an army officer and had safety drilled into him! We had seat belts in the '62 Studebaker and I was wearing them from the time I could talk!

I was pleased to see the Jim Keeler announcement! Jim is the nicest guy! And it will be interesting for the hobby. Ya never know what'll happen next!

Wow! Learn something every day.. it keeps you alive and moving! I never knew that the GM Motorhome aka Hess Van was a front wheel drive Toro!

I can only think of one time I bought two kits. Having a golden ticket with 40% off on everything in the store all the time was more valuable to me!

and shiny objects

like hungry puppies

Of old ladies

with bare hands

at the store level there is zero knowledge. Funny thing, I knew a modeler who got a job at HL and offered to help... zero interest! Models are just another craft item to them. Same at the corporate level. I doubt they have anyone knowledgeable. As I said earlier, their contracts with kit manufacturers probably just require an assortment. Sad for HL is that they have missed a grand opportunity. All they need is a knowledgeable person like an Ed Sexton to lead that department's strategy globally and they could kick ass since they have stores all over!

For the most visible edge.. the flat front part, I have masked with Tamiya Tape or even just held a piece of card stock against the body as a shield. That works with either the Sharpie or Molotov pens. I’ve also sanded them off and installed wipers from my parts box or both resin and photoetch wipers exist. Depends on how important it is to you.

I think the “how they buy” is the same way they sell on the website… plastic model kits, assorted styles. I don’t believe they have anyone kit savvy on their staff.

I would approach the dash a bit differently. As Alan said, the good part is the top cover is symmetrical so no need to cut it. I wouldn’t cut the dash though. I’m away from home so I don’t have a kit dash in front of me, but I just looked at a real one on the Internet. I would just sand the detail on either side of the radio flat, abandoning that detail. Here’s a real one from eBay Motors. Scale this photo to the correct size on your computer.. do that against the gauge set on the dash before you sand it off. Print multiple copies of this image. I like to do so on 60lb bond for a little rigidity. Judge if this is thick enough to sit on the dash, or cut a small piece of plastic sheet of an appropriate thickness. Use Alan’s instructions on the new glovebox side. Either scribe the detail, or add thin plastic sheet as the new glovebox door. He’s also used pin heads for the dash knobs. Drill appropriate holes where needed, insert pins once dash is painted and glue from behind. That’s how I’d do it!

went to the Police Dept sponsored National Night Out in Colts Neck NJ near my daughter’s house.. so here’s some of their Police and Fire vehicles

Probably different for kit vs promo.. and if you have resin it could have been cast from a promo. My question is.. is there a better modern chassis to put under a 59-60 Buick? Note that it is still a full perimeter frame and not a GM X frame.

Rather than scrape decals, I’d try Scotch Tape.. rip off the Band-aid method first. Second round would be letting it sit in water overnight.

Spending some time in New Jersey.. At the beach in Highlands Holmdel Pharmacy delivery car.. pills are small! Chinese delivery in a BMW electric. Tips must be good! in front of Huddy’s Pub in Colts Neck

At a brothel

Great work for a one day wonder! Now we need to know your wife’s reaction!

Very cool! That color just pops!

I love these resto projects, akin to working on a 1:1 ! Looks like some kid only had one model so he built it five times! I’m watching, want to see where you go with it!