Harry P.

Lesson learned for next time...

There are several ways you can go. First of all, forget Walmart. Try a hobby shop! They'll have way more of a selection of paints than any Walmart ever had! Just to keep things simple, there are three basic types of paint you can use (there are really more than three, but just for the sake of simplicity I'll keep it to three): 1. Enamels. Widely used, large selection of colors. Pros: Available at any hobby shop, lots of colors. Cons: They're ######. They take WAY too long to dry, they tend to be hard to apply smoothly, especially if you're using spray cans. Orange peel, drips and runs, etc. No real reason to mess with these. Best advice-Don't use them. They're yesterday's news. 2. Lacquers. Pros: also a large selection of colors, incredibly fast drying, go on smooth, polish out beautifully. Cons: None. Try them, you'll like them! 3. Acrylics. Pros: same as lacquers but don't smell as bad (they're theoretically "non toxic"). Cons: Also none. Bottom line: stick with acrylics or lacquers. If you're into factory stock, try DupliColor automotive touch-up paint, available at any auto parts store. Huge selection of colors, they go on great, dry fast, and look fantastic! Personally they're the only paints I use to paint bodies with. Even if you're not specifically into factory stock, check them out. They come in a wide variety of colors. In reality there are many more types of paint...urethanes, epoxies, acrylic enamels, etc. It's enough to make your head spin. But try a lacquer or an acrylic. I can almost guarantee you'll be pleased with the results. If you need more info, go to your local hobby shop and ask... they'll be glad to help. Or try a can of DupliColor from the auto parts store. Just to be safe... some lacquers can attack plastic, because of the "hot" solvent used. Use a good primer first as a barrier between the plastic body and the final color coat.

All the "glass" here is flat, no curves. Would have been super easy to make new glass out of clear sheet acetate. That way you wouldn't have the tab marks in the kit glass.

Like Dave says... paint the body gloss black, apply the decals, and when you're all done with the body shoot with dullcote to get the flat finish. Flat finishes are very prone to scuffs, finger marks, etc. Best bet: once the body has its final flat finish, don't touch it with your bare hands. Either use a rag (piece of old T-shirt works well) or use latex gloves when handling it. Personally I prefer the rag... wearing rubber gloves is kinda creepy...

Two possible solutions: 1. Read the instruction manual! It comes with the camera for a good reason... 2. If you don't want to mess with the manual, I'd suggest you set your camera to "auto" (every camera has an "automatic" setting.) Don't bother with any fancy manual overrides, just put it on "auto". Shoot with the light source behind you (don't shoot into the sun if outdoors). Shoot from about 3-4 feet away from the model. Press the shutter down partway and give the camera enough time to do its autofocus thing (generally a light comes on telling you that the camera has focused and is ready to shoot). Keep the central part of the viewfinder image on the model...you don't want the camera to be focusing either on the foreground or background, you want it to be focusing on the model. That should give you an image good enough to post here.

It's more durable than you think. You can clear it if you want to, but it's not necessary. BTW...I also like the look of the window tint on chrome...it gives a cool "black chrome" sort of look. I like to use it on chrome chopper parts and wire wheels. It seems to give the wire wheels some depth and makes them look more like "real" wire wheels.

Wouldn't school and homework take up some of that time?

If I didn't know the answer I would have guessed REAL!

Sorry, George... I was busy doing some PAYING work! (I have a mortgage... gotta do "real" work sometimes!) Anyway, the answer is MODEL! You guys guessed it. It's 1/4 scale!!! Next ROM coming MONDAY! Happy Halloween...

Memories? Oh yeah! Trick or Treat isn't what it used to be. When I was a kid, we would go out, collect a whole pillowcase full of candy, go home and dump it, then go back out and do it all over again! Of course, I lived in the city, where there were a lot of apartment buildings in the neighborhood. One 6-flat alone could halfway fill up your bag! Now kids don't go out much anymore... it's all parties and organized activities. Trick or Treat isn't the same as it used to be back in the "good old days".

Welcome aboard! Love the diorama, it's very cool.

Whenever the urge strikes and I have the time. Could be anytime, no particular time or day (but of course after I get home from work!)

There once was a girl from Nantucket...

12, huh? I have socks older than you! Just kidding. Welcome aboard!

Yeah, didn't you get the memo? North Missouri and South Missouri.

Since I'm a moderator, maybe I see more choices than "regular" members see. If that's the case, sorry for the misinformation. I didn't even think of that... that maybe only moderators get to see certain options.

According to the US Census Bureau (and I guess they ought to know), the "Midwest" includes: North Dakota South Dakota Nebraska Kansas Missouri Minnesota Iowa Missouri Wisconsin Illinois Michigan Indiana and on the very eastern edge, Ohio.

Did you use the "My Controls" page to try and change your email? You can change your email, your screen name, all kinds of things.

Yeah, IL is midwest. That's what I said... I'm also in the midwest and I still haven't gotten mine. Didn't come today either! I agree, Ohio is more east than midwest. Oh well...

Do infants have as much fun during infancy as adults do during adultery?

You're not alone... mine hasn't come yet either!

Toledo coverage will be in the November issue.

Dave, good luck with your new site, but remember, lowriders (and all types of model cars, trucks and bikes) are welcome here too! Always have been!

That's the plan.

From today's New York Times: WASHINGTON — The Bush administration is examining a range of options for providing emergency financial help to spur a merger between General Motors and Chrysler, according to government officials. People familiar with the discussions said the administration wanted to provide financial assistance to the deeply troubled Big Three Detroit automakers, possibly by using the Treasury Department’s wide-ranging authority under the $700 billion bailout program that Congress approved this month. Another option under consideration is to tap a $25 billion loan program that Congress just created to help the auto companies modernize their plants. A third option would involve going back to Congress, immediately after the Nov. 4 election, for authority to spend funds aimed specifically at the auto industry. But officials have not yet decided how much assistance to provide or how to structure any aid program.