Harry P.

All the kit pieces that look like brass actually ARE brass. And you're right, spring shackles would never have been brass. In fact, I've painted a lot of the brass chassis pieces and crossmembers red, because on the real car pretty much every chassis and suspension part is red. But the brass parts are just so cool looking...I hate to paint them all, even though it would be more realistic. But the shackles, yeah, I think I'll unscrew 'em and paint them red too.

Hmmm........another close vote. I thought the vote on this one would be a lot more one-sided...

A little more progress...the engine installed in the frame, gas tank and rear axle, and my scratch-built balsa floorboards.

Keep trying! Some people are slow to reply to emails.

Gregg is the editor of Model Cars Magazine, and Jairus is the A.D. (and a regular contributor too.)

Oh yeah...and whenever Hobby Lobby has a 40% off sale...

Mostly online and ebay. Once in a while I'll check out the LHS...but I rarely buy there anymore. Why pay MSRP when 99% of the time I can do better at online suppliers...even INCLUDING shipping...and it comes right to my door!

The basswood didn't have any real grain to it...it was too "plain" looking. Plus, I figured the balsa would be so much easier to cut (it is!). Maybe the balsa grain is a little out of scale, but I like the way it turned out. The stain turned out just right. I'll have to post a photo of the floorboards...they look pretty cool, IMHO.

I'm just getting started on the Pocher 1907 Fiat Grand Prix racer. After the Pocher Alfa I just finished, this one is child's play. No lights, no fenders, no windows, no interior upholstery...just a huge 4 cylinder engine and a chassis, basically. I scrapped the ugly brown plastic kit pieces that are supposed to represent wooden planks on the floorboard and dash. First I removed the "metal" band from the dash... and used the Pocher piece as a template for my new wooden parts made with thin sheet balsa wood. Walnut stain and a coat of satin polyurethane gave me exactly the look I wanted: Gauge "glass" is clear 5-minute epoxy. A little more progress... The engine still needs a lot of additional work (like the entire induction system for example!)...but it's looking pretty good so far:

But remember...I don't alter the vehicle. I might change the background or the surface, if it gives away the scale...but I leave the car (or motorcycle) alone. If I did any PS trickery to the vehicle itself, you guys would NEVER get it right!!!

Is it real? The answer: MODEL! I hope you guys do better on this one than the last one!!!

Amen to that. No reason for a newly tooled kit to look this bad!

Wow...you guys were TOTALLY fooled by this one! It's REAL! All I did was alter the street surface so the scale of the car wasn't immediately obvious. ROM #8 coming MONDAY!!!

Easier???!!! I'm trying to make it harder!!!

The Challenger and the 'cuda had different wheelbases and different overall lengths. If they based the AAR on a Challenger body, no wonder it's all goofed up.

Well, at least nobody will ever accuse you of rushing things... Looks cool. Nice job!

Right here: http://modelcarsmag.com/subscribe.html

Welcome to the sandbox. Hey...that's MY shovel! I'm telling!!! Gregg!!!! Jairus!!!

The detail in that diorama would be impressive at 1/24 scale...it's even more impressive that you did all that in HO!

Gotta love the scientific approach!

Very nicely done! One small suggestion: black wash on the grille. It will add a lot to the overall realism. Even though the model is already built, you could still do the grille. Just a thought...

Maybe I used a photo that looks like a model so you'll think that I'm trying to fool you by using a photo that's real but looks like a model...or maybe I'm trying to fool you by using a photo that looks like a model because it is a model and you'd think I wouldn't make it that easy so you'd vote real...or maybe the car is real but looks like a model so you'll vote model even if it's real...or maybe it's real but you vote model because...is your head spinning yet???

What do you think? The answer: REAL!

My 2 cents: In this day of advanced computer software, CAD, etc. there is no reason for any model company to release a kit that is inaccurate. Sure, most of us can fix the flaws, but that's not the point. The flaws shouldn't be there in the first place!!! We shouldn't HAVE to "fix" a brand new kit, any more than we should have to "tune up" a brand new car. It should be right...from the factory!

Thanks, bartek! I'll have to give the "British Alfa" some thought!