Zoom Zoom

Site has been either down or painfully slow for awhile. Right now it's in the "painfully slow" phase, before the next "forbidden" aka "site is down" message

Looks great, nice that you took a different path building compared to most others

Excellent! I'm sure this transparency will result in a better final product. I'm looking forward to it.

I am a scale snob, but generally only between 1/24 and 1/25th. Other scales don't interest me to build, but that's just from my own "continuity of scale" perspective. I do prefer motorcycles in 1/12 scale...which end up size/volume-wise very similar to 1/24th scale cars. Hmmmm... I like both 1/25 and 1/24; I build a pretty eclectic range of models because I like so many different kinds of automotive subjects. This past summer saw me building a '57 Ferrari Testa Rossa, an Aston Martin DBS, then Revell's '62 Impala and Viper ACR. Only the Viper ends up in a gray area; because of it's sports car/exotic persona, it does look kind of small next to a modern Aston or Ferrari. I probably would have preferred it in 1/24 scale. I feel strongly that when a model is kitted by a manufacturer, that it should be in a traditional scale for the subject matter. Sometimes there are gray areas, like we see in discussions of modern big rigs. Traditional American subjects should be 1/25 scale. Imports/exotics/tuners/sports cars/compacts should be 1/24 scale. It bugs me to see the excellent Revell tuners look puny next to similar subjects made by Japanese companies, just as much as Monogram's 1/24 scale musclecars look too big next to vintage kits of the same subjects. I can't re-write history, it's not a huge deal, but I readily admit being a scale snob. I tend to look at car models on a global scale, and in that respect it seems silly for any company to go against the grain scale-wise.

I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Mazda fan. I currently own two, and in the past had a B2200 SE5 and RX4 coupe. I'll always be a Mazda customer

Nice conversion so far It's my favorite current Ferrari. I'm in the same quandary; do I make one of my own, or wait and see if Fujimi or Revell step up? Or do I take a Revell kit and make enough modifications that may not be an exact replica, but in the same spirit as the GTO looks so much better than the standard 599, even if it's relatively subtle. So c'mon guys, take one for the team, do the conversions so that Fujimi and/or Revell do it for the lazy amongst us As for tires, Pegasus still sells the Bridgestone tires that Tamiya made for the 350Z. They're great modern tires, stretch easily over 19's and 20's, and they're very affordable. They're a great replacement for Tamiya's DBS tires, for instance, that are far too tall.

I have seen the entire Hurst conversion kit (shown above), a good friend bought the set at our show. Excellent set in general, but honestly the wheels are not very good; detail is clunky and they're too small in diameter, probably to fit the 18" tires in the AMT Challenger kits. A better set of wheels that look very much like the Hurst wheels come in the Maisto (diecast) 2006 era Mustang GT kit. I don't know of any other wheels that come close. Here they are on my "Flashback" model seen in my avatar; just substitute gold for where I painted the recessed areas black:

Ditto! Looks just like one I bought from a friend 20+ years ago, and sold at a show about 5 years ago...wish now I hadn't sold it. Doubtful it will ever be reissued; the tooling from this one became the "Black Rat" street machine, then modified further into the '65 HT, and now doing duty as the Penske/Sunoco racer.

I'm sure it could be done, and as modified reissues go, that's not a lot. They sort of paint themselves into a corner sometimes by doing the top trim level, like the SRT-8, or the '99 Mustang Cobra. There were more (and more popular) variations of the "volume" pony cars aka the Challenger R/T and Mustang GT. No way I'd buy AMT's 2010 Challenger "Classic" knowing they wasted their time and mine by tooling up 20" wheels in a scale 18". If Revell were to do the R/T Classic, I'd likely buy at least a couple. There are enough stripe/wheel options for R/T's that it seems that would be the most logical version to sell in 1/25 scale.

The Revell kit is fantastic. Aside from generic tires with too much sidewall. Thanks to greedy Goodyear, we have lousy kit tires and I'll never, ever put a Goodyear product on any of my vehicles Interesting that Revell tooled up SRT-8 Magnum and Challenger; doesn't give them the usual room to make variations on a theme.

The front bumper has a huge gap where it meets the wheel opening, to accept a completely out of scale upright piece that is molded to the chin spoiler. SRT-8's have a very thin blade of black plastic there, R/T's do not. Someone at AMT wasn't paying very good attention to detail in this area. The piece on the model is probably nearly as thick as the piece on the 1:1 car. Easy fix...cut off the offending upright pieces, glue them to the bumpers, sand smooth, and paint them body color so that big black "gap" is gone. On a review model where I stuck to "OOB", I masked/painted the upright R/T filler body color so that gap wasn't nearly as evident. Having the R/T Classic and SRT-8 wheels done as 18's instead of 20's...seriously I mean seriously...they could have accommodated the other way around...made all the wheels, SRT-8, R/T, and Classic...as 20's...nobody would have complained, all models would have looked excellent. But someone who clearly isn't an enthusiast made the wheel size decision on the Challengers... Otherwise, nice kit.

Mr. Color Thinner...it will thin w/acetone (just tested) but it lays down very flat w/o that nice semigloss/satin sheen it gets w/Mr. Color Thinner. Bought it (40 ml bottle) at a LHS many years ago, I've seen it since. Bottles, spray cans. Not sure of cost. Google...

I recently tried airbrushing Mr. Surfacer 1000....I could easily forget about Tamiya spray primer with this stuff. I'm sure the Tamiya stuff will return someday.

Before more people post ice blue metallic Aston Martins, here's a link to show what the car in question looks like: The Aston Martin On Top Gear Or this:

If you can't get the color code from Aston, it looks like it's a solid color and Tamiya TS-23 light blue lacquer is probably a very close match. If you decant it, you might lighten it a bit with some white.

It's not a new kit, it's a modified reissue. The stock convertible variant...sold terribly. Buy one of those and a resin coupe body...bingo. No matter what Revell does, someone is going to complain.

Well, I guess I was right! One look at that thing, and I was thinking "half scale". Many Silver Ghost details were off/out of proportion...

If it's ugly to my eyes, it's not getting built For adventures in "this thing was a royal pain in the keister to build", I present the following (all built to appear like they were "problem free"...they were anything but): Revell Ferrari 612. Many think these 4 seat Ferraris are fugly. I did at first, now I like them. It's dependant on the color and wheels; I customized a pair of these to suit my personal taste since the box stock appearance doesn't work for me. This thing almost guarantees a throw against a wall trying to get the stupid chassis installed with any semblance of precision; the gray one was built years ago when it was relatively new; knowing the problem areas firsthand didn't make the white one (which is almost stock, I swapped wheels/tires and redesigned the fascia inspired by the 599 GTO), any easier when I built it earlier this year. Rosso Ferrari 512 TR. Everything in the kit looks like "typical Tamiya" in detail and design. Too bad nothing fit together on the chassis without major effort. Appearances are deceiving...expecting an easy build, it drove me up a wall getting it done. Loved the final appearance, gave it to a friend who moved away: Fujimi's new Ferrari 458 Italia. Ghastly kit to build (for a kit tooled in 2010); very "20 years ago" simplified design & engineering, major sink marks, ridiculous price, nowhere near as good as their F430 effort. "Fun to build" is non-existent with this one...looks okay w/some massaging, but I have no doubt the Revell kit will blow it away. Revell's vintage Porsche 914. Windshield frame needed significant re-engineering. Decklid fit is atrocious without major work. Kit wheels/tires/ride height are comically bad. Chassis/interior fit with copious Dremel work; I complain(ed) a lot but considering the source, I take pride in the final result:

I'm someone who builds/enjoys both factory stock and custom. Revell made their decision, I think it's a sound one because my intuition tells me it's going to be the most popular way to market a coupe kit (and I'd have been happy either way; stock or chopped). Perhaps if they get enough rational input from replica stock builders, they may eventually do a full-stock coupe body. Be aware that would require an all-new body mold since it involves both the top and sides, so it would be a very expensive undertaking. I would think if their chopped '49 Merc sales weren't strong, the approach they are taking w/the coupe body wouldn't have been done with a built-in chop. I think the model would look great as-is, otherwise built as stock. I'll bet a lot of people wouldn't even question if it was chopped. Imagine a "Bluemoose" style build; stock appearing, with the nose in the weeds rake. I would be surprised if there weren't multiple sources for stock-bodied coupes in resin once the kit comes out. Bug Jimmy Flintstone; he'd be able to do it in a flash and they'd probably be all of $10. Bug Norm @ Rep's & Min's, his would look better than if Revell had injection molded it. Perry's already has resin coupe and business coupe bodies for the '48 Revell kits. Might take a while waiting, but quality would be worth it.

Pretty much the same thing here. While the replica stock purists must be seething, I just don't see how offering a stock coupe body would have made the kit sell much better, if any, than the previous stock offerings. I don't think any of them sold particularly well, and the street rod variant was a very half-hearted attempt. When Revell does a great custom/street rod, sales are usually commensurate with the effort. This custom version looks like Revell truly "gets it", in a kit that can be built as a custom from mild to...wilder. It has the most opportunity to sell in multiples; to people who want not only the coupe, but to donate custom parts to their convertibles and woodies. I believe Revell nailed the combo that will not only make the most modelers happy, but also to sell the most models. Custom modelers never complained about having to chop a top, or buy an already-chopped resin body, so I would think that people who want a stock body can do their own conversion, or purchase a resin stock body conversion...which I'm sure someone will offer. Sorry, but this time they just aren't going to get a stock '48 coupe for $12 at Wal Mart. I'm pretty sure if Revell hadn't gone to the custom effort they have w/this subject, it would not have set the market on fire...at all. There was a time when they couldn't give away the stock woody wagons. The model car business is full of compromises necessary to keep the companies afloat. IMHO the best compromise is the one that Revell is going to produce. You know it's going to be a popular subject at all the various shows, and that would include the stock-conversion models that people will make from it.

I can't remember which album, but someone did take a rear shot of the two models. It's out there...but I have no idea which album I saw it in. Taillights looked like separate round pieces, similar to the Lincoln Cosmopolitan taillights in the '49 Merc.

While it may not be easy, I think you did a great job making it "look" easy

I'm seriously digging the Mustang, the custom Ford coupe, and the midget racers. They look great. The custom parts on the Ford will be great on other models as well. No complaints whatsoever. Can't wait to build 'em

AMT boxart misleading? I got the "Pintera" kit, what a neat illustration of the concept. Too bad the parts to convert the stock Pinto don't look nearly as good as the illustration. Not. Even. Close. Let's just say it got put back in the box...for a later date. Or decade. Or whatever.

This one is puzzling...to the point I feel like "neither"...proportions make me think it's some sort of elaborate electric or pedal car, not a 1:1 or a "model". So there.