Ace-Garageguy

Depending on the appraised value of the car, often all that's required is to tell the insurance company "WE'RE KEEPING THE CAR. Give us the top dollar you'll pay towards fixing it, and we'll out-of-pocket the rest". I saved a friendamine's bought-new '95 Miata from totalling by doing just that. Then I fixed it for him for cost, and he ended up making money on the deal. Basically the same way I got a gen one MR2 and another friend's Geo Metro convertible, both saved from "economic total losses", though both still perfectly drivable and cheap fixes. Now they both have "salvage" titles. But who cares? Of course, if you just lay down, roll over, and whine about it, they'll steamroller you.

I showed the pix to the model in the box, and that's what it wants to be now.

Easy fabrication project with styrene sheet.

My backside's always chapped when I find something cool in the desert, but that generations of mouth-breathers couldn't think of anything better than to use it for target practice. This one got a second chance. https://www.motortrend.com/features/1970-pontiac-gto-muscle-car-shot-to-death-in-texas/

Yup. That's another one on my list. I've got the MPC MkIV, but no MPC Js as yet. Although the aerodynamics of the early prototype J proved to be disappointing, it's a car I really want to model.

Saw a thread on here where a guy built a good looking model from a kit I previously didn't know existed. And though I was never a huge fan of the Ferrari 308 (very pretty, very nice car to drive, but felt like an expensive Fiat X1-9 to me), the flared boy-racer version kinda got to me. Didn't overpay, especially considering it was pretty much an "impulse" buy. Though it's a curbside, I'm kinda seeing it with something interesting for power, like an LS sitting sideways, bolted to a GM F40 gearbox (I've already got a Fiero project going with that setup). Same seller had another one I was previously unaware of, so I bought too so the 308 wouldn't get lonesome in its new home. I'd expected the Mazda to be a curbside as well, but in fact it's a "full detail" kit, albeit pretty simple. Though I never owned a rotor-motor Mazda, I've worked on and driven them extensively and really enjoyed the early ones.

On an IMC roll here...the next one's a Ford J-car, the short-nose version with many revisions from the early prototype. No box, but complete with good decals. A few panels painted, but easily strippable. Another one where the builder quit before bodging things badly. As with all of the old IMC kits I've acquired of late, the intent is to upgrade with things like accurate 3D printed Weber carbs or injection, correctly scaled engines, more correct gearboxes, etc., and to take care with the fit of the opening panels, re-engineering the hinges if required.

Found an extra 1/25 Chaparral 2E for reasonable money, this time a complete unmolested Union repop of the old IMC kit referenced above. Decals included in this one to do two cars (other kit's weren't usable), and the parts are present that are missing in the other one so I can do my own repops. A "fiddly" kit with lotsa working stuff that builds a beautiful model with applied patience and thought.

Much appreciated info. I didn't know...

An example of why people with older "perfect" cars need to look at stated-value insurance from somebody like Hagerty. Some of the "special interest" insurers have annual mileage limits, but some do not. And in MY current state, the insurer can NOT arbitrarily take a car under the "totalled" scenario. It can be kinda a PITA to retain a "totalled" car, but it's doable if you have some nads. I'm still in the biz, and we frequently have insurers trying to flout laws, so KNOWING the law is the first step to prevent abuses like this.

Another historic race car, a 1/24 Imai/Heller Talbot-Lago 4.5 liter Grand Prix car. Ratty box, complete and un-started model. I already had several of the Merit/Smer (EDIT: now repopped by Atlantis !) kit of the same car, a very simple kit that responds well to upgrading, but this version is a much more detailed (though still pretty basic) starting point.

"Heritage" edition of Monogram's 1/12 scale Wright Cyclone: complete in a ratty box, and cheaper than the new Atlantis repop. I have a love of engines, Porsche flat-opposed and radial aircraft engines in particular. I bodged one badly as a kid, have a partially completed one in progress, and wanted another one to try some weathering on. Interestingly, scuttlebutt from a pilot / A&P who logged lotsa hours flying and working on them has it that the kit may represent a NON-aircraft engine (they were used for other things) evidenced by its single magneto, the assumption being that any flying engine would have two. Hmmmmm... EDIT: One thing I love about modeling is the opportunity it offers to learn more about reality to anyone who's curious. Turns out there is a "dual magneto" setup for the Wright Cyclone that has two mags in the same housing, driven from a common input shaft/gear. It offers more compact packaging in a confined nacelle, but the downside is, of course, if the gear/shaft fails, you lose both mags. Now I know more than I did before.

Very attractive model of a beautiful, important car. Love the color too, and it's one I never would have considered. Perhaps surprisingly, the metal version of this kit is one of my all-time favorites.

Nah. I'm still on Faceborg, and I haven't posted anything there for years.

Looking really good. Very nice work on your corrections and upgrades. And thanks for taking the time to post all of this so we can see what we'll be up against if we decide to build one...which I surely will as a result of seeing your work here.

Really glad to hear that, Carl.

These are all quite nice. Kindof a shame to have talent like that and not to develop and use it.

If you DID want a truck, I suggest an '85 or so Toyota 4X4 pickup. I'll be looking for one myself when I get moved. They're built like tanks, they're simple, used parts are plentiful, there's a strong aftermarket due to their popularity, and their value is going up every day.

Very nice, and a great example of what can be achieved starting with a "primitive" kit like AMT's ancient '32 Fords.

The body shop business is up against the wall due to 1) increasingly inept vehicle design 2) various other forms of meddling and ineptitude over the years that have forced unnecessary complexity into vehicles, raising repair costs dramatically 3) insurance companies completely out of control trying to run the show, forcing us to use second-rate or used parts on anything more than a year old; adjusters who know nothing about their jobs but are apparently hired for reasons that have NOTHING to do with ability or experience; rental refusal and early termination problems, and low-ball "total" thresholds 4) constant parts bottlenecks due to industry-wide backorders or new-vehicle parts just not being available from dealerships, and 5) the literal, almost total impossibility of hiring entry level or skilled shop or management personnel who CAN or WILL do decent work (the only competent, highly ethical people I know in the car biz are in their late 40s to their 70s...except for one young guy who is the exception, and is everything you'd want working on a machine you trust your life to). Skilled geezers are going away much faster than the ranks are being filled with puppies, and if you don't believe me, look it up for yourself. https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/local/decline-manual-skills-raises-concerns-for-future-work-force/sdLv4vI2WSpOjLeRJ73bYP/ https://news.thomasnet.com/companystory/repair-skills-decline-points-to-future-manufacturing-deficit-570065 The most capable body shops I know are leaving the business (selling their name, good will, and property/plant) because it's just not worth the hassle of trying to do high-quality repairs in this environment anymore...and I bet they'll fail within two years under new ownership. If the top-of-the-line old dinosaurs I know well and have much respect for are having a hard time with today's rampant irrationality, noobs who come in thinking they know everything are going to get their butts handed to them on a platter. Idiots have the reins in much of the business world now, and Atlas is beginning to shrug. EDIT: After proof-reading again, I removed everything that could possibly offend any PC whistleblowers, or be twisted into something "political".

Parts have numbers? Whatever for?

Absolutely beautiful is a huge understatement. He sets the bar pretty high, and I'm in awe.

I have no clue...but I betcha Mark will know.

Ummm...defunded?