Monty

Nice job on that El Camino, Dan. My best friend had a '67 for years, and as Chuck says above, good luck getting traction. Couple questions if ya don't mind: 1) Did you have any trouble getting the chassis/interior assembly to fit into the body? I've heard this kit is tricky that way. 2) I love those American Racing wheels . Where did they come from?

Couple things: 1) Take a look at the way you did your '68 Shelby. That's the look you want. Subtle but seen. On most models, though, this will require using a reduced mix of the car's color and flat black (both acrylic) in the door and trunk panel gaps. 2) The seams on the cowl panel and the the tulip panel (below the back glass) should be body color only, as they are non-opening items. Lastly, while the seam for the front splash pan is there, I'd recommend you tone it down some. Google images can be your best friend when it comes to replicating 1:1 cars. You're very close to completing another outstanding build, so I hope you understand our suggestions are made to help you get there.

I didn't realize you were a Corvette owner too. Would you mind posting up some pics of the model you built? I owned my 1980 for 20 years, but never got around to building one of the MPC kits of it. Fortunately, I've got pictures and memories, so it can still be done.

I found a product on their site that I'm interested in purchasing, but I want to ask a couple questions first. When I click on their contact links, I get some sort of Wizard program that will install Outlook on my computer, which I don't want or need. Is there an easier way to get in touch with them via email?

I just wasted a ton of time trying to get this thing to accept one of 7 different images of a 1:1 '72 Cutlass convertible and who knows how many different pictures of the Revell Cutlass Supreme kit on one of my recent posts. If this thing could read my mind, it would reach out and slap me for what I think it ought to go do to itself.

Ed, I wonder if the Porsche 917K , Ferrari 512S and Ferrari 512M should be on that list. The pictures I've seen of Can-Am racing seemed to feature all open cockpit cars, while these are closed coupes. I've got about 6 of the cars on your list in HO slotcar form... Has anyone built any of the cars on Ed's list? Post 'em up!

Rob, would ya mind posting a pic of something (frame rails, seats, inner fenderwells, etc) painted with Krylon semi-gloss black? Sounds like it might be a more consistently available alternative. Probably cheaper, too.

So now you're saying you can see into the future clearly?

Harry, the notification system used to send a message to my email address whenever I received a PM from another member. It did this flawlessly for years until recently, which is what prompted this thread. I'd never messed with the settings before, but I've gone ahead and clicked on the box you mentioned. I've got something to post later that should give it a good test. Thanks!

Wouldn't be the first time, won't be the last

So what's the process for using it? How do you know what amount to use?

I'm kinda surprised to hear you're using any type of enamel since most of your builds seem to require lots of intricate masking. If I can ask, what's this project going to be?

It seems like someone mentioned a remedy for slow-drying enamels the other day in the Help section. IIRC, it involved using automotive grade hardener. The person who wrote it said it sped up the drying time considerably. In the meantime, a dehydrator is probably your best bet. Other than the slow drying time, what do you think of Humbrol enamels?

I'm guessing it was disabled during one of the upgrades, but the people I've PM'ed weren't aware they had messages waiting.

I guess that's good to know. Did you ever try the A.M. M8B?

I wish American model makers had taken a greater interest in Can-Am cars, especially in 1/25 scale. MPC made a McLaren Mk8D, but it was in 1/20 scale; I bought it but never bothered to build it. I know IMC made a Chaparral 2E, but they're rare and expensive now. When I heard that AMT/Matchbox had decided to come out with a Porsche 917/10, I was elated... then I learned that it would be made in 1/32 scale. http://t3.gstatic.co...XtBGHA5nA-7yTHg I enlisted the help of several longshoremen and sailors to help me invent new, more acrimonious cuss words to call them for doing that. Seriously, that car in 1/32? I'll bet the idiot who greenlighted that liked New Coke too. Here's another favorite Can-Am car I wish somebody would make a quality kit of. It's David Hobbs' 1973 McLaren M20. Lotsa these in slot car sizes and I assume 1/43, but AFAIK, nothing in 1/25. I've read that there were some Japanese kits (Union?) that were 1/28, but they were usually expensive and hard to find. Allegedly, the warehouse where the molds for these were stored was destroyed by the most recent natural disaster, so don't expect re-issues anytime soon. I do have an Accurate Miniatures M8B, but when SAE assigned a fairly reputable modeler to review it, he basically said you can either build it with the upper body pieces off to expose the details or you can leave off some of the detail items so the body parts fit nicely, but you can't have both. I was hoping these cars, along with their GS Corvettes, would turn American Miniatures into an American Tamiya - offering high quality models of non-mundane subject matter. Oh well...

This was done by one of our members using only Testors black enamel sprayed from a rattle-can. http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=49366&hl=&fromsearch=1 No polishing kit, no clearcoat.

Excellent! I was hoping the same thing. Dear diary, today I learned another another great modeling technique... Good stuff! Thanks, Mark!

I think online shoppers in general are becoming used to the benefits of Amazon.com's way of business, where prices are fairly low, orders are often shipped same day and arrival time can range anywhere from a couple days to overnight. It's all about getting the product into the customer's hands ASAP. Like you, I'm not usually in a big rush for modeling supplies, and most of the paints I order have to be shipped by ground anyway, so...

I'll cede your point on Monday being a holiday, but my four previous orders from Hobbylinc went the same way. Even though the product has always been in stock, my orders have never even been picked until at least two days after having been placed*. Here's the counter to that: I can also buy Humbrol enamels and Tamiya lacquer spray paints from RedFrog at slightly higher prices (about 20¢ - 50¢ per item). If the order is placed early enough, it will usually ship same day. * Looks like Hobbylinc changed their home page. They used to have some sort of disclaimer about slow turnaround time.

I originally found them when I was looking for cheaper prices on Tamiya spray paint. At the time, they were charging $2.50 less per can than some of their competitors, so I loaded up on some colors I wanted for future projects. In addition to these lacquer paints, I found they also carried acrylics and enamels (including Humbrol!) at very low prices. OTOH, I'm going to agree with most of what Danny and Mike said in posts 13 & 15, respectively. I placed an order for some Humbrol paints (all in stock) on the 14th, and my status update shows it hasn't even been picked yet. Unlike Mike, I haven't had a packing issue with them yet, so I tell myself the one-stop shopping and the lower prices help offset their apparent lack of urgency.

My assessment of the Patriot defense was based on the analyses of former NFL coaches and players. I think you and I could agree that, statistically, this was not a typical Patriot defense such as we've seen over the last 10 years or so. That said, what makes the Patriots so hard to beat is their offense. Best example: They're down 21-0 to the Bills and come back to win 49-21. They can bury you in points and make your offense one dimensional, which is pretty much what happened in Denver. If your D-line and LBs don't have to worry about stopping the run, it shouldn't come as any surprise that the defense racked up tons of sacks and negative yards. Admittedly I would've preferred to see a Super Bowl QB duel such as Brady vs Brees or Brady vs Rodgers, but (assuming my picks are correct) I still say, based on the health of the team and the way they finished out the year, the Giant defense will probably be the difference maker here.

As a Raiders fan who has had to learn to deal with disappointment for over a decade, my "wait till next year" chant may finally mean something now that Reggie McKenzie is taking charge as General Manager & cleaning house. Reggie's been learning his trade under Ron Wolfe up in Green bay, so I'm very optimistic. It'll be nice to watch the draft without hearing hoots of derisive laughter from half the planet. To me, Tim Tebow is a refreshing attitudinal change from the borderline NBA-ballah behavior we're seeing more and more of in the NFL. I think his faith is genuine and is what drives his desire to help the less fortunate. (Anybody else see Mike Tirico's report last Sunday on this?) That said, as long as he's wearing a Broncos uniform, I'll wish him nothing but years of exciting losses. I think the Pats will win the AFC, but I really thought the Saints or Packers would represent the NFC. Good thing I don't gamble. Super Bowl pick: Giants beat Patriots based on strength of defense.

About a month ago I came across a picture of a model I liked on another forum. The builder happened to mention that he'd painted it in Odds 'n' Ends Pewter spray paint, and since I liked the color, I went looking for some. Long story short, I can't seem to find this stuff in the US, (Lotsa UK links on Google, though). I'm assuming it's made in the US 'cuz one of the model-related links I found said the Plastikote factory is in Minnesota. I live within 5 miles of two WalMarts & neither of them carry this stuff. Any other sources for it? Plastikote does make 1:1 automotive touch-up paint but the Odds 'n' Ends line is what I'm looking for.

Jeff, when you get a second, check your messages.