MAGNUM4342

Another clean build and flawless paint! Keep-em comin Scott!

I will be posting pics in the 1:1 section. We've added a lot of cars to the roster and it's shaping up to be a great show. Thanks everyone for the well wishes. I just hope it's cool that day. I really don't want to sweat through the suit!

As far as the cost thing goes, I buy a high end silicone at $90 for ten pounds. 180S resin in white is about $40 for a half gallon. That ten pound bucket of rubber will do about one mold for a 25th scale car plus a little more. So now, after time spent creating a master (Which no one ever seems to think to factor in) I'm into the project for about $130 bucks. That half gallon of resin will yield about five to six cars and Ed is right, even with care and conditioning the life span of any mold is roughly 50 pulls. This doesn't even take into consideration the fact that there are unsatisfactory pulls now and then. Items that can't be sold (with a clear conscience anyway) further widening the cost deficit. So with all that said, as well as Don provides castings that rival styrene products in quality AND detail, his prices are more than fair. Noone seems to understand the amount of work that goes into the creation of master to final product. They take time, time is money, and my time is worth the same as anyone elses. I hope this clears it up for some of you. As far as Don goes, I consider him the Grandfather of the model car cottage industry. He has been around since the first resin parts were offered and there's a reason for that. Quality and service are benchmarks to him and most of todays good casters strive to be as good as he is. I understand the cost is prohibitive for many as it is for me. But oooh...if I only had the cash!

Thus proving my point that military modelers need that stuff. While we car builders are much more creative and resourceful. What I am trying to say is, in a world where everything we want is right there pre-fabbed, creativity dies off. Mankind no longer has to think and create for themselves. Instead of lamenting the lack of an item CREATE it. Most car models are as unique as the builders themselves. A WWII T-72? They ALL look alike with the exception of the camo patterns and decals.

I prefer Silicones and resins from Raw material suppliers out of Cali. The silicone is the same high grade, self degassing rubber from smooth on without the ridiculous shipping fees. I use their 180S (180 second cure) resins as well. For clear I like Alumilite's water clear. I use a pressure pot (homemade from a paint pot) to pressure cast and find that vacuum chambers are a waste of time and money.

I had cars with rake, but never "jacked up". I wanted my cars to get oil where they needed it.

To James Herald- Lightly scuff the surface with 180 grit to break the paint, then shoot with Easy Off oven cleaner (full strength, and remember to use gloves and ventilation!) This should remove the acrylic paint in a matter of hours. STU- It sounds to me as if you allowed the airbrush to sit between coats without cleaning. Strip the paint (as you are doing) Then start over. After each coat run an appropriate cleaner through the airbrush to keep the paint inside it from drying and creating clogs. Without knowing what type of paint you are using, I'm going to guess enamel. If that is the case, keep the pressure at 18 psi, until the wet coat. Then up it to 22/24 psi and spray from about one foot away. Again, the key is keeping the airbrush clean between coats. Christopher- Easy off is what I have found to be the best at stripping any black paint if you use a couple tricks. As mentioned above, break the surface (especially on gloss blacks) with a rough sandpaper, 180 grit works for me. Soak with easy off and allow it to work for about 24 hours. When you come back to it the Easy Off will be nearly dried. Not to worry because the water will re-activate it. Use luke warm water and an old toothbrush. Cold water will work against you by retarding the chemical reaction. Hot water could potentially warp parts. Good luck to all.

Thanks for the input. I've never purchased from them, and now I won't.

...AAaaaaand here we are AGAIN. Our monthly argument about "the railroad and armor guys get more than us" Does it ever occur to anyone that the rail and armor guys NEED the extras? Does it ever occur to anyone we car modelers are much more resourceful than they? Quit the whining about what we DON'T have and be grateful for what we DO! Then, if it still bothers everyone so much that there's no 1972 Nova dash script available, do something about it rather than moan and be a whiney the pooh!

Speaking for myself (as a caster) drive shafts in that scale are not easy to get a usable cast. Out of a half dozen attempts you might get one usable piece which makes the proposition financially unsound. This is the same reason you don't see resin cast antennae. Then there's the fact that you would have to package a few together to justify pricing. NOW- this does not mean that a caster with a fresh supply of resin and silicone won't give it a try ( ). I've been fairly successful with small parts including the "rubber duck" from Convoy, roll bar lights for the Batmobile and other tiny parts, so I'm reasonably sure I could pull it off, but then we get back to the financial thing. Let me experiment a little and if I find I can do it without losing $ I'll add some to my list.

Hey you're the one that called it Harry! Give yourself a warning point!

You don't know what a pugilist is do you?

I will be the Adam West Batman. One of the guys in the shop will be Robin and another will be the Kilmer. The '89 Batmobile is a screen used car while the '66 is a replica. the owner said his daughter will be Catwoman. (And trust me...I've already gone over all the possible outcomes and I just ain't goin there!) I'll be giving a brief talk about the history of the cars and answering questions. I'll have my Bat-camera on hand to get pictures of some of the local hot cars for the 1:1 reference section, and I'll most likely be involved in the door prize drawings. Adam was right when he said "Putting on that costume is half putting on the character". Bottom line, I just can't wait to make the kids smile. I do understand not a lot of you are near enough to make the trip but thank's for the well wishes. If I get through the event with my cape intact, I'll consider it a success!

UUuuuuuummmm...NO. Cute video though.

For all you guys local to the Parkersburg W.Va./Marrietta Ohio area, This October 19th I will be appearing at a local charity event for the Make-A-Wish foundation. I will be appearing with the 1966 Batmobile. I hope everyone nearby who can afford the trip can come by and help us make this benefit a success for Make-A-Wish. Feel free to ask any questions, here's our flier... The only caveat is, we haven't been able to lock down a searchlight yet so there may not be one. We've also added a local General Lee replica and possibly Roscoe's cruiser.

If it's from Don Holthaus, the quality will be like an injection molded kit. You will not be disappointed.

Don't feel bad. Back in the late eighties, I stopped my Ford Ranger at a three way on a rural road in Florida. A buck crashed up out of the brush, smashed in the passenger side door and fender. Then he shook his head at me and went right back in the dang woods where he came out! Now imagine the time I had explaining this to the insurance agent. "You hit a deer?" "NO- the DEER, hit ME!!" It took nearly an hour to get that through his head!

...but it's a lot of fun on the dark side. Come...join the dark side! We have a water slide.

Then somebody explain this...why is it when Fred and Barney were going to work the car was a two seater but when they went to the movies it was basically a four door? I'm serious! Google it!

Hey that's not funny man! I hear a grown man almost wet himself when that thing went off! John in post 17 you mentioned "In an adolescent way..." Guy that's the best part!

I traded a near complete set last spring. Like the other guys say...just call it "that OTHER mag".

You n me both brother! John- My apologies for pigeon pooping on your day. I'm sure it was a thrill and a lot of fun. I should have just let it go and congratulated you in the first place, but having had my own personal experiences with the clan I couldn't hold my fingers back. I am very happy that a good guy like you enjoyed your time at the show. You'll hear no more about it from me unless you ask.

I was there in '08 Ken. At that time he also had Herbie, Christine, and the Ghostbuster's Caddy. Small museum but worth a look if you are in town. He didn't have a Batmobile there because right down the street at Ripley's they have a Bob Butts replica.

Same reason we men can't ever throw anything away. We know the moment we do we'll figure out what it goes to or how we could have used it!

I've got to chime in here about Casey. He and I have gotten along like two strange tom cats ever since I got here. Seriously, I hated the guy. Now that I'm deep into my second year here, and I understand the moderator position a little better, I'm understanding Casey a little better. When I posted looking for door lock hardware in 25th scale, he didn't hesitate to send me a used (slightly used) etch fret he had lying around. I offered to send him something in return...nope! I offered to pay the postage...again no. Every now and then in life you run into somebody that you think you'll never warm up to...then later on you find you've misjudged them the whole time. I just felt that needed to be said. Thanks again Casey.