Missing lower radiator hose? No alternator bracket? What's YOUR pet peeve? ?

[Greg Myers]

There has been a bunch of talk about what bugs you about one thing and another. Surely there are others.Is ther anything you look for on a build? Is there something that just jumps out at you?

I'm not talking build quality here, just those little things that get to you.

See anything here ?

Sometimes reality trumps what you see.

Edited March 17, 2012 by Greg Myers

[Mike Kucaba]

There's no driver?

[XJ6]

I don't know....is it a wind-up..???

[Aaronw]

I don't think I'd go so far as to call it a pet peeve, but I like to see some thought into stuff in / on a vehicle. If a tool is mounted on the side, it should actually be mounted, not just glued on. If there is stuff in the back of a pickup / station wagon it should look like a load someone would put in the back, not just stuff randomly sprinkled around (real stuff slides around, so you think about how you place it if you are the driver).

I'm not big on engine detailing, but yeah, the floating alternator bugs me ever since it was mentioned in that other thread.

[Mercman]

I'm amazed at how many forget valve stems. How do they get are in the tires. If you don't want to wire an engine(hood glued shut/curbside model) no big deal. But people will notice things that should be seen at first glance.

many years ago in contests there was one guy who always. Finally the judges explained he was the only one who added a lower radiator hose to his build. Needless to say most of the kits back then didn't have them so they were not added.

So basically it just depends on how much detail you want to add.

[dodgefever]

There has been a bunch of talk about what bugs you about one thing and another. Surely there are others.Is ther anything you look for on a build? Is there something that just jumps out at you?

I'm not talking build quality here, just those little things that get to you.

There's one of mine in that photo: headers that don't match the engine they're mounted on e.g. SBC headers on a head with equally spaced ports (Hemi, Ford) and vice versa.

Others are plug wires that look more like heater hoses and plug wires routed to the wrong place. If you're going to add wires, at least fit them properly.

Edited March 17, 2012 by dodgefever

[Guest]

Lack of brackets for alternators, power steering pumps and ac tops my list. I am also bothered by lack of guage decals in some kits.Revell is good at it, but AMT really sucks. The Meyers Manx ix a good example, poor guage engraving and no decals.

[Craig Irwin]

Cars that would be undriveable, lowered so far they couldn't roll.

[Greg Myers]

Stu wines the prize, SBC headers on a HEMI.

[vintagestang]

Hoods that don't shut all the way.

[Erik Smith]

I would rather NOT see something than see something included in a build that is out of scale or impossible. Spark plug wires that are the size of garden hoses and valve stems that scale out to 1/2 tubing do more to detract from a model than not including the extra "details". I can't remember the last time I noticed valve stems on a real car - they are quite obscure and get lost on 1:1 cars. I know they are there - as are thousands of other things - but when viewed from the perspective of a 1:25 scale car, they aren't that noticeable.

[Guest Johnny]

Pesonally I'm just happy they still make models for us to build! The rest is not really anything a decent modeler can't correct on their own!

Lack of gauge decals is no a big issue. There is aftermarket for those that want to super detail what most people will never see once the model is on the shelf or in a case! Same with most under hood accessories! That stuff is more for the "builder" himself than other people unless it is for a show!

[jbwelda]

i no longer worry about those lower radiator hoses, way too little bang for the buck as it were. alternator brackets are another matter, cant have stuff floating in air. but valve stems: those are an occasional thing for me, all depends on how much detail is in the rest of the build and whether its going to be fairly easy to add them.

but what i noticed most in that pic the OP posted of all the dragsters...the Jaguar XK120 parked behind them. wish i had bought one of those when they were still relatively cheap and underappreciated.

[wraith]

I build for myself. If I an happy I am happy! I will put as much detail into a model as I can. Where my skill allows me, I will add as much detail as I can.

SOme builds get floating alternators. some don't. some I add PS to, but I don't always add a bracket.

valve stems? why? maybe for a all out compitition build, but for building just to enjoy the hobby? to each their own I guess.

BMF. I have never tried it or used it. Maybe someday i will. Maybe I won't. again it come down to the modeler's own personal skill set and tastes.

Now putting stuff on that is obviously wrong like the headers on that dragster, then ya it can be someones pet peeve. But if that is how the builder wants it, that is the builders decision.

I am sure alot of us could nit-pick all kinds of details, which is fine. But we need to do so constuctively if we do.

[Mark]

The only stuff that irritates me these days is basic things that are missed: removal of ejector pin marks or trademark info, sink marks and jagged parting lines not fixed, things like that. Sometimes, on an assembled model, you can see into the front of the interior around the firewall (Revell '53-'54 Chevies) or can look at the car from the side and can see clear through to the other side because there aren't any inner rear fenders (AMT '37 Chevies).

Engine wiring isn't a big deal to me anymore (especially on older kits, where there's a gaping hole in the lower engine block with a metal axle passing through). Poorly done wiring looks worse than none at all (like when the wires are "parted" down the center, with four going to each cylinder bank). Leaving out the coil wire doesn't make sense either. Even if there isn't an ignition coil in the kit, scratching one from a piece of sprue or plastic rod isn't tough.

When you are looking at a 1:1 car or truck, when was the last time the valve stems caught your eye? They are just "there", like balancing weights.

One last thought...why are lift-off hoods okay when the 1:1 car has a hinged hood, but lift-off trunk lids or doors aren't?

[Guest]

Pesonally I'm just happy they still make models for us to build! The rest is not really anything a decent modeler can't correct on their own!

Lack of gauge decals is no a big issue. There is aftermarket for those that want to super detail what most people will never see once the model is on the shelf or in a case! Same with most under hood accessories! That stuff is more for the "builder" himself than other people unless it is for a show!

Sorry, but not everyone can afford aftermarket stuff. Not to mention most of the gauge decls out there are not geared twords factory stock building. To me lack of gauge decals IS a big issue.

[moparmagiclives]

I would rather NOT see something than see something included in a build that is out of scale

That's pretty much wraps it up. Where do you stop with the "missing parts". What good is it to add stuff if it doesn't look right anyway? These are all representations of the real thing. Let the mind fill in the rest. It's kinda funny how the mind will reject something that's wrong a lot faster then it will recognize something is missing. I can look at a model with out plug wires and know they would be there in a 1:1 situation. Adding those items is great for someone to practice their own skill and patience, but I don't think it make the model represent the real thing any better.

[Junkman]

- Steering wheels for gorillas.

- No stalks on steering column.

[BKcustoms]

Steering wheels resting on seats and impossible suspension set ups.

[Draggon]

Improper ride height, wheelbase, or track. Certain styles of cars do NOT sit like a 4x4. Front wheels that are past the fenders arent cool, nor is it nice to see a beautifully built car where the wheelbase is way too short, putting the front wheels in the back end of the fender opening. Ride height is a topic of its own.....yet its funny how much people ignore this stuff and praise the builders like they are the next best thing to sliced bread. I'd rather see an average build that sits "just right" than an over the top build that sits like..................ya know the word! Wont mention any names....................

[Chuck Most]

My pet peeves... a few are builder-based, and many more are kit-based.

1. No blackwash done to the grille. Yes, some grilles have very shallow engraving, but at least give it a try! Paint the openings with a fine brush if you have to. Unless you're going for a dealer promo look, an all-chrome grille just looks terrible. Same goes for engraved trim pieces lacking paint in the 'valleys' when applicable.

2. Blank tire sidewalls, but I'm slowly coming to terms with that as it appears that will be the norm from here on out as far as kit-based tires go.

3. Cylinder heads molded with the intake manifold. I don't know why this bothers me, as once the engine is assembled it's usually hard to tell, but for some reason I just don't like it.

4. Exploded-View Assembly Schematics. RC2 was really in love with these for some reason. When the assembly diagrams are exploded views it is sometimes difficult to tell what goes where, and what the actual sequence of assembly should be- what part goes in first, what part won't fit if another is installed before it, and so on. Exploded views are okay for parts manuals for your lawn mower, but they aren't ideal for guidance in assembly much of the time.

5. Parts designed incorrectly/incorrectly placed. Who's idea was it to make the exhaust manifolds in the AMT '05 Chrysler 300C attach to the block and not the heads? Yeah, I know it isn't obvious once the engine is in place in the car, but still! I'm also not fond of when a kit manufacturer just seems to guess how a part looks or fits (quite a few Trumpeter car kits come to mind here) instead of just poking around a 1:1 and at least making some attempt at making the parts look right.

6. Window trim left in body color. Very rarely do you see this on 1:1. Again, only really works if you are going for a 'dealer promo' look in most cases.

And finally...

7. Inconsistent kid design. One example would be the Revell '64 T-Bolt/Farilane. Nice body, nice engine, nice chassis... and then you get to the interior, which is an old-school style tub with really lackadaisical side panel detail. It's almost like they ran out of money or patience after they designed the rest of the kit, and just said "Meh... we'll do a 1964-vintage looking interior to offset the razor-sharp processing on the rest of the kit".

There. I'm done.

Edited March 18, 2012 by Chuck Most

[Rob Hall]

There's one of mine in that photo: headers that don't match the engine they're mounted on e.g. SBC headers on a head with equally spaced ports (Hemi, Ford) and vice versa.

Others are plug wires that look more like heater hoses and plug wires routed to the wrong place. If you're going to add wires, at least fit them properly.

What jumps out at me on that dragster is the lack of a radiator. Oddly, the B&W picture of 1:1 versions don't have radiators either, which doesn't make sense to me for water cooled engines...

As far as kit-specific things, one thing I see all the time are builds of the AMT '71 Duster where people forget to put the quarter windows in. They didn't roll down on the 1:1...but given that they are 40 yr old cars, many people today probably aren't familiar w/ them.

Edited March 18, 2012 by Rob Hall

[Harry P.]

What jumps out at me on that dragster is the lack of a radiator. Oddly, the B&W picture of 1:1 versions don't have radiators either, which doesn't make sense to me for water cooled engines...

A lot of drag cars didn't have radiators.

Not much cooling needed when your entire drive is over in a few seconds.

[Junkman]

A lot of drag cars didn't have radiators.

Not much cooling needed when your entire drive is over in a few seconds.

Didn't? Don't!

Can't spot a radiator anywhere on our brand new top fueler.

[jbwelda]

you know, there must be SOME kind of kooling system on especially modern dragsters. its true the motors only run full out for a few seconds but most approach the line fired up and probably sit there idling for more than a few seconds, then do their burnouts etc before the few seconds that really count. and they want that few seconds to be when the motor temp is optimum which seems to me to not be something they could control without kooling of some sort.

what it would be remains a mystery to me i guess. i dont think its the wind passing over the heads etc while it is running but maybe...still, sitting and idling would build up heat real fast.