Help me understand why some of you guys like kits like these

[Junkman]

[opinion]I find that these Cartoon Cars and Show Rods are as uniquely American as Hot Dogs and Hamburgers. They are part of the American culture and heritage. The whole thing started in America and has made its mark all over the world, which means there are people who appreciate it wherever you go. Yes, one can dismiss the movement as not being serious, but it was never meant to be that! I recognize it to be motivated by the same creativity as the creation of art, music, or literature.[/opinion]

[Joker]

Outlaws on Gassers !

pic by G.H.

James aka Joker

[FASTBACK340]

I don't like these "things" either, a waste of plastic and molds. I dislike the Tom Daniels stuff too. If the hobby had only these things to build, I would be in another hobby. I just don't like and never did like these Weird-Os, and other stuff like this. Sorry but I wouldn't waste my money or my time on these.

Patrick

I belong to another forum, it's called MOPARTS. Obviously it's a Mopar specific site. One of the largest & most popular in the community. Everything Mopar is covered there. But the big detractor to the site is the in-hobby bickering about how A bodies are bottom feeders and how EVERYONE knows that E bodies or certain B bodies are the best, etc... Ask a question about a Dart or Duster and more often than not the standard answer is sell it a buy a {----}. I've always wondered why?I think the same thing applies here and this is the logic I can come up with:Same Church, different pew's.

[FASTBACK340]

There are some types of builds that don't draw me in either. I have never been able to do the rust thing. If that's someone else's bag - OK. As for the Deals Wheels and Zingers. I'm hooked! Been building them since I was a kid. They are even more fun now! So many ways to work them into something else. David, Ira, and Pete- always been a fan of your stuff. Always will be. This plane one is probably my most favorite model. By building this I learned how to paint wood grain, make woodgrain panels and slats from shelf paper, make heat formed parts from plastic sheet, make rivets, make a piston steering stick, and make an engine turned dash. It's all in the imagination.

Scott

Hosted on Fotki

Hosted on Fotki

Hosted on Fotki

How can ANYONE look at a build like this and not appreciate the creativity and skill involved to pull this off? A flat head powered woody air plane. With a surf board no less!Brillant!

[jbwelda]

that surfite is too much. you gotta know if BDR was around he would flip out over it!

[RatRod]

For me it's a passion, I love all automotive, and motorcycle subjects in scale. I enjoy a good challenging build at times, but in my older age I really enjoy building from the past. Modeling in the sixties, and finding them in so many stores, with such a huge variety of subjects was an experience I'll never forget. Getting to build many of these wild, wacky, zany, goofy (the list goes on.... ) model kits again with the reissues of late, is a real memory booster!!! There not for everybody, but don't be haters of those that do enjoy 'em.

Now, wasn't that fun?

[cobraman]

Wow ! Those builds are great !

[Terror]

I like this thread, it's like why drink coffee when you can drink tea???Cool builds guys..

[signguy2108]

Someone just wanted to throw a brick at a hornet's nest to see what would happen! I don't build them, but I love to look at 'em. They are part of this hobby just as much as ships, planes , & military models.

[Scott Colmer]

John, The upgrades to the Red Baron are awesome. I've always liked your version of that one. The Roarin' Rail is also very nice. Another great example of how some detail can really bring these kits to life.

David, the planking is just strips of shelf paper. I cut strips form light and dark areas. I darkened some a little more with brown dry brushing.

Pete the pontoons are styrene heated and pulled over a buck.

http://public.fotki.com/Scottcolmer/island-girl/pontoon1.html

If you guys wan to see she really wild stuff, check out Scott Tansley. http://coffincorner.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=ot&action=display&thread=15929

[Monty]

Someone just wanted to throw a brick at a hornet's nest to see what would happen!

Wrong! See my answer to Harry in post # 33. I'll finish off this thread later when my guests are gone.

[D Fowler]

Wrong! See my answer to Harry in post # 33. I'll finish off this thread later when my guests are gone.

I'm curious why the question was asked at all, then. You can build whatever you want. Why does it matter what other people do? These 'toon and show cars display a lot of imagination, craftsmanship, and passion. I don't think they lessen the hobby in any way, and, in fact, enrich it.

Edited May 28, 2012 by D Fowler

[Monty]

I'm curious why the question was asked at all, then. You can build whatever you want. Why does it matter what other people do?

Post # 33, 2nd paragraph.

[Craig Irwin]

Because I love a good steak dinner, but once in a while I just want a taco. Thats why.

[D Fowler]

Post # 33, 2nd paragraph.

Yes, I read it. I hope that some of the examples being shared demonstrate that these types of models can have every bit of passion and craftsmanship that an accurate reproduction of an existing subject has. In fact, I think it takes a lot of creativity to realize something that doesn't exist. After 5 pages of responses, I suspect you're not being swayed, so I'd just say let people enjoy the hobby the way they want, but I think you'll be missing out on some great ideas and techniques.

Edited May 28, 2012 by D Fowler

[martinfan5]

All that matters is there are people that want to build them. and enjoy building them.

[Psychographic]

Not all cartoon cars are void of details, they just can't go full on with it as you lose the cartoon feel.

But you most certainly can detail a toon.

Edited May 31, 2012 by Psychographic

[Joe Handley]

Actually, I didn't. As I said in my initial post, my goal from the day I started building was to try to build the most accurate replicas of my favorite 1:1 cars that my abilities would allow. This way of thinking was formed by seeing better builders' models at contests and trying to learn what they did that gave them an edge over the other contestants.

Apparently my mistake was assuming that most car modelers shared the same passion for realism as the military modelers, which, to my way of thinking, would preclude building anything cartoonish. Having read all the responses, you can imagine my surprise in finding so much support for these things on here.

Some of us prefer to do things for fun, the cartoonish subjects fall right into that catagory, as do rat rods and "inspired by" builds. In years past Chuck Most and I both built Revell's '05 Impala Cop Car into rat rod-ish cars several years apart. I built mine for fun and for something different and Chuck's was inspired 1/1 Buick Century of the same generation that he saw in front of a Vet's office. I'd be surprised that if we parked the two on a contest table and not have them get criticized by more serious modelers, hot roders, ect

[AzTom]

I don't consider myself a "Serious Modeler" and don't want to be one, it's all about the fun of it for me.

Okay, I found this thread looking for information about the MPC Zingers. Does anyone have some photos of the engines and wheels? I am looking for 1/20 parts for a project.

Thanks, AzTom

[kruleworld]

Cuz this is America,

no it's not. the internet doesn't stop at the border.

While i hate those zingers too, i imagine and hope they've brought a lot of 8 year olds into our hobby, and that's a good thing!

[Hedgehog]

I know guys that sometimes we don't like something but it doesn't mean other people won't like it either. Each person has his/her own likes and dislikes and we've got to respect that. That's called mutual respect. Just saying guys. Personally I like each one of the kits because there is a variety to choose from.