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Post by mickgee on Jun 17, 2019 11:55:19 GMT -8
..so today I'll be the new guy here.
My name is Mick, actually Michael, but there are enough of those around.
Born and raised in Florida, Atlantic Coast. I'm retired, and I live with my German wife in her home town in Old Germany.
Former USAF, medical branch, living now for decades in Europe. You know, wine and pasta and other good stuff really close by.
I build historical wooden sailing ships, big ones. Nowadays though, I prefer car models made in metal in 1:25. Drag racing variety, with big motors and small frames.
OK, see you on the forum, and of course thanks for the acceptance.
Mick..
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Post by mustangrex on Jun 17, 2019 12:21:05 GMT -8
Welcome. Of course Gartlits is famous in your home state. There may not be many on the boards but the building talent and knowledge about just about anything vehicle related is outstanding. Post pictures of past builds or projects you are working on. We especially like to see what is available over the pond that is not as popular is the US or Japan.
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Post by mickgee on Jun 17, 2019 12:55:12 GMT -8
mustangrex, thanks for the welcoming words. I just finished a model last week, the car is posted on the Straightline forum.
I'm never sure about posting pics of old builds, but why not. Fresh contributions are probably always accepted, something I've never really done before.
Interesting, your comment about what guys in Europe build. Let me say, hardly anyone builds models from the old car kits anymore. Several hobby shops in my town, none have car models. Zero. The shops say they don't sell.
Amazing though, the biggest thing here is R/C modeling. These guys are good too. Huge models of 1:200 styrene battleships (these things are really huge) with motors, smaller ships too, placed in the local park pond then off they go. Airplane models that fly is a huge thing here. 4x4's, rock crawlers, big rigs and tractors....they all run, the guys are freaks. Amazing, just not my thing.
Wooden ship models, historical sailing vessels is actually my first love, I have a fleet, filling up the entire wall of the study where I build and watch TV, PC and such. Maybe only a half dozen car models. Ships are big here.
Greetings. Mick..
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Post by clowncar on Jun 17, 2019 14:48:18 GMT -8
Welcome! I’m new here, too, but I can assert that you’ve fallen in with a talented crowd. And your Model T was quite a carte de visite to leave on the tray!
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Post by Joel_W on Jun 18, 2019 6:55:40 GMT -8
Mick, Welcome to the show, I can guarantee that you're going to really like it here. We're a somewhat smaller group of active modelers who specialize in all forms of race cars, as well as the occasional street classic or Rod. The knowledge base and skill level that the core members possess is simply amazing, Everyone here openly shares whatever they can to help or advance another member's build. I can honestly say that I've learned more here then any other modeling site that I've ever been on. I'm looking forward to seeing your model builds. I'm sure that even those huge wooden ships will turn quite a few heads here.
Interesting comments about what the modelers in Europe prefer. While car modeling isn't very popular there, military modeling is huge from what I've seen on the Net. As for the RC stuff, it's pretty big over here too as most of the brick & mortar hobby shops focus on that. I use to have 2 hobby shops literally within walking distance. Now it's a 45 min drive to the only one left anywhere near me.
I wouldn't be concerned about being the old guy around here @ 68, as I've got you beat by almost 4 years.
Joel
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Post by mickgee on Jun 18, 2019 10:19:48 GMT -8
clowncar...yes, I agree many fine builders here of different types of race cars. Thank you for the warm welcome here.
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Post by mickgee on Jun 18, 2019 10:27:31 GMT -8
Hello Joel, I'm slowly working my way around the forum, so many new types of cars that interest me. I agree with the high level of quality from the guys here on this forum.
Actually, being a somewhat smaller forum than what I was used to is more than likely a huge benefit. Lesser trolling and absence of slight cuts and jabs is something I can readily like.
Thanks also for your personal input as my brother and you are same and he's still going strong, makes me happy.
Thank you for the warm and encouraging welcome.
Mick..
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Post by mickgee on Jun 18, 2019 12:28:12 GMT -8
Let me add, after looking around here a bit more intensively, this forum is truly a paradise for race car modeling.
I'm happy to have joined.
This forum was recommended to me by a member of a small block Mopar forum, posted as a link. I realize a few names here from other places, maybe a little more mentioning from those of you who visit other sites might help to have more members register? That is of course, if more membership is sought. Currently, I'm on no other forum.
Just saying.
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Post by Joel_W on Jun 18, 2019 13:47:08 GMT -8
Mick, I'm on just one other Site/forum that I've been on since 2010. And honestly this site is by far the best of the best, plus all my model racing interests have their own proper forum. You do find that very often.
Joel
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Post by mickgee on Jun 18, 2019 14:20:02 GMT -8
Hi Joel,
The depth and expertise is indeed the best I've seen on a modeling forum to date. I do think I'll stay.
What I haven't figured out yet, where do the road racing and Indy-type car models evolve? Are these styrene kits originally that are bashed to a modeler's delight? Where can they be bought?
I haven't a clue about anything other than specific quarter-mile cars. The other race cars are just ingenious, and I love 'em.
Would you believe, the fiancee of my brother had a Mercedes 190 SL Roadster? I drove the thing a couple of times as a 17 year old. She sold it for a puny Jaguar XKE Roadster. Yep, on a couple of occasions to High School too. What a thrill. I've never ever experienced such a driving experience as the XKE. Truly amazing. The thing whined liked crazy in lower gears, but my gosh....hit the pedal, the front lifts like a champ and you're gone. A true thrill. Still, my favorite sports car.
Mick..
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Post by clowncar on Jun 18, 2019 15:07:38 GMT -8
What I haven't figured out yet, where do the road racing and Indy-type car models evolve? Are these styrene kits originally that are bashed to a modeler's delight? Where can they be bought? Hoping I’ve understood your question correctly, let’s take late 1960s to 1980s Le Mans and other endurance racing Porsches as a specific example. In 1/24th scale. There are *lots* of mainstream styrene kits of winning cars that dominated, or otherwise made headlines. One can buy styrene 908 longtails, 917s, 934s, 935s, 956s and the like, with decals for the winning or otherwise notorious écuries that ran them, over-the-counter from the Fujimis of the world. But, you want the early and quickly-superseded 908 K that won the 1968 Nurburgring race? Until last year, when a resin kit fell out of the sky over Italy, you were looking at some very heavy kitbashing, or building from scratch. In 1/24th scale, anyway. it’s much the same with endurance racing Ferraris. You mention Jaguars. The only 1/24th kit I know of that depicts the 1953 Le Mans-winning C-Type (my favorite Jag) is an ancient white metal cottage-industry model from England. But those purple Silk Cut jobs that won it for them in ‘88 and ‘90 are is available in styrene.
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Post by Joel_W on Jun 19, 2019 5:24:39 GMT -8
Mick, Sadly, the open wheel Indy cars are mostly the old 1/25 AMT, & 1/24 Monogram kits. They're long out of production but can still be found every so often on ebay, and even posting here. There's a wealth of after market resin, PE, and decals for the AMT kits. You can start your search at the IndyCal site: www.indycals.net/ Michael , the owner makes all the needed decals for Indy cars, F1, F5000, Sports/Endurance, & carries some AM parts, etc. From there Google is a great option. Also there's HERE. Many of the members have developed resources from Japan to Europe that covers about anything you could possibly want. Two such resources are: HLJ (Hobby Link Japan), and Spot Models (Spain). Past that, there are the After Market specialty companies that are generally one man shows that create Limited run resin kits. Some need a donor kit, some are basically complete. They generally start around $100 and go from there. As Clowncar said, there's been an explosion of sports types cars for most of the major series from Japan to Europe. The problem I've found is that most of the online American retailers have a poor selection of these cars other then Tamiya, Fujimi, Hasegawa, & Ebbro. I've only found one such company that even carried a single Beemax kit. So be prepared to order from Overseas as needed. Joel
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Post by mickgee on Jun 19, 2019 7:08:41 GMT -8
clowncar and Joel, thanks guys for the infos. I hardly know enough about any of the group car-types here. I'm thinking along the lines similar to my altered builds, so that would be an open wheel type car. Visible suspension and a frame that could ne done in brass. The motors on all of the road race cars are wild, love 'em. They'd look sensational in metal. So I'm thinking in the direction of the Rear Wheel between '62 to '70 class. I like this one, from member tatocorvette; race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/1382/dan-gurneys-1968-olsonite-eagleCould you direct me to these types of kits? I'd love to study these more. Mick..
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Post by Joel_W on Jun 19, 2019 11:01:10 GMT -8
Mick, Close but no cigar.
All drag strip type cars go into the forum: Straight line.
In the Open wheel forum, Chris has set it up as Formula 1 and Indy Car. And each of types are broken down by era/years.
The Dan Gurney 1968 Olsonite Eagle is the old 1/25 scale MPC kit. I'm lucky enough to actually have one, and it's on my to be built this year list. That's my list that every year has more erasers and changes till the paper is just plain worn through.
Joel
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Post by mickgee on Jun 20, 2019 7:26:49 GMT -8
Oh yes, I'm aware of the specific forum categories, my intention was to find a car type that suits my other models and being similar to the construction. I believe the open wheel types would do nicely. Of course, posting in the proper forum would be done.
Joel, should you decide not to build that one, and the kit is taking up too much room on your shelf....I have an idea, wanna guess? lol.
Mick..
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