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Post by swede70 on Nov 3, 2015 15:48:45 GMT -8
Greetings to this tiny but point specific community,
Enthusiast rooted in the study and celebration of the old Sports Car Club of America Trans-American Sedan Championship, with fairly deep stacks of models, magazines, period programs and posters. Formerly an academic librarian, former (!) BMW 2002 owner, whereas what replicas I create in scale typically begin as 1:18th scale homologation specials requiring nearly everything either scratch built or hand cast from resin. Pleased and happy to network with others so-inclined, hoping that this little footprint might translate into exposure otherwise not enjoyed on other boards where road racing simply isn't the hot topic. Fascinated by the history and technology of the period, while most anything that I have created a mold for can be duplicated if someone is intrigued or could use spares for a like project. Kind thanks to the webmaster for availing humble us the use of this board.
Mike K./'Swede70' just about everywhere... SE Michigan, USA |
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Post by afx on Nov 3, 2015 17:43:07 GMT -8
Welcome Mike. The forum is small but has some very knowledgeable members. Sounds like you will fight right in.
JC
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Post by afx on Nov 4, 2015 7:32:59 GMT -8
I do have one question Mike, why do you chose to work with 1:18 scale diecast?
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Post by Art on Nov 4, 2015 9:46:51 GMT -8
Hi Mike,
I look forward to seeing your work. I recently obtained some old Johan AMC Javelin Trans Am kits, so when the time comes to build them, I'll be looking for you for advice!
-Art
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Post by swede70 on Nov 4, 2015 13:56:38 GMT -8
Thanks for the kind greetings,
As for scale choice, I suppose I started with Jo-Han 1:25th (or are these 1:24th?) Javelins and dreamed of creating an entire '70 grid when I was much younger. Very comprehensive redo's of the '70 Javelin in particular (thread content to come) followed, whereas few of my dreamed of conversions gained much in the way of traction in plastic. I suppose I was too daunted and comparatively unskilled to try. On a slightly different wavelength, I've collected period SCCA Trans Am stuff since my late teens, and this pattern has continued apace. Gosh - it's so potentially nice not to be an outlier for a change for my tripping across this board...
Come the late 1990's I hadn't done much plastic kit work for years, although I was working a few hours in an area automobilia store where books, models, magazines and such were sold. A company known as Georgia Marketing Productions (heretofore identified as GMP, or now known as ACME) announced that they'd release a trio of Penske Donohue Camaros. This I found exciting, although when the models washed ashore they thrilled in some respects, disappointed in other respects. Previously hobbled by high standards mated to semi-developed skills, at the time it seemed the right thing to do to disassemble these larger prefinished models and very selectively overhauls discreet assemblies without overwhelming myself for starting from a kit or working up matters from scratch.
Time passes, there still didn't seem to be a proper Challenger T/A or 'Cuda (then mind you) worth bothering with, whereas the 1:18th Hwy. 61 Challenger and 'Cuda 1:18th diecast models afforded opening features, hoods with scissor hinges w/hood pins, etc. for about (then mind you again!) about $55. Given I'd modified much on my Camaros and was interested in resin casting, the thought occurred to me to embrace the topics in 1:18th. In some ways it's terribly difficult for the scale parts supplier network just isn't availed in this scale as contrasted to the mainstream plastic kit hobby, but what I could do in relation to the scale looked far better than the usual Monogram-based blah I'd fought with before. Now I build far less, have far fewer projects and display everything, although what I can and will do dwarfs what I felt was strictly possible during my pre-GMP Trans Am Camaro or 1:25th plastic kit days.
I haven't tossed out my Javelin projects or my 1:25 AMT-based resin bodied Tempest Gray Ghost project by any stretch of the imagination, although know it's nice to 'have room to work around' in the larger scale. Robust bodies are nice to work with, occasional higher parts count and quality help, although again it rather sucks to have many a passerby at a show dismiss the worthiness of what I'll work up. If the quality and workmanship is present, people do come around, although understand that it can be hard for my to find traction at club meets among the old guard. More content to come then. Again, my kind thanks for the welcome expressed, whereas indeed I do have a bunch of Javelin stuff consistent with helping others along...
Mike K.
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Post by crazyed on Nov 5, 2015 6:11:56 GMT -8
Welcome Mike. Looking forward to your TransAm Builds. The '70 Javelin is one of my Grail Kits so that'll be of special interest, as do all Donohue/Penske builds. Swede Savage was one of those promising drivers that like Mark Donohue went Way To Soon.
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Post by swede70 on Nov 6, 2015 12:40:57 GMT -8
Thanks...
Just passing reference here, but I'll make a deliberate attempt to review the posts others have made consistent with seeing where it is that I can lend value if insight shared can lend value to the experience of others being here. A bad thing really to quietly expect replies while not putting the time in to both contribute and validate the efforts others make. Thanks...
Mike K.
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Post by Patrick on Nov 9, 2015 16:06:23 GMT -8
Welcome Mike.
Patrick
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Post by Chris K. Hale on Nov 11, 2015 9:05:11 GMT -8
Wow, first let me Welcome You to our little community, Your posted Javelin projects are Excellent. With so much going on both on the workbench and otherwise I wish I had the time, materials and enthusiasm to take on a similar project. I seem to be stuck on my Nissan R382 project, making slow progress daily. Keep us posted on Your work, so far it is very intriguing. Again Welcome.. Chris Hale
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Post by swede70 on Nov 11, 2015 15:34:42 GMT -8
Thanks for the kind comments - both from Chris and everyone else who has looked in,
Perhaps expect my progress to be a little frustrating in that I never seem to be in any terrific rush to finish anything, moving as I do from project to project as I push each a bit further along as research and the spares situation allows. This habit drives local friends a bit nuts, although as long as have quality work coming through it doesn't strictly bother me - much anyways! It seems I have to redo everything and resist kit assembling - although appreciate too that the tools I embrace aren't Tamiya quality by any stretch of the imagination. Again, I really appreciate the attention afforded to me.
Mike K.
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