::::::::::::::::::: Model News January 2006 ::::::::::::::::::

This site has some great pictures of a Penske Corvette (link has gone dead), if you plan on building the new Revell kit just out.

Or if you like the Grand Sport versions, you may want to get a book to help with modifying or detailing our your kit.

The Trikes from Retro Hobby keep getting hotter. If you haven't seen their site lately, take a peek. They have updated it some, and also are giving away a special print by Ed "Newt" Newton. Totally rad of course.

They also mention some help with their decals sheets, which is a plus, I call that Customer service. If you already have the trike kits, be sure and check that info out on the website.

This company has gone the big time extra mile too. Not only do they mention the kit, put they put pictures of the box, a tree, and even THE DIRECTIONS on their website ! Why don't the other model companies do that ? These people know how to SELL a kit. They know how to reach a Customer and let them know why their products are worth buying. Very cool !

I really wonder what great kits they are going to come up with next !

There's a little online model contest going on, and it needs your vote. Some really nice custom show car concepts. Click here to check out all the contestant entries.

Be sure and check out the Toxic Transit by John Verkerk, bringing some biohazard materials near your neighborhood. My personal favorite.

This new kit of an ATF Dingo looks really interesting. It is 1/35 military scale, though I would love to see a 1/25 scale version, this looks like one cool off road vehicle.

Actually, it could probably be scratch built fairly easy, since most of it it flat surfaces, and the back is a tarp/canvas top.

Check out these pictures of a real one. It is built on a Unimog chassis, and there are several kits out of those trucks, in several versions. You would just have to scratch build the body with sheet plastic stock.

Eddie the Nutcase Zombie, is busting out and looking for you ! This kit from Monsters & Motion includes a padded cell and chains.

Of course this is the character Eddie from the Iron Maiden album (CD?) covers. Almost hard to believe their first album came out all the way back in 1980.

If you are not familiar with IM, you may remember their hit Run to the Hills. (Which you can snag from iTunes, just click the link and it will open iTunes and take you directly to the song).

No, not the TV show. The V8 Holden Monaro of Mad Maxx.

Monsters in Motion has a resin kit of the Australian car. The 1:25 Holden HQ LS Monaro is accurate in detail to the one seen in the film right down to the panel damage on the side of the car !

The kit comes complete with white metal accessories. The Nightrider's Car is from the beginning chase in the first Mad Max film. First time available as a model kit.

Of course they also have the Interceptor V8 Ford Falcon, and the pursuit Patrol Interceptor 4-door cars.

I notice they also have an X-files Agent Dogget figure. While the X-files is old hat, the actor was in the pilot for Stargate Atlantis. With minor modifications you could present the figure as that character.

If you dig radical customs and bikes, check out this example titled "Simply Green".

That really harkens back to the day of greats like Big Daddy Ed Roth Cars and George Barris.

If you have been on the internet, and you are a heavy truck modeler, then most likely you have already been to the Plastic Cowboy website. There is so much to see there, from model examples to pictures for reference.

One model that stands out to me is a low rider custom. I have always wondered what one would be like, and here someone has gone all out and built it. I believe the gentleman's name is Claude Boulas.

There are 5 pictures showing the truck. It has all the toys, from the custom wheels to flames to the thump in' sound system in the rear sleeper. Truly amazing work.

Mark Gustavson (custom modeler extraordinary) has posted the contest winners from the 11th Annual Custom Clinic Photo Contest.

One of my favorites is the CEO (Cab Over Engine) 1930's style truck. The color is a little dark for me, I would have painted it a lighter '50's color, maybe Turquoise. Not only does it have a great cab, the trailer is pretty cool too. At first it looks simple, but it's functional as a way to show off a hot rod model.

To see all the winners of the contest, and a picture of the trailer to this truck, be sure and check out all the details here.

Just an update. Visit Armoramas website here, to see more test shots of the upcoming Trumpeter American LAFRANCE Eagle Fire Pumper (2002) in 1/25th scale.

They pulled out all the stops, showing the trees, decals, and even some pictures of the kit built.

Be sure and check out the 2005 newsletter The Builder, from the International Model Car Builders Museum. This latest newsletter is packed with articles, photos, tips, and all around model industry thoughts and news.

This has to be the best newsletter they have ever done, it can rival some printed magazines for content ! This latest one also has a great article by "Hollywood" Jim, known for his great scratch building skills.

It is available as a PDF, both low and high resolution versions. (Both include many great color pictures !)

You can download them directly using these links-

http://www.themodelcarmuseum.org/docs/Builder-11-1-high.pdf

The Model King has just announced that he is releasing a great combo kit. This kit includes a 1979 Ford Bronco, a race trailer, also a MPC 1968 Cougar funny car ! The trailer has been out a few times, as a separate kit, and a few years ago with a Chevy / GMC van. But the Bronco and Cougar funny car haven't been seen for many years.

Testors is reissuing two Johan kits. The 1971 "Pro Stock" Comet (Maverick) and the 1971 'Cuda. They should be out sometime around March.

I have built several of the Comets back when they were plentiful, and it's actually a pretty good kit. The Boss 429 is a good choice for an engine in the kit.

SLIXX is also coming out with some decals to go with the Comet. (There are slight differences between Comets and Mavericks, but the bodies are essentially identical.)

Their decals include Dyno Don's Maverick Pro Stock. Two versions, that sheet and this one. And a Maverick Dick Brannan sheet # 1985.

I didn't see any specific for a 'Cuda, but probably any of the Dick Landy sheets would be good.

And with a fiery crash (from some old test flight footage) Steve Austin, the Six Million Dollar Man, is reborn.

If you remember that TV show, the intro had that scene, destroying what was known as the HL10. Monsters in Motion offers a resin model kit of that test vehicle. Pretty cool.

Here's some info, and a color shot of the machine from NASA. Clicking on the link from there, you get a page with a lot of images.

Here's a picture from my own collection I scanned -

It's 1/35 scale, but Bandai is doing a new kit of the 1989 Batmobile. There already is a 2005 Tumbler Batmobile kit, also in 1/35 scale. And just to round out the collection, they are now doing a 1995 Batmobile as well.

Since AMT and Revell already make two of these kits, I just can't see why model companies continue to release new models of things that are already made. Why not come out with a totally new subject ?

To bad there's no 1966 Batmobile. Maybe if they can twist Warner Bros. arm enough they can convince them to actually make one.

If you are a first visitor to the Model Blog, the December blog has been archived. It is also listed in the right column if you want to view older postings or look for something I may have talked about before.

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