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Post by Faust on Apr 13, 2022 18:30:43 GMT -5
When I posted the stuff I got at HeritageCon 14 a couple of weeks ago, I had a lot of interesting kits on display. I asked people what they wanted me to review first, and I was totally unsurprised by the result! The winner was the oh-so very weird and wonderful Suzuki Carry “Matsuri Van”! I mean, if you can’t see a Kei-class truck with a dude Taiko drumming on the roof would be the winner, then you need to go back to ESP-school, I think! Just like me when I bought it, I think a lot of people are drawn to the weirdness and want to see what it’s all about. So, being a firm believer in “give the people what they want”, you can read all about this pint-sized “parade-on-a-box” at the link below! You must provide your own Sake, however. adamrehorn.wordpress.com/aoshima-1-24-suzuki-carry-festival-wasshoi-matsuri-van-oob/
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Post by Faust on Mar 30, 2022 19:31:15 GMT -5
With road trips across borders being taboo, and no model shows, the last few years have proven to be a bit of a challenge when it comes to getting my hands on old, weird sprue. Thankfully, I’ve had a local show buy up an old collection and my good friend Alan has pitched in to help me out, too. However, this past weekend, the dam broke when the HeritageCon 14 show took place in Hamilton, Ontario! It was a huge show with lots of great things to see, and lots of weird stuff to buy! I may have gone a little nuts, but you can judge that for yourself! Check out my haul at the link below, and vote for your favourite three (3) in the poll at the end of the article! adamrehorn.wordpress.com/heritagecon-14-haul/This is only a tiny bit of what I got!!
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Post by Faust on Mar 16, 2022 20:04:28 GMT -5
A friend and reader messaged me a while ago and asked what had happened to my losers. I mean, everyone knows I love loser cars, but I had drifted a bit away of late. I had a good influx of WWII planes and especially those that float, and I’ve gotten into Brass Era stuff a lot more lately. To be honest, I’d not even noticed my “loser output” had fallen! I promised him that I’d redeem myself before spring, and I’m here today to do just that. Because, when you want to show you’re strong with the Losers, you can’t just show up with anything. You can’t just bring a ’79 Mustang to a Mustang II fight. No. You have to go WAY stronger. You have to go beyond loser, beyond econobox… you have to BECOME shameless badge engineering and parts-bin commonality. And what, dear friends, could exemplify this more than the 1978 MPC Chevy Sportback?? The Monza S was a Vega body with a Monza nose, and the kit is just a Vega Promo with a Monza nose. It’s genius, it’s cheekiness and it’s completely cheap and dirty, malaise-era corner-cutting at both 1:1 and 1:25 scales! So, go and check out one of my rarest kits, one of my most loser of loser cars, and remember, be glad they don’t make ‘em like this any more! adamrehorn.wordpress.com/mpc-1-25-1978-monza-s-chevy-sportback-oob/
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Post by Faust on Mar 2, 2022 19:54:12 GMT -5
One of the newer arms of the Cthulhu-like octopus that is Transformers branding and merchandise is brought to us by Flame Toys. Their “Furai Model Kits” are buildable, smaller-sized versions of their incredibly detailed (and expensive) “official third party” figures. I have a few of these kits, and while they look good, I was very eager to see how they actually built up as models. I started with the kit I had been very much eagerly hoping to get, namely Drift. As a samurai-inspired giant robot warrior from space, he’s halfway between a Gundam and a traditional Transformer in design, and the kit looked freakin’ awesome! It’s done now, so you can judge for yourself how good these Furai kits are. I’ll tell you this; they’re not up to Bandai’s HG standard…yet. However, if Drift is an indication, these guys have a solid grasp of the basics, and their products should be given respect! Check out my completed Drift at the link below and tell me what you think! adamrehorn.wordpress.com/flame-toys-non-scale-furai-models-drift/
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Post by Faust on Feb 16, 2022 19:56:23 GMT -5
While it’s true that I generally like the more obscure subjects, I still have a soft spot in my heart for the classics. When it comes to WWII planes, there is arguably none more classic than the Supermarine Spitfire, the RAF’s thoroughbred that went on to spawn a dizzying variety of different versions throughout its career. However, even when it comes to the famous Spit, there are some obscurities to be had. One of those is the LF.XVI, a clipped-wing, bubble-topped fighter based on the famous Mk.IX. Now, what would make this even more appealing as a modelling subject? Why, if the kit itself was also a classic! That’s why I was excited to grab the single Matchbox Spitfire IX/XVI that my local shop got in a large collection last year. In fact, I was so excited that I started on it right away! Now, this weird little relic is all done and ready for inspection. Check it out at the link below, and tell me what you think! adamrehorn.wordpress.com/matchbox-1-72-spitfire-lf-xvi/
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Post by Faust on Feb 2, 2022 19:51:25 GMT -5
Finding new subjects to model is one of the great parts of this hobby, at least for me. When I branched out into building cars about 13 years ago, I never thought I’d build much more than a couple ‘80s loser machines. Well, then I found models of Street Vans, and Japanese Cars, and then weird Japanese cars, and it just spiralled from there. My most recent source of interest is, as some of you know, Brass Era (BE) cars. I remember seeing these in museums I’d go to with my Uncle when I was little, and always thought they were cool. Now, I have started to set my sights on collecting kits of them! There are more early car kits than I thought, and I was lucky to find a bunch all at once in late 2021. When I posted the haul, I was surprised to find that the one most people wanted to see was actually the 1910 Buick! So, check out the interesting and really very cool 1/32 Life-Like 1910 Buick Model 10 at the link below and you can see how Pyro and Life-Like were bringing the dawn of motoring to life half a century ago! adamrehorn.wordpress.com/life-like-hobbies-1-32-1910-buick-model-10-out-of-box/
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Post by Faust on Jan 19, 2022 20:46:51 GMT -5
It may not be an iron-clad rule, but I do find that I prefer two-seat versions of single-seat aircraft. Oddly, I also prefer the single seat version of trainers… I guess I’m perverse like that! It turns out that there are a lot of planes about which I really don’t get that excited until you add an extra seat. A perfect example of that is the F9F-8 Cougar. I had the old (and not-so-good) 1/48 as a kid, but I didn’t think much of it; the design looked slow and heavy, and like a lot of transonic jets it just didn’t do much for me. However, the two-seater, or “Twogar” as it’s often known, is a different story! I almost bought the Kittyhawk 1/48 Twogar; that’s how much I love that plane. Thankfully, though, I found out about the Sword 1/72 TF-9J, and bought that one instead. Now it’ll be in scale with everything else I have! Even better, I got the one with weapons, that served as a FAC(A) in ‘Nam! While it’s not perfect, it looks pretty cool, so check out the Out of Box review at the link below! adamrehorn.wordpress.com/sword-1-72-tf-9j-cougar-vietnam-blue-angelsoob/
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Post by Faust on Jan 19, 2022 20:43:06 GMT -5
Man, that's great!
Talk about bringing it to life! Congrats, and what a super thing to do!
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Post by Faust on Jan 5, 2022 20:33:09 GMT -5
While it is only a couple days into the new year, I can’t help but think of the old saw “Out with the old, in with the new!” Of course, when it comes to sprue, I can’t really abide by that at all. I’m more like “In with the old, in with the older and weirder!”. I know it doesn’t really follow the spirit of things, but you know me… always have to be contrary. In that fine tradition then I would like to share with all of you a great classic car score I had in late November, in the one Toy Show I managed to get to before COVID started shutting everything back down again! Now, when I say “Classic” I don’t mean ‘50s and ‘60s like most people. I mean cars that are 90-118 years old, and kits that are about half that age! If you’re looking for a weird collection of older Brass and Vintage era car kits, then click on the link below the see some of the awesome chestnuts I picked up late last year, and don’t forget to vote for your favourite too! adamrehorn.wordpress.com/vintage-car-score-november-2021/
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Post by Faust on Jan 5, 2022 20:24:35 GMT -5
I love it! It doesn't look much like the source material at all! Always the sign of a great Kustom!
I do agree Mack, though; I'd go for wires or even wide-whitewalls with trim-rings and colour-coded wheels/dogdish caps. That's just me, though.
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Post by Faust on Dec 21, 2021 16:40:21 GMT -5
Well, it was a push, but it’s done in time for Christmas! With a lot of sanding, grinding and polishing, my Fumina Christmas Angel Custom version of the Bandai Axis Angel kit is ready for display on the Big Day. I’m glad to be able to add another Gundam-based Christmas ornament/display to my holiday decorations, and I think she looks rather good. Check out this new addition at the link below, and a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone! adamrehorn.wordpress.com/bandai-non-scale-super-fumina-christmas-angel-custom/
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Post by Faust on Dec 8, 2021 17:24:19 GMT -5
Sometimes the things I like are just so esoteric and awful that there simply isn’t a kit of a particular subject. I know, it seems weird, but it’s true. However, sometimes I get lucky, and there will be a pre-built replica of the object of my desire/dismay! This is most true when it comes to cars, and particularly European cars! One perfect example of an unsurprisingly unkitted subject is the Renault 14. While Renault has made a lot of successful (in Europe, at least) cars, the pear-like 14 is not one of them. It’s ugly, weird and shockingly corpulent in the wrong places. Thankfully, French die-cast maker Solido did it’s patriotic best to bring this loser to life, and my version the Solido Cougar version, is the weird dime-store el-cheapo version. Check out this almost Christmas-coloured abomination of automotive styling quality control at the link below. Just think; now you have something to ask Santa for! You’re welcome! adamrehorn.wordpress.com/solido-1-43-renault-14/
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Post by Faust on Nov 24, 2021 19:30:52 GMT -5
Well, the air is getting colder, the nights much longer, and the Christmas decorations have been in the stores for a couple of months now, so that can mean only one thing: It’s about a month from Christmas! With that in mind, I wanted to do another Christmas Gundam project. However, I’ve got Santa, a sled, an elf and a reindeer… what’s left. That’s when it hit me: an angel!! So, inspired by this realization, I dug my way through my stash to find my Super Fumina Axis Angel kit. I mean, it’s already a girl, and has angel wings, so I’m most of the way there, right? Right? Well, maybe not. Still, never one to be deterred by some hard work, I have set down the path of creating a suitable Christmas Angel from this Gundam Girl kit. Check out how far I’ve gotten so far at the link below! Now, all I have to do is get it done in time for Christmas! Should be easy, right? What else is there to do this time of year… other than everything… adamrehorn.wordpress.com/2021/11/24/bandai-1-144-hgbf-fumina-axis-angel-christmas-angel-custom-phase-1/
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Post by Faust on Nov 10, 2021 21:09:19 GMT -5
Given all the weird stuff I build and collect, like 4-door Vettes and early, useless jets, it should come as no surprise that the weirder it is, the more I’m likely to be drawn to it. My reputation precedes me, too, it seems, since my brother and (now late) uncle worked together to give me five of the Arii 1/32 Owners’ Club three-wheeled trucks for Christmas some time ago. I thought it was high time to dig one of these little weird guys out and give it a go. On a whim, I decided to take a run at the Mazda K360, since it’s not as well-known as the Daihatsu midget, and thus was even a darker shade of weird! Check out the out of box review for this cute little motorized wheelbarrow-looking hauler at the link below. Who knows, you might decide you want one for yourself! adamrehorn.wordpress.com/arii-ls-mazda-k360-oob/
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Post by Faust on Oct 27, 2021 20:22:58 GMT -5
When they say “Truth is stranger than fiction”, sometimes, they aren’t kidding! The desperate last days of WWII in Germany saw any and all ideas for defence of the Reich at least given consideration, no matter how outlandish they were. That some of these ideas were greenlighted, and even made it to the flying stage, says a lot about the state of Germany’s science and politics in the early-middle ‘40s. One of the weirder and more dangerous vehicles to make the leap from napkin to launchpad was the Bachem Ba-349, or BP-20, “Natter”. A vertically-launched, tiny, rocket-propelled point-defence interceptor, it was the original “missile with a man in it”. Not surprisingly, there are a lot of kits of this weird contraption, and one of the newer ones is the Brengun model in 1/72. This comes in a bunch of realistic and “What-If” flavours. The one I opted for was Mustermaschine M23, which is the first, and only, Natter to launch with a human pilot on board. Check out this neat little kit at the link below, and tell me what you think: Red or Black for the underside? adamrehorn.wordpress.com/brengun-1-72-bp-20-natter-mustermaschine-m23/
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