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Post by Faust on Oct 13, 2021 20:28:32 GMT -5
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of weird model kits and replicas. From four-door Corvettes to oddball float planes and all things in between, I tend to have a soft spot for the unconventional. Of course, that doesn’t mean that I don’t like things that are a bit more well-known. I also like figure kits, primarily from animes, but I rarely have a chance to get them due to their relatively high cost. Surely one of the most well-known and recognizable animated characters of all time, however, is not from an anime. Homer Simpson, the rather dim-witted and corpulent “third cousin twice removed” of more conventional TV father figures, has been making the world laugh (and shake their collective heads) for decades now. So, when my sister-in-law, who is a big Simpsons fan, ran into the Heller Homer Simpson on a local hobby shop run a few years ago, I was blown away. Not only was there a kit of Homer, it was French! I thought it was high time to take a look at this rather strange bit of Springfeild-alia (?) and share this oddity with the rest of the modelling world. After all, while Homer is famous, this kit doesn’t seem to be, and that makes it all the cooler in my eyes! adamrehorn.wordpress.com/heller-homer-simpson-oob/
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Post by Faust on Sept 29, 2021 20:01:59 GMT -5
One of the fun parts of modelling, I find, is coming across a kit of something unfamiliar. It could be a different variant of a known machine, or something you’ve not seen a kit of before. For me, it always makes me raise my eyebrows and, more often than not, end up purchasing the kit as an excuse to learn more about the esoteric subject at hand. However, after being into planes for over 40 years, I didn’t think there were too many (at least not from the mid-‘30s forward) that I wouldn’t at least have heard of. However, on a trip to a local store, I came across just such a beast. When I picked up the box, I didn’t even really know if what I was looking at was a real plane or something from an alternate history story. The plane, though, was real: the Aichi E11A Laura. It was a night recon/spotter flying boat used in tiny numbers by the Japanese up to and just into WWII. Despite having no experience rigging biplanes, I decided I’d learn, and quickly added the kit to my stash. Since it won the poll for which of the Japanese Floaty planes people wanted to see a review of first, I thought it was time I dug into it. So, check out the Fujimi 1/72 Laura out of box at the link below. I have to say, for a plane I’ve never heard of, it looks like one heck of a kit! adamrehorn.wordpress.com/fujimi-1-72-aichi-e11a-laura-oob/
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Post by Faust on Sept 24, 2021 19:53:18 GMT -5
From what I'm learning, that comment about Barris sounds just about right on! I've never been big into the custom scene of any era; I do prefer most of my cars stock, so I don't know most of the names or personalities. Of course, I know Roth and Barris, and I know a lot of the famous vehicles of the time, but the whole custom scene like that wasn't my bag as a kid, nor is it now. I did go to a lot of car shows with my dad and uncle in the early '80s (and right up until the mid '90s, actually) and so the wilder '70s-type stuff (like Daniels' work) is more what I'm used to. That's why I'm always nostalgic when I see those ridiculous IMSA flares on any (and every?) MPC kit! Vans were always my favourite, though... I want to build it, but I don't know if I have the skill to build it right. There's some light green metallic paint along the fenders and the "corners" of the hood bulge, and I don't have the skill, or even an idea yet, of how to do it. I can sort of fake the other stuff, and clear green paint on the covers should do the headlights alright, but those light green sections... they make my stomach turn. Also, I have no idea how to make the interior "furry". I'd have to go without the phone and TV; I can't scratchbuild well enough for those. I also have to install normal exhausts... It's a lot of work for a car I don't really care much about. However, it's a kit I've always wanted, and I do like the challenge, so it's on the medium-short list. It's above my Shelby Charger but below my D-50, if that helps!
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Post by Faust on Sept 18, 2021 14:08:15 GMT -5
I didn't mean to imply that you didn't know what you were talking about and hope you didn't take it that way . George Barris was a great promoter and took credit for dozens of show cars merely because they were built in his shop , the actual designers/builders sometimes but rarely got any credit at all . Actually George and brother Sam Barris were very talented and respected custom painters during the 50's , in fact Sam built the Ala Kart before leaving the business to George . Oh no, don't worry! It was me admitting that the Kustom scene is one I'm not all that familiar with. I'm always glad to learn new stuff and find out more about facets of history I didn't know about. I'm always happy, too, when something I post leads to more discussions, so don't feel badly; I didn't mean it to sound like I took it personally! It sounds like George was more of a (self) promoter, like Glen Curtiss. Sucks that he was using other people's talent to make a name for himself. that's weak. Oh, as for the Vette vs. Mustang II; neither one is really that great!
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Post by Faust on Sept 17, 2021 17:39:46 GMT -5
It's funny, because I'm clearly not all that knowledgeable on customs and customizers. I'm more of a stock-car (not like NASCAR, but actual stock cars) guy.
I didn't know Barris was quite as, ahem... not good... as he was. I mean, he's famous and all, but I'm starting to wonder for what, honestly. I mean, I like the Foxy Vette, but that's because I'm not a Vette guy and I can have fun at their expense talking about a Vette with Monza tail lights!
I apologize for not knowing he was less involved with the good customs bearing his name, and I thank you for setting the record straight.
Say, didn't he do "Supervan" as well (which is lame as heck) and the van from "Van Killer"? What about the Travolta Fever (a kit I MUST have!!!) T/A? That seems tacky enough to be him...
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Post by Faust on Sept 15, 2021 20:00:04 GMT -5
Media tie-ins are nothing new to the model kit world. Replicas of famous TV and film cars have always been a big thing for model makers, and this practice continues with Round 2’s “Supernatural” 4-door Impala. Howevever, there’s another kind of media tie in that’s a lot less common, and that’s making a famous person’s car into a kit. One great example of this is the “Foxy Vette”, which was a Barris-designed custom Corvette made especially for media darling Farrah Fawcett back in the late ‘70s! This one-off creation was immortalized, kinda, by AMT at the end of that decade, and the model since become something of a rarity. It’s been a grail of mine for quite some time now, and I was thrilled when my brother gave me one for my Birthday this past summer. To see how AMT captured this moment in media history, check out the Out of Box review for the Foxy Vette at the link below! adamrehorn.wordpress.com/amt-1-25-farrahs-foxy-vette-oob/
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Post by Faust on Sept 2, 2021 20:47:16 GMT -5
Well, this is a lot more complicated than I had imagined. Since I normally only build 1/72 or 1/76 armour, I thought it would be fun to take a run at a larger kit, and since I love the G6 Rhino SP gun, it seemed a natural target for my endeavours. However, I will admit that I thought even though it was bit that building the Rhino would not be all that complicated. Sure, it had a lot more parts than I thought it would, but I was hoping a lot of them would be able to be bolted on at the end. Joke’s on me! Check out my progress on the Takom 1/35 Rhino at the link below. I am getting somewhere, but it’s sure a lot more work than I originally thought it would be! adamrehorn.wordpress.com/2021/09/02/rhino-update-1-build-around-city/
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Post by Faust on Aug 18, 2021 21:08:42 GMT -5
While I’m not all that much of an armour guy, anyone who knows me knows that I do love my Matchbox tank kits. While the Purple Range kits are pretty fun, I do have a particular love of the Orange Range models. Those were the ones that were almost like playsets; you got multiple vehicles and some figures, as well as a bigger, usually cooler, diorama base. Sadly, finding the Orange Range kits has proven somewhat tougher than I’d have thought. Thankfully, though, Revell Germany keeps the repops coming, and every now and then they’ll reissue one of them. It seems like, within a decade, most of them will get redeployed. Thanks to that, I’m now only missing one of these kits, although up until recently it was two. That changed when I found the recent repop of the Char B1.bis and Renault FT-17 at a local store. They had one copy, and of course I was super-pumped to grab it! I couldn’t believe I happened to get a hold of it before someone else did. Of course, maybe I’m the only one that wanted it? Nah! To see what the other guys missed, check out my Out of Box review on this classic at the link below: adamrehorn.wordpress.com/revell-germany-matchbox-1-76-renault-ft-17-and-char-b-1-bis-out-of-box/
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Post by Faust on Aug 4, 2021 20:08:23 GMT -5
Obviously, the Spitfire is a plane that needs no introduction. It was in production before WWII and continued in production even after the War. It was produced in a staggering variety of variants for a number of roles, and has long been a darling of model kit makers and model builders. Of course, even I have a couple of Spits in the stash, but I’m a particular fan of the bubbletops, and I prefer building them to the more “normal” Malcom-hooded variety of Spit. Now, I also love Matchboxes, so when I got the chance to get my mitts on a Matchbox bubbletop, you KNOW I was all in! Check out this interesting late-life remould, the Matchbox Spitfire XVI, out of box at the link below. Don’t tell me a clipped wing bubbletop isn’t cool, even if this might not be the best kit of it! adamrehorn.wordpress.com/matchbox-1-72-spitfire-mk-ix-xvi-oob/
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Post by Faust on Jul 21, 2021 19:14:08 GMT -5
One of the fun parts of modelling is picking a subject that’s a bit different, or outside your comfort zone. Sure, it’s always fun to build a subject you know lots about, but building something unusual usually leads one to finding out a lot of interesting history and information about the subject. Thus, the experience is both informative and enjoyable, and who knows, maybe it even gives you a chance to acquire some new tricks! For me, that’s exactly what happened when I build the old Hawk (nee Kaysun) 1909 Hupmobile that my friend Alan sent me by mail. I have always liked brass-era cars, but never had the chance to build one. Well, that has now been rectified, and I have to say, it was a scream! I learned a tonne about early automotive history and even connected with some people I’d have never crossed paths with if I hadn’t had this kit to work on. It was a kit that my uncle and I were both excited about, although it’s a shame he passed away before he got to see it completed. So, if you want to see something just a bit out of the ordinary, check out my Hupmobile at the link below; who knows, maybe you’ll find out something new too! adamrehorn.wordpress.com/hawk-kaysun-1-24-1909-hupmobile-model-20-runabout/
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Post by Faust on Jul 15, 2021 13:59:37 GMT -5
I can't imagine much worse than a '70s Euro Chrysler for quality and excitement. No wonder I love the Tagora!
No, I don't have any Skoda replicas at all. I'm more familiar with Tatra for pre-WWII cars (they had that centre fin, right?) than Skodas.
It's sad how the commies ruined everything... well, except Zaporohets. Those would have been crud no matter who made them.
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Post by Faust on Jul 7, 2021 20:52:12 GMT -5
Well, it’s summer time, and that means Hobby Shop Road Trips! Sadly, though, with COVID still smacking my home provice around, it’s not quite to that point. Thankfully, though, one of my local shops managed to buy a whole tonne of old kits, so I’ve been able to recreate the experience just by going across town! Over the last bit, I’ve managed to acquire a lot of kits I’d not seen before, including a large number of Japanese floatplanes, as well as some WWII and even some Jets from Hasegawa and Fujimi, primarily. Of course, I also picked up some other weirdness, because why wouldn’t I? Check out my latest haul at the link below, and vote, at the bottom of that page, for what you want to see reviewed out of box first! adamrehorn.wordpress.com/japanese-model-plane-score-july-2021/
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Post by Faust on Jun 23, 2021 15:40:40 GMT -5
Economy and responsibility are great traits for a car to have, especially if you’re the kind who doesn’t like to go far or fast, and views transportation equipment as an appliance. For those with that attitude, the Automotive Dark Ages really weren’t that much of a letdown. Uninspiring econoboxes with poor drivability and no style wouldn’t, and didn’t, bother them at all. It showed in the bulk of the products on offer in those days, too. However, for those who wanted some joy out of their driving, something more was needed. Sure, muscle cars were dead, but there’s a lot of wiggle room between an SD-455 T/A and an Omni hatchback. Thus, the sporty economy car was born to fill this gap. One of the earlier attempts to put some lipstick on some pigs, at least metaphorically, was the tarted-up Rabbit/Golf known as the VW Scirocco. This sporty hatch showed you could be responsible and fun at the same time. Amazingly, Round 2 repopped the AMT Scirocco a few years ago. However, about the same time, I snared an original for cheap at a local model show. Check out this interesting little kit at the link below: adamrehorn.wordpress.com/amt-1-25-1976-volkswagen-scirocco-oob/
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Post by Faust on Jun 9, 2021 21:13:50 GMT -5
Everyone who knows me knows I love loser cars. From Chevettes to Omnis and EXPs to Pacers, if it’s ugly or weird, I want it. However, that doesn’t just go for models. It goes for all kinds of replicas, including 1/43 replicas from Europe. Now, to North American tastes, many European cars of the ‘70s and ‘80s are pretty weird and, in some way, kinda loser-like. Sure, they’re not all like that, but thank goodness for French die-cast maker Solido, who sure seem to know how to pick the runts of the litter! To celebrate making it to 350,000 hits (almost, but close enough as of writing this), I thought it was time to bring out some of the biggest losers, even if they’re in the smallest scale. To that end, I have set up a new page to showcase some of my prized 1/43 Solido Cougars. These are bargain-basement versions of much nicer Solido replicas, and their choices of subject are sublimely ridiculous! Check out the new section, and the first entry down the page, the Talbot Tagora. Believe me, I have five of these things (as of right now) and they’re all going up eventually! “Vive la difference” indeed! adamrehorn.wordpress.com/cool-stuff/solido-cougars/adamrehorn.wordpress.com/solido-1-43-talbot-tagora/
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Post by Faust on May 26, 2021 20:51:39 GMT -5
When it comes to Cold War interceptors, the Mig-25 and F-106 are probably two of the most famous. Terribly fast and pointy, these erstwhile bomber-killers exemplified all that was high-tech and paranoid at the same time. Sadly, they weren’t much good for much else, although the MiG had a more diverse portfolio by far. There were other, lesser-known and less adaptable aircraft though, that also stood ready to defend their homelands. One good example is the Sukhoi Su-15 Flagon family. These twin-engined, polished metal lawn darts plied their trade for a surprisingly long time, and are best known for shooting down airliners. To make sure that Soviet pilots could handle the rather “hot” Flagon, there was a two-seater conversion trainer, the final version, the Su-15UM, even being able to fire weapons. Of course, I love the weird subjects, and weird kits of them are even better… well, kinda. To that end, I’ve been beating on the old Pioneer 2 “Flagon G”. Now, it’s done. I’m not going to say it was easy, and the model is barely correct in so many ways that you could ask “Why build it?” My answer, of course, is because almost no one else will! So, check out this beast, and remember: I did it so you don’t have to! adamrehorn.wordpress.com/pioneer-2-1-72-su-15um-flagon-g/
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