Model Kits

I've built many models over the years from plastic to diecast but I decided to take a kit now and then just to sit down and do one up as a project. I know I am not as good as the people that enter contests but I do this in fun so as long as I am happy that's the best part. I won't frustrate myself as a hobby is supposed to relieve stress.

I only really entered a local contest once and that was years and years back, ages ago it feels like - I entered the Monogram Rampage 1/24 1969 Camaro model kit in which I got an honorable mention for. Remember finding that kit at a drug store on sale because it was missing the decal sheet. It would be nice to have kept that model car I built over the years to see how I would do with the same kit with my skills now.

Basically at this time I'm just collecting diecast 1/64. 1/24, 1/25 and 1/18 cars which also includes keeping a few prepainted diecast 1/25 - 1/24 kits to built since it isn't all that easy for me to work on and paint regular glue plastic model car kits.

Thanks to everyone for their comments and encouragement!!!

My model car kit building plans for the future include 1/24 scale prepainted diecast kits from Maisto, Testors and others. This is the best way to go for me at this time as I need to avoid being around any kind of paint except for the non-toxic acrylic kind so I think I'll wait until I have more time for a plastic model kit project where major painting is involved. My older plastic model kit builds are below in the Archive section.

The main thing I do with some diecast kits is if they have the rear view mirror part molded in with the glass unit is to mask it off then use an acrylic paint marker to make the rear flat black and another paint marker with bright silver for the front to give it a better look. Most of the newer prepainted diecast kits now include a chrome sticker and separate unit. It all depends on the kit as it varies.

Archived Plastic Model Kit Builds

First Project - Revell 1/25 1994 Impala SS - Finished August 2, 2005

This one I was going for a bright orange but ended up with a Rustic Orange look but I think it's a nice ride. A good start after building prepainted diecast kits and not building a plastic kit for ages especially one that I painted up myself. Paint is Testors Spray Enamel.

Second Project - Revell 1/25 1950 Chevy Panel Monster Truck - Finished August 8, 2005

This 1/25 Grave Digger Monster Truck kit from Revell I got without the decals so I built it up as a generic monster truck. I heard about a local car show and contest nearby so I worked on this quickly to get it finished but ran into a snag such as finding one engine support missing so I had to make a quick scratch-built piece but decided against the contest in the end. I liked the way the Testors Primer Gray paint on it looked so I decided to stick with that color instead of a custom job.

NOTES: I would do things a little differently with this one looking back. The tires would be sanded to get rid of the shine and possibly other decals used to give it more of a monster truck look. Finding out in the middle of the project about the missing piece just took the spirit out of things but I got the kit cheap with the box opened so I can't really complain.

Third Project - Testors Fujimi 1/24 Isuzu Impulse Turbo - Finished September 23, 2005

This kit was built stock with a lime gold metal flake paint job plus some custom touches. I found some ARII wheels that I got to fit on the car to give it a different look. This was mostly built to give it a mild custom street look without going full out so I tinted the rear hatch and windows, custom rear lights cut from clear plastic sprue plus added a tuner exhaust pipe and chrome wheels.