Remember the model car of the month threads? How about we restart with January 25?

I think they started back during the pandemic period but we used to have a model car of the month thread, where people would build models and share their progress and results. I never part took it one of those, but I always like them.

This is slightly different, but I've pulled out. A Tamiya M–05RA chassis 2CV kit I bought a few years ago. I played with RC cars back in the 70s, then got an old Losi buggy when I moved here 30 years ago. But this is the first time I've touched anything for the best part of 30 years.
 

Tamiya released these about 8 to 10 years ago, and I was intrigued back then. I kept an eye on them, and a few year later they went out of production and prices started to rise. Keeping an eye on Amazon and eBay. I found a new one for about $120 a couple of years ago, but it has sat around unused. As I still don't have a job and it's a new year this sounded like a great time to start. So, nothing special but this is what I'm building. Anybody got anything else?

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I'm not sure of the color scheme yet. Considering the standard green and white, black and yellow, blue and white, or blue and orange. I feel the blue and orange golf. Kullas are a bit overdone so thinking black and yellow or blue and white right now.

"Of the month" seems to imply to me a 1st day or last day of the month launch.  The 25th seems random.  

Sorry, I meant January 2025, not Jan 25th. 

I can't build anything I like in a month. I get too caught up in adding details. I did manage to build a VW Rabbit in 3 days for our local club Thanksgiving weekend challenge, but I took many shortcuts to complete it on time. I need more like 3 months. More of a seasonal build time length.

I would like to do in 1/25th scale what I intend the Challenge C3 to look like however.

Currently finishing this that I started more than 6 months ago! 1/12 scale 427 '67 Sting Ray.

For several reasons, some good, one not so good I have been spending quite a lot of time at the build bench. Just completed this Datsun "530Z". 1/24 Tamiya kit with a 3D print LS from Iceman Productions. Lots of added details includinc A/C.  Mid assembly with no body paint yet I have the Lyn StJames "Secret" Mustang. I am building this one to IPMS stock kit rules. only the parts in the box with any paint and decals. This kit doesn't have pedals, so they ar not there. This is the only way to build quickly, when the rules prevent all the extras! Several others mid build too. 

In the winter annual build threads Adrian refers to I only posted static display models. Adrian breaks that with his R/C Citroen which I think is super cool. So here are a few of my recent slot car kit builds, all within the past 24 months, captions below.

These Racer Sideways GT3 cars all ran December 18th in Philadelphia I got a 4th with the Ferrari, the McLaren did 8th with Pat Coyle and the Bentley was last with a beginner driver. All were white kits 

Tamiya pearl white and Tamiya metalic red rattle cans with my home made decals.

House of Color "Tequila Sunrise" which does a subtle green/pink flip flop.Some comercial decals, some mine.

Tamiya rattle can white, green, and pearl clear, with light green sharpie and mixed decals. Wheels are Molotow chrome under Sharpie to do green anodize.

Mark Donohue's SCCA national champion Elva Courier mk2 This is built from a resin kit mastered by Pete Shepard of Racing Replicas. Intended for the UK domestic market, I converted to LHD and researched the details. Unpainted kits now sold out ,but Pendle still has a few builtups if you are desperate for a 1/32scale Courier. The best resin kit I have built. 

And just because Imps rule, a PCS resin Imp with 3D printed Revolution wheel inserts and my home decals.

I'm currently working on a AMT '66 Galaxie. I struggled coming up with a paint color. The first can I bought I thought was kind of a muddy maroon. It turned out to just look like mud. So I bought another color I thought was a dull red. That came out as a bright metallic medium red. Well, it's on the car now. Guess this one won't be a stock build, LOL.  I haven't taken any pics yet. Should be no problem getting it done this month since everything is painted base colors.

Moebius released a 1970s Ford wrecker I need to get, and AMT finally graced us with a reissue of a Mustang II I need to find. My stack of to-be-built kits is starting to get large. I've been sadly quite lazy this year and only finished one from last season, a Monogram 1970 Boss 302.

Oh! I've been meaning to post these! I was at an antiques place the other day and thought of the GRM model contest. Only price I noted was $60 for the 2002

And just because Imps rule, a PCS resin Imp with 3D printed Revolution wheel inserts and my home decals.

Tell me more, tell me more, like does he have a car?..Errr.  Sorry. No. I mean where do you get the Imp parts?  I owned at least a dozen Imp's in various guises, including a Davrian Imp kit car, before I moved to the States.  I've seen a Clan and a Ginetta G15, but never set eyes on an actual Imp in the 30 years I've lived here in the States.

TurnerX19 said:

For several reasons, some good, one not so good I have been spending quite a lot of time at the build bench.

I get get that.  I've been out of work for a long time.  I'm rediscovering the Zen of sitting there sorting through the parts, cutting, trimming, assembling, etc.  It's very therapeutic. 

P3PPY said:

 

Oh! I've been meaning to post these! I was at an antiques place the other day and thought of the GRM model contest. Only price I noted was $60 for the 2002

Dude, those bottom three are gold.  

I haven't finished a car in like 3 years. I should do this. 

Love the Vette, slot cars, and Mustang! I'd be up for another group build. I've been thinking of having a go at a NASCAR kit after I finish battling the decals on the Tamiya Takata NSX. I posted these on the other model thread, but here are some of my builds from 2024. Nunu 911 RSR, Tamiya Mazda 787B, and Hasegawa 92C-V.

In reply to Adrian_Thompson (Forum Supporter) :

Not a chance! I have too much work on my 1:1 scale cars already. But if anyone else wants me to pick one up for them, I'd do it. 

P3PPY said:

In reply to Adrian_Thompson (Forum Supporter) :

Not a chance! I have too much work on my 1:1 scale cars already. But if anyone else wants me to pick one up for them, I'd do it. 

Please! I'd like the Lambo kit.

Never mind...I found a new kit for what would have to be less than this one + shipping + your time.

In reply to Adrian_Thompson (Forum Supporter) :

This might be a bit tricky to paint in reverse 

https://duckar.cz/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1PdhRJIFwySWdbwllXgV39EXfoMjH1mKSAQCpKMROwsFvHoE1tlmxZvUM_aem_NCJkJp-xFhWMaGQQZn0zTA

Does a Lego 69 Camaro count?  

Pet Peeve Alert! I know you weren't likely be serious, but dear gawd, NO.  The reason for my distaste is we have a model contest annually at our local fair. A decade or more ago, the people in charge decided to be 'inclusive' and allow Lego stuff to be entered. Now it's almost all Lego crap. And I mean, crap. Since I used to be a judge for that show, I'm more annoyed than most. Pressing plastic bricks together isn't model building. It's fun for kids (I had them too, and had a lot of fun building weird stuff) but it's not model building (accurate miniature replicas of real things).

Legos are not scale models. I had a serious debate with myself before I posted the running slot cars, as I often sacrifice scale accuracy for performance, notably the three GT3 cars I posted. All have been size distorted and detail softened beyond acceptability as "model cars". The Imp and the Elva s could be made into good 1/32 models.

In reply to Adrian_Thompson (Forum Supporter) :

We've discussed our Impish connections before. The 1/32 scale Imp in the photo is built from a PCS kit available from Pendle Slot Racing. I buy from them frequently and their shipping to the USA is prompt. That is also where I purchased two of the NLA Elva Courier kits. The Imp mold is not perfect, the roof panel is a little large, but the only other Imp I have seen is the 1/43 Corgi police car. My slot car is over powered, unrealistic on Scalextric. The Imp got a wheel upgrade after the rear view pic. The Revolutions are a 3D print I sourced from Slot Car Corner, as were the steelies .

Slot cars that you modify to look better, or to make a car not commercially available, is still ok in my book.

In reply to ddavidv :

I have yet to convert a resin slot car body into a shelf model, but some of the subject matter deserves it. The Devin below is Penelope Pitlane, and still available. The TVR Vixen has been NLA for over a decade, but Racing Replicas just released the TVR Grantura mk2 in 1/32. This is a Pete Shepard master, so I expect brilliance. The Alfa poking into the photo may still be available, the Ferrari is NLA, but someone will do another, it will sell out quickly. TVR built to look like an original paint car with standard TVR deterioration, say maybe 1/2 decade.

I'm a big fan of vintage drag racing, over Christmas I finished off these Ramchargers cars. The Funny Car was a very good build but the dragster kit was pretty awful. Terrible instructions, horrible decals. Nonetheless they will show well on the shelf.