A quick lesson on scales.

The scale of a "scale replica" is quite simply a proportional reduction in the size from the real deal.
Often referred to as 1:1, or full scale.

In this case, the scale is 1/24th of the size of the original.
I have also heard it described as 1 inch is equal to 24 inches. So for each inch on the scale model, that same measurement would be 24 inches on the full scale item.

But 1/24 of the original size gives you good idea.

Here are two different Ferrari models, one is 1/24 scale, and one is 1/43 scale.

Kits and diecast come in a wide variety of scales.
There are 1/12, 1/20, 1/24/, 1/25, 1/43 all being fairly common to model cars.

Airplanes due to their larger size are common in 1/48, 1/72, and 1/144.

Smaller full scale pieces such as motorcycles are often done in 1/12 scale.

And if you are doing battleships, 1/350 and smaller are common.

Here is a 1/12 Ferrari (in red) with the 1/24 scale, and 1/43 scale versions again.

There is also a 1/64 scale Hotwheels Ferrari in Blue.
Lastly is just an American quarter I had in my pocket at a refernce point that most people are familar with.

One of the oldest "survivors" I have....

I have this old model kit that I built probably 20 years ago.
It's an old Mustang Boss 302 kit that I can't even remember the manufacturer of, but it's not important.

This kit is one that I built over a two week period while on vaction with my family when I was about 15 years old. I remember boxing up my glue, paints, brushes, and all my stuff and brought it along with us on the vacation that summer to Alexandria, Minnesota.  A friend of the family had a cabin on a lake there that had been in their family since the 30's, and we decided it would be a great place to get away from everything for two weeks.

It isn't much to look at in comparison to some of the finished kits I turn out these days, but I was damned proud of it.
Spray can yellow enamel paint turned out okay.... I knew nothing of polishing the final coat, and don't even think that it has a clear coat on it.

The engine bay is reasonably detailed with some variations in paint color to help pick out some of the details.

I chose to replace the wheels and tires that came with the kit for some that I had in my parts bin. The big slicks on the back were likely left-overs from an old 3-n-1 kit, and the wheels themselves I recognize from a Z/28 kit that had been sacrificed to the firework gods....

Which is why I call this my oldest "survivor". It wasn't the first model kit that I built, but as little boys can be, I tended to destroy a few of the really old ones I had. But this one was good enough, and I liked it enough that I seemed to hold on to it.

It isn't perfect, it isn't show quality, and the wheels still fall off if you pick it up, but I have hung on to it for 20 years, and it isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Maybe I'll have to find another Boss 302 and built it, as a comparisson to see where I have come in 20 years of modeling......

Project Nismo 400R - Update

Just a small little update.

Managed to get a little block sanding done this weekend, trying to get everything to blend together and look nice and smooth.

Still not quite there, but getting a lot closer to being ready for paint.

Once I get the body all done, and all the sanding that is going to take, then I can start on the interior and chassis pan, as that should go together fair quickly by comparison.

New Project Nismo 400R

Okay, so this is my current project that has been sitting on the worktable for months....

It started life as Tamiyas Nissan Skyline, GT-R R33 model... But I have bigger aspirations for it....


Behold.....

The mighty NISMO 400R.

Nismo is the in-house tuning division of Nissan, much like SVT is for Ford, or AMG is for Mercedes Benz. I don't recall the actual numbers, so forgive me, this is from the top of my head.
They bored and stroked the inline 6 cylinder engine to something like 2.8liters, and along with revised intake and exhaust, probably a few turbo tweaks, it makes 400 horsepower.
They were made in VERY limited numbers.
Something like only 44 of them were ever made. So they are very rare in real life.

But luckily for me they are fairly available and inexpenisve as a resin transkit for the plastic base model.

It includes a new hood, front and rear fascia, as well as side skirts.

Which required a little bit of "surgery". Here is the hood and front fascia I removed using a Dremel tool and small cutoff wheel.
The side skirts came off with a little persistance and an Exacto #11 blade. Same as the rear bumper.

I have started to get everything added back on to make it look like a car again. And adding putty to blend everything togther.

Still a lot of snading and blending to go at this point. But it is starting to get there.
I am still looking for the correct wheels to make it all look right when it is finished.
This one is a little bit slow in the progress as I am actually trying my hand at customizing hotwheels cars too at the moment.

So I'll probably have some more on that, and planning to add some pictures of the past models that I have completed. So stay tuned for more.

Here's a picture of what my workspace USED to look like.

I have a nice view out to the back of my house, from the walk-out basement. It's nice because it allows a lot of natural light in, but sometimes too much. In the afternoons on nice sunny days, I almost need to wear sunglasses to even be able to see.

So after a little bit of time, I managed to find the table that I always knew was under there.

I hadn't been working on it in a while and stuff just got piled up as a storage space, and decided it was time to clear it out.
There's an old cutting mat that I use to work on, it gives me just a little bit of protection from cutting in to the table.
I learned an old trick when in school to use an old tackle box to keep everything in. All the little compartments help to keep things at least a little organized.

So this is my first attempt at blogging, and you'll have to bear with me as I stumble through this.
My sister has a blog, and it encouraged me to start one about one of my passions....

CARS....

But more importantly, small cars, ones that I can afford...
I mean REALLY SMALL CARS....

Scale model cars, Hotwheels, Diecast cars... that sort of thing.

Much more affordable on my budget.

I can stop at the local super store and pick up a 1/64 scale Ferrari Enzo for $1.04, coutsey of Hotwheels.

I also enjoy building, modifying and customizing plastic model cars.

My plan is to highlight and talk about different randomness that I may be working on, or interested in at the moment.

So again, this is just a first attempt, and basically a place-holder for now.
As I get my thoughts more well organized, and get some pictures, I will try and post more.

Thanks,

Matt

So we'll start with this one, just because I had a picture of it handy.

This is a Tamiya Skyline R34 Race Version.

Built pretty much straight from the box with a little special attention to details.

 

Hopefully more like this to come, so stay tuned....