Grastens

Many of us have a superglue story, it seems, and a good lot of them are similar - I sprayed some directly into my eye after I really pinched the tube. Whatever glue that was sealing the nozzle tip broke - and quickly and suddenly! It turns out that superglue was developed as an alternative to conventional stitches in medical patients (or so I read), so I took solace in that as I continued to rinse out the affected eye. Until I learned that, though, there were the usual panicked, uh, "visions" of permanent blindness... ... Hate to say it was an "eye-opener," but I had really taken my sight for granted until that moment! Prior to this flashback, I had been collecting parts for my various builds, discovering that Tamiya 1:12 driver figures are surprisingly elusive! I had no luck finding their Big-Scale F1 driver figures (having a head to use, I only need the body!), and the XR311 driver is only available for more than what I am willing to part with just to send it over here. Ludicrous as it might be, it is currently cheaper to hack off half a plastic 4 x 4 driver to fit into the cockpit of the Ferrari 312T3 I am building. (but then, what kind of modeller would I be to back down from that kind of challenge?) I also got a call from the hobby shop to say that my Bruiser was ready! I hope to be able to make some time to retrieve it soon

Your styrene work is inspirational, as are your CAD efforts

True. I feel the Tamiya has crisper moulding quality, i.e. better-defined edges, but the Carson shell is a good offering. It was definitely better-received than the original Tamiya Audi Quattro shell by the touring-car crowd, for obvious reasons Upon reflection, I am a bit disappointed that it was not the Mouton/Pons Quattro that came back, though Mikkola/Hertz did win the 1983 Drivers' Championship. Reproduction decals should make it easy to depict the former, anyway, so no complaints from me!

I ORDERED A BRUISER! I will hopefully be picking it up sometime next week The build - that amazing, gorgeous, labour-of-love build - will not be for a long time, though, while I save up for at least a radio. I examined the Bruiser manual and it looks like I can make use of my stock of non-waterproof electronics, since that mechanism box looks rather secure and weather-resistant. Research points me towards the Futaba Attack 4YWD. This is part of a big dream coming true for me, though I hope it will distract me from the personal problems I have been experiencing.

I feel like you are to the Audi Quattro what I am to the Lancia 037... Want to race? I kid, because I think you know more about Audis than I do about Lancias! These pictures are building the excitement for this upcoming release. And with your knowledge and attention to detail, I look forward to seeing your Quattro build If not for my extant projects, I would consider one, though even then I would only use the shell. And not necessarily for an original Audi Quattro tribute, either, since the rally-centric XV-01 really has my attention... I think I will need some lead ballast for the nose, however It seems there will be plenty of demand for a body-only release. I will be keen on seeing the parts sprues in such a set, particularly what is needed to build up those triple-sets of auxiliary lights. One thing I do appreciate about this Audi Quattro compared to the last one is the simplicity: no hood vents and bumper attachment parts to worry about here! I await the manual...

That makes at least two of us! As much as I like Willy, I am glad Tamiya has released another driver figure, and one that is easier to customize.

Fantastic work! Now that the labour dispute is (kind of) over at Canada Post, that Clod bod should make it in good time - although it would be even better if you went with another carrier! This thread has been fun to follow, and quite insightful for bodywork tips. I hope to apply some of them to my own build projects!

That is a sharp-looking moulding. Having the entire body moulded in one piece instead of as in the original just makes sense. It also looks like there is plenty of space to cut the arches to accommodate oversized tires and a 215 mm wheelbase, so everybody can be happy By that same token, it looks easy to cut out the shell for either 257 mm or 251 mm without either combination looking odd, so I would imagine the wheelbase choice for the TT-02 is irrelevant. This does feel a lot less like a re-release, and more like a brand-new car. For the sake of a proper-looking car, though, I figure it had to be done; it would be more difficult to reuse polycarbonate shell mould tooling than the same stuff for an ABS type. I say this because the Lancia 037 Rally had traces of the tooling's past as the original Lancia Rally's when looking from the interior of the shell, right down to the spot to glue in an original-style driver figure. Either way, there is no denying this is a good-looking Audi Quattro, and I can see why there is lots of demand for a body-only set. I look forward to seeing the types of chassis where the shell ends up! I will wait for the official catalogue-style pictures to appear in the meantime

Welcome back! Looking forward to your upcoming project

I thought cars were supposed to carry 2 sand ladders? One for each front/rear tire? Regardless, it is a neat accessory to include on a vehicle like this, if an odd place to put it.

... On the other hand, I can just cut out the arches larger myself And having thought about it, an Audi Quattro on the XV-01 would be a phenomenal combination, even though it will likely end up on the TT-02. Perhaps another chassis release will come later, as was the case with the Lancia Delta.

The Super Stock RZ has to be my favourite RC motor: the name, the windings, and of course those looks are just fantastic I put one in my since-departed Avante just because that car showed it off nicely! And just like the motor choice, this is turning into a good-looking build! Watching with interest

I think your build thread is much better, too This is certainly an attractive release - I wonder how that scale timber will be finished.

I really hope it doesn't! Let's see that bad boy on a stretched GF-01 or a jacked-up MF-01X! ... I am, uh, excited by this development.

Indeed, speedy_w_beans has restored my faith On my end, I have finally procured the supplies needed to complete this model: Nothing to see here, but within the boxes marked 'Ferrari 312T3,' we have all the paints required, both in cans and jars, as well as a mini pin vise drill set and another tube of Tamiya Modelling Putty. I have two cans of TS-8 Italian Red to avert my paint anxiety, i.e. allaying fears of inadequate coverage. A can of TS-42 Light Gun Metal is apparent in the box marked 'Lancia Rally.' If I manage to get the engine detail on the rear of the chassis, this paint could see service as highlights for that part. A can of TS-17 Gloss Aluminum is also present for the interior works. Hence, now all I need is weather! And while I wait for that weather, I wondered what a Ferrari 312T3 would look like in the tri-colour scheme I put on my Avante and Astute, and in Tamiya re-release decals: It then became speculation about a backmarker F1 team that somehow got their hands on the previous year's 312T3s in time for the 1979 season. Given how the T3s were outdated even in 1978, a team using them could not possibly imagine good results for the following year! Ignoring how anybody could even get their hands on an ex-factory Ferrari F1 car in the first place... It gets even better: surely a modified version could be more competitive? Any team still using a 312T3 into 1980 would probably be winding it up by the end of the year, so there would be no 1981 edition. I imagine such a team would be able to score exactly zero points in their short two-year existence, but what a story! In reality, I have heard of no privateer Ferrari since the Vandervell Thin Wall Special in the 1950s (aside from the NART entries in 1964), though this would be a fun project to embark upon later The more-modified 312T3-80/F312-01 (assuming the team modifies the car sufficiently to rebrand it as their own!) would almost certainly be done in the ABS plastic shell, while the paint-only 312T3-79 could be in either ABS or polycarbonate. All of this considered the longer wheelbase of the F104W over the F103RS, which inspired the idea of a prototype/non-factory Ferrari 312T3. I will be staying the course for this specific build thread, though!

... No, I am not still cut-up about the fact that Vanessa wasn't a brunette for this Lunchbox

The shop in question is Advance Hobbies, in Scarborough, Ontario - technically part of the Greater Toronto Area. Happy days are ahead, if not here again - having gone through my new acquisitions, I do have everything I need to complete my Ferrari 312T3: Within are the full complement of paints I need, and a few that I may require for my specific build. Not pictured are the many sheets of abrasives that I intend to use for the finishing. I am also set if I want to complete my Lancia Rally, though I am considering using a Rally Cockpit Set instead of the stock driver figure...

Today, I got to visit my local hobby shop for the first time in a long time. I would have taken pictures, but the store staff were very suspicious of me, so unfortunately I have none... However, I learned that they price their kits surprisingly competitively - I was totally caught off-guard when they told me they could order a Bruiser, and at a price well below what I was expecting! ... I might be back tomorrow The kits that astonished me on price were the Frog ($190), Toyota TS050 ($200), Egress ($430), Novafox ($220), and all their High-Lift and 1/14 trucks ($400 each). My searches online suggest that these figures are quite competitive, especially in Canada where many overseas kits have shipping and customs piled on their prices. Sure, these numbers exclude tax, but I was astonished to find that this particular shop was able to charge lower than I was expecting, especially on the Egress and High-Lifts. In the meantime, I rounded up enough supplies to have a shot at finishing my Ferrari 312T3 (more on that later!) and a few other builds. I also bought the new 2019 RC Line-Up book, but sadly for me did not see the 037 in it. I guess it had been a long time since I was able to buy one... I also saw a used-but-clean Kyosho Raider for $90 CAD. The shop does sell some second-hand goods, and this (to me) was an interesting find.

I guess I was not very observant; looking at the new Dual Rider, that is exactly right. However, I felt as you did in my surprise that the Comical Hornet would use this figure. I will be interested in seeing the bodywork manual for that reason when it is released. If the moulding allows for some material to be left below the cut line at the front, perhaps that would be the solution, unless the shell can indeed be lowered at the front. I still like the Comical Hornet's look, though.

A new driver figure? Curiosity piqued!

"Rear-wheel drive" made me think of the Tamiya Datsun 240Z, but despite the height of the rear shell, the shock tower might still be too tall. Wheelbase for that would also be shorter, though not by much at 251 mm instead of 257 mm. One other solution might be to lift the shell and use buggy tires, creating a rally-capable car like the TL-01RA. That would be at the obvious price of scale looks, though...

A steerable front wheel! I thought the original T3-01 system was pretty neat and/or funky, but wondered how that would work for a drift trike. I see now that it does not have to, with this company's release. I am surprised how good the stance looks. I imagine there will be some funny custom builds - it would come down to what the builder puts in the back bed, and then the visual effect of a drifting trike swinging wildly around corners with whatever cargo it has!

But what colour will Vanessa's hair be for this version?