Martin Byte's Blog

Wednesday, 27 April 2011

Any advice on good kits of the 1930's classics - how about the Heller kits?

I've been trying to find some good quality kits of the old classic cars like the Bugatti's, Duesenbergs, Mercedes, Delahaye,etc. I have the Monogram kit of the Duesenberg and a few of the old Jo-Han 1930's kits (Cadillacs and Mercedes) which I love (because I used to build these when I was a kid!) but after building Tamiya kits I'm spoiled and am looking for better quality kits. I see that Heller has a number of 1/24 kits in this era, the Talbot-lago, Bugatti Type 50, Delahaye, Bentley and even the old Citroen 2CV look great. Has anyone had any experience in these Heller kits? Not sure if there's a difference between the older issue Heller's and the new ones, or even if these kits were ever re-issued? Any advice on these Heller kits, or any other manufacturers of these classics kits would be great.

Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/955096.aspx

Ronnie Bucknum Ivor Bueb Sebastien Buemi

Tuesday, 26 April 2011

McLaren to launch a new car every year - report

McLaren is reportedly adopting an aggressive product strategy that will see a new vehicle launched every year.

Source: http://feeds.worldcarfans.com/~r/worldcarfans/Jxfz/~3/n4f-0NszGeE/mclaren-to-launch-a-new-car-every-year---report

David Clapham Jim Clark† Kevin Cogan

Mercedes A-Class coming to America - report

The Mercedes A-Class has always been forbidden fruit in North America, but a new report is indicating that could soon be changing.

Source: http://feeds.worldcarfans.com/~r/worldcarfans/Jxfz/~3/kBO2kypKRLI/mercedes-a-class-coming-to-america---report

Raul Boesel Menato Boffa Bob Bondurant

Bristol Motors bought by Frazer-Nash

Bristol Motors has announced they have been purchased by Kamkorp Autokraft which is a subsidiary of Frazer-Nash.

Source: http://feeds.worldcarfans.com/~r/worldcarfans/Jxfz/~3/lE6WYO6XCGY/bristol-motors-bought-by-frazer-nash

Christijan Albers Michele Alboreto Jean Alesi

Midnight Blue Aston Martin DBS

Hi Guys,

Here's a couple of pics of the Tamiya Aston Martin I finished last weekend. Its from the box and has been painted with Zero Aston Martin DBS Midnight Blue (my wife chose the colour!). The interior was painted with Humbrol semi-gloss grey.

Hope you have a good Easter weekend and manage to get some model building time in!!

Cheers,

Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/954281.aspx

Bob Christie Johnny Claes David Clapham

2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse SE announced as model is axed

Mitsubishi has announced plans to end Eclipse production after the 2012 model year. While this is sad news, the company is commemorating the event by introducing a special edition trim package.

Source: http://feeds.worldcarfans.com/~r/worldcarfans/Jxfz/~3/2FyOv5-HNvs/2012-mitsubishi-eclipse-se-announced-as-model-is-axed

Bobby Ball Marcel Balsa Lorenzo Bandini

Prince William and Queen Elizabeth II join Cars 2 cast in animated form

When Prince William extended his hand and proposed to Kate Middleton, he probably wasn’t thinking too much about the insane merchandising opportunities that would follow such an act. It seems everyone is getting in on the royal wedding action, from Project Kahn and their Maybach 57 Wedding Commemorative down to Disney and their new vehicles in Cars 2.

In honor of Prince William and his royal family, Disney has added a few new vehicles to their lineup. Meet Prince Wheeliam, a late-model Bentley Continental, and The Queen, a vintage car sporting a classy tiara. The Queen’s vintage look was chosen by looking through archives to find the vehicles the real-life Queen actually rode in around her Coronation.

Character Art Director, Jay Shuster, said: "Specifically with The Queen’s design it took some careful stepping as we, of course, were on hallowed ground emulating a nation’s sovereign as a car. The Queen’s design in our film is inspired by the elegant lines and paint schemes of British car designs of the finest vintage."

"We spent much energy on these designs de-emphasising details such as driving lamps and grilles so that the absolute read of the characters eyes and mouth can convey with maximum clarity: allowing the car to act. Official crests and shields adorn her much in the same way they did her cars in reality. I have to say we spent weeks on perfecting the tiara she wears in our film. Our special effects then made sure each diamond had a translucency and depth to refract the light just so."

Be sure to check out Prince Wheeliam and The Queen when Cars 2 hits theaters on June 24, 2011.

Prince William and Queen Elizabeth II join Cars 2 cast in animated form originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 25 April 2011 17:00 EST.

Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/prince-william-and-queen-elizabeth-ii-join-cars-2-cast-in-animated-form-ar108695.html

Keith Andrews Elio de Angelis Marco Apicella