Right On! Replicas

John Martin’s Award Winning VW Samba Bus

RoR Review 20101005

Have you ever wondered what it takes to build a winning contest model? Many of the builders for Right On Replicas regularly enter model contests with these builds and ones that they make on their own but the secret for making a contest winner is pretty simple. Patience and homework are the main requirements. It helps if you have some experience too.

Practice makes perfect so don’t just sit there – build something. Every time you do; you’ll get better. Even without the practice, if you find that something doesn’t turn out just the way you want – do it over again until its perfect. There are many techniques described in these reviews that will show you just how to do that. If you have a question send us an email (righton@rightonreplicas.com) and we’ll get you an answer ASAP.

Doing your homework is just as important. Look for a review of the model you’re building to see if there is something you need to fix or avoid. Find out from real 1:1 subject matter what the original looked like. There is a lot of information on the internet and many model clubs that love to help out. Don’t be afraid to ask. Modelers love sharing their “secrets!”

Constructing an unusual presentation or subject helps too, and as John says, “As far as success secrets; this is a good example of a model that can have success in a box stock category if the builder keeps it simple and does the simple things well. Keep it clean, make it shine, and have some fun!

RoR Snapshot 20110320 – Me 262 B-1a/U1 Night Fighter Review – Revell 04179

Buy This Kit

Reviewed by Jim Church   

This kit was a pleasure to put together right out of the box. Overall there was very little flash on the parts, always a nice touch. The fit of the parts really went well and I only needed to us a small amount of filler on the fuselage halves which in turn meant very little sanding so no detail was lost on the adjoining panel lines.

As for the detail of the panel lines, control surface separation lines, rivets, etc., I was very impressed. These all seemed to be in scale and not look oversized. In my opinion the only out of scale pieces were the various antennae on the nose and the bottom of the aircraft.

The instructions for this kit were straight forward and easy to follow. The reference for the painting of the aircraft and the list of appropriate paints were helpful in getting a realistic looking night fighter.

The decal sheet is very complete which overall makes for a really nice looking aircraft when finished. I say overall because while the larger decals are very crisp and clean, the many smaller ones have a touch of silvering on them. I used a coat of Future floor acrylic before applying the decals and a spray of Testor’s® Clear Flat. Unfortunately, as I have stated, there appeared some silvering on some of the smaller decals.

 I really wish that the canopy on this aircraft was much thinner!  The detail of the interior is suburb and when done correctly these details jump right out at you. Unfortunately, the thickness of the canopy completely obscures the beauty of the interior, from the dials and switches on the consoles and instrument panels of both compartments to the buckles on the safety harnesses. Truly a shame!

Over all, I enjoyed the build. There are many things that an advanced modeler could do to make this model really be special. This kit was purchased from the “bargain box” at Dean’s Hobby Stop in Flushing, MI. If you visit the area, stop by for one of the best selections of vintage kits in the country and tell Dean that Righton sent you!

RoR Review 20110317 – 1948 Ford Woody Monogram 85-4282

Buy This Kit (Midget Racer and trailer sold separately)

See the Step-by-Step Review by Tony Gibson (w/Al Rogers)

Wouldn’t it have been fantastic to pull up to the oval track back in the mid-fifties with this package? Hitching your shiny black track burner to your trusty old Woody and heading out to the track would have been the highlight of your week back in the summer of ’54. RoR’s builders make this kit come alive with construction tips and scratch building suggestions for the Monogram 1948 Ford Woody.  There are 127 pieces molded in white, chrome and clear and plenty of advice on how to produce that important simulated wood finish.

For the modeler – an easy to follow direction sheet for this 1:25 scale level 2 kit is included. Painting was the toughest part of the whole thing, but the challenge made it enjoyable.  The level 2 rating was probably accurate, but it might be a little tough for a first time builder.  The directions are good but can be confusing if the builder hasn’t studied them thoroughly.  The trailer and car displayed with the Woody are from the Revell Kurtis Midget Racer and are sold separately. The trailer hitch assembly was from the Midget kit (it is not offered in the Woody kit) that Tony Gibson reviewed on March 2^nd but a hitch can easily be made from scratch.