Woah!!

This is a letter written to the magazine Scale Auto and published in their August issue. Just as a disclaimer, it is not authored by the magazine and not their own view, and the letter was published along side a pro-tuner letter. This post is not to indict Scale Auto. I just had to post this guy's letter because it blew my mind.

After reading “Starting Line” in the April 2005 issue, I feel a strong duty to reply about the coverage of the tuner-type economy cars that you are ready to explore. I feel quite confident in saying that my views represent 99% of the readers that were not included in your surveys.

These cars are not the “hot rods of today,” instead they represent a small cult of enthusiasts that base performance on huge exhaust systems, big wings, and obnoxious stereo systems. By and large, the youth of America still drive Chevrolet, Ford, and Chrysler products. This is true, at least in California. By the way, don’t we set the trend for the rest of the country, or do you want to change that too?

Tuners show up at Irwindale Raceway every Thursday night with their turbos nitrous, and of course the wings, to provide filler time while the serious race cars prepare for the next run.

If you guys want to make Scale Auto a better magazine, maybe you should cover more activities in the West and not so much in Hokeyville. I strongly recommend that you cover more competition vehicles: drag racers, Formula 1, NASCAR, and occasionally a GT sedan racing “tuner.”

The majority of your subscribers will appreciate seeing a magazine that appeals to the auto enthusiast, not those who have little to share about our hobby. Tuner-types probably don’t build many models anyway. They tend to spend their leisure hours on the computer playing games or digging on the rap.

Let’s keep the magazine on a straight track; stay subjective about what the subscriber wants to read about, now what you “think” we should “keep an open mind about.” As for your in-house expert [Andy Lilienthal], I find his reviews and articles rather vague and quite often inaccurate. Maybe he should spend a little more learning about the “golden years” and then maybe he will get the “reciprocal respect” he desires.

I have built models for more than 50 years, and am an active drag racer. I have read Scale Auto since 1984 and have seen many changes in the industry and the magazine. Most have been helpful changes, some not so helpful. The “Tips & Tech” articles are a great place to expand coverage.

If you are looking for someone who is knowledgeable about race cars and cars from the “golden years,” look me up.

By the way, Jim, please try to get the Ferraris right the next time you write about them (April issue pp 42-43).

-Bill Brooks as quoted in Scale Auto pg 6.

Woah! Wait. I want to hear this part again...

Tuner-types probably don’t build many models anyway. They tend to spend their leisure hours on the computer playing games or digging on the rap.

So that's why I build so slow! Damn rap. I need to quit diggin on the rap.

I find it interesting that most of today's youth drive 'Merkin cars. Especially in Califronia.

In all honesty, I am amazed to see such an acrid response, and am half surprised, half not that Scale Auto published it. I wonder how aware they are of the huge, polarized outpouring of opinion that it is going to start. I also would be interested to see what Mr. Brooks would think if he saw this place, to see what some of us tuner types actually do when we take our rap 8-tracks out of our stereos. I wish the magazine wasn't so dutifully devoted to it's own message board, because I think that we, here at AF, can show how dynamic a modeling community can be building everything from tuners to domestics to exotics and back again and we are all still quite harmonious. I really find it frustrating when people (be them modelers or gearheads) can't get along just because of something retarded like tuner v domestic! We all dig on cars, right? For that I love it here, AF is a great place where we can all pretty much get a long. Sometimes I wish the rest of the world was more like AF. Added bonus: everyone would talk about cars all the time.

Oh, and one last thing for Mr. Brooks:

"Look, over there! A newly married interracial gay couple buring the American flag!!"

:rofl: :rofl:

What a moron. Even I'll say he's got his head stuck in the old days, and I'm as "'Merkin" as they get. Seriously though, if this mag is looking for someone to write tech articles on cars etc I'd jump at the chance. If anyone knows anyone who might have something to do with anything related to this subject, look me up. I'm a good writer and I know my cars! :D

how about we start a thread with everyone putting in there input or "agreeing" to the fact that car enthusiasts can exist in a non-polarized world (namely, here in AF) where you don't have to either only love muscle or only love tuners. This is the classic 'street gang' mentality of "either you're with us or you're against us".

And let's send the link to the guys at scale auto so they can see that liking 'tuners' doesn't make you a baggy pants wearin, jay-z lovin, non creative good for nothing 'young punk'. I've seen some damn good models on this forum from all types of cars.

I also don't think Mr. 19th century Brooks is in tune enough with the world to realize that the love for 'his' generation's cars was once abhorred by the older generation before him (his grand dad probably said the same thing about him when all his buddies wanted thundering loud engines and racing stripes...punk kids). Trends and change are a part of life, most of these ignorant grumpy old men will be completely out of touch with everything (including their own bladder control) within 10 years. And it is a shame that people like Mr. Brooks don't embrace changes and pass things on to the next generation to help continue a diferent form of the same hobby instead of dismissing it as 'garbage'.

Tuner-types probably don’t build many models anyway. They tend to spend their leisure hours on the computer playing games or digging on the rap.

He has a point there, I do listen to rap:( Oh and maybe some of those Tuner Types don't build because they only collect;) I've done plenty of cars for my friends who collect model cars and want their models nicely done. I guess im one of them "Tuner Types":lol: YAY!

Meh, Seriously, I don't like reading what the readers say sometimes because they can get soo stupid that you begin to think like them :lol:

Brooks needs to learn whats up yo! I mean, what da dilly yo~! Whats wrong bro ! :lol:

:jump3:

omg that was the best 3 min of my life :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: thank you will you made my day full of electrical 1:1 problems

Talk about being stuck in the past. (as Im listening to some rap music and typing on my computer)

"Look, over there! A newly married interracial gay couple buring the American flag!!"
He might not be able to see that for.

Sometimes it seems like old farts like this look for any way they can to talk about a group of people that are diffrent than them. I guess us tuner-types have to take the heat since he can't get away with hating people because of their race anymore.

Sometimes it seems like old farts like this look for any way they can to talk about a group of people that are diffrent than them. I guess us tuner-types have to take the heat since he can't get away with hating people because of their race anymore.

couldnt of said it better

I think Bill Brook's letter was intended to send a different message (that even though I think I know where he was going, I couldn't put it into words if I tried), but he failed miserably. There is a difference between someone who is a "tuner enthusiast" and someone more commonly referred to as a "ricer." I represent part of his group of the youth that drive American cars. I'm 20 years old, and I drive a Mustang (as you can see by my avatar) that I purchased brand new before I even had my license.

I somewhat share his feelings, however I like to believe I'm much more civilized about it. While I am not a big fan of most cars considered tuner cars (ex. civic, eclipse, etc.), I find they can be great vehicles when done tastefully. There is nothing uglier and more annoying than a Civic with a rear wing that would look more in place on a 747, a muffler that sounds like a weedwacker on steroids, a front bumper that looks like something from Jupiter, and body panels painted in 15 different colors with meaningless stickers for NOS and Greddy and AEM when the car is nearly bone stock. What one person considers tasteful will differ from that of another, but I think you understand my general idea.

Mr. Brooks is likely wrong about drivers of these cars not building models. Being much more in tune with the typical driver of this type of car - somewhere around my age - I can tell you they are all big car enthusiasts. The drive what they drive because they are much more affordable than an equivalent American car like a Mustang, Camaro, or Firebird. To a kid strapped with cash, that's the best they might be able to do. Most kids can't just drop $10 or 15K into their civic to make it something everyone might consider tasteful. They do what they can so that they like it. These drivers are also no more or less likely to build a model car than someone like myself.

He's also forgetting the business aspect - hook the kids on the tuner cars now, and when they get older and tastes change, they'll still have them as customers buying that 63 split window vette from them instead of a rival.

I think you are mostly right, redstang, that he is reacting to the poorly composed cars that make up a significant portion of the "tuner" movement. However, I mostly take issue (and a large amount of offense) that he has utterly dismissed anyone with a tuner car as having nothing to offer to modeling. I think he would be very humbled by the works of people like Hiroboy, for example. All he builds are cars from the land of the rising sun, but anybody building any car of any vintage or persuasion can learn alot from his technique. I am not nearly that good, or as good as most builders here, but I feel that despite my personal taste in cars I have plenty to contribute to the modeling community, and find it frustrating because Mr. Brooks will never see that since he is too busy deciding that all I do is play on my computer and dig on the rap. He has played into a very large stereo type, one held by a great many domestic loving and old loving people. Not all of us guys who drive or race or tune Hondas want big wings or obnoxious stereos or junk like that. He needs to get out of Irwindale and go to an autocross or a Club Race and see what's out there, and he would be humbled by Civics and Subarus and such. Or even wait at Irwindale for the drag Supras and the like to show up. I bet these cars aren't at all what he would expect, and if he refuses to respect them just because of the country the originate in, then, well, that's up to him. I really, mostly, take huge issue with this fellows closed mindedness. He can't see two inches past his face to see his nose.

Bravo, that's well put. Man...I hate rice. I hate people who don't know what they hell is going on under their hoods, but talk big about it like they do. I cringe when I hear anyone call it "tha nawwssssss," I think neons are silly, and I think that 90% of the mufflers people put on cars like mine not only make them sound awful, it makes them slower as well. However, I LOVE high technology cars (which is why one of my fave domestics is a mod motor Mustang, those engines are amazing) and the technology that goes into making two liters pump out 240 HP (think: S2000) is just...wow. (this is the engineer in me speaking) I just wish these punk kids who hot rod their 94 civic hatch with 3" exhaust and autozone stickers just...knew better. Shoot, my BROTHER buys into the ricer stuff. It hurts! Blah. I gotta go, road trip.

How about judging someone's worthiness and contributions to the car modeling hobby by ... (gasp) ... their models and related build-ups, tips, techniques, etc?

And NOT anything else like what they drive, games they have on their computer, or music they listen to.

Quote:Tuner-types probably don’t build many models anyway. They tend to spend their leisure hours on the computer playing games or digging on the rap.

rofl i play a lot of Counter-Strike(a lot) but i don't listen to rap. i hate that stuff. there is like one rap song i like. haha.

I actually find myself agreeing with some of the points this guy has made, but that's probably because I'm just not into the tuning world at all. I just don't like all the people who seem to have been heavily influenced by the fast and the furious films etc. This guy isn't neccessarily an old man stuck in the past, as I find myself agreeing with a few of the points while I'm only 17. The type of model cars you decide to build has nothing to do with age.

However it's wrong to suggest that tuning models have nothing to contribute to the modelling world. I've seen some amazing tuner cars on AF which have really impressed me. :smile:

Also is it just me or does the guy who wrote this letter comes accross as irritatingly patriotic. :disappoin

Somebody should point Mr Brook in the direction of Hiroboys 1/12th Skyline...

Although I can understand his point of view, motorsports is where it should be at! :p

He's ignorant in all accounts.

how about we start a thread with everyone putting in there input or "agreeing" to the fact that car enthusiasts can exist in a non-polarized world (namely, here in AF) where you don't have to either only love muscle or only love tuners. This is the classic 'street gang' mentality of "either you're with us or you're against us".

And let's send the link to the guys at scale auto so they can see that liking 'tuners' doesn't make you a baggy pants wearin, jay-z lovin, non creative good for nothing 'young punk'. I've seen some damn good models on this forum from all types of cars.

I also don't think Mr. 19th century Brooks is in tune enough with the world to realize that the love for 'his' generation's cars was once abhorred by the older generation before him (his grand dad probably said the same thing about him when all his buddies wanted thundering loud engines and racing stripes...punk kids). Trends and change are a part of life, most of these ignorant grumpy old men will be completely out of touch with everything (including their own bladder control) within 10 years. And it is a shame that people like Mr. Brooks don't embrace changes and pass things on to the next generation to help continue a diferent form of the same hobby instead of dismissing it as 'garbage'.

Exactly what I was thinking when I was reading this, and I couldnt have said it any better :thumbsup:

I'd like to make a counterpoint here.

While "tuner" models have gained popularity recently, they still aren't paying the bills at the model companies and they still aren't a big draw at most contests.

Revell made a fair bit on their Integra and Civics, but the 41 Chevy Pickup and 40 Willys street rod/gasser introduced the same year did better.

Tamiya has shown no interest in options or kit parts breakdowns that favor tuner builders and is choosing to concentrate their new tooling efforts on race cars and exotics.

AMT isn't even producing new tooling these days, and their Fast & Furious line up was an abortion at best.

Polar Lights is only now moving into tooling road cars, and has found the muscle car market much more lucrative (1965 Coronet, 1964 GTO).

Trumpeter went into the model car market with a 1960 Bonneville and 1964 Nova, and found success.

The only companies who're making their primary money off of "tuner" kits are Fujimi and Aoshima, who're really just drawing on an already established bank of tuner style tooling.

AF is really a very insular portion of the modeling community. It's one of the few places where the tuners are the majority. In organizations like IPMS or at shows like the GSL or So-Cal Classic, tuners are an occasional diversion. The number is not large, and the growth is flat lining. Tuners aren't paying the bills, and there is a bit of "overplaying" of the growing popularity of tuners in the hopes of capturing the import crowd's attention and pulling them into the fold.

I feel that it's a bit shameful that Scale Auto feels they need to shout "tuner model" from the rooftops in order to get the attention of import builders, and I feel it's a detraction from the magazine that they're blurring the focus from the core of the hobby in an effort to increase publicity and broaden their demographic.

But then again, what else could be expected from damnable Kalmbach, the same people who screwed up Model Railroader.

You've missed the point. We're not arguing that.

I don't quite know what to say about THAT letter except that it comes across as being from someone with extreme tunnel vision.
I'm 43 yrs old and love the traditional hotrods and muscle cars but time moves on and so does technology. Nothing to me sounds like a bad.ss well built V8 but you have to admire the likes of a show spec, street driven GTR, Supra, or S2000.
To get phenomenal horsepower out of one of these cars is a hell of a lot more easy on the back pocket than to get the same out of an old iron block V8. I build hotrods, muscle cars, skylines etc, rally cars, all types of track cars and firmly believe that by keeping an open mind on the people who build "tuners" I am a better model builder because of it. I for one have thought of many ways to transfer techniques that e.g. Hiroboy, PMan etc have used on their scale versions of real cars, over to hotrods and Traditional Muscle cars. And to make it worse they build a hell of a lot more models of all types each year than I do.

While I am not a big fan of most cars considered tuner cars (ex. civic, eclipse, etc.), I find they can be great vehicles when done tastefully. There is nothing uglier and more annoying than a Civic with a rear wing that would look more in place on a 747, a muffler that sounds like a weedwacker on steroids, a front bumper that looks like something from Jupiter, and body panels painted in 15 different colors with meaningless stickers for NOS and Greddy and AEM when the car is nearly bone stock. What one person considers tasteful will differ from that of another, but I think you understand my general idea.

^^hahaha i see so much of that :grinyes:

WHOAH! This guy [imo] needs to chill. "Import Tuners" have as much right as domestics do to be appreciated. This was possibly the dummest thing ive ever read. Yes SOME of the Import builders do listen to rap and play games, but that is not everyone. This guy is bassicaly stereotyping. Its rediculous. I am just at a loss of words after reading that.
Quote:Tuner-types probably don’t build many models anyway. They tend to spend their leisure hours on the computer playing games or digging on the rap.

rofl i play a lot of Counter-Strike(a lot) but i don't listen to rap. i hate that stuff. there is like one rap song i like. haha.
^I LOVE Counter-Strike.^

That's just a downright disgusting point of view. The author of this letter is obviously stuck in a time of his youth when American cars were king.

Does he not remember what the gas crisis did back then? That's why we have so many imports now. Over the years the loyal owners that have purchased them continue to grow. I may agree there may be lots more domestic cars on the roads simply because they're cheaper and built in such huge numbers. But to sit there and generalize tuner types as being a generation that listens to rap and spend time playing computer games is just moronic and close-minded.

Wake up and realize the changes, import cars ARE the new hot rods. They're affordable and generally cheap to customize just like the hot rods of your day. They can be driven to the track, raced, then driven back home and to work the rest of the week. They're practical, abundant, and usually of better quality than domestic cars. California does set trends, and import tuning has been one trend that they've put on the map and will not go away any time soon. So Mr. Brooks, step out of the 50s time warp you're stuck in and open your eyes. Because, as Bob Dylan sang, "The times, they are a-changin'".


Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

You guys might be looking a little too deeply into his letter: I am betting he is just an old guy who doesn't like young people and/or foreign cars, plain and simple.

lol, I think Scale Auto puts these rediculous articles in there magazine to prove that there are some really stupid people out there. This reminds me of a couple years ago when super builder Bill Geary had his awsome 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona in the magazine. Bill did an awsome job on this car. everything opened up, the doors even clicked when you closed them. and someone wrote in to the magazine not to praise i'm for his work, but to criticize him. becouse he had the wrong windshield wiper motor in it. its still one of the best models i've ever seen and personally. I could care less if it has the wrong wiper motor.

You know what?.....I really don't care what the subject is. It can be anything from an 18 wheel semi-truck to a 2 wheeled bike, a muscle car or an import, stock or custom, as long as it's built right I like it. I have done kits of subjects that I care nothing for in real life just because the kit was quality. It's all about the models for me. :2cents:

My jaw literally dropped when I read that letter. I was somewhat appalled and surprised as most of you were.
I cannot wait to read the next issue and suspect it will be full of retort's from almost everyone that builds.
I love my American Muscle, but damned if the "tuner" style cars aren't fun to build and or look at.
I'm 35 and love automobiles. I build whatever appeals to me. At this point in time it's exotics. I have a nice share of "tuners" on the shelf waiting too.
I'm hoping one or two of us will write a letter of retort.
AF is definitely, as someone suggested, harmonious in all types of model building.
Build on brothers and sisters.....
Chris

models, (automotive and all others) should be appreciated for the work and skill put into them, not their subject.

i personally like tuners more than muscle cars, but i really appreciate the work that is put into both. hell, someone could make a really detailed miniature lawn mower, and i'd be impressed.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I may not agree with it, but he has a right to his point of view. However narrow-minded I may think it is :tongue: . Sorry but I have to go dig some more rap music to listen to whilst I build my "tunerz" :icon16:

I agree, tonio, you can have whatever opinion about cars you like. What I do not agree with, however, is that anyone has the "right" to think that certain cars have no place in a magazine, and that the people who build them have nothing to offer to the hobby.

The thing is, he is as narrow minded as the very 'group' he is referring to in his post! Some people should just keep their mouths shut... or their pens away!
Prejudice is another word for stupid!!!!!

The person must be a victim of so-called group bias.

I kinda doubt that the younger kids are interested in the subjects that were available before their birthdays.

Also if a certain subject is believed to be interesting, the Japanese modelers, for example, don't have to wait for 30 years to get the kit. But here in the US, that's rare (Corvette, Mustang and Viper), pushing the average age even higher. I honestly believe that that will eventually kill (if not already killed) this hobby. It's manufacturers and media's responsibility to promote the hobby to the younger kids. Japan is successful with the Gundam kits which draw so many elementary and junior high kids into modeling each year, why the US doesn't promote the hobby to the teens, with the subject they like? The tuners have a potential.

i listen to rap an i still play need for speed underground 2 (new game wont work) i build tuners etc.. we dont get much in the way of american car models here in england. at the moment i building as many of the cars my family has owned that i can get. if he doesn't like tuners then he doesnt have to read about them. why does he need to rant about what we like. oh so should they ban people who like to tune an customise their imports from irwindale ? he's needs to pull his head outa his back-side. some people like tuners an thats nothing to do with him. i highly doubt that he knows the opinon of the "majority of subscirbers" opinons. he needs a slap.

Revell and AMT did try to break into the tuner market with their Integra and Fast & Furious kits respectively.

The initial Integra offering did fairly well for Revell, well enough that they decided to continue with the series of kits, tooling a pair of Civics, a Focus, an earlier Civic, an Eclipse, and most recently an RSX and Subaru WRX (and we're still waiting on the CRX).

However, Revell's bread and butter is still muscle cars. Their most successful offering this year has been their 1966 Chevelle wagon(!) alongside of the reissues of their Pro Street 1967 Chevelle and the "California Wheels" series issue of the regular line 1967 Chevelle.

AMT's Fast & the Furious line was an excercise in futility. Admittedly, it didn't help that the Eclipse was very poorly done, but the Supra was quite passable. However, the kit line tanked after only two import issues. Racing Champions, the parent company, looked at the kit sales against the diecast sales, and decided to keep pumping money into the diecast instead.

Which is one of the reasons we didn't get an RX-7 out of the AMT kit range but got a Racing Champions diecast.

Revell has made their "tuner" line a bit more low key in recent years but are continuing because the kits are a nice buoy for sales demographics. However, when a 1966 Chevelle wagon that came mostly from existing tooling (the entire chassis and front clip of the body came out of their 1966 El Camino kit, which in turn was modified from the 1967 Chevelle kits) turns a bigger profit, there's not much encouragement for Revell to make a big push on the tuners.

Especially when whenever Revell issues a tuner kit, all that the builders seem to do is kvetch about the same inaccuracies they'll put up with from Fujimi (at an increased price) and tell everyone around them "Just buy a Tamiya if they offer the same thing.

Revell offers full detail kits with tons of options at a cut price (you can get them for under $10 at Walmart) and they get trashed for it. Why should they push the market if it's barely turning enough profit to pay for the tooling in the first place?

Revell and AMT did try to break into the tuner market with their Integra and Fast & Furious kits respectively.

The initial Integra offering did fairly well for Revell, well enough that they decided to continue with the series of kits, tooling a pair of Civics, a Focus, an earlier Civic, an Eclipse, and most recently an RSX and Subaru WRX (and we're still waiting on the CRX).

However, Revell's bread and butter is still muscle cars. Their most successful offering this year has been their 1966 Chevelle wagon(!) alongside of the reissues of their Pro Street 1967 Chevelle and the "California Wheels" series issue of the regular line 1967 Chevelle.

Well, Domestics will always sell more in America and Imports will always sell more in Japan, wow. :p Revell had more success here with their Chevelle, ahem, maybe because its a domestic;) Go to Japan and you will most likely see the majority are Imports:lol: That wasn't hard, but i dont think that was the point:( I think if your going to make a magazine you have to make it diverse to try to accomondate everyone's taste and points of views, and to have a reader think that it should just focus on what he likes is so stupid:(

Sorry but I have to go dig some more rap music to listen to whilst I build my "tunerz" :icon16:

:lol: Same here, :lol:

:Changes his Mike Jones CD to the Purple Haze Camron CD:

Sorry, Layla's Keeper, you're arguing another thread entirely. I posted this guy's letter because I took offense to his view that tuners have no place in modeling and tuner modelers have nothing to offer the hobby. Whether this segment is lucrative for Revell or AMT is a nonissue. We have Aoshima, Fujimi, and Tamiya to make our Japanese kits and Revell and AMT and Polar Lights to make our domestics. FINE. But that's not the point of this thread.

And, by the way, the AMT Supra was BY NO MEANS PASSABLE. Especially with the stellar full detail Tamiya kit available for the same price.

how can this guy say they offer nothing to the hobby ? look at the amout of scratchbuilding an detailing people do to "tuners" to make replicas and to make them exactly how they want to cars to be ?

I just want to mention that I sent a letter to the editors about it. They replied today and said that he seems to have "struck a nerve" and that they have been receiving a lot of responses other than mine.. heh, heh..

However, Revell's bread and butter is still muscle cars. Their most successful offering this year has been their 1966 Chevelle wagon(!) alongside of the reissues of their Pro Street 1967 Chevelle and the "California Wheels" series issue of the regular line 1967 Chevelle.

I was always under the impression that their bread and butter was the Nascar models. Talk about low cost-high profits, just change the decals and bam new kit!

I don't think any model company can keep anyone happy. Personally, I don't think Revell makes enough domestic cars; why is that there's only ONE kit for the late-model Mustang and the 4th-gen Camaros? Honestly, what would they have to change to make say, a convertible? or a Mach 1? And dang it, where's my Trans Am??

[/rant]

I'm pretty open minded about the cars I build, but when given the choice of where to spend my hard-earned $15 for a kit, I usually end up with a domestic in my shopping bag. I'd personally rather build a Vette than a Civic, but that doesn't mean I don't like or respect the people who build Civics and the coverage they get.

I'd personally rather build a Vette than a Civic, but that doesn't mean I don't like or respect the people who build Civics and the coverage they get.

And that's the whole thing there, now isn't it? :bigthumb:

Okay, maybe it's just me and my cynical little world but have you thought of the possibility that Scale Auto made up this letter to generate interest? Look how many responses it has kicked off in this thread alone!

Just a thought..........

With import taxes of 300% for cars in my country, that's why I buy Ferraris (24th scale that is)... :grinyes:

For me, I don't think he's being fair to all model builders. I build everything that has four wheels, be it American or Imports. I even build others like planes, tanks and Gundams... The main reason why I build all this is because I enjoy it and it's my hobby. If patriotism should be the issue here, I might as well quit modelling until Tamiya or Fujimi or Aoshima decides to try and sell Proton or Perodua model cars... :screwy:

Someone should direct that guy here and take a look at our community where imports and muscles are all in the same place with one main reason... THE LOVE OF AUTO MODELLING.

Well guys...hes said it....i guess us tuner types will just have to leave.....*sad walk away music from The Hulk*