1/18 Die Cast KITT Coming In December

[KITTfan]

Here's 2 pics of my KITT model after I've added the "turnsignal covers", a red lens to the scanner and covered the amber forglights with black elecric tape:
http://www.geocities.com/kittfani/docs/ ... tmods1.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/kittfani/docs/ ... tmods2.JPG

-KITTfan-

[Dave Knight]

wow the 'turn signal' covers really make the nose look good. for me i can live with the foglights being the way they are. i like to look as the kitt model as a cobination of all the best versions of kitt. i was just at marks custom kits here on vaccation in kissimmee florida http://www.markscustomkits.com . he was just doing the finishing touches on a customers turn key car. it looked just like the 1/18 diecast, it had the later nose with no blackouts in front of the pop ups, but it had the season one/two two tv dash.

[MIKEMAC]

Here's 2 pics of my KITT model after I've added the "turnsignal covers", a red lens to the scanner and covered the amber forglights with black elecric tape:
http://www.geocities.com/kittfani/docs/ ... tmods1.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/kittfani/docs/ ... tmods2.JPG

-KITTfan-

Call me stupid(please don't ) but what did the tirnsignal covers do differnt, I mean the car has yellow color lights next to the nose, what did you do to the front of the car besides tape the fog lights(looks cool by the way) , I ask because I don't have one yet and want to know what improvments are needed.

[MIKEMAC]

A big Hello to all!!!

On this evening i´ve send a email to knightlight.co.uk including
my ready conversion videos from Kitt & Karr...
That was a good idea! Dan has posted them immediately!
Take a look here:
http://www.knightlight.co.uk/cu-m_leski.asp
http://www.knightlight.co.uk/pr-ks5008.asp
http://www.knightlight.co.uk/sp-ks5008.asp

I really impressed!!! My vids on a commercial website!
Big thanks from here goes to Dan!!!


PS: Kitt has a criss-cross effect in the episode soul survivor too!

So since I haven't seen one in the stores and just pictures on line, the scanner that you get in Kitt does work from left to right am I correct, or do you have to buy your own special light?, I understood that some of the Kitt's lights would go to left, then stop, and then turn right, I'm I wrong or do they all suck?

[KITTfan]

Here's 2 pics of my KITT model after I've added the "turnsignal covers", a red lens to the scanner and covered the amber forglights with black elecric tape:
http://www.geocities.com/kittfani/docs/ ... tmods1.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/kittfani/docs/ ... tmods2.JPG

-KITTfan-

Call me stupid(please don't ) but what did the tirnsignal covers do differnt, I mean the car has yellow color lights next to the nose, what did you do to the front of the car besides tape the fog lights(looks cool by the way) , I ask because I don't have one yet and want to know what improvments are needed.

By "turnsignal covers" I mean the areas both side next to the scanneropening, just below the popup headlights. The 1st season KITT had plexiglass covers to hide turnsignal- or markerlights there.
The model doesn't have them, it's just smooth area so I imitate those covers with clear self adhesive plastic film. Maybe it's too dark picture to show that very well. I added a red plastic lens in front of the scanner.
The yellow lights located between front tires and frontnose is another thing, I haven't done anything to them.

-KITTfan-

[MIKEMAC]

Here's 2 pics of my KITT model after I've added the "turnsignal covers", a red lens to the scanner and covered the amber forglights with black elecric tape:
http://www.geocities.com/kittfani/docs/ ... tmods1.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/kittfani/docs/ ... tmods2.JPG

-KITTfan-

Call me stupid(please don't ) but what did the tirnsignal covers do differnt, I mean the car has yellow color lights next to the nose, what did you do to the front of the car besides tape the fog lights(looks cool by the way) , I ask because I don't have one yet and want to know what improvments are needed.

By "turnsignal covers" I mean the areas both side next to the scanneropening, just below the popup headlights. The 1st season KITT had plexiglass covers to hide turnsignal- or markerlights there.
The model doesn't have them, it's just smooth area so I imitate those covers with clear self adhesive plastic film. Maybe it's too dark picture to show that very well. I added a red plastic lens in front of the scanner.
The yellow lights located between front tires and frontnose is another thing, I haven't done anything to them.

-KITTfan-

Cool, I got you now, sorry long day. I always thought Kitt looked cooler with the lights in the front. Most people have that version in there conversion of there trans am. Looks cool now that I know what your talking about.

[greenpoison]

A big Hello to all!!!

On this evening i´ve send a email to knightlight.co.uk including
my ready conversion videos from Kitt & Karr...
That was a good idea! Dan has posted them immediately!
Take a look here:
http://www.knightlight.co.uk/cu-m_leski.asp
http://www.knightlight.co.uk/pr-ks5008.asp
http://www.knightlight.co.uk/sp-ks5008.asp

I really impressed!!! My vids on a commercial website!
Big thanks from here goes to Dan!!!


PS: Kitt has a criss-cross effect in the episode soul survivor too!

So since I haven't seen one in the stores and just pictures on line, the scanner that you get in Kitt does work from left to right am I correct, or do you have to buy your own special light?, I understood that some of the Kitt's lights would go to left, then stop, and then turn right, I'm I wrong or do they all suck?

Hi,

download this videofile (wmv) here: http://www2.mini-zracer.com/albums/albu ... RR_not.wmv

Kitt has the new corrected scanner from knightlight.co.uk, Karr not.
You will see on the Kitt one it works fine with the fading effect without any cutouts to the beginning/end like on the Karr one. Maybe it´s not so important for everyone but it was important for me.

To KITTfan:
Very nice pics & the turnsignal covers are the next thing i will convert to my KR´s too!

[Lost Knight]

Well compared to the Ertl scanner, the newer one definately has a better flow. Doesn't quite look as red as the original scanner though; I wonder if that is just the video? Concerning the nose, some members have used electrical tape or plastic to create turn signal blackouts and gave me an idea for the bumper grills. For Aoshima K.I.T.T. owners, why not make thin slices of electrical tape and tape them across all 3 clear fog lights and create a season 1 nose? The same method could be applied to the Ertl KITT, only with extra tape covering the amber lenses and creating a season 2 nose. Whether there's 6 lights or 4 lights showing, the idea can work either way.

[Tetsu]

Hi guys,
KITTfan,
nice conversion indeed! I really love your turnsignal covers. Looks like they're part of the body. Did you leave that part non-glossy? couldn't realy tell. Also, the red scanner light window looks mad cool. where can I get that red plastic you used for it? I'm realy diggin it!
Lostknight,
thanks for the pics bro. I realy think you've done a great job with the yellow lights. I think it looks way better compared to the orange. The rims looks awesome! Nice job with KARR's silver lining above the wheel as well. U must have a steady hand. I could never do that.
Greenpoison,
thanks again for the tutorial man. I will let you know how I convert my scanner once I get mine. I should be getting it this week I will post pics when I'm completed. Oh and congrats on your video being on the UK website. Thats tight! Your KITT/KARR conversion rules!!!
MIKEMAC,
the scanner light that's already inside the ERTL model is pretty good. Only it pauses a little bit when the light hits the end of each side. I think its a mechanism which conserves energy? That scanner only has 5 LED's. But the one that Greenpoison has inside his model is
a much better version which has 8 LED's + the infamous "trailing" effect. I've ordered the same scanner and am currently waiting for it. I think you're right Lostknight. The newer one does not look as "red" as the original. Looks to be more on the orangeish side. Once again I will post pics when I'm completed with my conversion.
Tetsu

[Tetsu]

http://www.lcv.ne.jp/~aiaki/knight2000/kitt.html

Guys check out some of these customized KITT models. I found this at a japanese website. Some of these are amazing!
Tetsu

[Lost Knight]

Thanks, Tetsu. Yeah, a steady hand is DEFINATELY required to do that....I was kind of nervous while painting the silver because I didn't want to slip and screw it up. I also draw, so that no doubt helped a bit; I think doing models or making modifications is an art form in & of itself. The rims I can't take full credit for as I probably would have never thought to paint them if it wasn't for HondaSiR, who was the first to paint his.

Unfortunately on K.I.T.T.'s rims I did make a smudge or two from a slip of the hand or the brush painting more than I thought it would. It's not visible in the pictures and I tried clearing it off as much as I could, but I can tell a light smudge or two is still there by looking at it which bugs me. Fortunately it's not visible unless you look really closely. I'll probably have to buy some silver paint and paint over it (that paint pen's tip is way too fat for the rims). By the time I got to K.A.R.R.'s rims though I got really good at it and was able to paint them in 20 minutes. I'm a perfectionist, so any modification I make has to be PERFECT no matter how small or insignificant.

And nice scanner conversions by the way, greenpoison! Do those scanners come in yellow for KARR? I know the diodes in the Ertl/Aoshima models are 3mm in size with 5 diodes, but are your diodes the same size as well? I'd imagine they're smaller to be able to fit 8 of them.

As I've said earlier...I'm OK with the slight pauses in the Ertl/Aoshima models even though their scanners look like crap next to the 8 diode one. I'm just going to buy 3mm yellow diodes from Radio Shack and solder them into KARR since the only thing that really bothers me is the amber color. I didn't want to add turn signal covers to the nose unless I figured out a way to also make bumper grills, but now I'm thinking of trying out my idea to make thin slices of tape with a boxcutter or small knife. Since it's tape, it's reversible so there's nothing to lose.

KITTfan- Nice work on your modifications as well! I've also got some questions for you concerning the red lens you put on KITT's scanner. What is it, where did you get it, and does it come in yellow? I'm thinking of maybe taking the easy way out and am curious to see if the yellow lens will help KARR's scanner look more yellow. I also imagine that adding the lens helps the trail effect look cooler and maybe even helps camoflage the slight pausing effect?

[Tetsu]

HI Lostknight,
I must admit I did cheat in painting my rims. I actually used an air brush. I use the Tamiya acrylic paint (flat black) and just paint the entire wheel. then after everything is black, I dip a Q-tip into a tiny bit of Windex and wipe off all the areas that I don't want blackend. And vuala, I end up with perfectly painted rims.
I'll follow up with some pics as soon as I'm finished with my customizing.
As for the Yellow scanner light. The site that Greenpoison ordered his from, they can make it any LED color you want I believe. SO if you want Yellow diodes soldered onto the board, they'll do it for you. I also do believe the LED's they use are 3mm in size. I'm almost positive. But they're pretty pricy. I paid $44 for mines and that includes shipping from the U.K. to NY. I'll tell you if they're worth it or not when I receive mine.
Okay bro peace,
Tetsu

[HondaSiR]

As much as I would like to upgrade my KITT to the 8-LED scanner from the UK, the $44.00 price tag is really beyond my reach (its more expensive than the entire model itself). I'm quite happy with my stock scanner, I don't stare at it everyday anyway, and the battery will drain pretty quickly when left on for extended periods of time.

It appears that most of us here are enjoying "customizing" the ERTL KITT model. And the results are fantastic, I must say. So far we have improved the front bumper part (scanner, turn-signal blackouts, rectangular yellow lights, fog lamps). The rims have also been improved (by coloring the outer square holes). I have been contemplating for some time now on how to upgrade the rear tail-light cover. In my opinion, it can be replaced by a black flat piece of plastic substance. It should be flat and not rounded out to simulate a late 80's Firebird. I haven't found a suitable material for it yet, but I feel that it is possible to fabricate it out of something, I just don't know what.

If anybody here has ideas, please share it with everybody. I deeply feel that the model will look better with the right flat tail light cover.

[DanielB]

I've only modified the rims on mine - I'm happy with the rest as it is. The new scanner does look good, but I'm not paying more on the light than I did for the model! I might try the red film over the scanner though - we'll see.

Does anybody know anything more about this KITT replica, or have any more photos? I found this pic at the Knight Replicas Nats 2001 gallery, and the likeness between this and the model strikes me - it looks just like it. Could this be the car the model was based on? The registration plate in the window reads "KNGT 2K".

http://www.knightreplicas.com/library/K ... 01-115.jpg

[KITTfan]

Thanks guys for the nice words
The red scannerlens came from old cardboard 3D glasses which had a red lens for one eye and blue lens for another eye. It's very thin material and I don't know where else to find it.
To Tetsu:
The turnsignal covers are just clear transparent plastic film and it's almost as glossy as the original paint. I guess similar effect would happen if there would be as thick layer of clearcoat on top of the paint surface.

I was inspired to do these modifications to my KITT model after reading and looking what you guys had already done to your models, great job! I'm now considering to paint the rims black somehow, it's just that it'll be irreversible modification which I try to avoid. Also I'm not sure if I have enough steady hand to do that. But after looking the photos how great and realistic the painted rims look, I think it's worth to try

-KITTfan-

[DanielB]

Paint the rims with Artists Gouache - it's thick water colour paint. If you get abit messy, you just leave it to dry and then wipe it away with a damp Q-tip or tissue.

Should you ever want to reverse it, you *should* be able to, as it's water based. Might just have to be VERY patient in doing so though.

[lordvader]

I'm really becoming annoyed with DieCastFast.com. It sent the damaged model back over two and a half weeks ago to get an exchange. I have yet to receive a replacement. I have emailed them several times on what is going on and still have not received a reply. I tried using the Live Support option they have, but it doesn't work and half the time the people aren't even online to answer questions anyways. I would order the model from another site, but I want my money back first.

[CB2001]

Update on question about Trans-Am models: I've picked up the latest issue of "Scale Auto Magazine". They haven't answered the question in this months issue. Maybe next month. Worse case scenario, I end up resubmitting my question.

[Lost Knight]

KITTfan-

Does the red lens make any difference appearance-wise with the scanner's pausing effect and/or the trail effect?

Also, how did you get the transparent plastic turn signal covers to stick onto the model?

[Tetsu]

Hey guys,
I received my 8 LED scanner light from the U.K. and have installed it inside my 1/18 scale ERTL K.I.T.T. A little different method compared to Greenpoison's. The lights do have a slight fading effect, but not perfect. They do however "trail", but again not perfect. I'm going to buy myself another pair of these scanner lights but in Yellow for my K.A.R.R. The only problem is I have to wait until July if I want to install them. anyways, Here are the crummy pics.







I had to dremel a hole into the seat compartment to fit the ON/OFF switch

The scanner light chipboard is directly behind the scanner window. Unfortunately I had to remove the engine cooling fan entirely and put some 2 part epoxy putty to raise the scanner light, so it would be directly behind the window.
My next step is to maybe do some turnsignal covers.
Tetsu

[HondaSiR]

CB2001: If they didn't reply, then we can say that the model company is not reissuing the kit...yet. Tough luck for us but we can always look to the future (and ebay, for the vintage ones). If the production molds of their 1982 Trans Am is still intact, then there is hope for a reissue.

Tetsu: Your model looks great with the new scanner installed. It definitely looks sweeter than the stock one. Good job on installing yours.

[CB2001]

HondaSiR- I sent the e-mail to "Scale Auto Magazine" asking the question. It's a magazine that covers nearly all model car building areas. They have a "Ask Scale Auto" question where you send in a question and then they'd answer it when published in the issue. I sent an e-mail to them asking about any company publishing 1982-1985 Trans-Am models. I think it may turn up in the next issue.

[Tetsu]

HI HondaSiR,
Thanks for the compliments bro. It was pretty tedious and time consuming, but I think I pulled it off okay. For my 2nd customizing job, it didn't turn out too bad.
Thanks again for the props,
Tetsu

[KITTfan]

KITTfan-

Does the red lens make any difference appearance-wise with the scanner's pausing effect and/or the trail effect?

Unfortunately not, it's so thin material it just gives the red colour to the scanneropening when the scanner isn't operating. It may also make the scannerlight appear a little more red but doesn't help with trailing effect or the pausing.

Also, how did you get the transparent plastic turn signal covers to stick onto the model?

It's self adhesive plastic film, I don't know it's official english name though so here's 2 links for pictures what I mean:
http://www.brandex.fi/tuotekuvat/49925.jpg
http://www.homecrafts.co.uk/images/products200/b304.jpg

-KITTfan-

[86chvs10]

Hey yall i just got mine in today.Check it out.