by ZachC

In my last column I discussed how badly the Muscle Car template and model were done. I’ve tried painting it again, checked what others have done with it, and I have to stand by my previous assessment. It may be the worst model/template ever sold to There. The only one worse may have been the original Scion tC, which was ultimately redone into one of the best There models I’ve painted.

That said I figured it was time to try the coupe. The original template as provided consisted of the same purple car you can see here, the default Custom Coupe. Thankfully There substituted a new version by Optimize without all the stickers and writing. In comparing this template with the Muscle Car you can see right off the bat the difference between a template done right and the Muscle Car. The template is broken into 3 parts which improves utilization of space and cuts down on pixilization.

 

I took a look at the model in previewer. Just as with the Muscle Car I whited out the template before opening it. I reduced the light and here is the result. Notice no long stretched parts which were so evident in the Muscle Car, especially around the wheel openings. There are still some issues with the separation of the body from the window areas, but nothing like those of the Muscle Car.

 

Compared to the Muscle Car, the Coupe template is one that people should be able to work with and come out with much better results. Judging from a comparison of the numbers in auction, it appears people agree with me on that. At the time I wrote this, there were 18 Muscle Car paintjobs available in auction as opposed to 33 Coupes. I know of more coupes that being worked on that should hit the auctions soon, which should bring that total higher. I’m not sure about the Muscle Car. I have one coming out next week, but I know of no others. It’s really a shame the Muscle Car was allowed to come in world as it was. The car deserves better and so do the developers.

We can’t do “try-its” on the paintjobs, so I’m limited as to what I can show you here without asking for a big budget increase to pay for them. Inclusion in this column today simply indicates that I thought they were worth showing you and I had access to them.

First is the first coupe paintjob by Nazereth666. It’s the 2008 CMC GTR-500. If you’re a regular reader then you already know I have this thing for red cars and buggies. This one really caught my eye. It’s priced at 5,900t and is well worth it if you like red and you’re in the market for a Coupe paintjob.

Mullachops is well known for his strong, powerful designs, and his paintjob for the coupe is yet another example of his excellent work. The M:Core:Reaper:V2 is priced at an even 4,000t which brings it in as the ultimate bargain, being the second lowest priced paintjob in auctions as of this writing.

Next is the DMC Muztang-08 (Ellanor) by BigD26. This design is a takeoff on the Mustang from the movie “Gone in Sixty Seconds”, Eleanor. The paint is a nice shade of gray and priced at 5,900t. From what I’ve seen and heard this one has sold very well, and with good reason. It’s well done with a great theme.

Finally here’s a ZMW version. The template was almost a pleasure to work with after the Muscle Car and the result was the first ZMW paintjob for the Coupe. Called the Desperado, it’s orange with side pipes. Putting “shine” on it was much more straightforward than on the Muscle Car, and the final results show it. The Desperado paintjob is also priced at 5,900t.

 

Next week I hope to bring you some new buggies. After looking through auctions lately I’m not sure that’s doable. It seems that all the good ones have been around for awhile and I’ve already reviewed them. I’m not sure what that means, but I’ll keep looking.