RancheroSteve

I tried a few different colors, but ended up with a House of Kolor "Solar Gold", but maybe modified a little. I had run into Mike Alexander a few years earlier while looking at the restored Deora at the Petersen Museum and he told me that he thought the closest match to the original color was in the Hot Wheels Deora double set, so I went for that look.

Yes, I have seen it. It's a remarkable film with several surprise twists, which I won't reveal here.

I've seen some great wild customs done using the Deora as a starting point, but my intention was to build the most accurate Deora replica that I could manage. I had to change quite a few things on the kit - here's the result:

If you're looking for a drag racing, blown SOHC, the one in the '33 Willys isn't half bad.

Wow, that is really exceptional! Love the goggles hanging around the driver's neck. I think I'd be afraid to run it on a track.

I clipped this photo out of Road & Track many years ago as a kid and I suppose for that reason it's always been the iconic Cheetah for me. Many years later, using the MiniExotics resin kit, MCW paint and VRM decals, I was able to build a reasonable replica. More details about the build in the "Workbench" section. Thanks for looking.

Ahh, I see! I didn't look at the dates on your post. Finished pics somewhere?

Brian, I have some of those decals I can send you! I built another version from that sheet. Send me your address and I'll put them in the mail for you.

Here's a McLaren (Revell Germany kit) from a few years ago that I built: And a Jordan (Revell Germany kit): And another Jordan (Wave kit): More here: http://public.fotki.com/Roullier/model_cars-1/f1_and_f3000_cars/

That looks real nice, Weasel! Yes, the fit of the front valence was a challenge, to say the least, and once I got it attached the shape of the opening needed a lot of work, but I finally got it to where I was happy with it. By the way, did you know that Cheetahs originally had drum brakes?

Thanks. The paint isn't perfect, but it's one of my better efforts - I like to think I'm improving. The engine came from an AMT '63 Corvette - this version ran with the Rochester FI. Headers came from the AM Grand Sport. I cut the bottom of the engine and trans off and played around with it a lot to get the right height and placement in the chassis. I also built foot boxes and a trans tunnel for the interior.

I believe it's actually based on the old Cox slot car and static kit.

The chassis and interior are finished. Even though this is a curbside kit, I added an engine since it will show though the holes in the hood. The next step is to get the body on the chassis, then add the wheels & tires, exhaust pipes, and a few more details.

Thanks guys. The lady is a resin figure from somewhere (now forgotten), but I thought the scene needed her.

I built this one a few years back. It's an excellent kit - IMHO most of the Revell kits of that era are. Of course, it's not as good as Mark's will be, but I like it.

Nice work - those are some of my favorite racing cars ever!

I guess I missed this thread earlier. I ride all the time - usually at least four days a week - and the last few years I've put more miles on my bikes (3000+ per year) than on my car. I love the sense of freedom and discovery, the exercise and the clarity of mind it brings me, plus I've met a great group of friends. I currently have a couple of road bikes - a '91 Cannondale SR 600 and a '75 Raleigh Grand Prix frame (built up with modern components) - and I'm building another, a '76 Raleigh Professional, also with modern stuff. Here's a shot of a famous bike rider that I briefly rode with earlier this year - some of you may recognize him:

Yes, I agree - it wasn't my intention to start nit-picking the model. More power to him - I think most of us would be happy to get that kind of a price for anything we'd built. But as it's been pointed out, unless you're a very fast and efficient builder, it probably doesn't amount to much of an hourly wage, and you also need to factor in materials. Don't quit your day job just yet!

Here's the only decent photo I've been able to find of those curious Comet portholes. Like I said, a little less pronounced than the model shows them. Not that I'd ever see myself in the market to pay that kind of money for a model, but the thing that would make me hesitate as a potential buyer would be that none of the photos show the chassis or engine, even though there's reference to an "open hood" and a six cylinder engine. Other than that - and the porthole issue, it appears to be a well executed and nicely photographed build.

Apparently they did, although smaller and more squared off than the modeler has depicted them. My wife's '65 Comet Caliente also had them.

Some more progress. VRM decals applied and some body details added.

The dashboard is done. More soon.

Really well built and photographed, sir! But I guess I have to be the one to say it: that's not a '63 Watson - it's '55 (or so) Kurtis.

Mini Exotics resin kit. Just out of the paint booth. Onward!

Always amazes me how that Ranchero is able to hold an entire cubed Lincoln without the rear end even sagging even a little bit. Must have the heavy-duty leaf spring option!