CabDriver

I like using textured card occasionally for the patterns and grains it has sometimes - used some for the seat cushions in this build to give a kind of fabric look with some wrinkles and whatnot: And I found some in Michael’s that had a nice in-scale pattern to look like some kind of fabric strap to hold the spare wheel in place on this one: Card definitely has it’s uses! That said, I’d definitely use styrene for what you’re thinking of doing...

This is the stuff I got...but I’m sure about any similar material will work just as well: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J4BZ1QY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_7VK857PMFKVG4JB0YSY8

I took advantage of the Hobby Lobby 40% off-kits deal right now too (before they take it away again) and grabbed a couple of kits that they’ve added to the selection at our local store. Wanted to add a Willys to the collection for a while...I’d actually really like to do one of the more modern Revell 41 kits but I also like a vintage racecar, so this will be a fun one: And I’ve had an idea for a severely-lowered and airbagged 70s NYPD cop car build for a while - something a little trashy that some enterprising builder would’ve rescued and given a second life - need to do some research on era-correct paint colors and find some decals next! And finally, the mailman brought some acrylic rod that I ordered that I wanted to try machining to make custom brake lights and other cool clear stuff - looks like it’ll work great!

Thanks fellas! You’re not wrong! Definitely needs some thinning down before I get as far as chroming it! A little progress the last couple of days - got the major components which will be body colored smoothed out and ready for primer: The dash and headlamps will match these bits too, but didn’t need quite so much Bondo... Shot with some filler primer just to give me something to sand into to level them out nicely - looks WAY better already! I’ll give them all another round of sanding and Bondoing and some more sanding tomorrow to get them a little closer to being paint-ready and see where we’re at then. Meanwhile, my acrylic rod arrived so I could start machining the taillights: This stuff machines really nicely - you have to be careful not to melt it and work nice and slow - I used an angled cutting bit and got it to where I could make a kinda bullet-shape to match what I had in mind: Tada! Not done yet, need to round the tips up by hand and then polish them up but they were relatively quick and easy to make. I might make some little chrome rings to go around them - but also that kind of defeats the purpose of those openings I made for them to emerge from...we’ll see how they look when I get to paint. More soon!

That paint came out great! Nice job!

We’re a quarter through already?! 😩😂 I finished the first on my list, which was “a Model A Highboy with a ridiculous paintjob”. I think I achieved that, mostly Next on my list was a trike, which I’ve started (but it’s taking me a while...gonna take YEARS to do all six... This WASN’T on the list but FSM sent me it to review so that was a fun quickie box-stock build: I’d better speed up a little here if I’m gonna finish the rest of what I had planned!

I enjoy videos like these, where they’re about the mindset of a model maker (or indeed, any other type of craftsman) more than about specific techniques. Wish I could find more videos like that!

I do NOT have one of those in my stash, but it’s on the to-get list! Great lead, thank you! That pic was actually from a different build (since completed)... Back on this one, the DSC rules require mufflers if you’re building for the street rod category, so lakes pipes were out - found some headers in the parts box that had the right spacing (as best I could work out, anyway) so I did some choppin’ and gluing and managed to get a serviceable exhaust setup made: One final test fit of all the major components before I blow it apart again: Everything fits ok and I’m happy with the overall look - now I get to start prepping some parts for paint and REALLY dig into some of the details. Got the frame in Bondo already to get it really nice and straight and fix all the little sink marks and imperfections...got some sanding ahead of me 🤪 More soon!

True dat! Not totally in the spirit of this thread, but got to ride in, then drive, this thing today: SUPER fun! 1000cc twin engine, turbocharged, continuously variable transmission like a snowmobile, adjustable air shocks, super lightweight - total blast to bomb around in! REALLY quick off the line too - accelerates better than about any fast car I’ve ever driven, or feels like it does anyway... Took it across some fields and gravel and bumps and definitely not on the little stretch of highway outside the shop because that probably isn’t allowed. With the sway bars removed it’ll bring the front wheels off the ground REAL easy if it has a little traction!

Someone made a resin kit of the Druid Princess, but I've never managed get a hold of one yet... https://scalemodeluniversity.proboards.com/thread/74/druid-princess

I tried again to get setup with an account where I can read their reviews and log in to the forum - didn't have any luck, but I did see a bunch of threads on the forum itself about people struggling to read the online content on there. Didn't seem like they really knew what the issue was or how do fix it - which is unfortunate, because the idea of a kind of 'live' magazine that you read online running alongside the 'real' magazine (giving extra extended reviews, stuff that wouldn't fit in the magazine's limited pagecount etc.) is a really smart one. Doesn't work if barely anyone can log in though 😕

Funnily enough, I googled to look for this thread to re-read it, and that video came up

Found this great video today - well worth a watch if you have 15 minutes or so:

Oh, and any day I see a Miata is a good day!

Some kind of Camaro racing a seemingly stock Impala in the ol’ stop light drags in downtown Chicago: The Impala held him off! 😂