[Great Traders List]

Completed a trade with Renegade (aka Terry Schmalriede). Great to work with. Smooth transaction. 

[Fall Guy Grille]

Does anyone make the grille from the Fall Guy kit in resin?

Thanks,

Chris

[Fall Guy Truck]

Hey Guys,

No major updates to report. I'm redoing the gas tanks. The frame needs to be straightened. I got repops of the tires from the Revell Tomb Raider Rubicon from Maa's Resin. I'm might go with the conventional route to lengthen the bed (I'm hoping to open the secret compartment). The resin bed is from Resin Motor Replicas but it may not work for me.

I've got many other things going on. I do hope to,return to this project soon.

Thanks for the interest.

Chris

[1/16 Mopar parts?]

Does anyone make a 727 auto tranny or stock intake manifold in 1/16 for the MPC General Lee?

Thanks,

Chris

['70 Dodge Charger Conversion]

Missing Link has a nice conversion--body, interior, grille/bumper and tail light panels--with the option to build it standard or R/T. The quality of their stuff is top notch.

Chris

[Coyote - Hardcastle & McCormick - kit re-build]

You're pretty brave to make the corrections to that body!

I've been working on a Coyote build myself. I stumbled onto this website:

http://public.fotki.com/Rockinroller/plastic/hardcastle--mccormi/

I used all the pictures for reference. I made a few changes (e.g. different seats due to availability, differences in assembling scratch-built elements).

Good luck on the build!

Chris

[A-Team Van, 2010]

Quick update. Finished the dash/doghouse. Scratched the radio. Drilled holes for cup holders! Few switches to the right of the gauges. Little bit of bare metal to dress it up.

[A-Team Van, 2010]

Thanks for the compliments and encouragement.

The plan for the hinges is that once I get them positioned, I'll solder them to a larger piece of brass and glue that to the body.

These vans are like "rolling" dioramas. It's hard not to open them up. I just hope I can pull it all off. My goal is to have it done for NNL East in April.

Chris

[A-Team Van, 2010]

Here are some updates on my van.

Here are the brass hinges I made for opening the back doors:

I scratchbuilt new leaf springs:

I made skirts for the seats using masking tape and aluminum foil. I also added pedestals to mount them:

More work on the dash and doghouse. Putty, sand, prime, repeat.

Here are the door panels with arm rests. I am using the back side of Plastruct tread plate for the interior diamond pleating.

Thanks for looking,

Chris

[What's the story behind your user name/avatar?]

My user name: I'm a pastor so the "rev" is for Reverend (Rev.) and shag is from an old nickname as in Shaggy from Scooby-Doo. My appetite used to resemble Shaggy's.

My avatar is the 2010 movie version of the A-Team van. I put it up as motivation as that is my current project.

Chris

[A-Team Van, 2010]

Just a little update. Got some paint on some of the interior bits (lots of semi-gloss black!)

Mocked up the interior:

Chris

[3D-printed 1/24 scale 15" Vector Wheel]

Chief those are amazing looking! What size wheel did this end up being?

Thanks,

Chris

[A-Team Van, 2010]

Hey Foxer,

It was your build that actually motivated me to open the back doors.

I'm going to try Jairus Watson's technique for building hinges. http://www.modelcarsmag.com/door-hinges/

Chris

[Soldering Question]

I am going to be making exposed hinges out of brass using Jairus Watson's method found here: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/door-hinges/

It requires soldering the brass and I was wondering, which is better, a soldering iron or a soldering torch? More brass work could be in the future of my model building so that might effect which is the better tool.

Thanks.

Chris

[A-Team Van, 2010]

I've been working on this build for a little while now. It's the 2010 movie version of the A-Team Van. I started with the Ertl A-Team Van kit. I replaced the front molded springs with wire and will be scratching some new rear leaf springs as well as using a better 10-bolt rear end. I am still modifying the kit dog house and dash to more accurately represent the correct year. The interior of the movie van is different from the TV van in that there is diamond plate in the back, a couple of tool boxes, and spare tires. The interior walls are covered with a diamond pleat patter which I'll be replicating with Plastruct tread plate. The body of the kit is modified in that I added bracing to the front doors like later models. There is a different grille guard/bull bar which I scratch built (there will be a different light bar on the top too). I filled in the holes for the kit lights, modified the rear spoiler to be more accurate. I also added 2 additional sunroofs. These were added for the movie mainly for lighting purposes. I cut the back doors open to show off the interior. I recently got the materials needed for hinges and will be taking on that challenge soon. Oh, and I put windows in the back doors (not pictured). I appreciate any feedback and encouragement you guys have. This project has taken on a life of its own (imagine that! )

Thanks for looking

[VW Beetle]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the compliments. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Should exceed my father-in-law's expectations (which is always a good thing ! :D )

[VW Beetle]

My father-in-law recently got back into HO model trains. He got this Bug for the display. It's an 1:87 scale diecast. He owned a Bug back in the day and asked me to repaint it to replicate his 1:1. Somewhere in the conversation I mentioned using fingernail polish. He found the nail polish and he says it's almost an exact match to the way he remembers it. I know green was a popular color in the 60's but it's scary to think you can find this color in nail polish!

Anyway, here's the before as I had disassembled but not yet stripped it:

After stripping the paint, I polished it with 000 steel wool and then airbrushed right over the metal. I BMF'd the lights and trim (if you thought it was a pain in 1/25, try it in 1/87!)

I've been in a bit of a building funk so it felt good to get this knocked out pretty quick.

Here's the finished product:

[3D-printed 1/24 scale 15" Vector Wheel]

On the 1st Unit (hero car) General Lee, they used 14x7 Vectors (running 235/70/R14 tires). The wheels found in the MPC/AMT/Ertl General Lee kits are closer to a 16" wheel in 1/25 scale. The other wheel often used for General Lee model builds are from the AMT Eckler Corvette kit. While it is better looking wheel compared to the GL kit wheel, it's more like a 15x8 or 15x8.5 wheel. Also, since the Revell 69 Charger kit is 1/25, I'd prefer to see something in that scale. Additionally, my vote would be for a 14x7 wheel.

Chris

[Ford Van Grille with Square Headlights?]

I found this over at Newt's Boneyard (newtsboneyard.com), hope it helps.

[Enamels WIN!]

I've used Donn's method and had great results. Here's a pic of my results. I used the aluminum metalizer for the primer and Valspar spray paint (decanted). I didn't clear coat or color sand.

Chris

PS I also won a small contest with this build thanks to Donn.

[Best 1/25 Small Block Chevy with Auto Trans?]

I'm using the AMT 84 GMC Pickup for my build. The motor in it isn't so great. And as I'm making so many mods, I want a good looking motor and I wanted to start with the best foundation.

Thanks for the input. Now, I'm going to seek out the parts.

Chris

[Best 1/25 Small Block Chevy with Auto Trans?]

Sorry, Casey,

1/25 scale.

Chris

[Best 1/25 Small Block Chevy with Auto Trans?]

Wondering, which kit has the best (loaded word, I know) Chevy 350 with an automatic tranny in 1/25 scale?

Thanks,

Chris

[History of Monogram's Squarebody GM Pickups]

Hey Bill,

Thanks for the info on the rear ends.

[History of Monogram's Squarebody GM Pickups]

Can someone please tell me if all of these different versions have the 14-bolt rear end in them?

Thanks,

Chris