Claude Thibodeau Posted July 29, 2020 Share Posted July 29, 2020 Hi! Was very active during the pandemic. and found time to build my annual Lakester. This 32 roadster (AMT'S) is my latest member of the FLAT EARTH SOCIETY. What if a Cannuck was to challenge the famous So-Cal Speed shop car on the salt? It is a mostly scratchbuilt frame, based on the Phantom Vicky rails, but all the cage, belly pan, suspensions, instruments, tanks, axles, air-ride shocks, Optima battery & all are scratchbuilt. The engine is from Monogram's Turbo Coupe TBird, heavily modified. Scartchbuilt electrical panel, brake & clutch hydrulic cylinders, fire extinguisher, floor pan, etc. The front section is made of Monogram's 36 Mercedes hood top, sheet plastic side panels, Haye's TBird inverted scoop, a pencil eraser "nose cone", some fabrication, and the rear wing is made of a Gilette cartridge blades tray. The belly pan bulge is a plastic spoon, and the clear canopy is from a lightbulb blister pack. The tonneau cover was made with an Avanti roof panel. Fully wired & hosed. Rolling stock & rear quickchange section from MT's Challenger. Custom decals. Tamya's pure white + Italian red lacquer panels. Hours of fun with styrene. Long live the salt! CT 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gramps46 Posted July 29, 2020 Share Posted July 29, 2020 Very impressive and well thought out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Foxx Posted July 29, 2020 Share Posted July 29, 2020 A lot of top class work in this , very well done , looks awesome . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger U Posted July 29, 2020 Share Posted July 29, 2020 That's a very creative and beautiful model. Great detailing on the chassis and body. What tires and wheels did you use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude Thibodeau Posted July 29, 2020 Author Share Posted July 29, 2020 29 minutes ago, Roger U said: That's a very creative and beautiful model. Great detailing on the chassis and body. What tires and wheels did you use? Hi Roger! Thanks for the comments. The rolling stock comes from Mickey Thompson's Challenger Streamliner (Monogram's), painted magnesium with Alclad. The front and rear axles are scratchbuilt, the front one being a mono-air shock "canteliver" system, to adjust riding height on the fly, just before the "Measured MIle"... For a while I juggled with the idea of encasing the wheels in aerodynamic pods (teardrops)... but they are so well molded, I changed my mind. CT 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 Outstanding!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan barton Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 Wow, Claude, this might be your best salty yet! The detail throughout the chassis is not only beautifully crafted but extremely believable. Anyone who has visited Bonneville will know that a lot of the race cars there are "busy" - there are components stuck wherever they fit and then plumbed accordingly. Not all of them are as attractive as this one! And your graphics - they are laser sharp! Those Challenger wheels were the perfect choice - I have just one and I think it is time I had it resin copied! Cheers Alan . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude Thibodeau Posted July 30, 2020 Author Share Posted July 30, 2020 2 hours ago, alan barton said: Wow, Claude, this might be your best salty yet! The detail throughout the chassis is not only beautifully crafted but extremely believable. Anyone who has visited Bonneville will know that a lot of the race cars there are "busy" - there are components stuck wherever they fit and then plumbed accordingly. Not all of them are as attractive as this one! And your graphics - they are laser sharp! Those Challenger wheels were the perfect choice - I have just one and I think it is time I had it resin copied! Cheers Alan . Hi Alan! Thanks for the comments. Much appreciated. To your point about the fact the car is tightly "packed"... I agree. As we know, frontal surface is the enemy on the lake, because of air drag. I hesitated between the AMT or Revell roadster variety at the beginning ( I had both on hand), and chose the AMT because of its light "sectionning", a well documented fact among Deuce afficionados. Sleeker, but more packaging constraints. Hence the inverted snorkel scoop and belly reveal: even a small L-4 was too tall! Also had to make the turbo intake tube go in front of the engine, versus above it (OEM). All in all, a pleasant packaging challenge. My next FLAT EARTH SOCIETY car is underway, and will pack the Allison engine from AMT's ALLISON IN THUNDERLAND fantasy funny car. I located one last week-end, to my surprise. It will be a full-bodied looooooooooong streamliner. Variety, you know! Regards, CT 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobraman Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 Love it ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Payne Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 Totally believable- your craftsmanship equals your imagination. Just needs some salt on the tires! This would be a good candidate for the real or model section! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude Thibodeau Posted July 30, 2020 Author Share Posted July 30, 2020 20 minutes ago, Paul Payne said: Totally believable- your craftsmanship equals your imagination. Just needs some salt on the tires! This would be a good candidate for the real or model section! Hi Paul! Thank you for the comments. I actually have a sort of white foam packing material here (much like the lining of shipping envelopes). The surface pattern is quite random, cracked, and translucent just enough that I couldn't help it: I mounted it over a light blue coarse-brushed sheet of flat plastic, and placed random accumulation of "salt" (made of white glue and embossing powder), just like the streaks you see alongside the graded section at Bonneville. It looks convincing, but of course, it is mostly white in color. Therefore, when you shoot pics of the white model on it.... it saturates the camera, and you loose details. Well, if I was a better photographer, I might find a solution, I guess... CT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitrobarry Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 Love the salt flats racer culture. Anything and everything goes! Diversity and ingenuity is king! Success is a name in a record book and maybe a hat( 200mph and above). Love your model! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl Marischal Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 Outstanding work Claude! steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absmiami Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 I rather like those disc brakes ! you ARE planning to bring this to the last GSL contest - right ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CabDriver Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 Oh wow, this is stunning - world class building! Very very impressive Claude! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude Thibodeau Posted July 30, 2020 Author Share Posted July 30, 2020 1 hour ago, absmiami said: I rather like those disc brakes ! you ARE planning to bring this to the last GSL contest - right ?? Hi Andrew! The discs are from a Revell Ferrari California found in the trash bins at a local event. Nicely detailed box stock. To be honest, attending GSL and the races at Bonneville are BOTH on my bucket list. But as of now, the Canada/USA border is closed to all but urgent traveling. So, who knows. I can dream... CT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude Thibodeau Posted July 30, 2020 Author Share Posted July 30, 2020 48 minutes ago, CabDriver said: Oh wow, this is stunning - world class building! Very very impressive Claude! Hi Jim! Thank you for the comments. Coming from you, a modeler who has shown great imagination and mastery of ther craft, it's an honour. CT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanMuscleFan Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 Would it be possible to see this category without a new build from Claude? The answer is no because salt flat racers are in its veins... What a nice build... what a convincing build... what can I expect from this good guy other than masterful builds!!! Nothing really good with this pandemic but those sunrays with build quality photos like this bring me a big smile! I'll be back to work in a few hours so I will be come back to digest all the good things pictured here! In the meantime, I take my hat off to you!!!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absmiami Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 Ok ok i know the border is closed now. But if the border is still closed in 2022. - don’t ask. ... besides. Attending the last GSL will be urgent travel - right ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NitroMarty Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 STUNNING!!!!! This model is the total package.... I love it!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude Thibodeau Posted July 31, 2020 Author Share Posted July 31, 2020 1 hour ago, absmiami said: Ok ok i know the border is closed now. But if the border is still closed in 2022. - don’t ask. ... besides. Attending the last GSL will be urgent travel - right ?? Hi Andrew! Well, I write it down as we chat. Life is short, and I'm 65... I guess you can argue with the border agent that attending GSL is "urgent" to me? Worth a try... CT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude Thibodeau Posted July 31, 2020 Author Share Posted July 31, 2020 21 minutes ago, NitroMarty said: STUNNING!!!!! This model is the total package.... I love it!!!!! Hi Marty! Thank you for this enthusiastic comment. CT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobthehobbyguy Posted July 31, 2020 Share Posted July 31, 2020 Very cool. Great concept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absmiami Posted July 31, 2020 Share Posted July 31, 2020 Oh my god. You’re really old ! heck I wasn’t born til 1955 .... oops .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phildaupho Posted July 31, 2020 Share Posted July 31, 2020 Excellent in all respects. An absolutely fantastic model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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