customline

Dickmobiles were without exception, in my hometown, entry level fleet units with the cheap looking round tail lights. And yeah, we got paranoid at the sight of them 😦😨🥺😳😟

Occasionally we run into Williamsburg and pass by this little gem. It's a neat attention getter for a restaurant on Second street. Today I told Wifey to get a picture of it for me. I thought it might inspire someone on this forum to do something cool with that Chevy Van kit that's been malingering on their shelf for years. If anyone wants more detailed photos, I can get some on my next trip out there. It's a lot of work but do-able. I dunno, maybe if I can find a suitable kit....

That's a gorgeous color, Len. Like cream soda 😋

Going in a new direction. I think I can make a conventional hinge work with this configuration. This is where the fun is ! 🙃 I cut the black hood wrong 💩. Luckily there was another in the box. From the '50 'vert. I'm using sprue goo for a change. I post in real time, guys. If I screw it up, it shows up here. If there's a wrong way to do something, by golly, I will find it! It's more fun this way, right? 🤓 That tool you see sitting there is something that Wifey provided from her extensive inventory. The blue business end is silicone rubber and works really well to apply filler, glue, mustard, whatever. Just wipe it off with a rag. It's one of a set with different sizes and shapes. It's quite useful. Thanks for reading this if you did. If you didn't, thanks for looking at the pictures! 😉

Thanks Brian, I've been going in a new direction today. I'm determined to use the big toothy grille. It's iconic. 😬 Thank you David. That's exactly how I felt. Len, I belonged to the now defunct 54 Ford Club for a short time and at the end of every newsletter was a reminder to "oil your hood hinges". I was warned because, I guess, you could put a nice kink in the hood if you failed to oil the hinges on a regular basis. It was apparently a common problem with Fords of that era.

I didn't like the kit-provided hood hinges/slots so I deleted all that. I was thinking magnets but wanted to try something different. It's not perfect, and I'm not sure it's gonna stay but I figured I would try it. My big problem with it is the DeSoto grille that I would like to use would not work with this hinge style. I may try a double axle type if I can figure out how to configure it. I've seen it done on some T-bird or what not so....anyway, this is how I spent my morning. You are welcome to the usual praise, questions, suggestions, criticism, laughing outbursts...it's all good. 🤓 I filled the slots and installed a platform for the hinge. The radiator support was cut down for clearance. In order for the nose of the hood to clear the grille surround its necessary to slide the hood forward and the Desoto grille won't allow it to open a practical amount. This may be the deal breaker. The replacement just doesn't look good. I may be looking at magnets again 🥴

Oh I've gotta watch this one 🤓. I have a box like that. I guess everybody does.

I reeeeeeealy like the re-engineering you've done on the stovebolt. It looks legit. Headers are perfect and the oil filter looks like 1:1. Really nice details, Greg.

Actually, I was driving a '56 Desoto. She had a new Pinto. 🤮

1975. Yessiree! The year I made my first big mistake 👰‍♂️

But slowly, Greg. Very, very slowly. 🐌

Here's a couple of ideas in case it's not written in stone yet. I couldn't help it 🥴

The doo-doo I referred to in the previous post is evident in the photos below but I posted them to show what the final stance will look like. You can see Mr. Surfacer pooped all over the window reveals but sanding will be done later so please ignore it. The engine is what was in the kit and I don't know what it is and, truthfully, I don't care. I painted it with a brush using Tamiya gloss blue thinking it might be a Caddy but who knows. I took the liberty to assume the intake is aluminum. The carbs (which appear to be installed backward but were installed according to the instructions) have been drilled for fuel lines which are ready to go when the time comes. The generator has no visible means of support and appears to be covered with a low-buck item from the J. C. Whitney catalog ( I miss those- it was the only mail I got beck in those days 🤓.) I wonder what it would cost to have that seven blade fan polished and plated at today's prices. I forgot to paint the distributor and may do so but it's already black so....🥴 Thanks for looking and have a great hump day 🐪

Not at all, Paul, but thanks. I've been in much deeper doo-doo that this one. 💩

Thanks, David. These old kits need additional detailing just for a stock build. As a custom like this I feel like I can get away with a lot of "improvisation." 🥴 It's gotten really cold here now and I need to get some paint on the chassis to move it along and get it up on all fours but there's still plenty of body work to keep me busy.

I agree totally. Super clean build 😎

If I may suggest, David, the colors of the 1:1 that Ken posted are really nice.

Yup. I had to pin the front motor mount. It's a big help. Drilling holes in tiny mating parts is usually just guess work. You get one shot at it. You could hear me all the way up north? Sorry. 🤭

I like to use brass rod to pin stuff together and sometimes the result is less than great. Such is the case in the first photo where the exhaust manifolds line up a bit off with the exhaust pipes. This is because A) I didn't drill my pin holes precisely and I didn't drill my pin holes precisely 🥴. You all know the full length exhaust systems in these old-a$$ kits can have behavior issues and my solution is, well, brass pins. The pins help during assembly to hold the pipes to the floor. Here ☝ you see I leave the pins long which allows me to get them easily through their "recepticles". They are glued into the pipes so, after insertion through the floor, they can just be bent over to hold tight. Below is a better view of the gas tank relocation and spare well delete. You can see where I have filled unused holes with styrene rod. Also the "C" in the frame is obviously a tad over done. I may install snubbers; just in case 🙂. Above, I have the mountings for the springs in place. It ain't great but it's more than the kit provided. I have raised the rear a tiny bit to get a rake or, at least, level it up. Thats all I accomplished this weekend. Thanks for your interest (if you still have any. 🥱)

Oooooo Lenny, I dunno...🤔

You could install a set of RF suppression wires 🤓. Just carry a can of WD-40.

Crank up the jams!

Oh... Well, I did read a lot of it again (there's some funny 💩 there.) The work you did with the interior and the firewall, etc was what I thought you were referring to.

I don't recall, Len, I'll have to review it. I'm all about this sort of stuff these days. 😞

Thank you, David, I think it was extraterrestrial intervention 👽