Peter Lombardo

Very nice looking build. That blue is, in my opinion, the perfect color for just about any Corvette....I know, most guys love the yellow and black "Bad Boy" schemes, but I love those variations of the old Le Mans blue. The carbon fiber is a nice touch too. I have that kit, you are absolutely correct, the castings look great. I am planning a racing version of my ZR1 kit....a phantom GT3 car. Anyway, yours looks great just the way it is.

REAL OR MODEL.......certainly difficult to tell.....typical amazing build that you routinely turn out. I am very impressed with the look of the brushed stainless (whatever it is) bare metal. Great looking build.

Lyle, this really looks sharp. The Bic lighter gas tank is a nice touch. The wheels and tires are perfect for this one. You sure are the king of this era's rods. You nail them every time. Surely this will look great when done.

Cesar, great job so far. You sure have a knack for building these great little detail items on the car. Very impressive looking build....we can all learn a lot from your technique and super clean style. This is right up there with Romell's great work on his Chevelle.....killer build.

Very nice and clean.....and a nice color choice. I have that kit....one of these days, I want to get to it....but I can't deside what I will do with it.....I can't bring myself to build it stock. I do have one question for you though.....Why did you build it with a European license plate up front and a U.S. style plate in the back? I have seen cars purchased in various European countries, driven over there and shipped over to the U.S. where the U.S. plate is attached over the top of the Euro. plate. Just curious.

Man, that is one great looking build. Having followed it all the way through, I am really impressed with the finished product. First rate building techniques and great looking scratch-built features. That engine work alone, is a neat model in its self. You must be very proud of this one. Really exceptional.

That was a fun and informational read. It showed me that I really don't know very much about Top Fuel Drag racing. I really enjoyed it....thanks.

Yes, now I remember, how is she doing? Better I hope. Yeah, that orange would look great....go get 'em.

Well Darin, its about time you got into this one. I remember, like three years ago, when you created the master for this great looking roadster. What have you been waiting for? P.S., as for a color choice, and this is just me thinking out loud, I think a lighter color, rather than darker....I did mine in a dark color and it really doesn't "jump out" as it would if it were lighter.....just saying.

Well Marcos, the finished product sure does not disappoint. This was a beautiful build in the "on the workbench" section and it looks perfect as a finished model. Very, very impressive....the finish on this car is first rate museum quality. There are just too many great little aspects on this build to point out....really sweet!

Sorry Harry, the line is "I could NOT care less" But you read my mind with your first post...,.I immediately thought the same thing....."more money than brains" .

Curt, pretty slick. You and Raul have a neat "thing" going with the hovercrafts. The bubbletop idea is sharp, I like how the Ed Roth pieces are being used here....well thoughtout. we're watching.

I have made a little headway on the 2 seat roadster runabout, which is just a shortened version of the dual cowl art deco roadster. I have to admit, I really like the look on this little roadster. I think the proportions are working out very well. Nothing appears, at least to me, to be out of whack….I mean it just “feels†right. I opened up the wheel wells and am in the process of adding small fender flairs to the outer edge of the opening. The wheel wells are getting a rather aggressive, forward leaning opening which to my eye gives the car the look of going fast, even when standing still. Up front I added headlight pods made from aluminum tubing projecting from the inside of the front fender. I have not opened up the grille area, but I think I want something different than what I put on the 4 door version. I changed up the headlights, so I think I may go with a variation on a BMW style “kidney†shaped grille opening. I opened up the hood and fabricated the inner rim that holds the hood in the proper position when it is closed. On the 4 door, the hood is hinged up front….on this version, I think I will reverse that and open from the back. As you can see, I have sketched on the hood two possible lines where I am thinking of building some side vents. Since the 4 door has the louvers on the hood, I want something else on this car….I may even leave it plain, I am not totally sure yet. On the rear, I added a slightly different license plate housing than I did on the 4 door. I flared the sides of the recess outward at the bottom following the contour line from the inside rear fender line. Below the license plate opening will be 4 exhaust openings. I have not decided on the tail lights yet but I am leaning on the idea of MGA or Jaguar XK150 style lights. Rather then something flush, cut into the fender, I am thinking of lights in a protruding unit….I am just not sure yet. On the back, you can see where I have drawn on the rough lines of the trunk opening….on the top I am thinking about adding the 3rd stop light unit…again, we’ll see about that later. On the bottom, you can see how the slightly stretched Corvette chassis works with the body. I added about ¾ of an inch in length and added small flair pieces behind the front wheel and in front of the rear wheel. I have a neat looking laid back windshield from an old Prowler Promo snap together. With a little work it could fit real nice and look rather “racyâ€. The engine and running gear are all coming from the 1998 Corvette C5 that is the donor car for this build. Interior seats and trim, along with the wheels and tires will be going on this one. I will be adding that same ¾ of an inch to the drive shaft too. The color that I am leaning heavily toward now is a medium slate green pearl for the lower body and a cream, over coated with a very light dusting of light green pearl to warm up the cream and make it work better with the slate green bottom. I am really enjoying this. I see a blend of British sports car design of the late 50’s and rounded flowing art deco lines from the 20’s and 30’s coming together in this along with modern running gear to make it sporting, fast and reliable, if it were real……it should be real…..I think this would make a great weekend ride. Well, that’s it for now….the wife and I are headed for beautiful sunny Naples Florida in a few days for a week of rest, golf and catching up with a few friends…..I can’t wait…man I love Naples!

Yeah Chas, I am aware of the fact that the cars are contracted out....but all I really want to do is talk with Terry as we seem to have the same taste in retro art deco vehicles. Also, it's not like he's in Outer Mongolia, he's a half hour away. Next time I am out to one of my clients in that general direction I will stop in and and try a hit or miss if he is there or not. Got nothing to lose but a few minutes.

Well I hope you enjoy Virginia.....but you will have a few months before the "beach" thing will work for you. Have fun.

Once again, I have to commend you on a great job of a kit that, well, let's just say....leaves a lot to be desired. I have that kit and would never ever attempt to build it as Lindberg intended. Very nice job, it looks really progressive, for it's age, in that futuristic setting.

Romell, I am sure glad I could help.....get crazy and have some fun with it.

Here is he section of the dialog that mentions the dash board..... As for the wood, I searched the internet for mini, micro veneer wood. I found plenty of suppliers but none willing to sell small amounts to us stupid hobbyists. Fine. I am almost ashamed to say what I ended up doing because it was so easy. I took some balsa wood and cut it down to small thin pieces. I sanded it smooth and stained it and then applied 5 coats of clear lacquer. The first few coats of clear get absorbed into the wood so you need to apply many. The gauges are from one of the photo etch guys, I can’t remember who now. I figured the rear passengers may want to know the speed and vital engine signs so they got a few gauges back there too. I omitted a radio, but we all know there would be one in there somewhere if this was the real deal. Thanks!

This too is very well done. I see a pattern here.

That is really nice...very clean build. I have that kit....one of these days I may get to it, but in the mean time I'll just look at yours....very nice, you know, that move sure had a huge influence on that kit, I'll bet that 95% of all builds of that car are red. I promise, if and when I do mine, it will not be red.

Sir, you have done a masterful job on this so far (I full expect it to continue) The interior is just a thing of beauty...so clean and precise, it makes you look twice to be sure it is a model, and the paint finish is superb....perfect. Really nice, man.

To all of the kind words and wonderful response, thank you, I really appreciate them, thanks my brothers.

Thanks Harry, I sure wish I could, but there is a guy about 20 minutes from my home who is doing it and in a great way. Take a look here. http://decorides.com/future.htm I need to stop in there one of these days and see it first hand. This is the same guy who puts on the Lead East show here every Labor Day weekend...35 Doo-wop groups and 1,800 hot rods and customs, it is a fun time remembering the 50's. P.S.....I found this web site after I designed my cars.....looks like we (him and I) are thinking along the same lines.

This is a beautiful build of a very difficult kit. Just stunning. I am very impressed.

Thanks Curt....you know, I look at just about all of my kits, these days, as possible "donor" kits for a new body. Right now the only two kits I have that are "safe", are the ZR1 Corvette and one of the Ford GT's I have as they will be GT3 cars....but beyond that, all of the kits are game as as donors. I have to tell you, this is so much fun making my own designs come to life.