Peter Lombardo

Thanks for the heads up on the building quirks. I would never have looked at this kit, but seeing yours, I think I will give it a try. Nice build, very clean, I remember you were not sure about the wheel choice on an earlier post. You did the right thing by going with your gut feelings. They look good, and you did it your way which is best way to handle that. Very nice, I like the yellow paint....simple but effective.

Harry, you have way too much free time on your hands. That "Studebang" is way over the top, but I do find the Chrysler 300/DeSoto an interesting idea. Headlights look a little odd, but I was thinking about something along these lines...how would a Chrysler 300 look if done as a '49 Mercury style leadsled? I think not too far from the front design of your car. Maybe....Maybe not.

I am not into motorcycles, real or models, but that is one beautiful build so far. I really like the flames...nice color choices.

OK, I'll give it a go. I am Pete Lombardo, 58 years old, feel like 25, thank God. Married to a great woman who tolerates me and have a married daughter and an engaged son and I am a co-owner of an advertising agency here in New Jersey . Started building when I was 10 or so, lost interest when I discovered real cars, girls and the related activities, (wink,wink, nod, nod). After school and a stint in the US Navy, started back into modeling with the Tamiya 1/12 F1's and Porsche kits. Gave those away (I was such a jerk) when we moved from our first house as I was then into HO Trains and building layouts. In 1990, sold off the HO stuff and jumped back into model cars. Started doing racing stuff only, as I said before, I was a Tamiya snob. About 2000, I started doing street and custom cars as I was getting tired of building exact replicas of race cars. I wanted to paint cars the colors I wanted to, so I changed direction. I like doing a wide variety of subjects but especially like cars that are a little different. I am basically fearless. I will try building and opening anything.... if you don't try, you never know if you can do it. I trust my experience. My other hobbies are drawing (pen and ink), oil painting, totally addicted to golf (low single digit handicap) and working on my MG's (have a beautifully restored 1960 MGA (1976 MGB engine and tranny) in BRG and currently rebuilding a 1977 MGB in pearl maroon w/tan interior and chrome bumpers) (will look great when done) and of course I talk way too much, as I can go on all day....sorry, I need a time out here.

I found some "folders" in Michaels and AC Moore that worked great. They had blue, green and purple ones. They are about 10 by 12 inches and very easy to cut and realistic looking because they are so thin. These were, I think, called "craft binders" and I think they were arounf $1.79 each. Happy hunting.

The build is really nice, but that picture of the box brought back so many memories I can't begin to explain. As a kid, I would rush to the hobby shop to pour through those 3 in 1 AMT boxes. Every penny of my meager allowance went into the purchase of the kits. I wish my mom hadn't trashed them. Well, I have the memories, and every now and again I see the old kits and I'm taken back to a simpler time and a happier place. Thanks for posting it and of course the car.

Why not?? Surely there are readers of the magazine who are not aware of the forum. This may get them interested and as they say, "the more the merrier".

Nice job, very clean....I really like the "junk" in the interior, with the laptop looking really nice. Now, just add some used White castle bags and cardboard burger holders behind the drivers seat and it is there. Seriously, nice build.

Ok, this is what I got started with when I returned to car modeling. When I got back into modeling cars, after an extended vacation in HO train land, I was into race cars. First up is a Chaparral 2. This started life as one of the worst kits I that I ever purchased. I believe it was an LS Models from Japan. I think it was the anti-Tamiya company. I had to redo just about every panel on the car to at least get it close to the actual car. I made the louvers from bits of stock, formed the top windshield in front of the driver. I made the engine from R & D Unique engine castings. The transmission was scratch built. Actually, come to think of it, the wheels in the kit were pretty good, oh yeah, they were supplied by "Modelers", so that explains that. The second car here is a Ferrari 512m that was very heavily modified to represent the Penske version. Fred Cady decals and a stolen engine from a Union Models Ferrari added the power. The next car is a Accurate Miniatures Grand Sport that I converted to a roadster after seeing a story on that car in Road and Track a number of years ago. Hand formed roll bar and the headrest started life as a Bic pen top. I learned a very important lesson on this car as I used "regular" putty to fill in the rear deck. I had it perfect, applied a beautiful blue paint job, topped with candy blue and clear coat, decals applied and then a few weeks later, the putty shrank and I was left with a nice trough forever. Now, my best friend is Bondo, and Tamiya putty is only used for very small finishing jobs. Next up is the Ford GT roadster that Miles/Ruby drove to victory at Sebring in 1966. I custom formed the windshield and rebuilt the rear spoiler. Last up is the 1991 Jordan 191 as it appeared at it's debut for the press. I always liked the way it looked in all carbon fiber with the gold Jordan name logos. I completely covered the car in carbon fiber decals. Ok thats it, thought it might be a little different to look at a few racing cars. Thanks for indulging me.

It is kind of a shame that you posted that great build here. It would have been perfect for Harry's "real or model" quiz. Dare I say, it is a very convincing build that would have most guessing "real" and not memorx. Nicely done.

Great job so far. I am looking forward to seeing this one done. I built a Revell funny car about two years ago and decided that it was not really my cup of tea. You really gotta love, decals, small photo etched stuff, the smell of super glue and a lot of time on your hands and knees looking for the stupid little parts that always find a way to fall on the floor no matter how hard you try and keep them on the workbench. Anyway, nice job...keep it up.

Thanks a million guys, I really do appreciate the kind words. Like I have said before, I build them for me, but I sure enjoy it when you guys "get it" and you understand the time and effort that goes into the projects. I like building something that is a little different, something that isn't readily available, I keep trying to push myself to take on something more challenging. I kind of like to keep three or four projects going all the time, a long term difficult build and one simple build and one or two medium builds. This way I can trade off as my mood changes, always keep them fresh in my mind and not get board or bogged down too badly. This project sat for a few years. Every so often I would pick it up and begin to work on the area that was giving me problems then one day the solution hit me, I made a change in technique and there it was...fixed. Crazy the way it works. To anwser your question Mike, the chassis came from the Lindberg kit and I think you are right Zoom, the Mercury Super Marauder has all of the same features (headrest pods, side exhaust outlets, and no top) as the Charger. They are SO VERY much "period" style concepts. Now please finish your Mercury. I think that car will look great. My next long term project is going to be another concept car...this time a Ford. Again, thanks guys.

Beautiful build. I saw your explaination of thr wire wheel construction technique you created before, just perfect. Obviously, the wire wheels make this unique model stand out. Over all it is nicely excuted. Owning two MG's myself, I am really into the cars and have viewed many TC's, TD's. TF's and A and B's, the point being, you nailed the look. Like someone else mentioned, I can smell the oil and gas on this one all the way over here.

Great paint, smooth as a baby's bottom. I wish I had the patience to get my paint that smooth. I am always in a rush to finish, (Yes, it is a personal problem)

Beautiful job....the paint looks great. When I got back into car modeling, after a 10 year side trip to HO train land, I built only race cars. I was a Tamiya snob. I built many of the 1/20 F1's and Group C cars. I still have a weak spot for race cars in my heart and after seeing this one, I might just have to do a few more. I also struggled with whether to clear coat the decals or not. I see both sides of the story, more often then not, I also clear coated them with the logic being that they were better protected under the clear, less chance of coming up on the edges over time. Anyway, nice job on a tricky paint scheme.

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Completed yesterday, I just finished the detailing. This is the 1964 Dodge Charger Concept Car. This is the car that just sold for $1,000,000.00 at auction. I have enclosed pictures of the real car along with my model of it. Sorry if it is a long post, but I think it is an interesting car that is just getting some press. As stated earlier, this started as a Lindberg '64 Dodge 330 drag car. I cut off the top and used part of it for the roll bar. The headrests were made from scratch with the cushions made with many small bits of masking tape covered with super glue and then paint. The engine is from the Lindberg Dodge Hemi with a parts box carb. and and an air filter from a 1970 Super Bee and detailed with various wire. The interior tuck and roll was made from half round plastic stock. I borrowed two tail lights from another Lindberg kit to complete the 6 tail light configuration of the Charger. I cut down a spot light and reshaped it for the tach and the rear view mirror came from the parts box. The hood scoop was the "twin" hemi style from the Dodge 330 but I filled the center as per the actual car. The wheels came from the Revell 1931 sedan, and the whitewalls are vinyl stick ons. The wheel spinners are from the Revell 1932 Highboy kit. Paint is Mopar Radiant Red with White twin strips. The grill id custom made from strip stock with a photo etched grill. The side exhaust outlets a made from ten small pieces each. The openings are surrounded with 1/4 round stock. Lastly, the bumperetts are small cut stock and the front and rear roll pans came from...Front, 1959 Chevy and rear is the Dodge chrome bumper ground down and filled with putty. I started this build in early 2005, so it took a little time to finally finish, (frustrations with the rear deck bodywork) but I am glad it is done. As usual, comments up or down always welcome.

Nice ride. My daughter-in-laws family has a Toyota franchise in PA. Point is, these FJ's do very well, and there seem to be no particular problems with that vehicle (Dah, Toyota!) anyway, drive it in good health.

Obviously, that is a beautiful build there. The color choice is great and the detailing is perfect. The little detail that does it for me is the wire lead into the headlight. That is a detail that is often overlooked but adds a lot to the overall illusion of realism. Nice job. I have a couple of extra Orange Crate models that I bought with the intention of building a few sedans on the Revell 32 chassis. I also bought on of the R & M of Maryland modified Orange Crate bodies to use also, just haven't found the time, but seeing how great yours looks, I am getting the feeling again.

Ok Red, there is a lot of ground to cover, but we'll look at the short version. I go back to the days of raiding my mothers sewing box for thread, and thinking it was really cool to add ignition wires. Today, some of these builders here go down to each nut and bolt on the car. huge growth in detail over the past thirty years. And best of all, it is not beyond your or anyones reach today. First, find the nearest Radio Shack and get some wraping wire coils. They have white, red and bright blue at my local store. It is very cheap, as one roll will last at least a year, unless you use it to tie down your cat. They also have thin metal wraping wire that is great for fuel lines. Now, you can paint, with markers, the wire to change to color, so there is no limit to the rainbow of colors you can use. If you buy these wires in the hobby store you will pay 10 times the amount, so go to Radio Shack first. I would take a little time to go to a craft store like A.C. Moore or Michaels and just walk up and down the aisles and look at EVERYTHING with an eye to how that will work on a model. There are so many items, that are really cheap, that will work as wires, hoses, grills, hinges, interior fabric, the list is almost endless. Over the years, many of the modeling publications have presented "How to" articles on wiring every aspect of a model car or truck. Go to a local model swap meet, most likely there will be someone selling old magazines. See what you can find. I would go to any model show I could find, look at the cars, talk to the builders, they will be happy to tell and show everything they did and where they got the material for it. If none of this works, go on line. If you can't find it on the internet, you are blind or it does not exist. Spend a little time studying real car books and magazines. They are an invaluable source of detailing information. Check out the hobby vendors, they stock every kind of building supply you can think of, paint, wire, metal brading, photoetched parts, you name it, you can find it. Just google it, you will find it. And lastly, look at what the builders on the forum that are posting here. Dare I say that you will see the BEST modeling and technique available anywhere right here. The builders who post here are crazy good. They are always willing to share how they did something. Look, listen and you will learn. And lastly, just do it. Don't be afraid that you can't do it. You can, just try, it will get better the next time if the first was less then you wanted. I always try something new, so that the next time it will be easier. Enjoy.

Guy's that is the best laugh I have had in days. I love it! Looked at the picture of that great rod, thought to myslef, "I've seen that car before" but I read the "rules" and kept the thought to myself. Then the first post blew your cover. I really enjoyed it, but I think it points to the real problem here. Most of us guys are real "car guy's". I am constantly looking around at ALL cars and ALL car publications. I model cars because I am really into cars and have a limited budget on what I can spend on real ones, but not so with model cars. So, my point is, as "car guys"it will be hard to find pictures of cars that we haven't seen before. I get most of my ideas for features on my models from the real life gems produced by the great builders of the day (actually past and present builders) So, I think it is a great idea to try this "Real or Model" poll, I think most of us will have seen the subject before, and that will spoil the fun of it. But then again, what the h*ll do I know?

Tom, very nice clean car there. I really like your choice of color, wheels and disk brakes. I see your hood fits fine, which I had a tough time with on my build of that car. Good job. One small thing though, consider the placement of the brake calibers as they are in the wrong spots, (I think). Did you secure them or are they free to rotate? Looking at the two shots of the rear wheels, each side of the car, the calibers are in different positions. Minor point on a very well done build.