smellyfatdude

The lhs here finally got the new Revell ' 57 Bel Air ragtop.

I do see one serious flaw, and that's you simply didn't post enough pictures! Otherwise, it's perfect!

Yes, you're right. That's exactly what looking at this beautiful Caddy was like, that day I took the pictures. Not only did it smell like a brand new car inside, but what really got me was the original dealer sticker on the back. Ted Henson Pontiac ceased operations many, many years ago. While they were in business, they were located at the bottom of the Broadway bridge, here in Saskatoon. I can't count how many times when I was a child, we would drive right by the dealership at night, when the showroom lights were on and I would gawk at all the beautiful Caddys and Buicks in the showroom window. The owner, incidentally, was offered $55,000 for this car about four years ago. He turned it down.

I had only just found out that a co-worker of mine owned this vehicle, and some of the history behind it, when Modelhaus a short time later released their kit of the same car. The mileage you see is original, 00095. To make a long story short, this car was driven on the street exactly once, the day it was purchased. It's been garaged it's entire life, and even though I haven't gotten around to snagging the kit yet, I fully intend to. I did manage to get my friend to let me photograph it, last spring. A car this original, as in totally original, is for certain an excellent source of reference for someone restoring one, or for builders. Here's a link to the Photobucket album. http://s983.photobucket.com/user/smellyfatdude/library/#/user/smellyfatdude/library/1976%20Cadillac%20Coupe%20de%20Ville?sort=3&page=1&_suid=1408034593031048970879239454123

Nice! Do you have any engine pictures?

Thomas, I used both Duplicolor grey primer and sealer, as I always do. I felt like I was taking enough of a gamble with the paint, and wasn't about to test Krylon's "theory" that you don't need to use primer.

You're right, Wayne. That is indeed two inch masking tape, burnished down and trimmed, then painted with a few light coats of Duplicolor black primer. Tulio, the car I'm trying to replicate did indeed have a gold interior!

Here's the paint I used. I wasn't expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised at how smooth it went on. Beautiful stuff!

I decided to do another Galaxie, and since I wanted to do a ' 65 to replicate the car of a fella I used to work with, I figured there's no time like the present. His car was not an XL, but it was gold with a black vinyl roof. So even though I'm doing this box stock, I'm going to use the same color scheme. Here's the body with the paint and clear on it, as well as the vinyl roof, added today. More to come!

I picked up another Stude Avanti re-issue yesterday from my lhs, since I'd swiped the Halibrand mags from the first one I bought. And I bought this online, the Missing Link ' 66 Galaxie ragtop.

Thanks for reposting this one!

Another gorgeous looking Ford! Btw, did you repost the ' 62 Sunliner you built? I know the pictures in your original post are MIA.

Beautiful! My late uncle had a ' 64 Plymouth sedan, and I've always had a soft spot for these cars. Yours is spectacular!

Thanks, guys. I definitely see an improvement. In fact if we get some sun tomorrow, I might just bring my ' 62 Sunliner outside and grab a few shots. I'd like to see it on the white background, as well. As for indoors, I have such a light just as you described, TooOld. It's not only my worklight, but I use it for indoor photography as well. It's still too dark in here, regardless of where in the house I shoot to get a decent shot, unless I use the flash. I still prefer outdoor lighting, and even when I took pics on the hood of the car, if the sun was in just the right spot, the lighting was absolutely perfect. Right now, I'm painting the hood of my ' 65 Galaxie re-issue. Found a gold that looks like a factory match!

Okay, well as per some people suggested, I shot some photos using a piece of poster board as a background. In fact Harry, cheapskate me actually spent five whole bucks on the thickest one they had. Turned out to be a smart choice though, 'cause when it's taped in place it can actually support the model, giving me more surface to snap the pics on. This wouldn't work too well if I decide to build a semi, and heaven knows it's not gonna work in winter when it's thirty below and tape doesn't stick to anything. But it's definitely workable this time of year. Even with overcast skies, I think these pictures came out alright. I'd like to try it with a little more sunlight, but I don't we're gonna see the yellow ball today.

Thanks Steve, I'm glad you understand. I do have a Fujimi 1/24 garage and tool set. I need to build it, and put it on a simple diorama base. One that is "trash can friendly". Ha, been there and done that. There's a tennis court across my back lane. I get a few amused looks sometimes, while I'm outside taking photos of my own toys. But then when it's time to shoot some Tamiya paint on something, I go right to the back of the yard where I'm obscured from view by the hedges. If the wind happens to be blowing that way, I'll sometimes hear a voice through the leaves, "My God, wtf is that smell!?" It's then that I truly become smellyfatdude. Glad you liked my Galaxie!

A lot of people have asked that, and the answer is pretty simple. I prefer outdoor lighting to take pictures of stuff I build. The lighting here inside is pretty pathetic, and by the time I would get something set up with the proper background and the additional lighting that would be required, it's easier and quicker to just take the model outside. As for outdoor shots, I'm unfortunately limited as to what I can use. Very limited, I'm afraid. First off, I'm a renter, not a homeowner. There's no point in me having something like a patio table sitting outside in the yard, simply because I do not own the yard, and might end up living somewhere else where I have no use for something like that. This also isn't a great neighborhood. If you do have something in your yard, it better be bolted down. I'm pretty sure the neighbors nearby who've had their propane barbecues stolen would probably concur. While there is some flat concrete on the side of the house, I'm afraid the vascular degeneration in my lower legs would make it impossible for me to get up from the position I'd need to get down in to to photograph something that's on the ground. Anyone else who's also had blood clots in their legs will know exactly what I'm talking about. I used to set stuff on the hood of my car to get a little backdrop variety, but now that I've acquired a van with a hood that sits at a forty degree angle, that choice up and disappeared. My two trusty cans are at least on wheels, so if the lighting isn't quite right in one part of the yard, I can move them around pretty easily to where the lighting is better. Whether it's building my favorite subjects, or taking pictures of them, I just gotta get by with what I have.

Gotta love the trash guy. He finally does our side of the street, three hours after he'd done the other side.

Put together the last of the bits about an hour ago. Can you see what they forgot to mold on the convertible front bumper? Ha, I didn't even realize it until I went to screw the whole thing together. Ah well, I'm leaving the bumper on. We'll just pretend cars don't always have those lights. And look, I didn't even leave the mirror police anything to do. Thanks to everyone who read and commented in the w.i.p. thread. Oh, and sorry 'bout there being only one trash can. It's garbage day, and blackie's at the curb! And a few more.

The rad is in, the fender spears are on, the windshield is glued in place (where it's learning to become close friends with the windshield frame), and the rear view mirror is in place. I'm going to let that sit with the pins on for about five to six hours, while I saw some logs. Then I'll get up this evening and proceed to finish this one.

I managed to get black wash added to the wheels today, as well as touching up and foiling the interior. All that's left to do yet is the dash. I should be screwing this one up, literally, in a day or two.

That is absolutely beautiful, peekay! I've been eyeing a few of these that are being offered on ePay, might just have to get one now. Yours is the perfect color!

Slow progress is better than no progress, so I'll settle for snail mode. The engine and chassis are now inseperable friends, and I also added the flocking, a.k.a. embossing powder. Turns out I had some Pacific Blue in a jar, so that made a color match pretty simple. The rest of the interior work will be foiling and painting, but at least once the wheels are detailed, the bottom half will be done.