
FloridaBoy
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What made you return to building?
FloridaBoy replied to Uncle Mike's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
I'm an old guy building since the fifties, and my heart is always into model car building, but just like others, obstacles get in the way, which curtail or delay your model car activities. I have been through major moves, sports, local moves, two marriages, the industry went kaput, and my model building went out of style, and here I am 61 years old and still building. It seems the major obstacle is effort. When I move, the kits and tools and cars get packed in boxes, the new place I move to just doesn't have a place set aside, and in Florida, there are always other things to do, and down here, even jobs make demands on your time to prevent building. But the deep feeling in the gut and heart prevails. In 1982, I had already given up model car building since 1970 as in the area no more car contests, my street rods were going into a direction I didn't like, and customs were out of style. AMT was making weird cars and I lost interest, thinking it was all gone, and thanking God that I was part of the golden age. But a trip to a Ben Franklin 5&10 one afternoon, there were "new" ERTL AMT kits all over the shelves - '40 Ford Coupe, '49 Ford Coupe, '49 Merc, Willys kit and on and on. I immediately bought up a whole bunch at $5 each, and took them home, and got out my old unbuilt kits, then built a workbench, got out the tools and joined IPMS. I was back, and even though my marriage failed and I have moved several times since, all moves of model cars stuff were "in car moves" and not in boxes. Today, I live in a retirement community in a double wide, and my spare bedroom is a workshop heaven I always dreamed of. I always have a bunch of projects going, and staring new projects, and will be entering a contest this November. What brought me back is my ongoing love for the hobby, memories of happy days in long and recent past, and inspirations from Chip Foose, Overhaulin', Street Csutom, Unique Whips, Hot Rod TV, and even tapes of American Hot Rod. Now the Barrett Jackson east coast auction is scheduled for West Palm (23 miles up the coast) and I am ready to be super inspired beyond my normal level. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman -
did they ever make
FloridaBoy replied to evilone's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
I thought the Cameo was the upgraded pickup truck, with a luxury interior, lots of chrome, whitewalls, full hubcaps, and color sidetrim, and their own model nameplates. When I was very young, my grandmother owned a block of homes and businesses downtown Sharpsville, PA right next door to a Chevy dealer. When the new models were brought in, the dealer hid them all over including my grandmother's storage garage, which got a Cameo and Sharpsville's first Vette. A month before the showroom opening, which was a big deal in those days, I charged my second grade classmates a nickel to see the new Chevy pickup and vette before anyone else. I made a killing, and was living the good life - lol - when I got busted. When I see the Cameo, I still get chills up my arms remembering walking into the dealership owner to apologize for what I did. I must have been grounded forever, but I didn't get a spanking, as my dad felt at least I showed some enterprise. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman -
I am 61 years young, building since I was 5, working on dealer promo AMT kits of the early fifties. I can remember putting masking tape fender skirts at age 6 with my Uncle Bob on a dark turquoise acetate dealer promo 51 Pontiac 4 door Chief sedan. We even got real brave and make mud flaps, took my grandma's hat pins and made antennas and we were hot. We also learned to remove the friction motors, and turn the frames upside down to lower the stance. I have been building on and off but my last revitalization came after a sports injury in 84 and when gimping around at a Ben Franklin, I saw the "new" AMT Ertl trophy series kits I thought I would never see again. I bought and bought, joined the IPMS and built again. I was labeled a "sixties era builder" with my construction and design approaches. Here it is 20 years later, and I am still building new stuff, but my old body work on my forty fords and 49 mercs were just fine, so they are getting a refurbishment of today's stuff. Thank God I am retired and have the time. I only display my cars at local contests, along with my old Pactra Revell trophies to educate and reach out to the future of our hobby, youths, and middle aged guys looking for something to create with their hands, and hope there is a Chip Foose in the bunch. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
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Bob Paeth passes.
FloridaBoy replied to Jim Keeler model cars's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
I just got the news, and it seems like all of the heroes I have in this hobby are now leaving their legacy and I feel grieved for their loss. I entered all Revell Pactra contests and won a couple of nice awards way back then, and that is when I became aware of who Bob was. I have seen his work, and we should all take a moment or way more to reflect as to what this hobby is, and how much richer and better it is for now because he was around, and integral. My condolences to the Paeth family, and to his friends, and surely hope his work ends up at the National Model Car Museum. I plan to go there and spend a day just to relive the great memories of then, and to refresh my enthusiasm now. My next model car which will be my best, hopefully will be dedicated to his memory and even more importantly his legacy. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman -
Chris, Before you totally write off Testor's Paint, you might want to try this. I did with tremendous results. I first always prime the car no matter if I modified it or did any body work to it at all. It evens the paint. Second, even if the paint is a gloss color, I paint it completely and let it dry and set it for at least a week. Then I wash the car off to make sure it doesn;t gathter any lint, and with a very very fine piece of 2000-3000 grit sandpaper, I give the car a going over, and take the shine off the entire paint job. Again, wash the car and wait for it to dry. Then take Testors Clear - use matching paint lacquer over lacquer, enamel over enamel. Then start with some very thin dusty coats of clear, then apply another coat in 20-30 minutes, and keep it up until you are satisfied with the finish, and let stand to dry. You won't believe the finish by now. Then the fun starts. I purchased at a Local Hobby Shop a Detail Masters polishing kit for under 10 bucks, which will last virtually a lifetime of paint jobs. Read the instructions but basically it means to start with a 4000 grit, then to an 8000 grit, and sand in opposing directions lightly for each paper. Then finish it off with 12000 grit and you will be amazed, and it was Testors from the can. I have had so many guys at shows asking what type of airbrush I use, and no one believes me. My philosophy is that if a model takes a few weeks to model and assemble, paint is so important that I take a week just to finish a model, and I love every step, as you can see the shine come from within. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
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Chris, Before you totally write off Testor's Paint, you might want to try this. I did with tremendous results. I first always prime the car no matter if I modified it or did any body work to it at all. It evens the paint. Second, even if the paint is a gloss color, I paint it completely and let it dry and set it for at least a week. Then I wash the car off to make sure it doesn;t gathter any lint, and with a very very fine piece of 2000-3000 grit sandpaper, I give the car a going over, and take the shine off the entire paint job. Again, wash the car and wait for it to dry. Then take Testors Clear - use matching paint lacquer over lacquer, enamel over enamel. Then start with some very thin dusty coats of clear, then apply another coat in 20-30 minutes, and keep it up until you are satisfied with the finish, and let stand to dry. You won't believe the finish by now. Then the fun starts. I purchased at a Local Hobby Shop a Detail Masters polishing kit for under 10 bucks, which will last virtually a lifetime of paint jobs. Read the instructions but basically it means to start with a 4000 grit, then to an 8000 grit, and sand in opposing directions lightly for each paper. Then finish it off with 12000 grit and you will be amazed, and it was Testors from the can. I have had so many guys at shows asking what type of airbrush I use, and no one believes me. My philosophy is that if a model takes a few weeks to model and assemble, paint is so important that I take a week just to finish a model, and I love every step, as you can see the shine come from within. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
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Should I quit modeling?
FloridaBoy replied to ericmaxman's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
eric, I am 61 and have been building since I was 5, starting to modify 1/25 scale AMT dealer promos long before kits. I have ranged from major fanatic to looking at it as a way to pass time, and I have been active in many sports, tournament tennis, model railroading, sailboat racing, surfing, softball, and tending to my two children, but I always come back to my roots, and right now I am building at my own pace. First, I have learned that model car building is a great way to spend time, creative, learning to use tools, think things out, resolve problems, tend to details, read history and research, and on and on. But look at it from a mother's perspective or a wife's perspective - they are the queens of their nest, and model cars if out of hand are messy, smelly, intrusive, and often venture out of the workbench area. That is a threat to her area, particularly if she is into neatness. I have been lucky in my marriages to have a garage with a nice workshop. There also is something in your post that it seems to be more than model cars and inside pastimes, but that is something you and your dad will have to work out with your mom. I now live alone, and every couple of weeks, I clean off my workbench, just to organize projects, and keep the parts and tools where I can reach them, and put old projects back into the closet, and that may be a solution. Also, winter and fall are approaching, meaning shorter days, and less time outdoors, so this problem may resolve itself. I would suggest you talk to your Mom without rancor or anger, and just tell her that you need to do something with your hands during idle hours after homework, and model cars is a creative outlet. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman -
Kidney Stones
FloridaBoy replied to Frank Steffens's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
Frank, I have only had one incident with stones, and when I passed them they were extremely tiny, compared to anyone else's on this thread I am sure, but I thought I was going to die, too!!!!! So, I feel for ya, guy. Isn't there a treatment in which you submerge in a tank of water up to your chest, and they shoot some type of laser or xray through and it decomposes them? Hang in there, Frank. There is a lot of empathy out there for you. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman -
Thanks for tolerating my rather long story in the thread below. It stimulated a what I consider a humorous story which sort of defined me as a "car guy" at the age of 7. I mentioned that our family lived in a compound in downtown Sharpsville, Pa, right next to the Snyder & Freeman Chevrolet dealership. Since we were a "Mayberry" type small town, my grandma would sit on the swing in her back yard, and the employees of the dealer, along with townspeople and family members would congregate when the weather was permissable. My grandma was sort of the "Aunt Bee" of Sharpsville, PA back then.....she rocked!!! She watched me while my parents were building up the family business in the compound, my dad's construction business, and while I saw a lot of mom and dad, it was grandma who tended to me during the day, and back then you could wander. I did, along with my Uncle Bob, five years older. In '55, I was 7, and we snuck into the family compound garage where cars, and items were stored, and saw the new line of '56 Chevies. Not only were there the great stovebolt couples and sedans, but Cameo pickups, and Sharpsivlle's first allocated Corvette. I couldn't let that opportunity alone!!!! I would sneak in every day just to smell the fibreglass resin, and the new smell of this wild looking new car. Back then new car debut dates were big news in almost any town, drawing pre-TV crowds to each dealership to see the new model year cars unwrapped....great secrecy was maintained by every dealership to conceal every car. Not for Ken. I charged every kid in my 2nd grade class a nickel for a sneak in and peek at the new cars. Well, when the time came, the excitement level was way down, as kids had already told the parents where the cars were, and parents sneaked peek in holes and cracks in the garage walls. Needless to say, I got righteously busted. And to make matters worse, Mr. Snyder, one of the owners, was our neighbor and "stopped by" to have a talk with mom and dad, and scare the pants out of me. I didn't get spanked, but I did get grounded, and when I realized what I did, I took it upon myself to go to Mr. Snyder and apologize. He was quick to forgive, and I got my first Cameo Pickup model as a nice gesture and acceptance of my act. I think my grandma used up some chips to go lenient on me....they knew I learned my lesson. The real guy perturbed was that my bust also busted my Uncle Bob, who was charing High School students a quarter!!!! I lost Uncle Bob a couple of years ago, and he was a car guy, too, as a Service Manager to the Dodge dealership in Sharon Pa. I miss you Bob, every time I work on a car, I think of those times we spent in the old days taping the real wheels and dolling the cars up. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
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Hey guys, great thread!!!! I love threads like these!!! Almost as much as work in progress or finished work!!! I am 61 and still building actively and privately, not participating in any clubs, contests or events. My modeling and styling is probably dated, and I am still building stuff in my head since I was a teenager. I like to section, chop tops, channel, open and hinge doors and trunks, make sunroofs, restyle fronts and rears, radius wheels and on and on. I also build period funny cars and street rods, and just now dabbling into rat rods. My modeling started way back before hobby shops in the early fifties when the AMT 1/25 scale cars were obtained through real car dealerships. If you bought a new car, you got an acetate model made by AMT. My uncle Bob and I grew up in western PA, where hot rodding was inspired by Black '48 Ford Coupes with fox tails, blue lens taillights, skirts and moons. Since we lived in Sharpsville, PA, we scored a lot of models as we were right next door to the Chevy dealer downtown, and would be given the 'excess" of model year demo's when new cars came out. We used to take masking tape and make skirts, use metal buttons and make moons, stick pins to make aerials, and heck, one time I even painted a roof to a 55 Buick with my grandma's fingernail polish. I was two years into coloring books and here I am two-toning model cars with paint LOL. Then a Lobaugh's opened up, and I was into trains and cars, and they were sort of an appliance dealer and hobby shop, so I always pressured my dad and mom to go there. My dad used to be a plumbing contractor, and purchase a lot of washing machines for the homes he built, so again, I scored a lot of freebie model cars. Then the move to Florida in '55-'56, and my hobby pursuits were dormant for awhile. In '57, I went with mom to Sears Ft. Lauderdale and saw the original '58 AMT 3in1's and I was blown away!!!! A total aisle of them!!! I must have mowed half of Ft Lauderdale's yards to spend $1.39 plus tax ($1.42) and got every different one....wish I still had them now. Now comes the hobby shop.........we moved to a larger home in west Ft. Lauderdale, and back then I got around on my bike. Within biking distance, three hobby shops on three corners of our busiest intersection, but one stood out. Cap'n Jacks, a classic hobby shop with models, planes hanging from the ceiling, smell of solvent in the air, and the friendliest Mom and Pop owners. I was a nice kid, and with my mowing, I always spent money on model cars, glue, and stuff. The frindship was that they would "save" new models for me because they knew it was a sure sale, and call my mom or dad on the phone to let me know they were in. They sold out everything for a couple of years, and in 61 formed the Griffins Model Car Club, and we were sponsored by a 1:1 hot rod club. We had weekly contests, because we spent considerably less time to build a car back then. That is where I became a model car builder, making modifications, using Pactra Paint, kitbashing and even filling some gaps here and there. I learned a lot. Every three months we would have a trophy award contest, and that is where I won my first trophies. I also won 2 of my 3 Pactra trophies at that store, and the owners loaded me down with free kits, because I made the Ft Lauderdale news and gave them publicity. I have been to a lot of hobby stores in the years since, many good and some bad, and I tend to adopt a particular hobby store of choice. I hate to see some of them down here go out of business, as I consider the hobby shop a crucial part of our cultural heritage and legacy. It is a privilege that I have seen and participated in the entire history of our hobby evolve through the years. Even my old model car club considered me sort of a "legend" of sorts, not by talent but just because I was old enough to be there. Again, LOL. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
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Your favourite Box art
FloridaBoy replied to HotRodaSaurus's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
I am an "oldie goldie" so some of my favorite box art is very old, and probably sentimental. So, from an old guy............... Revell '32 Ford 3-Window Revell '40 Ford Convertible Pro Modeler Revell '40 Ford Standard Coupe Street Rod "Hot Rod" Magazine Series AMT Original Issue circa 1960 '40 Ford Coupe (blue street rod coupe with flames) AMT Original Issue circa 1961 '40 Ford Sedan AMT "Street Rods" Series '40 Ford Coupe (green coupe on top - great angle) Johan 1971 issue of Mickey Thompson "Titanium Pinto" (purple box) - one of best funny car kits ever!!! AMT most recent issue of 1950 Ford Convertible Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman -
I paid a couple of years ago $40 for a built original AMT 3in1 1959 Ford 2 dr Hardtop, and it wasn't in the box. I looked at the 59 Sunliner by Revell, but I didn't like the convertible/hardtop roof, so I just decided to get patient and wait for the '59. When I found it, I bartered a little down but not much, as I am sure the seller could sense my immediate need. It was built like we built our first kits back then. No paint, lots of decals, glued on louvres, skirts, continental kit, and numbers on the sides with moons. The back story was that I had an old Craftsman Series 59 Ford which I sectioned, made a custom grille and headlights and taillights, and adapted a 57 Ford as donor kit. I was ready to rip the Florida model car circuit with it LOL, and it was primered, trunk opened and hinged, 427 Ford Revell motor, and all the amenities. I had just mocked it up and everything fit just right. Then I got ill, and my wife inadvertently tossed out 10 of my pending custom projects while cleaning out the garage for my return home. Needless to say, I was less than impressed seeing the cleaned out garage, missing my projects. Although this was not the cause, we are no longer married, and I am sectioning the 59, but very carefully, as I am first slicing into model car history, and second, slicing into a 40 dollor model. Just call me "shakin'!!!" Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
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I have been building for way over 50 years and in the early years my cars all rolled, especially using early promo's then AMT 3in1's. Then in the sixties, I began to radically alter my models, including customs, rods, and dragsters, and attached the wheels to the axles static. Then starting back in 94, I started building customs again, but this time, I wanted wheels to turn, not roll freely, but turn. This gave me some extra flexibility to rotate wheels before I sat them down to wipe off any dust or accumulate. Plus, I wanted to demonstrate to myself that the alterations I did, did not cause the vehicle to malfunction, such as wheels binding on the inside wheel well or exterior cutout. Just to enhance clearnance. I am still working on making models wheels turning, even if I have to fabricate it, by using brass tubing and rods, then using cryanolate (sp) to fix the mountings, then just slipping on the wheels. This makes it easier to change wheel design should you opt to do so. When I judged model car contests, I unfortunately took points away from otherwise deserving vehicles because it takes a lot of glue to mount a tire securely, and if I saw one hint of exposed glue around a wheel or tire, it got points taken away. The other problem is during registration, when I see guys bringing in their cars in tupperware boxes, and inevitably at least one car in tupperware, loses a wheel during transit, and the guy is the one who did not bring a spare tool set, or glue. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
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The Joys Of Paradise
FloridaBoy replied to Gregg's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
Here in South Florida, at least we can match the beautiful weather. It is not humid, about 75degrees, a little balmy, and sunny with no showers. But if I were a young'un, I would be out on the North Shore at Sunset Beach, as the waves are breaking terrific this time of year with 8-10 foot walls with offshore winds. Then get in the car and take the little trip to Ehukai State Park, which is the park that is home to the Banzai Pipeline, and just beach it and watch. I liken watching waves break to watching a 32 highboy fire it up and burn some tire treads. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman -
Merry Christmas!!!!!
FloridaBoy replied to cruz's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
This is a season to really reflect on the year past, as we have the day off today (Saturday) and hopefully the shopping is nearly over. As for me, I joined the ModelCarsMag forum in 2007, and even though one would expect a guy that has been building and competing for over 50 years to be a little shopworn, I still have the original enthusiasm. Only this forum has magnified it, with your great builds, good words, and cammaderie, guys. From this old duffer, thanks so much. I am also thankful to have become friends with Jefbo, who I encourage to review his work in his posts, and moreso, his work in the art section. The core group of our club meets at his house in South Beach Miami every Thursday, and it is one of those things you just look forward to. Plus, I realized that I can still build. I love sectioning, channeling, opening doors and trunks, and fabricating. My style is sort of a sixties throwback, by trying to retain the best elements of the design of the car, yet modifying it to remove the clutter, and enhance the looks with new headlights, taillights and outline. I will be finishing my next street rod I ahve been puttering around with is an AMT 29 Ford Roadster on a 32 Vicky frame. OH, yes, my first two Mopars, a Chrysler 300 turned into a two door, and a 71 GTX in Black Metallic Pearl with gray and yellow interior and chassis parts. This hobby is nothing short of marvelous, and to me this is the Golden Age. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman -
If those Steven Intl engine kits are the old AMT Parts Paks, these motors are the best!!! Even chromed, they are nothing short of marvelous. I know that they chromed the whole tree to make sure those regularly chromed pieces would be chromed, and we can all remove chrome from those other parts. For years in the sixties, I equipped all of my custom cars with these motors. They practically build themselves, are incredibly ripe for detail, have great proportions, and have a lot of detail in themselves. I plan to buy a few. The 392 Hemi is worth eating the Corvair motor, but think of the corvair motor powering a radical street rod. The AMT 27 T touring car has been around believe it or not, since the sixties. It does require a dropped axle from the parts box, and a nice 283 Chev would be killer to make this one beautiful street rod. I still have a few in the closet from the early days and two from a recent swap meet purchase. I have plans, now all I got to do is get to them. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
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Mopar Marc What a great Dad you are. He will remember this model for the rest of his life, although during his teen years, you may never realize it. Nothing is more valuable on this earth than the legacy you leave to your children. Besides the car is looking real great, and I am sure it will be proudly displayed in the home. Congratulations, again. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
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My Latest Wip - Sectioned Custom 49 Ford
FloridaBoy replied to FloridaBoy's topic in WIP: Model Cars
Robert, I am going to leave this as a mild custom with a stock height roof. I have a '50 convertible that is both sectioned and chopped, and that will soon be done. The unusual thing about the 50 convert is that both doors open and close. I really had to reinforce the lower panel with epoxy and brass rod to keep it firm enough to maintain its design integrity and make the doors fit right. The next 49 Coupe will be sectioned a little more, and the top chopped, with the middle window b pillar canted toward the back. I am also planning to use the Styline front extension on that one, too. I don't think the modeling world appreciates the incredible detail of the Ford flathead in the 50 Convertible. It is one of the better ones for sure. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman -
Here is my latest work. It is a 49 Ford Coupe that I started just last Thursday at Jefbo's house. It is sectioned from the article in the 1962 Rod & Custom 3 part article by Don Emmons. I used both rolled pans from the kit, and cut the grille in half below the middle bar, and cut out a semi circle in the pan to accommodate the bullet in the center. I am trying to make this a period fifties type car with a section and otherwise mild custom work. I am also using the stock kit chassis and the Caddy motor, with a pair of 4bbl carbs instead of the regular kit six pak. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
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Revell '32 Ford Sedan
FloridaBoy replied to Lyle Willits's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
I wonder if this new 32 will retrofit with the Revell 3-window, speedwagon, and roadster kits. That would be totally superb. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman -
Any Christmas "snoopers" Here???
FloridaBoy replied to chris coffey's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
I never would expect my wife to be able to get the models of my choice. I am also a model railroader, and being a fussy hobby guy, lay people have a very hard time discerning what is good and what is department store variety. So, I always told both of my wives and now that I am separated, to my girlfriend, to not even think of getting me a toy, but instead the stuff that I would not necessarily get on my own, such as special good smelling colognes, nice pajamas, a new shirt or something like that. The other thing is that my wish lists for both hobbies is pretty well fulfilled, believe it or not. I am now just enjoying building. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman -
Hey Jeff, See you tonight. I will be there, fresh in from North Carolina. The 32 Sedan is even better than the "first version" which I thought was already fantastic. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
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My Amt '40 Ford Custom Coupe Akmost Done
FloridaBoy replied to FloridaBoy's topic in WIP: Model Cars
First, let me correct a typo. If it is done on a keyboard, it is called a "keyboardo"? Akmost done should read almost done. Second, Mr. Moto, I did not use stripper just for that purpose. Way back in 70, I used AMT body putty over scrap plastic handformed headlight housings and was using primer back then, with the intent of sealing the putty, not a paint prep. Sijnce the body work held up all these years without a crack or chip, and the lines of the car do not contain any sharp edges or details, I chose to sand the car down as close to original primer and start over. Along the way, I did experience a pitfall, when I used white putty at first to smooth out some body indents, and the white putty attacked the plastic. That is when I used thin layers of Bondo (one part) and then re-primed it with DupliColor primer. Mr m408. You are completely correct about gull wing doors opening up. But I am an old guy, and when the 63 Sting Ray came out, they referred to the upper door cut outs as gull wings. My doors are copying the style of the Corvette. I am going to modernize the car a little. First, I am replacing the dual headlight bezels with a home made black and clear lens found on today's cars, made from a clear plastic picnic knife. Then changing out the bucket seats with more modern Corvette seats, instaling a billet steering wheel, and last adding a new EFI contemporary motor. My Forty Fords are styled by the inspiration of the late Bill Cushenberry, who started me off on this "thing" in the early sixties with the "El Matador". I have not duplicated the El Matador yet, because once I get started I go off in a different tangent when the imagination kicks in. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman -
Contest Aftermath
FloridaBoy replied to FloridaBoy's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
I would like to amplify Bob's comments about contests. I have been around, like Bob, for quite some time, and I am asked all of the time about "the golden age of model cars" which was the early sixties. I have stated quite often that because of the proliferation of kits, especially those we wished for in the "golden age" are now available to us, along with better paint, tools, supplies, adhesives, and just about everything else. Times are better now. And to me, contests although not as frequent, are MUCH BETTER now, why? Simply, contests in the olden days consisted mostly of those done in hobby shop windows. You brought your model to the store, entered it, and the owner put it in the window to get parched in the sun, then the judging happened one night, then everyone comes and picks up what is left of their cars after being in a sunny window for a couple of weeks. Virtually no interaction between modelers, except on occasion when you were at the shop and another builder was. Nowadays, a contest is held in a protective place over a weekend, and all competitors bringing cars use that opportunity to talk up a storm. Yeah yeah, I know, I came from the time of the AMT 40 Fords, deuces, 49 Fords and Mercs, 58 Chevies, but today you still have those plus a host of new ones, plus they go together better, and even the cars today are finished 100 times better than way back then. For those who choose not to compete, bring your models and display them, but learn how to talk to others, and learn new techniques. I have seen guys go from average modelers in our club to primo modelers just by opening up the eyes during contests, and opening up the ears during seminars. Again, these are the good times. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman