Doug Bowen

Just wanted to update my progress on the convertible boot. Decided to rip the back off of an old tablet and break out the 5 minute epoxy. I wanted to deliberately make it look a little "rippley" with the lumps and bumps from "stretching over the top braces". I have a lot of finish work to do on it yet, but it is getting there. Also included a shot of the steering wheel with the 3-on-the-tree. Now I have to figure out what to do for snaps. Thanks for checking in. D

Just had a chance to get back on the site to check out the wonders you all have posted of your works-in-progress. I learn so much just looking at what you guys have thought of. Thanks for the kind words on the '56. Gotta get back on it soon! D

Thanksgiving and Christmas are now behind us. Just wanted to post some pics so you know I didn't quit the hobby already!! Next on the body is sanding, clearing, then foil. Gotta figure out how my eyes and hands will work trying to detail the dash. (Had a heck of a time uploading these pics. Don't know what is going to post...we'll see.) D

Thanks for the comments, guys. I made the springs out of some "florist wire" that I had lying about for years! Just wrapped them around a piece of tubing. Thanks for looking in on it. I'll continue to post as life goes along. D

Jason...really nice stuff going on here. Every time I check in to this forum I see more things I want to try! Your scribed lines are really crisp. Can't believe how nice the lines at the front of the door look. Please keep us posted. D

Got a little bit more along the way. Roughed in the emergency brake cable setup... Also working on u-bolts/shock mount plates on the rear... Trying to make front springs and shocks. (yet to be determined!!!) Any tips or suggestions are greatly appreciated. I'll post more on the journey. Thanks folks... D

Nose-up Gasser look, for sure!

I went on the web and found a pic of a '34 Stude. This is the "frontal wrap" I mentioned above...D

I am a Studebaker freak. Drive a 1:1 everyday. My first thought when I looked at this grouping was a full frontal fender wrap at the tip of the grill. Get on the web and look up the front of a 34 Stude. Maybe a 34 Ford grill would work in the midst of everything. I can also see a chopped top with an "A-pillar" front rake. I really like the overall idea. D

Mike, I too was unsure about your color choice. But, wow, after I've seen it, these two look great together! Looking forward to the BMF. Really nice. (When I was a kid, my Dad had a battleship grey Custom. Hmmmmm....maybe someday I'll......hmmmmm) D

Thanks for the examples, guys. They look great. (I spent the last few days working on my real-life Stude. Back to the little guys soon!) D

Thanks guys...I'll try building one up from styrene. D

Starting my '56 Ford convertible. Anybody have any good ideas on how to fabricate a convertible "boot" to go behind the back seat? All I can think of now is varish or thinned white glue on cotton cloth. Other ideas? D

Well, this is my first model project in probably 20 years so here goes: AMT started as a hardtop, so it had to come off. I have to thin this out a bit yet, I can see... I started on the engine, but got hung up on making a "real" sway bar after I found a reference pic on the internet. Started with 14 gauge house wiring, which is .060" OD which equates to about 1-1/5" OD. This is a little "heavy" but I think still looks believable, scale-wise. Bent the thing to approximate the pic I downloaded, then "squashed" the ends with a pair of vise-grips, filed them round with my Dremel tool, then chucked the wire-gauge ferrule and drilled the holes to mount the "stand-offs" which are yet to be figured out. So this is just the beginning. I can see my problem is going to be knowing when to say enough is enough. I'm like a dog in a fire hydrant factory with this stuff. I will tend to enjoy the trip so much that I forget there is a destination here! My neighbor is in his late 70's and I want to be able to hand him a replica of his most "favorite car" he ever had. I can't begin to tell you all the incentive you have given me to start this up again. I am re-discovering the sheer joy of working on these little gems. Thank you. Wish me luck! D

I have dabbled in "sign painting" for years. When I have cleaned my brush in lacquer thinner, I always dip it in a little (just a little) clean motor oil prior to putting it away. Before the next use, just clean the oil off with some thinner. Always worked for me. Some of the quills that I have are 25 years old. D

Rich..."imitation is the most sincere form of flattery"....therefore I am going to flatter you by using the diode fuel filter on the '56 I just started last week. That looks wonderful! Great idea! (I am doing my '56 as a convertible in stock Sunset Coral and Snowshoe White as a gift for my 76 year old neighbor. ) Please keep us posted with pics. Looking forward to seeing it progress. D

Yeah...it really took me back. I actually have a picture of my buddy holding the copper Cobra looking at the engine bay when we were about 13 years old. I had HAIR in those days. And my waist size was the same as my inseam! Hard to remember. I don't really consider them to have "survived" in their current state. Gonna have to re-build at some point. Glad you all got a kick out of them. D

At 5:00 AM I was rummaging around in the basement thinking that I USED to have some old models from my youth lost in the darkness of some box. Look what I found !! Now I have to start stripping old paint, I guess. Inspired by you folks...I will proceed! D

Charlie...thanks for you input on the basics. I especially appreciate the primer and paint info. It has been so long I was afraid their had been "material" changes on the kit manufacturing end. I certainly have gleaned a lot of good information my first day on this forum. Seems like a great group. Thank you for the comment on my nice Studebaker...unfortunately the '49 was totaled in 2000 when a young lady was putting on her makeup and didn't see the red light. I now look both ways at green lights! Now I drive a '64...one of the last ones made. I would include a picture with this, but I haven't figured out how you attach a pic to a reply. Again thank you all for your input. D

Thanks for all the input, guys. D

This has always been one of my favorites because it was the first model I ever bought. I remember Dad taking me to the local hobby shop like it was yesterday.

The most popular part of the II was the front suspension. I bet very few of them in bone yards still have the front clip!

Thanks guys. I just got done looking at the you-tube site for Alclad II. Looks like marvelous stuff. THAT certainly is new and exciting since the 60's ! I have used Bare-metal before, but now I'm going to check out the Organizers paint. I found an accurate pink color for my neighbor's 56 Ford build from Scalefinishes. I have also heard the name Tamiya bantered about quite a bit. Others I should check out? D

Erik...I just got my first issue of Model Cars and saw that mentioned. Is it paint? Anything special in its application?

At 65...anything that needs my attention, prompts me to set an alarm in my cell!! "what's that beeping for??? oh, yeah ...I remember." Sad but true.