John Goschke

Ertl 1/25 scale die-cast "collectible," originally in Federated Auto Parts markings; if you want one this one doesn't have a coin slot! Lowered, with wheels & tires ( and steering wheel) from a cheapo Chinese diecast '55 Super 88 convertible. Paint is Tamiya Racing White over Duplicolor Honda Hempstead Green Metallic. Interior is a dark metallic blue-green by Duplicolor, with mixed Testors enamel on the upper seat bolster and door panels. Custom-made 1960 PA vanity plates cover the Federated logos on the license plate holders. I'm thinking maybe it needs some nice long lake pipes. Hope y'all like it!

I suspect the problem is related to the fact that they're not using a stiff enough backing, which permits the sheets to bend back and forth in shipping and handling, resulting in the stress wrinkles and cracks which have us all pounding our heads on the workbench. Years ago, when I started working with BMF the foil and its backing sheet were stapled at one end to stiff cardboard backing with a cover sheet. I've got bits and pieces on some of those sheets (that are close to 20 years old!) that are still usable. BMF is a great product, but the company needs to resolve this issue or someone else is gonna steal their market for them.

Really cool project! The chassis looks great and I'm looking forward to seeing the body painted and decaled. Meanwhile, I think I'll go back to the LHS and pick up that Miss Deal Stude funny kit that was on the shelf last weekend!

Bill, the Fairlane looks great... glad to see you were able to work around the door problem you mentioned in the other thread! Plus those gaps and the opening angle are super; that's the kind of challenge that has always kept me from opening doors on any car model.

Nice work there! Don't see many dune buggies anymore.

The Revell Ed Roth issue of the 1/25 '56 Ford pickup is the only kit I know of that has the '54-'55 Olds Fiestas (several kits have the 1/24 '56 versions that first appeared in the Skip's Drive In issue of the '59 Ford Skyliner). They are somewhat small in diameter though which is why I added the BMF "trim ring" around the rims on the '40's wheel; so there wouldn't as much of reveal of the red rim with the caps on. Another alternative is available on an otherwise terrible Chinese diecast of the '55 Olds Super 88 ragtop. That's what I used for the wheels and tires on this in-prog Ertl diecast '50 Olds...

After doing these on an AMT roadster (see below) it's time to do one on the current "state-of-the-art" Deuce Roadster for eventual resin production. Here's an early mockup showing the re-proportioned Monogram 1/24 "Little Deuce" roof in place on the 2" chopped windshield with the new side profile roughed out in masking tape... Here's an AMT Deuce with a similarly chopped windshield and reproportioned/chopped roadster top...

This stuff looks great, Dave. Are you going to market this service?

Wow, that's different and very cool!

No, my thinking may be off the wall, but that VW wasn't mine. At this point I'm strictly a traditional rod and custom kinda guy.

Thanks, Marcos, but that WASN'T my Volkswagon! Way beyond anything I could do!

Yeah yer right on the Street Rod VS Hot Rod definition, Robert! As for the Nailhead poppin' the caps off this car, well, since it's still got the '40 tranny and driveline there'd probably be a few more things poppin' and droppin'!

I've probably got dueling cliches going here, Harry! Not like red steelies are all that original. I prefer to think of both looks as "classic" '50s treatments (however you'll never see fuzzy dice on my cars!)

Thanks, Bill! I'm leaning towards the wheelcovers, too 'cause I think they might work better with the final exterior color (the same Tamiya Champagne Gold used on the top of the dash.) For the moment though the steelies look cool and polling shows them the favorite. The trim rings are BMF, a technique I remember seeing on one of Lyle Willit's cars. I did 'em here originally because the Fiestas (which are a little undersize) revealed too much of the red wheel rim, and it worked so well (how often does THAT happen?) that I decided to take it a little further! Regards, John

Thanks, Mike! Yup, it'll be there. Just so you know it was your dio with '40 on the sign post that was part of the inspiration to build an AMT '40!

Thanks, George! RE what issue '40 this one is; it came in an original issue box, with all the bits unique to that issue, including the shorty side pipes, custom wheelcovers, skirts, and (YAY!) the stock-style Buick valve covers. As I understand it the ivory plastic seen here is kinda rare (and even more so after I get paint on this sucker!). The firing order of plastic colors, as it's been explained to me, for the early issue '40 kits was first black, then grey, followed briefly by ivory, and finally blue (which was the same shade of plastic for some '65 Craftsmen kits, such as the '65 Chevy II SS.)

A little part swapping on this one. Six carb manifold from AMT '36 Ford with carbs from Monogram Woody Wagon on the kit Buick "Nailhead", AMT 49 Merc steering wheel and Fiesta wheelcovers from Roth '56 Ford F-100...

Cool concept! Can't wait to see it finished.

Nice work on this! Great technique for the redlines.

The ultimate build on this notorious kit that combined the best and worst features of Johan in their heyday! Beautiful job, Bill!

Very cool! Gotta love a rail with Nailhead power! You oughta get yourself an old AMT '61 or '62 Buick Special wagon for a tow vehicle.

I like your wheel/tire choice! However I wonder if a narrow whitewall might be more in keeping with the 1960s look since narrow whites were in widespread use starting around '61/'62. A 409 with dual quads woulda been pretty hot stuff too! The Inca Gold/white combo would be cool if you can do a Winfield-style fade job or maybe some Watson type panels.

Really nice! Excellent color choice!

Really nice! The Caddy engine looks great in this car.

That is BAD, Man! A cool old kit and your build looks great!