Straightliner59

I am the sole founder of the StraightLineModeler group. I don't recall who was making those decals (WhoopieKat?). Unfortunately, Mark died in January of 2018. I miss that guy. He was always trying out new stuff! Good man, for sure.

I got started on the body work. I'm doing a fiberglass front end, so I sanded off the side marker lights. I also scribed in the @Snake45lines, below and behind the door. I had ordered and received a sheet of PET. To test it, I thermo-formed a windshield. It worked out pretty nicely! I began grinding off the gas cap and wipers, as well. I got out the tripod, and took some better shots of the completed interior. I'm pretty happy with the interior and with the pictures! Your opinions are always welcome. Thanks for lookin'!

I guess I finished the interior ahead of schedule! Sorry the photos aren't great, the camera didn't want to focus on anything, in particular, so it was all real hit and miss. I was too lazy to get out the tripod...? Comments are always welcomed. Thanks for looking!

Yep, Sizzler. I'd agree!

Thanks, JC! I have always loved Vegas. Thanks, Ian. I'm getting very close to having the interior finished. I was planning to use a Detail Master steering wheel, but I really didn't like the way it turned out, so I ended up using one from one of Monogram's Pro Stock kits. I lost some time, trying to get satisfied with the DM one. I'm about to make the door handles. I'm doing the spring-loaded ones that protrude from the door panel, inside the window, that the driver just pushes forward, to release the catch. I should have the interior done by Monday, or so!

I have been busy! I've been in one of those "places" where it's just kind of been flowing, and keeping me excited about the project. I should be on to the body, within days, now! I've been perusing all my mid-'80s magazines for paint ideas. All that's decided so far, is that it will be Mulsanne Blue, and have graphics!? I hope you're able to get a handle on your health problems. Arthritis is truly a bane of modelers. Get well soon, my friend!

My new toy arrived, today! I also got one of the AMT Firestone Supreme parts packs.

You may be right. I'll have to dig it out, and have a look.

You're making great progress, Ian. The coupler and drive shaft look excellent!

Mine, too!

That looks very cool! I've been thinking about doing that, forever, and never got around to it. Nice job!

@DustyMojaveRichard, thanks for sharing these! They're great inspiration and reference. One of my favorite books about the dry lakes is Tex Smith's "Hot Rod History". I've spent many hours, just paging through that book.

Thank you, kind sir.

These should be beautiful! Looking forward to seeing them.

Thanks, Mike. I appreciate that! I know this is the kind of stuff you like. Glad you're enjoying it, Ron. Thanks!

Well, the dash is almost done. I use almost, because, now that it's really big, I can see that one of my bezels is out-of-round, and will likely need to be replaced, since I thought I had it "straightened" out. I'll wipe up some of the ink wash around the switches. The discs are punched from aluminum duct tape, while the toggles are brass wire. The starter button is a short length of .030"-ish aluminum wire; I polished the end of it using a 4-way nail board. I'm beginning work on the steering wheel, which is a Detail Master item. Your comments are always welcomed. Thanks for looking!

It won't arrive until later in the week, but I took the plunge on a compound slide for my Sherline lathe. I've been wanting one, for some time.

Always dig your stuff, Bernard! It always has "soul".

That's a very cool little hot rod!

Thank you, kindly, Jim. I appreciate it! Here's an update with the dash/gauge panel. Dash is Krylon Semi-Flat Black. Gauges are from Auto Meter's website. I sized them, and printed them on photo paper. I'm currently working on the switches, and starter button. I'm hoping to get the interior wrapped up in the next couple of days. Thanks for looking!

Here's the anti-sub belt and harness clasp. As I stated above, I textured a piece of old toothpaste tube by rolling it over an aluminum rod with a 6" fine mill bastard, in order to achieve some sort of texture similar to the Eduard belts. It's not as fine, but, it's not horrible. Typically, I use a material without texture, because the weave of harness material is so fine , that it would be barely there, in 1/25 scale. Also pictured are the beginnings of the gauge panel. Bezels are 1/8" aluminum rod that I bored, shaped, and cut to length. Gauges (not pictured) were sized using Word, and printed on photo paper. Lenses will be punched from clear sheet. Comments, etc. are always welcome. Thanks for looking!

Thanks, Scott! I'm going to try making matching dies, so I can do the curved lines for a dragster cowl. It should work, well, and I have just the project, in mind--it needs a new body. And, to be completed!?

Nice work with the tin!

There are quite a few on Ebay for very reasonable prices. Not all of them, of course, but I saw one or two that could be had for about $40, shipped.

This one has one of the wheel/tire sets they also released separately. There were four different wheel sets (all the tires were the Radial T/As). There was a set of slots, the "Vector" type, pictured above. I can't recall what the other two were. Later, they were re-released by Arii. They were very nice wheels and tires!