Straightliner59

Thank you for looking in, Francis! While those are both popular cars in both countries, I'd guess that Canada probably had a stronger presence of their Pontiac counterparts. This won't be without its charms (details!). ? Interestingly, I was just milling some styrene to make the wheelie bars! I can never go completely into "slack" mode--I want interesting stuff to look at--you know what I mean!? Still a way to go, but, I couldn't live with any of the blobs I'd fount that were supposed to be wheelie bars. I'll add separate casters, and pin and bolt and spring detail. It's super-basic machining, with soft material, but, they'll be parts I actually milled! You can see my rough sketch on the stock. I've also been working on the wheels and tires. I'm not sure I'll retain this lettering. I have a Slixx sheet on the way, but found these tire markings on a Revell Cory McClenathan top fuel sheet, and decided to try them. I still need to weather the front tire, and add a touch more to the slick. I've begun cutting the interior aluminum. Once it's cut, fitted and formed, I'll add some bead rolling, to the door panels. I plan to clamp the interior tub to the mill, and get rid of those deals they molded in, for the seats. I'll use seats from my parts boxes. I promise you plenty of eye candy! I'm considering a Lenco, which will require a new tunnel, and a bunch of scratchbuilt linkages--what do you think? Thanks again for checking in, my friend!

Thanks, Trevor. They really did look cool! To get the rear low enough, I want to clarify how I did the rear wheelwell openings. I left an inch of the highest part of the wheel arch/flare, then gently recurved the rest of the opening with a burr in a flex-shaft attachment, until it was wide enough. Essentially, it still mimics the stock lines. Once that's accomplished, it's just a matter of thinning them. It doesn't hurt to thin the front ones, at this point, too!

Thanks, Ted. They really do make great looking drag cars! I cast a lot of parts, but haven't tried a body. I only cast small parts for my own models, so they may not be pristine. They're workable, though, and that's all I need!?

Thanks, Tim. I plan to do a couple of "serious" Vegas. I want to do a '75 Cosworth, and a full-tube frame Grumpy's Toy '72 car. I do, however want a Vega in the display case, so the '77 got the "quickie" nod! I don't plan to spend a ton of time, on it--key word being "plan". You know how that goes!?

If it was me, I'd remove the nibs, then drill and replace them with smaller wire to mount the cable tubing to. It will create a much stronger joint. And fit better, too!

Thanks, Edgar! I have always loved these little H-Bodies! Thanks, Ian. They were interesting to watch, back then. Now, not so much--at least for me. That "bog" just kills it! Thanks, Michele. Promos (especially '75-'77 models) can be had pretty reasonably, on Ebay. That's what almost all of mine are.

Those are both beautiful works! My initial comment about it, was only that it seemed ubiquitous, in the mid-'80s. I always thought it was pretty!

The markings look fantastic, Ian! A fitting completion to an excellent project. Well done, sir!

It's on the wheels...

While I am happy with much of the work I've done on the '53 'Vette, the crazed plastic really cooled my jets, as far as that project goes. I've been having a lot of fun doing curbside stuff, and I have all these promo Vegas, so... First, as I did with the MPC slicks on the dragster I recently started, I sanded off the lettering (A scalpel works very well, to do some preliminary slicing of the letters). I then used a 4-way polishing stick, to get them to this state. I will replace the lettering with Gofer Racing decals. When sanding the slicks, I try to ease the transition from the surface to the sidewall, as I think they're too exaggerated as they're molded. I'm not sure what the wheels are from, but I ordered a set from Forward Resin (they're beautifully cast!), then found these in one of the drawers I keep such things in. Front tires are Monogram Frontrunners, again sanded smooth and "polished". I used the Dremel to open the wheel cutouts, as it appears this is how most of them are done--just be sure to finish the edge!? I had picked up a Pro Stock Vega chassis and interior on Ebay, and will use them, underneath, this being a curbside, and all. I'll do my typical "aluminum siding" job, inside. It'll get all the visible accoutrement becoming a proper 1984 Super Gasser. S/G was very cool, back then--much as MP was, a decade earlier. The days before delay boxes (yuck!), when a throttle stop might just be a block of wood, beneath the throttle pedal! Really! I knew of a couple. The scoop is from AMT's '66 Nova Pro Streeter. I'm hoping not to spend too awful long, with it. Sorry for the poor photos. I was getting ready to hit the hay. As always, questions comments and critiques are welcome. Thanks for looking!

Bill, does this stuff need to be thinned, for airbrushing? If so, what do you use? Thanks!

Yes, I agree. It was the sheer numbers. It's a pretty color, for sure!

Remember when that was all the rage?! I seem to recall a backlash to it, later. It seemed like every second or third car was painted that color--unless it was just a regional thing. But I thought I had read some negative comments in a couple of the magazines.

Funny, how that happens!?

It ain't rocket science--but, it could be! Simply beautiful work, Tim. Thanks for sharing it!

What a great concept! Excellent work, Mark. Looks fantastic!

Oh, yessir! It looks soooooo right! Looking forward to watching this come together, Bernard.

Terry, you've done a beautiful job, with an equally beautiful kit. Love the color, the markings. Excellent work, sir!

The Goodyears are pretty much gone. Some of the kits that have them don't have the size markings on them. I just posted in another thread, the other day, that I would like to see R2 re-release the Polyglas tires parts packs. I love those tires. I used waterslide decals from Fireball on these tires. You can't see the film, at all. They worked great! These were taken before any flat coat or weathering. I sanded the sidewalls smooth, then applied a coat or two of Future. I applied the decals over that.

Yessir! It's proven to be very handy! It does have a fair-sized footprint, but I managed to get it into my tiny shop (about 7'x9')! I would certainly recommend it, if you can find the space.

Very cool! Clean and understated. Love it!

It's worked well, to be sure. Especially for the price!

Here's another shot of the table. Here, it's set up to punch louvers.

Here's the one I have. It's an inexpensive one, since I can use the mill for more precise work. It works well, for this. Sorry I can't seem to find better photos!

There is no doubt about that! Joseph's stuff is awesome--as is yours!