Straightliner59

This is how figures should be painted! Beautiful work, Charles!

This thing is cool, for sure! always loved their cars. I'm going to guess this photo was taken at Wendover.

I needed a pair of seat belts so I set up the remainder of my pack of Model Car Garage PE buckles. I hate the way people just use them flat and they look like wafers in the model. I couldn't agree with you, more! That makes me as nuts as photoetched spokes on dragster wheels! ? Sometimes, those radiator hoses can be a booger. Both of them were a pain, on my current project. It's looking good, Tom!

Are you referring to Don Gay, Jr.? His crash was at Bandimere Speedway. I was there, that day. It was a horrible fire. He never raced after that. His grandmother put the kibosh on that.

Fabulous work, Tim! Honestly, I do think you're nuts--but, not really much more than a lot of us! ?The engine stand looks fantastic, sir!

I accomplish this by laying my designs across the 8.5" width of the paper, and crowd everything to the top. Then, once it's printed, I just cut off that end of the sheet and save the rest for the next project. Repeat. I generally print test sheets on standard printer paper, to double-check the size of the graphics.

I have been using their Liquid Decal Film (my bottle is labelled "Superfilm") for decades. The stuff is invaluable! Brush it on, it levels out beautifully. It can save cracked decals. I use it on inkjet decals (I hit them with a couple of light coats of clear, first). I swear by the stuff. I know that Snake does, too. Speaking of Snake, does anybody know if he's okay? I haven't seen anything from him in a couple of weeks.

Thank you, kind sir!

I made most of the major decals, for all of these models on an inkjet. My first attempt was the fender markings on the Chevy II. I am not happy, with them. The door decals on that car were made three years ago, when I finished the car. I had learned enough, by then, to create much nicer markings. I draw mine using PhotoImpact Pro 13. I paid less than $100 for it. It does vectors, and pretty much anything PhotoShop will do. I've tried both Inkscape and Gimp. Both are excellent! I would use them, if I hadn't learned PhotoImpact, first. Once you've learned some stuff, you can make some very nice decals with an inkjet printer.

I could not have said it better! And, I mean all of it.

Thank you, Brad. I'm not a very fast builder, but, I've been at it, a while! ?

Here are all of mine, except not a very good photo of my Zubaz Top Fueler. It can kind of be seen, in a couple of these. I just rearranged my display case, this morning, coincidentally.

I was referring to the "box scale" comment. No quality control issue, at all. The models were made to fit certain, standard-sized boxes.

Like a lot of those old Monogram kits that range from about 1/24 all the way to maybe 1/20?

I just got rid of a bunch of old parts kits on Ebay. I did better with them, than I expected. I know a lot of folks don't like them, but, they make shipping pretty easy.

I would say that it's about the subject. If I like it, I'll buy it, regardless of the scale. I don't buy much stuff bigger than 1/24-1/25. The old Monogram kits, in spite of all their flaws, are truly among my favorites! I don't worry about how they're displayed, really, either. I like to put my latest stuff on the top shelf of the display case.

Thank you, Tim. As you are aware, persistence is often the only thing that sees us through. I appreciate your comments, sir!

Beautiful work! Nice conversion.

Thanks, Jimmy. I appreciate that, Art! I really am. It felt like a big step! This project gets ever closer to completion. I added the hood hold down straps and buckle assemblies. The straps are wine bottle foil. The hold-downs/buckles are brass. The buckle part, itself, is .005" brass wire. Five pieces per unit. I had to make concessions due to the fact that I am not yet ready to figure out a way to make it actually operate! Still, once it's got bit of a wash, and some highlights, it will look pretty decent! I will give the paint more time to off-gas before I finish tweaking the hood into shape. As always, questions, critiques and comments are welcome. Thanks for looking!

That is exactly why I use metal, wherever possible. ? I'm lazy, that way. As you said, it also has the advantage of looking itself!

I sat in one of these, once. All I could think (besides "WOW!") was "What's with all the grommets in the seat?!" ?

Thank you, John. It's getting closer!

Thank you, Steve. Little things like that will keep me looking at someone's model, just to see what else they've done! Thank you, Francis. I guess what I meant by the good luck comment, was that it went together without a hitch, and it worked like a charm, the first time--I didn't have to fiddle with it! I truly appreciate your comments! Thank you, kind sir!

Oh, man, Francis! You are killing it, my friend! Such fine work, sir. Carry on!

The hood is in paint. I am amazed at the luck I had with the hinge. It works absolutely perfectly!