Straightliner59

This illustrates one of my favorite aspects of working with brass. Properly done, there's way more durability. It's easier to make changes, should they be necessary. It's possible to use things like wire, to aid in conformability. Great work, my friend!

It sure is!

Yeah, and the properly-sized Monogram slicks had wonky wrinkles on the sidewalls, which would have been fine, except that when you put them on the car, they were wrinkled in opposite directions!

Thanks, David! My experience working on real race cars is minimal. I've hung out with a lot of guys who do/have, and I've spent a lot of time hanging around the pits at drag races, and picked up a lot of that little stuff, just from being around. Honestly, I kinda hate working on real cars!😅 Until I'm done, then I feel like I accomplished something!

That's a great-looking body, on that car. I usually hate those front wheel bubbles, but they look good, here. This will be cool to watch come together!

I seem to be having "the trouble" again, in replying to this thread. I've got a few things worked on, the last few days. I washed the fuel fittings with a Vallejo grey wash, to tone them down. I used my doming block to make caps for the pushbar. They'll most likely get painted black. I made and installed the pittman arm and drag link. I used the eraser drill, again, to drill the dash because I forgot to make and install a handle for the fuel shutoff. Duh! Finally, I milled a fuel block from aluminum rod. I think it worked out, pretty nicely! I should be really getting into the manifold, pretty soon! As always comments are welcomed. Thanks for looking!

It's always cool to find a new use for a tool, that it was never intended for. I think I got the eraser on Ebay, most likely from China. It's come in very handy, at times! Thank you, my friend!

Thank you, Ian! I truly appreciate that. I am always hopeful somebody can get some use from some of this stuff.

I put superglue on a plastic lid (like from Pringle's, etc.). I have a dowel that I mounted a sewing needle in, to apply it, but, I digress--that plastic lid gets all crusty, like that, too. For a time, it'll sort of peel off, but, after a while, it seems to embed itself, and won't come off, anymore. That's when I toss it. The applicator's been around, for years. I've replaced multiple needles, in it, and the dowel, itself is polished, from use.

It's funny, how early dragsters and FCs, etc. look so simple. Then, when you start detailing a scale model, you find out just how much stuff is really in there! You're looking good, so far!

I use a set of punches, and a doming block I bought at Harbor Freight. They work, beautifully. Unfortunately, I am not near my computer, so I don't have any photos, right now.

I'm slow, but I catch on. I somehow missed the end of this show! You did a ton of fixing, on this thing. It was well worth it! Time for a nice Sunday drive! Beautiful work, Andy! Would you allow me to share your photos in a Rush group?

I should say so!

You might want to reconsider the colored glass. Generally, window tint was restricted to what came from the factory. I recently read through a few years of Altered rules, they all stated that.

Vallejo makes good washes that are water-based. I also use India ink, sometimes.

Thanks, my friend! I initially bought the eraser to experiment with using it for engine-turning. That didn't work, so, I thought I would see if I could use it for something else. I discovered that, with the heat-shrink on the shank, they'd fit the eraser. I have to fool around with it, a bit, to get it straight, and eliminate the wobble, but, once that's done (it really doesn't take much time or effort) it works, wonderfully! I haven't tried my smallest bits, in it, but it'll spin a .4mm bit at a very high speed, but, the super-low torque stops the motor, if a bit catches. I've been pretty amazed, by that! I really like it for sheet metal--especially if it's already installed. I was able to drill the holes for the wing-mounting brackets, in the wing of the Supermodified, with it. This thing is certainly coming along! I feel like I've made some pretty decent progress, over the last week, or so. I hope to finish the steering up, tonight!

I installed the return lines to the tank, then connected the shutoff bypass at the pump end. I wish I had made the shutoff bypass hose a tad longer. It's not critically short, but it would look better, with a little more "lay" to it. The return lines are some old Verlinden rubber "hose". A bit longer, and a little twist and curl would look better. If I decide to replace the hose, I'll address my second minor annoyance--my fittings are too long, I think. They look okay, though, so, not sure I'll take this apart. I installed the main fuel line, as well. Next, I needed to run the cable for the fuel shutoff. That would require a new hole in the firewall. That was quickly accomplished using a tool I "made" a couple of years ago, using an electric eraser (really?!). I discovered that, if I put heat-shrink tube on the shanks of some carbide bits, it would hold them. It worked beautifully for drilling holes quickly, in light metal that's already installed, and can't deal with a heavy hand! The motor in the eraser is high RPM, but, the torque is so low, that, if even very small bits grab, the motor stops, rather than the bit snapping. The first hole went so smoothly, I went ahead and drilled another. The next order of business was to run the shielded blue cable up the chassis/cage tube, through the firewall. I bound the cable to the pipe with zip-ties. I did this tutorial, a while back: Finally, I installed Shinkicker! Next up, I have to make a handle for the fuel shutoff, to mount to the dash. D'oh! As always, your comments, questions and critiques are welcomed. Thanks for looking!

Beauty! I think plating would look great, on the A-arms. Nice solder work, Francis!

Well, I appreciate that, David. I am happy with the work I've been doing, here. It's been fun, learning some new tricks, too! In my spare time, I'm into rocket surgery.😂

I got a lot done, today! Spent a great deal of it making fittings. Spent a part of it losing and/or ruining fittings.😅 I figured out ways, so that I could install the pump, and be able to hook everything up, as it is ready. I think that was a success. I think. I finally got around to scribing the driver's side door lines, too. Here's a sort of photographic walk through my day. I think I'll be installing the main fuel line, next. Any questions or comments are always welcomed. Thanks for looking!

I watched Kenji's Dino, today. Got some great ideas! The way he "textured"/made the headlight lenses--brilliant!

India ink also works pretty well.

I am going to love watching this! It will certainly become a beautiful work, in your hands. I used to have one of the Johan coupes. I always thought one of those would have made a great-looking salt flats car.

Thank you, my friend. I truly appreciate that!

Thank you, Brian! I often think that patience trumps skill. Especially in my case!😂