Straightliner59

I do, too! Sometimes, it keeps me awake. I don't know that I am committed, just yet! Thank you for your kind words, Andy. It is a somewhat scary proposition. Thanks, David! Your comments are much appreciated. I'm interested in how this will play out, too! ? Thank you for following this project!

Thank you, sir! I seem to be at a standstill, at the moment. I am trying to figure out what I need to do, next. I think it's cutting out the doors, but, I don't want to do that, prematurely. I'm filling the pondering time by fiddling around with a snapper '53 Corvette. I can't decide which way I want to go, with that--sporty street car, or lower-class gasser or stock class drag racer.

Very nice, Bernard! Your stuff always looks so "right"! Love this project!

I'm with Snake, on this one. Put it on, thick. It'll dry down to almost nothing. Works great!

The cavalry arrived, today--just in case!

More excellent work, Francis! I've no idea how I missed this one. The gauge faces are beautiful!

In prelude to cutting out the doors (I've begun the process by dragging a saw blade, and the back of an X-Acto blade through the lines), It seems important to have the header and windshield frame in place. I think it may help some with rigidity. We'll see! Anyway, I have the frame and header home. That allowed me to tack the roof framing in place. I added some .030"X.040" Evergreen to the sides of the floor pan, to cover up some gaps that were visible, when the interior door panels were in place. She's getting there. Questions, comments and critiques always welcome! Thanks fer lookin'!

Unfortunately, mine isn't done! ?

I got one of those AMT retro-promo '53 Corvettes in the mail, about two hours ago. Now, it looks like this...

Get yourself a bottle of Microscale Liquid Decal Film. Brush a coat or two on old sheets to help save them. I've always had good luck, with it!

How about the old standby: "Evil, Wicked, Mean and Nasty"? Evil Genius?

I dig this one!

Well, I guess I don't have an excuse not to try the doors, now. For $37, I just picked up a sealed kit, as a backup, should something go horribly wrong.

Agreed! That engine is super-cool, for this project.

Unfortunately, I don't. Maybe I can find something around here with equally delicate A-pillars, to practice on--including pinning a hinge to. You're right about those tools! Fortunately, I have a good variety, to toss at it! Thank you, David, it's much appreciated! I'm having a blast, with this thing. I'm learning all kinds of new tricks.

Thank you, Greg. I figured that there would be no point to cutting the doors open, if I didn't have a way to hinge them! I do, too, Dave. It's a nice kit--except, I don't understand why they left the molding off the body... Thank you, Francis! Now, I need to overcome my trepidation over cutting on those A pillars. Is there even enough there, to pin a hinge to? Perhaps we will see! ? I looked around, online for hinges, and couldn't find any that looked like they would work, so, I did what any of us nutty scratch-builders would do! This was the best way to make them work, and still be small enough to look good. That you would have done them the same way, is reassuring. Thank you, Jim. I'm very happy with it. The finish came out just as I'd hoped!

I've built a couple, over the years!

Very cool, Jim. I really need to learn how to make my Cricut work, for me. The possibilities seem fairly limitless.

Beautiful work, Francis! That clutch can is fantastic! I'm loving this project, sir.

Excellent work, Tim! You've passed the test that I frequently come up short on: You made two things that are supposed to match, that actually do! Just kidding. They look great!

Started working on some door hinges. I crimped some .005" brass sheet around 1/32" brass tube, and soldered it, a bit. Then, I put it in the machinist's vise and passed a .032" square end mill through it, creating a sort of piano hinge. From here, I can use a pair of Wiss snips to cut individual hinge halves, as shown. I will hit them with another round of solder, once they're properly shaped. I think, too, that, once they are final-soldered, I will be able to file them to an even more delicate size. They work nicely! Now, as Mr. Sapiro suggested above--do I have the guts to work on that 'A' pillar? Stay tuned! Thanks for looking! As always--questions, comments and critiques are welcome!

David, thank you! When I remembered I had that bottle of Blacken-It, I knew what I was going to do. It worked out just as I had hoped it would! Thank you, Francis! I think it found its place, for sure!

Thanks so much for your kind words, Tim. As I've told Francis--they are especially nice coming from a craftsman. Scratch building is a kick in the pants! I am attempting to make door hinges on the mill. We'll see how that works out! Thanks for your comments, and for looking in!

I'm working on an idea for some hinges, now. I kind of feel like I need to do it!

Thank you, Carl. I'm enjoying it, immensely! In fact, I just poked a hole in it, for the filler nap/neck. I think it suits the look I'm after, pretty well.