Straightliner59

That model was based on the Geraghty and Crawford "Grasshopper"! It's very close to being a replica.

Your comments are always appreciated, David! For most of my modeling life, I was such a perfectionist, that I kept starting projects, then, I would realize that I was over my head, because they weren't going as I'd hoped, and I'd box them up, and put them away. It's only the last seven or eight years that I have come to the understanding that, nothing will ever be perfect, so, it's okay to move along with the project. That said, in those past few years, I have finished several of those projects! Some thanks to Snake's "Bring Out Your Dead" thread. One of those projects was my Nostalgia Top Fuel dragster. Except for the tires, I can't think of anything else that wasn't built from scratch, or very radically altered. So, I'm close, on that front. At some point, I'll learn to, and make myself a set of wheels! My biggest difficulty in machining is deciding the work order. It will get easier, with experience, but, I have times that I'm not sure where to start. I'm still getting used to repeatability. It's easy to get lost, for me, in things like "How deep am I drilling these? Did the last one get over-drilled?" stuff like that--but, I'm getting there! Randy's Bird Cage is freaking unbelievable! I have actually held it in my hands, at a local show. The bodywork is just beautiful. That chassis? That's a study in soldering, to be sure! I would like to build a body, like that, some day. I told Randy, that day, that his bodywork on the Maserati makes my dragster bodies look like downspouts!😃 I'm attaching a couple of photos of my N/TF car. I finished it in January...

Seeing if I can reply, now.

Beautifully done, my friend! I am intrigued by your approach to the ball joints. Pure genius, Francis. It's such a "simple" solution, it's surprising no one ever thought of doing them that way, before. My hat is off, to you, sir!

I've gotta get me one of those!

Thank you, my friend! Thank you, also for inspiring me to use them more often. I had the machines, I'd bought the (necessary) accessories, and I was barely using the mill. The lathe I'd put to fair use, I'd say. Then, seeing your work, Tim's work, Charlie Libby's work, and more recently, Bob Jernigan's work, I realized that I was pretty much wasting an invaluable resource, that was sitting, quite literally, right in front of me! I've been slowly ramping up, the last couple of years. I'm a neophyte, nowhere near the level you guys are, but, I'm doing more and more, with them. These photos are a good case in point. I've got more millwork in this model, than any prior project! The majority of it is visible, in these photos. I milled the timing cover, the drive tube (it's really a tube! With a really thin wall!) for the fuel pump, and the pump, itself. The tank, and the fittings for the outlet are all machined, here. Look at what you've caused me to do!😁 Thank you, I'm having a blast! One advantage to using this model as a learning tool, is that the Badman isn't an accurate model, by any means. There was a whole lot of "Close enough!" going on with that kit. There are a few things I'd like to do a little differently, but, those are things that I feel like I need a bit more experience, before I'm ready to tackle them. Therefore, as long as I have done something to the best of my current ability, I can accept it as "close enough". That's good enough for this kit! I'm very happy with what I've accomplished, here! Questions, critiques and comments are always welcomed. Thanks for looking! Man, do I need a media blaster! I hate that shiny stuff!

Here's where the pump stands, at this time. I turned the body and front cover to size on the lathe. I then moved each to the mill, still in the chuck, and drilled the bolt holes with the rotary table. I left the three cover holes open, as those bolts will mount the shutoff bracket. I am likely going to replace these bolts with some without the washers. They need to be clean hexes! I am kinda amazed that I was able to "bolt" parts together that were made separately, and have eight holes, each! I actually paid close-enough attention, for long enough, that I got it to happen! Yay! 😁 I'm starting to use those machines, more frequently, and better learning what I can do with them. They're more advanced, than I! Thanks for looking!

Thanks, David! I appreciate that. I was sort of planning to work on the manifold, yesterday. Instead, I built most of the fuel pump. I should get photos posted, later! I appreciate it, Tony! I made decals for the tach. It was a little tricky, but, they worked out, pretty well!

Here are a few. Sorry, I don't want to hijack your thread. We'll see if this thing ever gets done!😅

When he switched to Canadian coinage, he bequeathed me his Roosevelt dime!😂 Thank you, my friend!

These are really neat kits. I've loved them since they first released them. I've started a few--one of these 359s as a basic, local-type hauler, and one as a straight-truck dump-bed lumber truck. I also started a KW cabover converted to a day cab to pull a set of doubles I cut down from a pair of trailers. I scratched the dolly for the trailers. Nice work, here!

I managed to get the throttle bodies drilled for the shafts without breaking anything! Not even a carbide bit!😁 A little cleanup, then I can start adding details, getting it ready to be painted. I hated the brass fitting for the main fuel line's connection to the tank. It was way too big. I think, based on research, that a 1" fuel line should be adequate for the setup and the engine. If anybody knows better, please let me know! I machined a new fitting from a piece of aluminum (the block on the tank outlet). The fittings for the line were milled from 1/16" aluminum tube. These look so much better than the clunky, previous fittings! Thanks for looking!

Agreed. I don't watch a lot of YouTube stuff, but his is very interesting!

Thanks, David! Except I have to solve one of those problems I created, now!😅 I got myself all excited, and glue the throttle bodies to the manifold. They look great! I forgot to drill them, first! D'oh! Now, I get to try to drill each side level, and straight, through the length of the manifold, through four separate "tubes". I expect there'll be some cold sweat flowing! I appreciate that, Francis. I always hope that other builders can find something useful, in my posts, whether it's a technique, or just some inspiration. It really does add some "gotcha", for sure. I also like to use it for head gaskets--I found some small pieces of super-thin copper flashing on a jobsite, some time, when I was insulating houses, 20 years ago--the copper color, showing under the head is subtle, but, when noticed, is striking. I'm probably the only one who's ever known/noticed!😂 Thanks so much for your kind words, my friend!

Then, it will be available at Motor Trend's site. Now, with the date, it'll be easy to find!

Thank you kindly, sir! It does, a little. It'll be running alcohol, so, why not make it, too?😃 I'm happy with the progress of the last 24 hours. Not only did I get the still completed, I made excellent progress on the manifold. I got the two remaining ribs in place, and was then able to custom fit each throttle body section to the manifold. In these photos, they're all just sitting there--so, I think I'm in good shape with their fit. Next up, I'll need to drill them for the throttle rods, and research and add any other necessary details, before I can permanently attach them. I think it might turn out, pretty decently. Thanks for looking!

It'd make sense.

That's funny, Pierre! I laughed well, at that. That curly pipe was a fairly common method of venting the fuel tank. The tank could breathe, but the fuel hd a hard time finding the way out!😁 I got the tank fittings made and installed, except the main fuel line--I think it best to wait until the tank is installed, for that. I used some 16ga. dead-soft aluminum wire, for the fuel line. I made the brass fitting from some .100" brass rod I found in an old K&S assortment of bits and pieces (those were always fun to dig through!). The bungs for the return lines are 18ga. aluminum. The nipples that will mount the lines are 26ga. nichrome wire. This gives me another chance to declare my love for carbide "PC board" bits. I love that I can drill out .040" soft aluminum wire to accept the nichrome wire, with no trouble, so long as I don't overwork the tool, is a game-changer! I'll put the mounting bolts on, after a bit, then that'll be ready to mount, whenever I think it's time. That'll follow the fuel pump...Thanks for looking!

Wow, man. I sincerely appreciate those words. They kind of make me feel like my work just might be worthy of the time spent by all those guys I learned from, a tribute, to them--and to you, and Francis, and Tim, and all those others, who inspire me, today. It's a lot of fun, and ultra-satisfying to finally overcome a challenge you've faced, sometimes for decades; And, sometimes just a day, or two! Thank you for your kind words!

I appreciate the explanation, and apologize for not seeing this, sooner! I agree, that's definitely one of my favorite reasons for scratchbuilding. Plus, fabrication is more fun that cleaning up mold lines, etc. Then, there's "Why would I want to fix other people's FUs, when I can do it all by myself?!"😂

I agree with Ian. I aspire to such a level of work. It's beautiful in its simplicity. On a real car, that piece is nothing--on a model, it's art. Well done, my friend!

There are no words. This is absolutely next-level work! There's nothing not to love, here.

It's pretty weird.

Apparently, that's the only one, as I've successfully responded to a couple of other threads.

I appreciate that, David! It was a helluva journey, getting there! The stacks and elbows are now assembled, and cleaned up. I've started adding details to the manifold. The ribs are .010"X.020" Evergreen, on edge. I want to get one more down each side, then I can start fitting the throttle bodies/runners, and make them one, with the manifold. I'll probably try to finish up the fuel tank, today, and get it mounted. I need to make the fittings for the main line, and two returns. The holes are drilled, I just need to make and install fittings, and mounting bolts. I have a thing, for copper pigtails! Thanks for looking!