Straightliner59

The going's been slow. I've had particular annoyances with the left-side rear window trim. I think I'm good with it, now. I'm going to try to shoot another coat of primer, before work, tomorrow. If I'm happy with what I see, I'll work on color, over the weekend! I need to thermoform the windshield and backlight, as well. I started cementing the grille into the surround. I had to trim some of the top of the grille off, because the Monogram '55 Grille, and the Badman's surround are curved, across the top, while the hood is flat. I'll use some sort of clamp (or, maybe pin it to balsa) to pull the surround down to the grille while that cement sets. I'll do that as soon as the bottom cement is cured. To finish the surround after stripping, I shot it with cheap Walmart Color Place spray (RIP🙂) gloss black. After about 30 minutes of dry time, I rubbed some old SNJ aluminum powder into it. I think it makes a nice-looking nickel plated look. As always, your comments and questions are welcomed. Thanks for looking!

Wow! This is really moving along! It looks marvelous, Pierre. Beautiful work.

Absolutely! Just the kind of thing I love!

I don't know what they're in, currently, but, I know I have a ton of them in my tire drawers.

Thank you, my friend! Yes, I had to figure out something, because I didn't have anything to anchor them to, on top of the hood. I couldn't think of any reason this wouldn't work! I've made new bases for them, that look better, I think.

This thing is gorgeous, Pierre. I particularly love this shot!

They're very nice kits. I'm building one, and have a sealed one, in case of emergency.😃

Thanks, David. I think body color for the bases will be best. Ha! You're right about the stacks! I hadn't thought about that!

I love the yellow, Pierre! It pops, with the red and black.

Thanks, gentlemen! They look perfectly feasible, to me, as far as workability. That's important, I think. I will probably paint the bases, mounted in-place. Body color seems a good choice for them. You know, David, you're right. I don't ever overthink anything! I'm not sure what came over me. Thankfully, it's passed.😂 Here are some photos of the nearer-to-final version...Thanks for looking!

As I thought about making hood latches, and how I could make them operable, it dawned on me that I was way over-complicating things. I had made the assemblies that would catch the hook of the latch, and placed them on/into the front of the hood. Looking at them, I though, "You idiot! Why don't you just run long hood pins (from the same locations the spring latches would have been installed), through the eyes of the catches?" A pair of sewing needles later, they were all but done! I still need to do the mounting hardware for the pins, but, that has to wait until after paint, anyway. I'm going to make new scratchplates that are more "decorative". What do you guys think? I kind of like it! Thanks for looking!

I thought it looked like a fun, cool little project, before you started on it. Now, it's even cooler! Nice work, Jim!

Nice! Francis got me interested in plating. I like the dimension it can add to the toolbox, so to speak. I haven't been able to spring for the setup, yet, but I think it's in my future.

Those are the ones! I already have the hood pieces made. I think I have a way figured out, to make them work, too. I'm going to mess around with them, later. Thanks, DW. Appreciate the heads-up.

Well, every time I think I am ready to shoot color, I find something else that needs done. The rear window trim, on the driver's side was wavy, so I had to clean it up, then add some material, because the gap was too wide. That'll be cured, by the time I get home. I can then finish that. I also discovered that the front of the hood isn't at all conducive to using hood pins. I have decided to use the latches like those used on Willys gassers, and such. It took some thought, but, I think I have a workable design. I hope to have some updates, tomorrow morning. We'll see! Thanks for looking!

You definitely need more overdrive! Especially racing at elevation.😄

Very nice. Yes, those are visually much more interesting! Great work!

Hey, Tim! Nice to "see" you! No kidding about having to redo something after you were "sure" you had everything just right.🙄 Paint should be very close, now. Just a few minutes ago, I decided it was ready enough to wet sand with 3600 grit, to prepare for the next coat of primer. If that goes well, I'll tape the outside off, and shoot inside the body with satin black. I'll have to see if the paint I mixed for the body is still good. It's One-Shot enamel, and it's got a thick layer, on it, in the bottle. As long as there's liquid paint, underneath, it'll be fine! I just hope it's not solid. I guess I'll know, soon enough. Thanks for checking in, my friend.

Why, yes! Yes, it does!😃

I'm convinced, now, that it's bad adhesive. I hope they make it right, for you--I mean, they've been around, forever, and their reputation's good.

It's definitely getting there! I'm hoping to start with paint in the next few days, or so. With those decals, there's no way I'm leaving this in primer! I've been looking forward to seeing that, all together. That is probably true for all of us! There's some aspect of a project we don't look forward to. For me, that's definitely finish work! I, too, am looking forward to decal day! First comes painting day, however, once I'm satisfied the body's as good as i am going to get it. Thank you, my friend. Your comments are always appreciated! Not at all! I love primer, as well. My vision for this car, however, involves purple and gold leaf, so, I have to continue on!🙂 I does look cool, in primer, though! Thank you, Francis! I surely agree with that sentiment!

Perhaps you started with no specific knowledge of machining, but, clearly you've acquired a pretty fair amount of it!🙂 I know exactly what you're talking about. I'm getting a little more comfortable with the mill, and with using the handwheels to locate holes, but, I'm still a bit more comfortable with "drawing" them on my stock, then drilling them. Anyway, your work is fantastic, and very inspiring, to me. I thank you, for that!

That's pretty cool! Looks like a fun little project!

I think I was able to finally work around that by copying my text, then starting a reply, again, and pasting the text.

I am wondering if it's not the adhesive. Since you applied them over polished paint, silvering shouldn't be an issue. I am thinking the adhesive didn't dry clear.