Straightliner59

Thank you, my friend! I don't know why I can't just be happy with some injection setup that's already made, instead of scratchbuilding one, every time, it might help to simplify some of these things!😅 I'm not sure why that whole simple project thing never works out, either! I think that mag is one of the nicest models I've built. I am very happy with it! I'm glad you're enjoying this thread, and I'm glad to have you along--even if it's twenty more pages!😂 It shouldn't be twenty more pages, however. I shot some primer on the body, and have started fixing some of the flaws. Earlier in the project, I started re-scribing the door and trunk lines. It's a bit of a challenge on this thing, because the front, upper lines for both front doors are sort of non-existent. Those had to be laid out in pencil, then scribed using a photoetched template from Tri-Tool. I deepened the door and trunk lines, and also added some strip plastic to the inner, under edge of the fenders. and made a couple of filler panels for the area behind the grille. The panels are pictured with a scriber I made, based off NOBLNG's post from some time back. It's designed and used to scribe window trim, and it works great! I removed the wipers from the cowl, and "filled" that. This stuff is going slowly, because A: I don't enjoy bodywork. And, B: I'm not overly-confident in my bodywork skills. Finally, there's 😄 I really don't enjoy bodywork! I love primer, and if I didn't have a clear vision of what I want this to be, I'd leave it in primer. As always, your critiques, questions and comments are welcomed. Thanks for looking!

As Brian said, it's an utter joy to watch you make these parts. You're a skilled machinist, to be sure! Something to aspire to! Thank you for sharing.

Always such beautiful fabrication, Pierre! Those headers on the 1:1 car look huge!

I went to high school in Glendive, so I could feel that pain!

Colpar is still very good. Don't blame you for avoiding Denver. I think there's a Hobbytown, in Fort Collins, at least there was, last time I was up there. I haven't checked it out, as I was always running a route, at night. If Don's Hobbies was still in Greeley, that would have been worth the trip!

I had watched a few of the different segments. It's simply amazing! And beautiful.

Okay! Hoping to shoot a guide coat of primer, after work. A little cleanup sanding to do, but, I am very close!

Thanks, Steve!

Tinted windshields, other than factory tinting were verboten, for Gassers. And pretty much any other drag car, too.

Thank you, David! Back when I was giving some thought to writing, one of my teachers told me that after I wrote something, I should put it aside for a couple of days, then revisit it. She said that my opinion of it may have changed--it may not be as good as I thought, or, it may not be as bad as I thought. Given a couple of days, now, I think they do look pretty decent! Besides, they're barely visible!😁 I think the injector stacks are going to look very cool, with the painted body. They came out quite nicely.

Very, very nice! A scratchbuilder's delight!

I wonder how UV activated resin would stand the test of time. It would certainly be clear and glass-slick, at the start. It might be worth a shot.

I do appreciate that! I hope to reciprocate with all the guys who inspire and educate me, as well! I pretty highly value the relationships I've developed with a few of the other modelers, here!

Thanks, Brian. I was surprised at how easily the wire went through! The wire I used bound a little, right as the loops were closing, but, I was able to get them tight enough, that they look okay, I think. But, feeding it through the eyes was easy as throwing a hotdog down a hallway!😃

Thanks, Scott! I appreciate that! I'm glad you're finding new stuff, each time, you look. I've always enjoyed people's models that are that way. I have always found that "interesting" for lack of a better word. Thanks again! Thank you, my friend! It's definitely important to at least attempt to keep things as close to scale, as possible. When they aren't, things can look cluttered, I think. Funnily, enough, the balls are bright yellow. They were quilting pins that I turned down. I debated leaving them as they were, because the finish looks very similar to a scale tennis ball--dull, and almost fuzzy-looking. Ultimately, I decided that they wouldn't stay bright yellow, for very long, hanging around pit areas, so I rubbed some pastels on them. And, you are correct, I am beginning the bodywork! I've re-scribed the door lines, and started getting the mold lines cleaned up. I need to do some research on the mouldings for the windshield and backlight, because they are very faint, on the model. Thank you for your kind words, my friend, and thanks for following along! Thank you, my friend! I'm pretty excited! I'm really looking forward to seeing it in paint!

Tethered!

I pick up so many machining tips through your threads, Francis! It's been a big help in my inspiration, and in the progression of my skills. Thank you, my friend.

The plug wire chronicles: I wanted to use orange plug wires on this car. The first wire I had planned to use was a fair amount smaller than the wire that's on the model. Unfortunately, it was highly glossy, and glue wouldn't stick to it. No problem, I have some old MSC orange plug wire, which I installed into the spark plug holes, using grey wire insulation as boots. So far, so good. Once I installed the mag, and was ready to start making the boots, I discovered that the insulation on this orange wire makes it a couple of thousandths thicker than MSC's other plug wire material. That small added thickness made my normal method of making boots unusable. I remembered a friend of mine who used built up paint to create 90-degree boots for a Monogram Cobra. I always thought it looked pretty good, so, in place of built up layers of paint, I applied small "dablets" of UV-activated glue to 90-degree bends in the wire. Once they were built up, I painted them with Humbrol British Equipment Grey. I applied the boots as I installed each plug wire. It's not what I was planning on, and it's not quite as nice, but it looks okay, and the mag's not out in the open, anyway. These wires were very stiff, and difficult to work with, too. I wish they were better, but, they're not as bad as they might have been. 🙄 Once the plug wires were connected to their correct terminals, it was time to add a little color to the fun! I installed my whimsically-colored injector stacks, with their protective plugs. I have some time to consider whether or not I'm finished with the chassis and engine assembly while I get some work done to the body. I think it may have a slight twist up, at the front left. It's not a lot, and the body-to-chassis mounting is about as sturdy as it could get, so that may be enough to pull it out. I'm looking forward to getting paint, and my decals on this thing! I'm getting excited! Comments, questions and critiques are always welcomed. Thanks for looking! P.S. I've since added the tether cord to the tennis balls.

I thank you, my friend! I think you just might know a thing or two about determination, yourself!

Testors 1146 has never been out of the line.

Those wheels look much better! I have some parts from a Johan kit lying around here, someplace.

I have punches in many sizes. I just find the right size, and make some clear plastic discs to fit. That said, I most frequently just build my gauges, so I am able to use/make stuff that fits together (proper sized "glass" for the opening).

I think I probably bent my first one up in the mid-'70s, or so. It's been around for longer than I, I suspect.

That's what I strive for. Most of the guys in modeling I have "hung out" with (some are online friends) espouse that philosophy. The guy who first got me interested in this stuff told me that, too. He probably hasn't touched a model in 50 years, but his advice stuck with me. Without scratchbuilding, I think I would be bored with modeling. I mostly started scratchbuilding, because I simply found it more enjoyable than scraping and sanding mold lines, etc. Your kind words are always appreciated, my friend! I am very happy with the way this mag turned out!