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Straightliner59

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Everything posted by Straightliner59

  1. Straightliner59
    Awesome! Looking forward to seeing it! Thanks for the kind words re: the dash panel. I'd like the turned pattern to be more uniform, but, it does have the look.
  2. Straightliner59
    Hi, Joe. Thanks for the kind words! Those are the AMT Parts Pack tires. They are beauties! Rooster, I think you have a point! I'll get that taken care of!grin
  3. Straightliner59
    I've been playing around with gauges. I used photos from around the web for the gauge faces. The bezels are made from aluminum tubing. I have yet to install the lenses. I'm not thrilled with the engine turning on the panel, but it'll have to do, until I figure out a better way to accomplish it! I still need to add a few knobs and switches. This tool from Micro Mark was extremely helpful in cutting the bezels to thickness, as it has a bent rod that can be inserted above the clamping slot, and adjusted to regulate the length of the tubing to be cut. It made it an absolute breeze!
  4. Straightliner59
    Today, I got some paint and valve stems on the wheels--still a lot to do, before they're finished, but, I like the color. It's Design Master Modern Metals "Metallic Taupe". I also got the dash panels cut and formed. Next up for that will be poking some holes in the faceplate for gauges, switches, etc. I shot some white primer on the exhaust dumps. I still need to paint their insides dark grey/brown/black, and dust them with a blend of powdered pastels. I will be washing/shading and highlighting the wheels, and dusting them, inside, with a pastel blend, along with some powdered graphite, to simulate brake dust.
  5. Straightliner59
    JC, those are from Johan's Sox and Martin 'Cuda. They are very nice!
  6. Straightliner59
    Snake, I hope I can inspire you to get your Monza out and work on it. Would enjoy seeing your vision! Thank you, Karl. The stance has to be right, or it just doesn't work, no? Thank you, Ron. I've been spending some time on the interior; The door panels, in particular. I cut them from .005" aluminum flashing (can't say enough, how much I love this stuff!), then rolled them at the top, over a length of 1/16" brass tubing, to create a rounded bend. As you can see, that left the upper edge of the panels straight, so they didn't match the window line. To correct that, I cut a section of aluminum door threshold I'd picked up, somewhere, and cut and filed it to the desired profile. Then, using a ball peen hammer, I formed the top of the panel to more closely match the window line. I'll do some fine tuning to the panels, yet, but, the improvement is apparent. Lastly, I cut the reliefs for the dash. I'll also add some rolled beads to the panels, along with window cranks and door handles. I'm planning to smooth the bumps on the promo's dash, and form some aluminum sheet over it, to make a new dash. I've also begun work on the trans/driveline hump. Attached are a few progress photos. Comments welcome, as always!
  7. Straightliner59
    Thanks, David! I agree with you, the scoop will not be part of the finished model--I want to leave the lines of the body alone.
  8. Straightliner59
    Thanks, Snake! I'm kinda' liking it, too! I've added a couple of items, now: exhaust tubes, a new chin spoiler (I'm going to reshape the bottom, to eliminate the optical illusion that it's got a concave profile--I know it's straight, because I cut it against a steel straightedge.) and the rear spoiler.
  9. Straightliner59
    Thanks, Dave and Joel! Much appreciated!
  10. Straightliner59
    Sorry guys, I've been away for a bit. All your comments are much appreciated! Steve Milberry, thanks. I like a nice sleeper, and I never much cared for those pontoon flares. I've made a little progress, since my last post; I removed the floor and replaced it with styrene sheet--I still need to add the tunnel, which is why I am going with the new floor. I wanted to get rid of the console. I turned some rotors on the lathe (I use the term "turned" loosely, all I did was turn some aluminum rod to diameter, drill it, and cut it off--hardly a complicated operation!), and paired them with caliper castings from molds Don Fahrni and I made back in the '80s. Gotta' have that "eye candy"! Also, the car is now on the wheels (I still need to drill the wheels for valve stems and paint them.). I am very happy with the stance! Here are a few photos of the car as it sits, now. Future plans involve a dark, metallic green paint job, buckets from Johan's Sox and Martin 'Cuda, aluminum dash and, perhaps, door panels. Hope you guys continue to enjoy its progress!
  11. Straightliner59
    I really do have a thing for curbside models. I'm waiting to tackle a couple of clearance issues with the Chevelle, so thought I'd play with this thing, for a while. Obviously, it's a promo--I ain't afraid to modify them! I've accrued a few of them, over the years, because I've always loved the styling of this car since GM introduced it (I love Vegas, too!)--too bad the underpinnings weren't better. That said, I've also been hankering to build something road-racing inspired. I like the looks of the early Trans Am series cars. Unfortunately, by the time the Monza was introduced, "IMSA" flares were en-vogue, and I'm not nuts about those. So, I decided to build this as a street car with early T/A influences. I've removed the rear seat and covered that area. I'll probably replace the floor, as well. I've begun work on a basic rollbar assembly. It'll get a pair of racing seats, and a cleaned-up dash. I'm going with these Minilite wheels (I found them on Ebay, last year. They're very nice!). Tires are from the AMT parts packs. I will put disc brakes at all four corners--one thing I enjoy when I build curbside models is adding as much detail as I can, while still keeping it curbside (don't turn it over; it'll retain the promo chassis!) You can see the aluminum chin spoiler, and, I'll add a simple spoiler to the rear, as well. Not much done, so far, but here's a first look! Comments and questions welcome!
  12. Straightliner59
    Excellent work, Jim! That baby looks just right!
  13. Straightliner59
    Figured I was far enough along to put everything together for a test fit, and put 'er on the wheels. No tierod, at this time, because I haven't assembled it with the teeny-tiny nuts and bolts, yet. I feel that moment is coming soon. I like the way it sits. It looks pretty badazz--like a '70s race car!
  14. Straightliner59
    That is nothing but cool, man! Subtle, low and sleek. Beautiful model!
  15. Straightliner59
    Paul said:"This is about as close as I've been been able to get as far as used Magnesium dow coated. Its Alclad Mag over white primer. Of course the make up of the Magnesium will change the color of it" Hahahahaha! That looks almost perfect! And, that's closer than anybody else has got, as far as I've seen!
  16. Straightliner59
    Thanks, JC. Now I need to figure out my next bit of insanity!
  17. Straightliner59
    Got a bit more done! The drivetrain is assembled, complete with driveshaft loop. The interior is coming together. Seats are from a '74 Vega promo. I butchered the interior tub to extract them! I'm not sure if I'm happy with the trans u-joint. I may be able to rotate the assembly, to hide its shortcomings, but the diff yoke is tacky glued in place, at the moment.
  18. Straightliner59
    Swapped out the diff for one that's more of a Dana 60. Had never paid attention to the one in the Johan Sox and Martin, but, it's really only a Dana 60 in the rear cover. The new one is from a Monogram kit, I am pretty sure, but I'm not sure which one. Anyway, here are some shots of the new diff, with the driveshaft. I have the retainers formed for attaching the u-joint to the pinion yoke. I also got a bit farther along with the interior assembly.
  19. Straightliner59
    After a few tries, I am finally happy with this bit of weirdness! I the sixth photo down, the kit driveshaft is alongside, for size reference.
  20. Straightliner59
    I enjoy building curbside stuff, if I think I can generate enough visual interest. In fact, I think most of my builds are curbside, since most dragsters, especially with bodies on them don't have much of anything to look at, on their bottoms.
  21. Straightliner59
    Thanks, Ted! It's been a ton of work, but, I am happy with it, so far! After about six attempts, I finally have a pinion yoke that is small enough (the one pictured above is too big.). Going to head in and work on finishing the driveshaft, in a few.
  22. Straightliner59
    It appears that Slixx may have some left. http://www.slixx.com/dm-1427.htm?id=2902
  23. Straightliner59
    I picked these up several years back at various locations (Michael's, maybe Walmart, and Crafts Direct in St. Cloud, MN). I've used them for replicating different metal finishes. Yesterday at Hobby Lobby, I saw a can of Krylon that looked as if it might be perfect for replicating newly-treated Dow 7. Sorry I can't recall the color, but it was in a large can, and looked very close, and the flake appeared more metallic than metalflake. I wish I'd picked it up.
  24. Straightliner59
    Absolutely beautiful work, JC! It sits just right; Excellent detail. Love this model!
  25. Straightliner59
    Now that is cool, Bill! I didn't have a ton of research, when I started this, but found enough to get this close. I'm glad you like it! Thanks for saying so!
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