Straightliner59

My next project will be fixing up my side cutters! I really enjoy advanced stuff, like drawing wire, etc.

Thanks, Tim. They really are cool-looking dragsters! I sincerely appreciate your kind words, regarding my project. By "inserts" are you referring to where the panels overlap? If so, it took me a while to figure out how to accomplish that, satisfactorily. I ended up doing it like this: I cut brass strip to my desired "profile", smoothed it, and superglued it to the jaws of a sheet metal hand brake. I then aligned and taped the sheet into position, and laid the tool on my biggest anvil and gave it a rap with the ballpeen hammer. It worked out very well!

A while back, I ordered some AWG-sized bits (for my domed set) on Ebay. When I received them, they'd been shipped from a place right around the corner from my work!? Next time, I will just walk over there before work, some day.

Yep, they've been around, forever! I have a couple of their small pinvises that I use more than any others, when the bits are small enough. I'm sure I have a lot of their tools around the shop.

Absolutely! If you're not enjoying it, there's no point to any of this (unless it's your profession). I have known several people who seemed to build mostly for competition. At least half of them don't build, anymore, claiming burnout. I can't even comprehend that.

I use those to fill a hole!?

I've had good luck with Gyros, for many, many years. They're readily available, too.

When I first saw it, I knew that, it might be handy to have around. Turns out, I use it much more frequently than I'd imagined! And, you're correct--its possibilities are greatly expanded by interchanging disc size with punch and depression size. Here's a shot of the tools I have. In case anybody's wondering--insulin syringes are excellent tools for applying liquid cement!

Yes, definitely. My block set has 24 holes/dies from 2.3mm-24mm. I think I found it at HF. The block is a cube, as opposed to the rectangular shape of Allan's, above. It really makes for a nice set of headlights.

Curbside is a model that's built so that you only see what you see, when a real car is sitting "by the curb". No engine (except for parts protruding from the hood), no chassis detail. I generally add some detail to the interior, as well as details to tires and wheels, headlights, turn signals and taillights, master power switches for drag racers, etc. I enjoy building them.. ...

Since I told him about the doming block, I can answer this. I use a punch of the proper size for the headlight, from a set I bought at Harbor Freight. I drop the resulting disc into the chosen "dimple" in the doming block, and use the proper die, for the size. They dome, smoothly. It's the best method for making headlights I've discovered. You could even melt a ball onto a bit of clear, stretched sprue, and put an element in it. That's how I did the Vega and Chevy II, above. I did rectangular headlights for my Monza, by building a little box from strip styrene, and burnishing the foil into it, to dish it. That was a tip that was provided me by Steve Milberry. For aluminum sheet, I use Maid-O-Metal tooling aluminum available at HL.

Yep! Going to be giving this a look! Thanks for sharing! I've seen the cans, but never given it a try.

Here in Colorado, we have legal things for that, that are much safer!? The containers are very handy, as well! I have nothing at all against 3-D printed models. I'd echo what others have said: It's another tool in the box, or another path up the mountain. There are some parts I wouldn't bother trying to do, anymore, due to the superiority of 3-D prints. Carburetors, are a start. Fireball's carbs are unbelievably beautifully detailed. I wouldn't even mess with any others, much less try to build one. While I am certain it could be done, it's not worth the time, or effort. The transformer for the magneto of my Nostalgia Top Fuel car has close to 30 pieces, in it. I am happy with it, but, it's not anywhere close to what a 3-D printer could achieve.

I should have mentioned two-part glazing putty. I forgot it, because I don't do enough custom bodywork to have to use it, very often.

I use super glue and micro balloons, mostly, especially on smaller areas. I also like Milliput, for larger areas, because it can be shaped with a dampened finger. Some guys like super glue with baking soda, but, I think it's too hard, and doesn't sand away as fast as the plastic.

Thank you, Trevor. I appreciate that! Thanks, Tim! That means a lot, to me!

Thank you, Kenneth! Those Enderles were a pain! I wasn't going to build a junior fueler without them, though.

Glad that worked, for you! I've been using it, for years. I usually use lenses from my parts boxes.

I use Tropical Shine nail boards. I get them at Sally Beauty Supply, or via Ebay. I use their black, blue and pink boards, and their four-way polishing board. They're washable, and salon quality, so they have a pretty long life.

Thanks, Chris! I appreciate that, Mark. I always knew I would get back to this, one day. I wasn't sure when. Yes, that's exactly the kind of guy Don was--if you really were interested in how to do something, he had time for you. He truly built some incredible stuff!

I am sitting here with a smile on my face! Such a beautiful bit of work, my friend!

A Turbonique axle looks to be a pretty simple scratchbuild.

I hate the junk! There, I said it.

Like Bill said, the more tools (and supplies) the better! I have a dozen different pin vises, about a thousand carbide PC board bits of various sizes, and a couple of drill bit sets and the iconic #61-#80 dome and a bunch of backups, for those. I hate needing something, and discovering that I don't have it!?

I think it was much more interesting, back then. Some great stories came out of those shady dealings. Crooked promoters--Jet Car Bob Smith backing the car up to a tower at a track the promoter was trying not to pay him, and asking, "So, are you gonna' pay me, or am I gonna' light this match?" Pyramid schemes funded Soapy Sales, among others. Broadway Freddie DeName, Gordon Tatum (I think-the guy who bought the Surfers II car), there's a long list of ne'er do wells in drag racing history.