Straightliner59

First off, this is absolutely beautiful. Your presentations are an envy of mine! As Claude mentioned, the finishes of the varying materials and surfaces are spot on. That adds so much depth to a model, and you've done it, wonderfully, here! That said, I have been eyeing one of Fernando's MM 166 Ferraris, because I want my own "Red Barchetta"!

I always love seeing your work. You always capture a moment in time, and it's always incredibly realistic in every aspect. Excellent job!

Excellent work, all around, Pierre! What a beautiful model. The hood straps and hardware are fantastic. Great job, my friend!

I like the old issues as time capsules, of sorts. It's interesting, looking through the SAE CDs, to see the old ads, and they can spark a ton of memories!

I added some color to the restraint straps. They need to be flame retardant. Typically, they are silver, in color. I used small makeup sponge swabs to rub some SNJ Aluminum powder over the dark flat grey I had painted them with. I followed the SNJ with oil and a hint of rust, from a Tamiya weathering kit, to represent the oil and clutch dust they'd encounter in a fuel car pit. I painted the brackets with Krylon Semi-Flat black. They'll be adjusted to length, once the hat's off the motor, again. Comments are welcomed and appreciated. Thanks for looking!

I haven't disassembled the car again, yet--I've been enjoying looking at it, in the display case, as it is, sitting next to the Junior Fueler. They're a good-looking pair!? In the meantime, I've been working on parts/assemblies that will be added on, once it's apart. These brackets bolt onto/with the header flanges, and anchor the blower restraint straps. I have photoetched ones, but they aren't wide enough to fit proper-width straps, so...I made them using a technique Don showed me, years ago. I flattened brass tubing, then cut the shape on the mill. It could be relatively easily done by hand, I just wanted the added accuracy of the mill. I then soldered a length of .020" brass rod across the end of each, to represent the tube/pin assembly of the real thing. I gave some thought to using tubing with a wire pin, but the smallest brass tube I have is .0032". That was just too big, so, this is my compromise. I'd like to note, too, that my good-old 40 watt Weller iron proved best for this job. Also shown is the assembly for the chute release handles. The bracket they're mounted to should have been soldered to the chassis long ago. I'll figure out a way to glue it, now--possibly a dab of JB Weld. Your comments are always welcomed. Thanks for looking!

Oh, man. That is perfect!

Pierre, thank you for your kind and encouraging words. It's true, that punch list seems to grow, as we progress! I am working on the blower restraint brackets, currently. I will most certainly shoot the best photos I can, once it's complete! Thanks, again!

This is a real beauty, Pierre. The seats are fabulous! Excellent work!

I will be honored to do that, once it's finished. I still have a few things to do, before I can permanently mount the wheels/tires and the body. Once that's done, I will need to finishe the top of the engine, and fuel system. I'm shooting for the end of the year. Thank you, Andy!

Maybe try some polycarbonate paint for RC cars bodies? It's made to flex on unprimed plastic, so it's probably worth a shot.

Yes, Plastic Fanatic wasn't always easy to find, here, either. MCM was generally a hobby shop only deal, except for a brief time in which it could be found at Barnes& Noble. I can imagine that neither would have been available, overseas. Back in the 1980s, Fine Scale was always worth reading. The last few I saw (fulfillment for a Scale Auto subscription) weren't anywhere near as informative as their earlier issues. You're dead-on, about those. Model Car Builder ceased a few years ago. That was mostly an online publication, I think. Physical copies could be ordered through the publisher's website, where digital copes could be read, via subscription. I ordered a couple of copies of the issue that had my dragster on the cover. Was that one of those things that couldn't be viewed in the UK? It is history that should be preserved, I think.

Some of us started reading it before it was MCM! ?

Thank you, Dave! I still haven't taken it apart to do more work on it. I have been working some on parts that don't need to have the car apart--yet!? I really can see the light at the end of this tunnel! Thanks, John! Did you see when I dropped the first plaque? D'oh! At least the glass didn't break.? They put on a nice inaugural event!

No photos, because they aren't glamorous, but, I got 90 #73 high speed bits, shipped for $15! I couldn't pass it up.

Tim, you're welcome. I'm glad you find them useful, too! They're awesome! I see some of the tiny stuff guys are machining, and thought, "Hell, I should be able to machine one side off of these, pretty easily." I think I still ruined a couple of them!?

Thanks, my friend! I do appreciate the Best Engineered award. It feels like I've done a fair amount of it, here, for sure!? I appreciate your advice and information, along the way, as well. Thanks again, Ian! I appreciate that, Bob! Thank you. Thanks, Jesse! I appreciate it. You've been watching this thing, for a long dang time!

Thanks, David!

Thank you, Carl. I appreciate it!

Man, that is just hard to believe! What's wrong with those people?

Here are the two awards the model picked up, yesterday. I was very happy the model was so well received!

I went to a new local show, yesterday. I ended up not buying anything, although I came dangerously close to dropping $150 for a 3-D printed belly tanker. The goodie bags were excellent! A couple of lengths of wire, some Optima batteries and ignition coils from VCG Resins, pre-drilled distributors from Iceman and a scale 3-D Printer from Scale Speed Garage and a couple of droppers and tiny plastic spoons from Scale Finishes. Randy Ditton gifted me with a set of HRM's Chaparral wheels and tires for my next "project to complete". I had some really great success with my entries, as well! I took my Nostalgia Fueler to enter in the "WIP" category. It ended up winning the club's "Excellence In Engineering" Award and Best In Show. My old Monogram "Drag Strip Hot Rod" '32 won for best Pre-'50s, the Monogram Midget to Sprint Car won best Race Car, the Supermod won Best Engine and the Mack won Best Semi/Large Truck. I built none of these models for anything but my own enjoyment. I am always pleasantly surprised, when I win!

There was a new local show, here, yesterday. As I was looking at the vendors' tables, I was recognized by the models I had placed on the table. When I started to engage the speaker in conversation, I looked down, and my eyes caught this, on the table. "Hey! I know who you are!", I said, smiling. We introduced ourselves to each other, and Randy was kind enough to let me look over this copper-bodied beauty. Admittedly, it may have been more of a fondling. Just--wow. It was an honor to be able to hold it, and admire the fine craftsmanship Randy has created, in this. It was a highlight of my day. Randy asked me what was next, once the Nostalgia Fueler is complete. I suggested that it would likely be either the '53 Corvette, or the Monogram Chaparral. He helped make that decision by offering a set of HRM Chaparral wheels and tires, then refusing to accept payment, for them. Thanks, Randy. That was incredibly kind, of you! It was nice to meet you, and I enjoyed our conversation. Beautiful work, sir!

Thank you, Snake! I must be doing something right. I took it to a show, today, because they had a WIP category. It won Best In Show, and their Best-Engineered award! I guess it's all downhill, from here! ? I appreciate that, Bill. Thanks! It's quite a fun journey.

Temporarily dressed up and ready to go to work!