mikemodeler

As Unforgiven said, your skills have come a long way and it shows. Were you going for a stealth look on the car? I only ask because the finish seems more semi-gloss than shiny and I didn't know if that was your goal? Nice job on the interior details, keep it up!

I have been on that quest for years!!!

Like Jordan said it resembles the Chevy Van from 71-77 and if I remember correctly, the instructions do not reference a specific year. The only knock is that this van has mild flares molded in the wheel openings so if you want a "stock" van, you must shave them down. The rear end also sits a little high and needs to be lowered to look correct for the stock look. This van is perfect for a work van as it has no windows.

Is that the Atlantic Ocean in the background Dr.? Nice view if it is! Absolutely stunning work here, you have the makings of your next book or DVD going on here. EDIT: I just found this post and realized it was from last year! Dr. Cranky, this is one amazing dio!

Looking good and that is a very sized shop- one I would love to have! The lift is a nice touch and I can't wait to see what is next!

Like the build, the paint job is out of this world, nice job Tyrone! Your builds always amaze me, especially the details. If you were to highlight the graphics, I suggest a lime green or silver as I think that will make the graphics really pop. The detailing would take the patience of a saint and a steady hand but it could be worth it if you are up to the challenge. You might be able to find a fine point pen that will work on the paint job but I would be afraid of it smudging or smearing. Practice on a scrap body, I would hate for you to mess up that paint job!

A big thank you to Harry and Gregg for this forum and injecting some fun into the hobby. I have more thanks for others but I need to save them for the next 12 days.

That sure looks like Harry's winter car to me- ya know so the Mustang stays nice and clean! IIRC that is the countryside near where Harry lives in Metro CHEE-CA-GO. Oh, and Bob Turner says this is not model related and blah, blah ,blah, blah!

The two I bought from The Modelhaus were as perfect as one would expect from Don! Very reasonably priced and it looks great on the mockup. If you can't get any help from the person you bought it from and still want one, contact The Modelhaus and you will be happy.

Congrats to you both Terry, you are a lucky man and may you both have many more years together! I was gonna make a crack about her eyesight (or lack of) but Wayne beat me to it!

Bandit Resins is reworking their mold for their short bed fleetside and hopefully will have it available soon. I was lucky to have bought one at a show earlier this year and need to get building! I like the two trucks Tyrone and am waiting to see how finish these as I have always been impressed with your work. Sean- you aren't the only one who wants that truck, it has been on Christmas list for 21 years and my wife still hasn't bought it for me.......maybe this is the year!

This should be a fun one to watch, hope you can do it quickly as I have modelers' ADD! I will guess that you are going with a full articulating suspension? That engine looks like it has some power, are you sticking with the tunnel ram or are you thinking of using a fuel injection unit? Got any updates yet? :D

Chuck I would buy a couple of these kits but for whatever reason Revell saw fit to not to put them out. I think the poor sales on the other DONK kits might have scared them off. If they had brought the Cutlass out first it may have been a different story as it probably would have sold better than the Monte.

Jeff, many times the model companies will tool up a kit or announce a re-issue and then wait to see what the pre-orders are before pouring the molds. If there is not enough demand for a kit, they can minimize their losses by not having thousands of a kit laying around that no one will buy. Just because a hundred or more members of a forum say they want one or will buy a dozen that doesn't translate into enough to justify production. There is also the retailers and considering only Hobby Lobby, Michaels and Hobbytown USA are national retailers of kits, if they don't commit to buying a model, that can influence the perception of how well a kit will sell. I wonder if a Model King could "lease" that Cutlass tooling to get 5,000 of those out to the public? It is possible that avenue has already been explored and was cost prohibitive, not sure.

Jesse's bike was built to ride, Jr's bike was built for the show and I don't know what Sr's "bike" was built for! Unlike the original "Biker Build Off" shows, this one was scripted for TV and was not about building bikes. The American Chopper series brought the Teutels' fame and fortune but it appears to also have divided a family, mostly over money. I wouldn't worry about them unless they haven't saved their money because they look to be doing okay. I always wondered how Sandra Bullock and Jesse James made it as long as they did because that was a marriage doomed to fail from the start. He might be a great fabricator but I have my doubts about his morals. I remember his early shows where he went out a got a new tattoo and his first wife was pissed because she needed money for the household. That could have been scripted but I think the point was to show Jesse was his own man and he did what HE wanted. Really disappointed in the show, thank goodness I had it on DVR so I could fast forward through the parts I didn't want to see.

Art, Can you tell us what model year the coupe will be? I would love a '41 Chebby Coupe!

I voted model- just seems like a few details are screaming model to me. Guess I will find out Friday if my streak is intact!

It was my understanding that Neil Young rescued Lionel trains from the brink of bankruptcy and also as a means to help his children who suffer from Cerebal Palsy (IIRC). He viewed it as something that had value to many people worldwide and he wanted to keep that spirit alive. Does not surprise me that Neil Peart is a builder- he is a perfectionist when it comes to his drumming and song writing so it is only fitting that he has a hobby that fits his personality.

You might be able to cobble some of them together depending on what they are. The ones without engines can always be built as a curbside model and if you are just looking for a model to put on a shelf, a frame really isn't necessary, just come up with a way to attach the wheels. Ed also has a great idea in that they could be used in a diorama setting. A little bit of weathering and they would be good to go! Keep your eye open on the swap section, you might be able to find some parts or possible trades.

Shane pretty much summed it up. There have been countless posts over the years regarding Wal Mart and models and I think your topic got locked before it spiraled out of control like the most recent one did. Don't be afraid to post, all contributions are welcome!

Me thinks the good Dr. Cranky is starting to come up with an idea for his next book...Custom Painting ! I am glad that Donn's methods are working for you Dr. as I was hooked on his DVD when I met him last year. The models he had on display were amazing with the depth of their shine and the custom colors he came up with for them. I am working on setting up a paint area in the garage as I want it to be safe and also clean so I can get dirt free paint jobs when I do them. It was funny to read about Dr. Cranky wetting down his spray area, I remember doing that with friends years ago when I would help them paint 1:1 cars at the body shop or in the garage. Keep the information coming, I am having fun reading about it!

Keep encouraging her on her builds and help her develop skills so she stays interested in the hobby. There are a few females that post here and they build some nice models! Any kid that wants to build is good news for the model companies and us older modelers that are trying to keep the hobby alive.

George, sounds like you are getting that sometimers they talk about on the news! They say the memory is the second thing to go, I forget what the first is!!!!!

Looks great, where is the ladder to get into it???????

Well, it won't be the IRS unfortunately ! With the way things are being run, don't look for any social service agencies to cutback and if the PO can't turn a profit or come close, then change is needed in it's operations. I would say that at least 2 of the 6 days mail is delivered to my house it is nothing but junk mail.