Smitty

These are beautiful models Cliff - a real feast for the eyes! Your attention to detail is amazing. I remember seeing tractors like these at a nearby steam show. They really are something to see. In those days they certainly went out of their way to make these machines look nice. They are rolling pieces of art. Eric

Cool photo. It appears that a full-size chevy is coming down the line right behind the Camaro.

Great looking Mopar Curt! That's a beautiful and realistic color choice. Your Mom had good taste! The convertible top well was a cool addition, and those redlines really set it off. Our paths have not crossed for quite a while. Hopefully I'll will see you and Gene at an upcoming show when things are back to 'normal.' Eric

Cliff, When I mentioned this model in an email last week I mistakenly referred to it as a '32 Ford. Maybe it was the '32 Ford grill. I was surprised to learn that Ford even made a two-door Model A phaeton. I found out that Ford offered almost two dozen body styles of the Model A, not including commercial vehicles! This style makes a great looking hot rod and that top certainly is realistic looking. The stance looks spot on and your brass radiators are always cool pieces of craftsmanship. I'm also a big fan of chrome reverse wheels and wide white wall tires, and I have to say of all the colours that I like on a car, this red has to be right at the top of my list. A classy car and another pristine build. Thanks for posting it! Eric

I'm a big fan of 1949 to 1951 'Shoebox' fords and this model is one of a collection I'm planning on building. This one was intended to be a 'working mans' hot rod, or someone's daily driver from the late 1950's. I started with the AMT convertible kit and attached the Modelhaus resin two door sedan roof. Other changes include shaving all badges and the door handles as well as shortening the body side trim. The engine is warmed up using the performance parts that came in the AMT convertible kit - with the exception of the headers which I made out of solder. The hood has louvers added using tiny strips of electrical tape which is a technique given to me by some very good fellow modeller friends. I made the front wheels posable with brass tubing for spindles. The wheel discs are scratch built using the bottoms of aluminum soda cans and sanded to give them a 'spun' look. I used Testors Jade Green metallic enamel paint with Modelmaster clear enamel over it. The interior is custom tuck and roll and there's a 'suicide' steering knob. A couple of things I added that I remember seeing on cars as a boy, even into the early sixties are the chrome 'half moon' headlight covers and the tailpipes cut at an angle.

What a great looking model. Whenever I go to open a post about yours or Larry's models, I feel like a kid opening a present on Christmas morning! Larry's passion for these trucks is quite apparent to say the least. When I look at the photos of the completed chassis I try to imagine sitting down and fabricating all those components. I like all the work that went into the pivoting drivers wiper and the little tracks for the swing out windshield. I think I'll stick to the parts that come in my model boxes - for now. I'd heard of 'worm and sector' steering before, but I wasn't quite sure what the term meant. So I'm getting an education here! Adding those 3D printed scripts to the hood must have been pretty satisfying, like putting the icing on the cake. Killer paint job too. Thanks for posting this. Eric

What a great looking trio of sedan deliveries Cliff! This latest addition is a very cool and a super clean build, especially considering the extensive changes you had to make to the source models. You've done a tremendous job creating a unique model that we'll never see as a kit. At one time vehicles like this were simply a 'part of the scenery', but are so rare today and really nice to see as a model. It's interesting to learn that GM tooled up separate sheet metal for a Pontiac to work with the Chevrolet platform intended for the Canadian market. Eric

You did a beautiful job on this '34 Ford Cliff. Another cool and super clean build. As some others have mentioned, it is nice to see a five window style for a change. It's interesting that with a couple of minor exceptions, you had all the parts for this one already on hand. That must be some parts bin you have! That's an eye-catching and unexpected colour you chose, and I like the little flares you put on the exhaust tips too. Eric

Beautiful job on this. It was done so long ago, but this kit was on my 'bucket list' and I just recently started it. In my opinion yours and Mr. Obsessive's build may share the title of 'gold standard' for this kit. Thanks for the extensive photo documentation.

Cliff, It's great to see how you would mix a few traditional touches with a contemporary hot rod design. It's cool to see those ventilated brake discs behind the vintage style indy car wheels for instance. I'm always amazed at how you can scratch-build the entire front suspension and still have the stance look spot on. There's so much scratch building on this one it must have felt almost like fabricating a full scale car! Having the 'designers eye' for proportion makes it a success. Thanks for posting! Eric

Your GTO is looking really good Gene. It's a nice replica of the movie car. I'm a fan of The Punisher movie too. I hated seeing the GTO destroyed as well, starting when Harry Heck stuffed his '69 Roadrunner into the back of it. (Ouch!) No respect... Eric

I like the photos, the first two look like a real car! A superb build of a model that I can't recall having seen built before, which is always a treat. As Curt wrote - very inspiring.

Cliff, the colour and proportions of this little truck are great. You mentioned that you employed a hot rodder's trick by shortening the box five scale inches. It looks perfect. I'm also noticing things like the body colour accents on the wheels, the chrome strip around the spare tire cover, and the high outside driver's rear view mirror, -very cool. Clicking on the link to open one of yours and Larry's posts makes me feel like a kid opening up a present on Christmas morning! Thanks for sharing. Eric

Larry, I've said it before, but I'm always impressed by the way you are able to scratch-build a chassis from brass like this and have not only all the detail included but also have the the stance, and track width of the wheels look level and 'dead-on.' Also the doors are expertly engineered to open like the real truck, but they also look correct, line up and look straight in their closed positions. I know you had great reference for this project, but you still have to be able to translate it into a finished model! The Shell Oil paint scheme is very eye-catching, but somehow seeing the model in primer makes it easier for me to appreciate all the work that went into it. Thanks for sharing all the photos. Eric

Cliff, it certainly is a surprise to see you working on a styrene kit again, although you've given this one your usual high level of detail. I never noticed the issue with the wheels before, but I have read lot of posts dealing with the front bumper and wheel opening problem with this kit. You've solved it in a relatively simple and effective way. The flecked carpet detail is a very nice touch as well. Thanks for sharing all the build up photos! Eric

These are rarely ever seen. You did a super job bringing it back from the brink....

I'm always drawn to unusual subjects like this. The color is not what I'm used to seeing, which greatly adds to the authenticity. Also, it's beautifully done.

Well, you SHOULD be happy. It's beautiful!

Great work Gene. You got two done which is more than I did! You did some fine work on the Cougar. That's an interesting idea, and I really love the color also. Eric

I agree with everyone Curt, you did a great job on some not often seen cars. The firebird is my favorite, I love the wheels and tires. Eric

A white WC-22 or an early 4000 Series Mustang in 1/25 scale.

It's a real novelty seeing a model of a '57 Pontiac, but since it's a sedan delivery - that puts it over the top. Awesome craftsmanship as usual Cliff. This is model car alchemy. I like the colour choice, and those hood hinges really stopped me in my tracks. As a canuck I certainly appreciate the Canadian side of this model. Thanks for the information!! Eric

Born and raised in Guelph, Ontario. Went to school in Brampton, Ontario. I lived for a few years in Milton, just down the 401 from Guelph.

I didn't find it to be a difficult change to make. I removed the drip moulding and filed and sanded the window to what I hope is a more accurate shape. Then I glued styrene strip to the sides to recreate the drip moulding. Then again, this car was important enough to me to go through this exercise!

Super nice job. It does look superb in white.