Mister 4x4

OK - so I got a bunch of cool stuff to establish a proper workbench, and decided on using half of my computer desk that was just holding up a bunch of old junk anyway. Went to Hobby Lobby and Michael's for supplies, and wound up scoring a nice desktop Ott Lamp (for half off at Michael's). It really is a lot brighter in the room... but my old 3.2MP HP camera (next thing on the list) did its best: Here's the kit: a Hasegawa 1:24 I scored from ebay several years ago when I had my '95 Civic VX. And finally, here's the plan - my old 1995 Honda Civic VX. I picked it up for $800 during the $4.00/gallon days with a blown engine (head gasket and clogged radiator was all that was wrong with it). Rebuilt it and drove it like I stole it for 3.5 years. I'm one of those weirdos that can't leave anything alone, so after I got it running, I tossed on some cool wheels, dumped in a 1000 watt stereo system, and tinted the windows. Every Ricer in town wanted to race me... but the weenie little VTEC-E engine only put out 95hp... but got 40mpg all day with the A/C running! A total blast to drive, but I sold it to a buddy when I first bought my '71 Mach 1 over 4 years ago (it just wasn't cool anymore after getting my childhood dream car - even though it was a major pile that didn't even run at the time). Here's the plan: It's just a "curbside" model kit with RH drive, but I figure I can get it "close enough" to my old car once I tint the windows... just to get back into the groove, if nothing else. I swiped some 7-spoke wheels and 30-series tires from another kit that will be "close enough" as well, but if I can score some of these rims, that would be much better. Anybody know if they make 'em (or at least something similar) aftermarket? Wish me luck - should be fairly easy and straight-forward... and Fun, too.

Thanks Guys! I knew someone would know. I'll be sure to post results - I've got a Super Swamper Tire Tread stripe to paint on the side of my Jeep!

I'd say you're well on your way!

Scored these guys on ebay a few weeks back - both still sealed in boxes, and less than $100 for the two: I also picked this one up around the same time - I'm a nut for TV cars:

LOL!! The previous owners couldn't figure out how to tighten the bolts for the A/C unit - hence the 2x4, I suppose. I tightened 'em up a few minutes later, and eventually removed the A/C altogether - the cheesy cupholder is gone, too. I still have the roll of electrical tape, though.

Those must be some massive drums of Testors enamel if that's a 1:1 scale. Lookin' good so far!

I somehow managed to resist the urge to pick up a couple more kits, but I went to Michael's and Hobby Lobby for 'supplies.' I pretty much needed everything to get an actual workbench together to get started back into modeling (rather than hunched over the dining room table). So, I snagged about $300 worth of stuff to get me started - who knew it would be so expensive to get set-up? LOL! A quick run-down: Ott Light POG (desktop), cutting mat, large Xacto kit, Testors pin vise & bits, sprue cutters, econo-pak of brushes, blades, cement, CA, glue tips, body putty, sanding films, thinner, airbrush thinner, several Testors finishing (paint) kits (flat, gloss, automotive colors), spray paints (white, black, primer, clear dull coat, clear glossy), and got online for a couple of airbrush parts holders (one for the paint booth, one for the bench). Thank goodness I don't need any new Iwata Eclipse or Paasche rigs - they're outrageous! Once I get the 'bench established, it's back to work on my '95 Honda Civic VX "tribute" I started a few years back... just to get back into the groove.

Sweet! I'm gonna keep an eye on this - I had a 1/12th Doyusha LP400S kit when I was in high school. Loved it! I lost track of it after I joined the Air Force and moved away - my Mom didn't keep my old kits, apparently - oh well, get to rebuild them all over again!

Thanks, and I was wondering about that. I know the truck on the show was a long bed (with cool custom tool bins behind the cab). I'm thinking some Photoshop work with some decal paper will have a proper Fall Guy truck without spending over $100 for the kit, eh? And yes, thanks for the detail shots. I had a '78 K5 Blazer years ago, and I now have an old glue-bomb Blazer kit my BIL gave me - somethin's gonna happen!

Totally awesome and insane - you have mad skillz, man! Incredible work and very inspiring! Oh yeah, I almost forgot - Go Tony!!

Looks great! I've always been more of a Rusty Wallace & Tony Stewart kind of guy, myself... but very nice work! I have a couple of NASCAR kits to build, and your work is inspiring - thanks for sharing!

I'd say you nailed it, Tom.

Right now, this is my favorite... mainly because it's Mine! 1971 Mach 1 Mustang, 351C-2V Ram Air (pushing an estimated 400hp), AOD, 9-inch w/3.00 "cruising" gears. "Built, not bought" As far as Muscle Cars go: I'm a fan of pretty much anything with a long hood, short trunk, 2-doors, and a hopped-up V8 with some big, fat tires out back.

I was wondering if the reference to the "Fall Guy" GMC was going to pop-up. Seeing your extended bed made me think of that immediately - and now I'm inspired, since that's one of my favorite TV cars as well. Nice work!

Sorry dredge up an old thread, but I was stocking up on supplies yesterday, and noticed the Testors clear and white decal paper. I've made white backed decals in the past with Papilio (on my 1/10th carputer), and was less than impressed with the white background allowing the body colors to bleed through. Thanks for the tips on how to properly back-up the white areas. My question though: Has anybody used a laser printer to make the decals, rather than inkjet, with any success? I have an inkjet printer, but honestly I used it a few times for something minor, then the cartridges dried up. Another set of cartridges for 5 pages of print, and another set of dried cartridges weeks later. The incredible waste of ink (and money) is why I only use that printer for its scanner abilities and bought a color laser printer instead. You can see the "mottling" of the white parts in this pic: And I cleaned it all up with some reprints on adhesive-backed photo paper (hey, it's just an R/C car body, after all): http://www.mister4x4.net/PCTweak/buildingrusty.htm (more about the machine and building it)

My "other" toy is a 1980 Jeep CJ-7. It's grown up a bit over the years, but the interior is still pretty stock. Here are some pics (not quite as nice as Tom's). Day One, after a wash: Here's the "big" transformation (4" lift, 33" Swampers, painted the hardtop and graphics on the side): And here we are after lots of fun over the years (just finished the new front bumper, rear bumper/tire carrier, and added nerf bars: I started building a tribute model of it, and got busy with other things. Since then, I've acquired the right wheels and tires, and will be getting back to it shortly (with a better camera, too).

Thanks for the warm welcome, guys! After some poking around, I recognize a few names from the Facebook group I joined awhile back. I think I've definitely found the right place. Since I mentioned it, here are a couple shots of my '71 Mach 1. It's almost done (as far as being "legally" driveable, that is). I still have "little things" like a new brake booster, wipers, working signal lights, seat belts, speedometer cable, etc., to finish it up. Starting point: First time in public - 2014 car show at Goodfellow AFB. Won a Best In Class plaque, too. I've got tons of pics in my FB album here (shouldn't need to log in to view): https://www.facebook.com/eric.hansen.50/media_set?set=a.722153737795547.100000027814872&type=3 I think with this one, I'm done rebuilding 1:1s... I'll be sticking with scale cars.

My name's Eric Hansen, and I'm working on getting back into scale modeling. I've been working on a 1:1 1971 Mach1 for the past 4.5 years, and I'm about to have a lot more free time for modeling. Just checking in to see what's going on, check out some cool models, and learn a few tips before I start messing up my "first" new kit.