Spex84

Love it! The raised shape in the tailgate is so 50s, and the curved tuck-n-roll inserts fit the period so well. That pearl is just right; I'm somewhat surprised that a modern color could actually work for a late 50s show truck. I've often looked at those mirrors and thought they'd make cool taillights so it's fun to see them employed as such on this truck. I have my own 50s '34 build that desperately needs finishing. Maybe this week I can wrap it up.

I have floaters, I've been looking at this pineapple for half an hour now, how long does it take? ? Seriously though, recently I noticed I have a couple large-ish floaters that actually affect my vision a little. Apparently, at 36, I'm on the road to being "aged". Whee.

This is brilliant! So carefully observed, and the form-factor of packing a diorama into a flat frame is genius...much easier to store and display (and potentially sell!) than a traditional diorama. I can't decide which detail I like the most...possibly the overlapping rubber flaps that bracket the door, and the way they have slightly curled and frayed edges. Are those made of tape of some sort?

That was an awesome video. Informative, but not too complex. Having attempted to make a couple videos of my own, I have a lot of respect for people who can put together something that is informative, accurate, and engrossing. Even just the scripting is difficult, not to mention all the 3D animations!

Looks like one of the cars from the video game "Fallout!"

Wow, this is looking super cool already! Can't wait to see more of it :)

Got it, thanks Pete! Figured it was something like that. When I was a kid I always dreamed of having something like that little car, haha. Very inspiring stuff.

Wow, that's incredibly cool. I didn't quite get the photoreflector part, but I'll watch the video again and figure it out tomorrow. Neato.

Wow, fantastic. I love the look, and the execution. Great wheel-tire choice, and the de-chromed brightwork complements the black paintwork nicely. I like the Monogram '30 coupe body so much more than the new Revell coupe (sorry Revell *shrug*).... but the combination of both Monogram and Revell parts (and some AMT too!) creates just the right flavor. Well done! *edit* Oh, and killer job on the frame reveals and beltline molding. I actually forgot for a moment that the AMT Phantom Vicky frame doesn't have a reveal.

Looking good! Hey, quick question for you Dennis: if the finned parts from the '29 roadster re-issue (with SBC) fit the Monogram block, then why not just....use the SBC out of the '29 kit?

Well done! I like how the (very plain) seats from the T kit have been jazzed up with careful painting...they looks so much better than I'd imagined they ever could! And employing the air cleaners from the V8 version as dust caps on the wheels is clever, too. Overall, this is a very sharp little model!

Cool! Looking forward to seeing more :)

I really dig the way those Rambler marker lights were used! Now I'm trying to imagine what other cars they'd look good on.

I've had good luck slathering the inside of the tire/outside of the wheel with a skim coat of 5-minute epoxy, so the wheel is isolated from the tire. But time will tell!

You betcha!

Holy smokes! Thanks guys, I had no idea the brand name had been changed, nor did I know that Canadian Tire was selling it.

Pat, I'm so happy to see some MLM parts out in the wild! That 6x2 Buick mill looks great, and the standing figure complements the scene so well! With those tapered leather shoes and narrow pant-legs, he even looks '60s. Nice work kitbashing and resin-casting to get the exact look you were going for.

My only airbrush is an old Aztek that my parents got me when I was a kid, haha. I've been nursing it along for years. Every time it clogs up or starts leaking paint, I tear it apart and clean it up, even though it's supposed to be "un-serviceable". I can't say it's the greatest...but it mostly works, more or less. The interchangeable tips were cool, but I only ever owned 1 of 'em, so that defeated the purpose somewhat. End of an era, I suppose. I recently searched for Testors One Coat Lacquer clearcoat online, and was shocked to find almost nothing. Those few cans I did find were in the $40 range (Canadian dollars). What!!

Wow. I mostly picked up the occasional SA just for TIm Boyd's articles and builds, and some contest coverage Street Rodder, Hot Rod Deluxe, Scale Auto, all toast...there isn't much left out there that I actually want to read. Even National Geographic ain't what it was.

Looks good so far, and I'm looking forward to seeing more! Lots of good tips and tricks (and things to avoid!) mentioned in your posts above. I tend to use epoxy to install interiors, but had never thought about the possibility of glue damaging the exterior paint finish...I guess I just got lucky, and will continue using epoxy!! Nice work getting the frame in shape. Nailing the stance on a channeled car with all the conflict between frame, driveline, and suspension parts can be tricky.

Loving the paint so far! I was looking through some pics of the Oakland Roadster Show in the late 60s/early 70s recently, and you're nailing the aesthetic for sure. The only thing missing now is some rainbow-hued shading!

I don't see anything low profile about the tires pictured! Do you mean thinner whitewalls? If you want tires that feel "fatter" than the AMT pad-printed whitewalls from Round 2, the Revell tires with white plastic inserts might be what you're looking for. They can be found in the '50 Ford pickup, the '59 Impala, and others. If you want a tire with thinner whitewalls (but thicker than a pinstripe "pinner" whitewall), the BF Goodrich Silvertowns in the AMT '57 Chrysler 300 might do the trick (not sure what other kits include these tires). They're a little on the large-diameter side though. Here's a model I started a while ago that uses both of the above-mentioned tires (Revell in front, AMT Silvertowns from the '57 Chrysler out back): Other kits that include whitewalls with inserts that are perhaps thinner than the AMT pad-printed whitewalls are the AMT '62 T-bird convertible and the Lindberg '53 Ford.

I can definitely spot the 1980s and the early 2000s versions of "traditional custom", haha. Maybe I'll look back and the past decade's worth will look super obvious too. I don't know...lots of traditional rods and customs are being built now as if they just rolled out of the '50s and '60s, sometimes as literal clones of those early cars. In that sense, they're timeless and more difficult to pin down than a "1980s trad" car with the triple lake pipes, fuzzy dice and other "glorified 50s nostalgia" accessories.

I was going to post the Ken Block Hooni-vehicles but skipped 'em because they're race-only, but yes, they're a reflection of some of those trends! Another funny thing....because '80s/90s styling is coming back in the drift/stance/tuner world (apparently; I don't know much and judge purely on the visuals), some weird time-loops start to happen. Here's a contemporary neo-80s Corvette and a stanced Testarossa (I know, I know). Remember when every Fiero owner was trying to turn his car into a Testarossa? So now if we imagine taking supercar styling and merging it with traditional hot rod forms, then slather on a thick coat of '80s "Hi Tech" nostalgia, we get... ...the California Star, built 1981-83. Throw some LED lights on it, and lettered low-profile tires big wheels, and boom. Everything old is new again! I photoshopped a version that spoofs some of these trends (or celebrates them??), just for fun:

And you've just described exactly why I love that Firebird, Snake! I'd take it over a cookie-cutter 'bird any day.