E St. Kruiser50

Well, we're finally getting close to completion - YEAH . Got all the suspension done, and will get a few other details taken care of, and then it's time to start the door panels and the leather covered seats. This part I really enjoy. It's very tedious and I have to be immacultely carefull while I'm doing this. I have to plan each of my step's, before starting. I'll be using two different color's for the seats, and the thinness of the leather I need, requires me to use a particular leather, that I'll have to change the color, using an oil-based leather dye. Never done that before, but got all the supplies yesterday, and we did a few samples at the leather good's store, and then will do some sample stuff on my own, to make sure I do it right, and find out how long it takes to dry thoroughly Anyway, here's some new pic's. Here's the pins installed in the door's. Here's the striker plates that the pin's ride against, installed in the recesses in the door jam's And here's the dash with a bit more detail, permanently installed.

Hi Ron Your's sounds like a fun project. Can't wait to see the pic's . I hope it's soon. And no I don't mind you doing some things like mine. We're all here to be inspired by each other, and learn from each other. I'm learning from other guy's here too, and have copied other people's work myself. We're here to have fun. By the way, welcome to the forum. It looks like by your number of posts that your fairly new here. This is a great place to have fun, and is kinda like family, so stick around and you'll get" Adopted in", and make some new friends. It was nice to hear from you - dave

Thanks everyone for the great comments, support, and idea's . Slowing down now a little, as the detail stuff take's more time and concentration to hopefully get all the last things looking right, and working properly. So far, so good. I'll add more new pic's later. Again, thanks to all of you - dave

You guy's are all great Got the interior all done and installed, and a bunch of other part's installed too. I'll post new pic's maybe tonight. Think I'm on the down hill slide of this now. Gotta finish installing the suspension, then the last major stuff will be the door panels and leather seats. Probably about two to three weeks and well be wrapping up the Old Gal. No hurry here.

I don't remember. Been 2 years and some. I did follow their directions and recommendations. Funny how when all else fails, that works .

Hey all Haven't posted in a while, been havin' too much fun these last few days . Got the carpet done for the floor's and trunk area, then started on the dash using the pod's from the '67 Corvette. It took two dash's, as I needed to cut out the glove box so I could detail it with foil and woodgrain. The woodgrain I did by using several different Testor's brown's, sorta blended, but not mixed and I used a wet-in-wet painting process that oil painter's use to blend shades. With a little practice, most can learn to do Faux (Fake) woodgrain. I did the 63 'Vette steering wheel too. Did the driver's side too, making all the gauge bezels and adding the gauge faces. Here's the template's and carpet cut out and ready to install.. Here's the major body pieces. Here's the carpet installed Here's the dash part's and door panel's. Here's all the alum. pieces for the gauge bezels, wire for dash trim, and mini-pins for knob's, and to put into the ends of the drilled out turn indicator stalk, and steering wheel tilt stalk, and misc. decals for gauges Here's some of the parts laid out before assembly - 47 pieces after everything was done.

Hi Dave Yes, I used it with the Copy Chrome, and got good results, the first time I tried it, but knew with some time and experimenting, I could do better. Remember that preparation, following their directions, and compatibility of chemicals is Paramount to achieving the sucess you want. And yes this is only a hobby, and everyone has to decide what level they want to take it to. Have fun - dave

As many of you know, I have a commercial water base chrome system that I use successfully now, after designing and building a dual-nozzle airbrush, and re-formulating the chemical ratios, to be used for the first time in an air brush. I believe I'm the only one who's done it. "AFTER 2 YEARS" of "Almost being there", I have finally arrived to what I'm satisfied with. Yes, I also have a Caswell chrome system, that I have experimented with, and was impressed with the results, but was already into my other system, and didn't have time for both. I have the copper solution and have tried it, but will at some point invest in the Silvaspray, as I understand it to be much more effective. In my own experience using silver's and electricity, silver is a much better conductor than copper, but yes, much more expensive now that the price has increased dramatically. My water-based system uses silver also, and give's an incredible "BLING". Remember that non of these High-End systems are plug-N-play. There is always a learning curve, sometimes a lengthy one, and a "Higher Cost", as this kind of system takes you out of the "HOBBY WORLD", and into the world of "REAL". A big difference, along with the cost. I have invested a lot of money in this hobby, thousands in just the chrome systems, and hundreds of hours, because of the level I wanted to build at, and the quality I want to achieve. For me the different things I do and the money I spend are about who I am, what I love to do, and the results that satisfy me. All of these types of High-End systems require a dedication to achievement, and a lack of concern for cost or time, to be successful. Like I said earlier, there are no "Plug-N-Plays" with these kind of systems in the "REAL WORLD". All the best - dave

SO WHERE'S SOME MORE PIC'S AT . YA AIN'T GETTIN' OFF THIS EASY WE DIDN'T FORGET ABOUT YA. WE WANTA SEE THIS DONE - SO HOW ABOUT MORE PIC'S???? The putty throwin' Treehugger (LOL) - dave

GREAT TOPIC I live in the Pacific Northwest, so for me a spray booth is mandatory for doing what I enjoy. At my other house, I bought a 10X12 metal shed and insulated everything as I assembled it. I installed light's, venting, and an oil-filled recirculating heater. No exposed flame or element's to blow myself up . I built a 24"X30" spray booth, that has a replaceable filter. The motor came from Grainger's, and I used 4" dryer venting flex tube, and connected it to the out fitting I had installed earlier. A spray booth and heat address everything I need for the quality of build I want to produce. If you spread the cost out and have the space, it can be affordable, and make model building more enjoyable. When I moved, there was already a nice metal shed that was part of my parking area, so the first thing I did was insulate it and bring in power, lights, and then install everything I had brought with me. The new walk in spray booth area was 5X10, about half the size of my old one, which turned out to be much better ,because it was easier and faster to heat, would even get warmer, and was less expensive to operate. I like to spray at around 80 degree's. On a very cold day, say around 25-30 degree's, it feels so nice to walk into . Later, dave

You guy's are great!!!

Hey Dave The wheel/tire package is spot on. Love the look. I don't do weathering so haven't a clue what to expect, but it'll be fun to watch and see what you decide on. See ya at the show Dave - just another dave here - LOL

This looks like lot'sa fun , and you got a good start on it. Pretty cool subject. I'll keep watchin' ya and see how it developes. Thanks for the pic's and sharing it - dave

Sure!! No problem I'll be done in about a week and a half, and I'll mail it to you - NOT!!

Hey James Must be a local thing, as prices here, and mostly around the country, have gone through the atmosphere in most area's. Buy up all you can as it probably won't last long, unless you're in a really depressed area where the economy has REALLY TANKED!!

Nice to see an old build here of your dad's, and gettin' to watch you replicate your own take on it . Very nice start. Must be pretty cool, havin a dad that did what you now enjoy. Pretty nice connection . I'll keep watchin' your progress - dave

Hey all Well, got quite a bit done. Windshield frame and cowl painted, and both windows tinted and installed. Gas cap got a decal and installed. Brake-light and antenna installed, and the "Corvette decal" applied on the hatch. Fuel injection emblems applied to the front fenders forward of the door's, and a carbon fiber decal applied to the hood bulge with a red stripe over the top. That was fun designing that part. Got to be a little "Artsy". Got more engine stuff done too, including the carbon fiber valve cover, covers, and some small detail part's on the fender wells, and a few warning and info decals on several key area's. Thanks for lookin' guy's - dave

Well, I've made a little progress on the Ol' Gal. Did some "fit and finish" work to get everything that moves adjusted and fitting properly, and all works smoothly. Doors lock in place when shut and haven't even installed the "Latch Pin's yet. I'm happy . The first three pic's are mock-up snap's before I dissamble it and do more details. The forth pic is of the before an after Rotor/caliper details. I drilled out the stock rotor's and then used BMF to bring them to life, and then painted the caliper's red to give them a little "POP". They'll show really well through the stock wheels I'll use. The engine bay got ton's of detailing, as will the interior. I BMF'd the altenator and the air conditioning compressor, and they'll be wired and plumed. Also BMF'd the engine pan. All the molded in details were cut away, opened up to see the color show through, and detailed with different paints and decal badging as "Stock" would have it. The valve cover cover's were carbon fibered and decaled as was the radiator cover, and the engine air inlet. The decals came mostly from kit's, but some of the body badging came from a decal guy in canada, and their beautiful. Next to last pic is the rotor/caliper assembly installed. The last pic is of some of the parts I still need to install, including the "FAKE" distributor if this was a real car. If this were real, it would have some of the MDS electronic ignition system mounted inside of the disributor body, and wires would be just for "SHOW" for the "RETRO-LOOK", like the "Tri-POWER" that are fuel injection bodies, if real; This is just like "Playing Pretend" when we were kid's, except we base all this on real technology. Here's the pic's

I thought this posting would be fun for a change of topics here. All of my life I have been gifted with a wonderfully "Mild" case of being a perfectionist and being "OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE", for me in a healthy way, and I learned to embrace that "Disorder", not just in what I do, but in this incredible passion I have for life and living, and the people that mean so much to me. It has afforded me the pleasure of being successful at the best career imaginable to me for 40 years, and never once ever being pressured for a deadline, because quality alway's "Ruled Supreme" in that industry . In my private life, I have been priviledged to discover so many amazing "Artsy" and "Mechanical" interests that continually, to this day, stretch my imagination, skills and curiousity, always trying to discover my limit's. On my refrigerator I have a saying I heard several years ago that says, "LIMITATION IS THE CREATION OF THE MIND". I have found for me that if you don't believe in limitation's, and you're willing to work hard enough, and invest in yourself and your passions, and you surround yourself with the best people imaginable as friends and your family, life takes on the most amazing joy and fullfillment. Fast forward to today, and here I am still living a dream of fullfillment , like a child amazed at all the opportunities that life has to offer, and the wonder of those things being a part of my life, like this incredible hobby, and getting to know many of you. Pretty cool for me So I have embraced my "Obessions" and just laugh at myself as I enjoy my "TOYZ". So guy's if what I do at time's seem's obsessive and compulsive - IT IS .

SILLY WABBIT

Hi ucntcme The color is a PPG urethane color from an auto paint store, that I had custom mixed, and then sprayed over it a natural pearl mixed into a clear urethane HOK SG100 inter-coat clear, then clear coated with HOK catalyzed clear top coat, and finally rubbed out and polished. I love the result's too Good luck with your project and thank's for asking - dave

There's a group of guy's who build every conceiveable type of scale engine that runs. They have club's just like we do. I get emals from a friend, that have these guy's at event's showing these things off, starting them up and running. Everything in cluding "FLATTIES", 4-banger's and sixes. They sound just like the real thing . Very amazing

Hey GB All the hinges get painted black, including the trunk hinge, the rear window get's tinted, and the interior will be black also . Hinges will blend in, and sorta disappear.

When I was a kid, my favorite uncle - ROCKY" - , who lived in the state of Washington, named all his car's "SHASTA", and curious, when I was little, asked why he did that. He said it was because SHE-HASTA (The car-SHASTA) HAVE GAS, OIL WIPERS, A TUNE-UP, AND...., WELL, YOU GET THE IDEA. Just being silly . "SHASTA" here 'hasta have an interior, an engine, a chassis, well you know . Any how, havin fun today, finally getting to do the very best part, and that's assembling, and getting to see after all this time and work, if the picture in my head that I've been re-creating really works . Well I can tell that so far, for me, I'm happy. Mostly just mocked up. Tail-light's, headlight's, lisence plate frame and decal badging are permanently installed. Bumpers are just taped in place. Took these pic's outside today to see if this new high powered camera like's this color more outdoor's, and it seemed to work, so I guess that's where I'll be snapping pic's of this from now on. "THIS IS THE REAL COLOR" finally. This thing is so bright, that when I turned off the light's last night in my model room, and I could still see it .

Yeah, me too, but ain't it great . Welcome Rick . Glad to see ya here my friend. We all have a great time here, so "Jump in" when ever ya feel like it, 'cause the WATER HERE IS JUST FINE . dave