E St. Kruiser50

Hey George - Thanks I guess there may be a surprise sometimes, not so much on this build, but for sure some new "UPGRADES" in how I build and what I use after the first of the year. Plenty of plans for the future to keep this hobby fresh and challanging for myself. Been more or less a "Plastic Purist" all my life, but this coming year, and probably for the next few years, there will probably be some big changes in construction detail, painting, project style and design idea's. I really like Salvador Dali and his early Surrealist impressionism, and also most of Picasso. More of that will be creeping in to some of my builds in the future, and just a teeny bit on this one . When I lived in Calif., I was getting known as a Surrealist Sculptor, when I up and left for Oregon, for my kids sake. No art here for a long time, but now I think is maybe the time to have a little "SURREAL FUN" Anyhow, after boring you and everyone here, here are some before and after prep and paint pics and a few of starting the assembly. Sorry no construx pics on the body, as I started this about two years ago, and never thought about pics. The black really came out nice. I put a lot of xtra work into the prep and the polishing, as the paint would be a big focal point of the build. Besides adding the white into the mix, I also added some subtle red details in the hubcap emblems, the hood and trunk emblems. I used Two beautiful emblems from several diecast cars. The hood emblem is from a '49 Merc and the trunk emblem is from '53 Buick to go along with the Buick theme. If it were real, it would have a nailhead under the hood also - no hood here in this case . I think in the future, emblems of the older cars will be a styling cue not used much in the past. The Art Deco styling of the trim and emblems gives an added "TOOL" for builders who want a more elegant look. I like'um on this build. Probably the only one - LOL In these pics, the body is taped off ready for paint, and you can see the side window shape that took several tries to get it right. I wanted something a bit different, that flowed well, especially in the front area, that was most of my focus. I like the retro ART DECO look with black and chrome, but this time added the white interior to help showcase all the window shapes and presence, instead of using foil to outline everything. Makes me think harder how to do things a little different Here's one pic as I have started the assembly. The tail lights are '67 "vette.

OH !! THIS IS VERY NICE !!! Love to see more pics of the incredibly detailed interior. My favotite pics are the first two with the 'vert top up. Such a "COOL" retro look. Love the whole build. Well worth all the time you put into this "JEWEL" By the way, your pics are especially cool. The sorta black and whites are very retro. Like to see more like that. Are you into photography?? Thanks for sharing - Dave

Look at all those parts in our pics. We must be nut's And they call this a hobby???

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS THIS IS JUST TOO COOL What are the odds of two guy's 750 miles apart, doing the very same thing, using the same pieces for a process, and I even use masking tape too, over the foam to keep the particles fom blowing up onto the pieces when I leave them stuck in the foam. Whodda figured Thanks for sharing the photo. Still hard to believe . Here's a pic of parts chromed and some ready for chroming using the "TOOTHPICK AND FOAM METHOD"

Hi all Seems like nows the time to get after some old projects that have been "Simmering" on the back burner for a while. This one started about two years ago, which is pretty average for me, and went through a process of making master patterns for early Buick headlights, skirts, Buick side spears, and some miscellaneous pieces I wasn't sure if I'd use or not. Then they were cast into two piece silicone rubber molds, that are self aligning and self locking. These were pretty complicated because they were multi-level patterns, with parting lines on two or three different levels, like on the dash insert. Very tiny, detailed, and challanging, but fun . Everything has to be figured out backwards for the silicone rubber mold to work properly, and add locating pins that work. Also everything had to be cast flat so that the final resin parts wouldn't be warped. So the silicone was cast against a flat surface on both sides, and then I had to figure out a mold release to use when I cast the silicone against itself for the two part molds, so they wouldn't stick together. The Buick Chrome side spear, that is so popular on '49 - '51 Merc's, has always had some design issues that had bothered me and so I decided to address those on this build, because I'd be using them. On the real cars, where the front of the spear was close to the wheel well opening, and the builder used two seperate colors, one for the body and another for the insert, their has always been a place where the paint had to be taped for seperation, becaues the chrome didn't "Dip" to seperate the colors, so on the master I built a "Dip" to address that issue, especially for future builds. The other issue was at the bottom of the widest part of the trim, where it ends. A lot of buiders use a small, 4 or 5 inch long piece of chrome pointed back towards the front of the car, like on the Hirohata Merc. I decided to incorporate that piece into the design also, and make it swirl around and end in a point. It all seems to work real nice and still look Buick. I don't think most people would even notice. This is starting to look like a "Florida Boy" post Over the years I've put together a nice collection of Danbury Mint, Franklin Mint, and other die cast cars. I'm not a collector, but the trim pieces and bumpers and grills and so forth, can really add to the quality of a plastic model build. On this build I will be using several trim and emblem pieces to get the look I want. Here's some beginning pics of the molds, and finished resin cast parts, some that I have already chrome plated. I'll add more pics and updates later.

Yeah. You're really close Dirk. 'Track nose" is the term. Comes from the '50's dirt style track cars with the very recognizable rounded front treatment with an oval shaped grill with verticle bars. The '32 roadster looks really beautiful when this conversion is done properly. Got one on the back burner, with pics of a real one. Just beautiful. A Revell '32 roadster with the old Monogram Midget racer front and the full length belly pan, and painted a '65 chevelle or '64 Impala yellow. Nice Sounds like a fun project. There's some great stuff out there on the net. If you need to see what I've got, let me know and I'll do some diggin' and see what I can find. From what I've seen of your latest build, this could turn out to be quite a beauty. I look forward to seeing your next project - dave

Glad you guy's are keepin' an eye on me

Hi Bernard Thanks for the kudos my friend. Actually, the frame had to be scratch built to get the stance, and the fit with the chopped and shortened truck bed, and to get the quick-change rearend all lined up, and get the suicide front end on the ground. I love 'um in the weeds . I raised the bed a lot higher than you'll usually ever see on a truck build, to get it so low, and be kinda sneeky . Just used mostly strips pf plastic. It took about 25 pieces and a week to get it to work, and a few re-do's added in . No Revellograms this time, but thanks for lookin' so close. All the best - Dave

Gas prices here are dropping like a boulder over a cliff . This is like 2003 prices in this area, and prices are still headin' south. Wonder where it'll bottom out. Can't believe it. Never saw anything like this before.

Check out the '66 Nova speedster that just popped up. What a mind blower . Where are all you guy's who build like this comin' from? Just too cool

WOW !! O.K., O.K., where's the progress pics and details? This is way too cool just to "FLOP" on the Table Just teasin' us aren't ya ? Beautiful job and I love the colors. I'm waitin' - Dave

Thanks Peter. I missed this one too. Glad it came back up again so I could enjoy it . The entire build is "Over the Top". The hinges I can especially relate to becauese their always a challange to design and make work properly. GREAT JOB

Thanks guy's Your reason's gave me a lot to think about as to why I do this. Glad I asked the question . All the best - Dave

It's one of those "Under the Radar" kinda projects . It's been "Smoldering" for about a year or so and havin' all those hand made parts layin around and a bunch of the stuff I chromed this summer, just sorta reached out and screamed "Time to finish me" . It's one of those " no doors, trunk or hood lines" kinda projects. Lotsa body work. Chopped roof, raised trunk area, hand made fender skirts, wide whites, Sombreros and solid shiney black paint w/white interior. Some projects I love to dottle on - take my time . Got to do a lot of fun stuff on this one, like making a bunch of masters, silicone rubber molds and casting quite a few resin parts. Then the chroming. I really enjoy rubbing out the paint. Something very soothing to me inside - like listening to the rain coming down. Probably take a few more weeks to assemble. No hurry on this one. Got lotsa pics too. I'll post one of these days. Dave

Great questions I hinge quite a few opening features on my projects, and have found that nearly each build presents it's own unique challanges, so I just keep designing and building until I get it right - HARDLY EVER THE FIRST TIME , so just be patient and don't give up. It's way too fun when you get it right. Positioning the hood or trunk lid, for me is about the kind of tension I put on the bends of the brass, and not making it too tight. Practice is what it's all about, at least for me Good Luck - Dave Here's a couple I did. A couple of regular hinge's, and one with a double acting hinge, and the hoods are poseable in different positions.

Thanks Raul I got lazy yesterday. Too much turkey and triptophan . The pumpkin pie really put me away Usually I shoot a little further away and then crop. Got another fun Art Deco project calling me that's been on the back burner for a while. Just got the last coat of clear on, and will rub it out in a few. Just never enough fun.

Thanks guy's Hope everyone had a great day yesterday. Black Friday ????Not this kid.

Hey Raul Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. In the primered chassis pic I see toothpics and foam floral blocks. Is this one of those "great minds think a like" things , or did you "borrow" someone's idea . Everything is really coming together, and lookin' SWEET !! Ya, what are you going to do to top this? That's what I've discovered can be a major challange as your skills, and projects continue to get better, the newer builds demand more personal growth and an increased skill level, and an increase in your "Arsenal of Weapons" Always more fun. Thanks for sharing this project, so we can all enjoy it. Regards - Dave

Hey all Happy Thanksgiving I'm always looking for a new type of project to "Attack" and sort of "Massage" into something with a slightly different spin, sometimes believeable, other times "WHO CARE'S . I read a lot of mags like Street Rodder, and a pic or an article will sometimes make something "Click", and next thing ya know, I'm off on this "TANGENT". I guess I do turn out a lot of stuff, but never thought much about it until someone here mentioned it a few weeks ago. I just do what I love and guess it comes pretty quick and natural. Most of my more complex builds evolve over a year or so, as I usually have a dozen or so projects going at one time, as with this one. I finished this around August of last year, just for fun, like most of my build's nowdays. Alot of the car is scratch built. I love the "Dirt Track" look, and wanted something that was a little "Retro" and a little contemporary with some eye-catching graphics that sorta spoke what it was all about. The frame is totally scratch-built. So is the hood and side panels and the "Vert" roof. The windshield is chopped and I chromed it with my system, like I did with the engine and some other small pieces. The decal graphics are a combination of several sets from the parts box. Hope you guy's enjoy. It sure was fun to build

WOW !!! What a beautiful start As some of you know, I'm a color kinda guy, and these color's really grab me, as well as the longroof style of this build. Can't wait to see more pics and follow the progress. Happy Thanksgiving - Dave

Hey Raul my friend I'm like everyone else here, can't wait to see more progress pics. It's all coming together and lookin' amazing. Have a great Thanksgiving, and eat a lot All the best, especially today - Dave

Hey there my friend Your trailer design is "WILD". Couldn't imagine what you were going to do, but it's lookin' great. I'm sure enjoying watching this come together. Superb design and building skills Best regards - Dave

I agree with Dan Very clean and beautiful build.

Thanks Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless everyone

Great to hear from all of you. Hope to hear from some other's Thanks guy's - Dave