TarheelRick

Participated in two different 4th of July parades yesterday. I was pulling our local VFW post equipment trailer, had an American flag and a POW/MIA flag on the back. Some of those on the side did stand and place their hand over their hearts when the flag passed, but most just seemed to ignore it. Even had one scream "Why ain't you throwing any candy?" My second major concern was the number of smaller kids running out into the street to retrieve candy with their parents standing their watching. I was driving my 4X4 F-150, it is at factory stock height, but I still have to climb up into it and I am 6' 1". That hood is long and does not slope down like a VW bug. All too often all I could see was a kid disappear near my front tire. I know parades are supposed to be exciting and fun, but I wish parents would take better control of their kids and the whole population show more respect to the flag.

Very well done. That paint job is amazing. I have this kit and was contemplating what to do with it - I have "heard" the negative comments. Your build may just inspire me to move from my original intention of short track racer.

Oh, I will, you better believe I will. I am a Bonneville believer also.

Wow, I don't know how I missed this build. The engineering is beyond anything I have seen in a while. You sir have a tremendous mastery of styrene. Thanks for sharing this build.

Very nice build. That is some clean cutting around that top.

You really have a working plan in place for this one. As for the engine, I prefer them setting level, but it looks like that may make some oil-pan clearance issues. Either way you decide, it is your build. Just looking forward to more updates.

Floral wire works pretty well, however there is still the possibility the tubing will crack across the outside of the bend. Like Plowboy said, solid rod seems to work better for me.

USPS surprised me today with my issue 214. Just noticed something odd on the shipping label: Expire Issue #69256269 ; what does that mean?

It's going to be quite difficult explaining that one to the boss. Excellent work and some very realistic looking mud.

My '65 Chevelle 283/3spd car ran P/S in the late 60's. If I had made minor modifications to the engine, it would have been Modified Production. If I had gone further and done wilder mods to the engine, I could have been bumped up to Gas class. But as Bamadon suggests try to find a NHRA rulebook for the time period in which you are interested. Another suggestion would be to acquire some of the drag racing books available on Amazon - "Racing the Family Sedan" would be a good start.

Thanks for that information. I always thought the headlight buckets were more like the ones on the red convertible. Of course, I could have always gone down to my basement and looked at the three or four in my stash.

Definitely some mighty fine creative work. I have a question of the blue w/yellow top '54. Does it have '55 headlights molded on it? That hood over the light and the peak down the side does not look like a 54.

That is the ugliest pile of stuff I have seen lately. But then it has to be ugly to work the way it does. Excellent craftsmanship and ingenuity. Very well executed build. I especially like the "Honk" sticker on the tailgate.

Some excellent photo work indeed. Years ago I took a couple of college courses in photography, using my 35 mm Yaschica TL Electro X with various lenses. Still have that camera, however the mirror sticks and I think maybe the seal around the film door may leak a bit. Like many of you I prefer working in black and white. Just recently dug out my Minolta 35 mm and my Canon Rebel and took a road trip into the mountains. Really need to get out more and practice. As an aside I would like to ask about darkroom equipment. This past weekend I was at an auction and they had an enlarger for sale, I could have got it for $5 but didn't because I noticed it was 250v and had some weird two prong plug. The question is: are all enlargers 250v? I need to scan some of my earlier college work into the computer and share it with you.

Excellent work on the whole diorama. But I am drawn to the fence/gate work. Could you pass along some details on that part of the build?

Excellent build. I also am a fan of that period of funny cars, also a fan of that period of NASCAR - company logos meant something. That is a really wild paint scheme.

Great, thanks for that information. Will definitely make the CKM show and will keep an ear open for Roanoke. Whereabouts in the great state of North Carolina do you call home?

Beautiful truck. Would love to find one like that and add a few modern touches to it. You have done a really good job with this build. I like it.

That is 1/25 scale? Makes my eyes hurt just looking at it, realizing the minuteness of the parts. Would it be possible to scratchbuild a fork using some telescoping evergreen/plastruct tubing, or maybe some pieces of sprue? Sure hope you can find or make the part that is one really neat little bike.

When they built the solar farm behind my house, they had to replace all the utility poles going down the road to the site with larger, more substantial poles which required more and larger guy wires. These guy wires are of course placed in my yard, which I have to mow around (with my gas-powered mower and weedeater). At a rezoning meeting prior to construction, we were all promised our electric bills would decrease because the power generated would be sold to the local power company - haven't noticed any decreases. As a matter of fact, the local power company has petitioned the state for a rate increase. I guess the price of sunlight has gone up.

Not a real fan of EV or alternative energy sources. I live in a very rural area and have a fairly large solar farm in my backyard, and it seems every country road I drive down there is another one popping up. One thought I have is this. I get home after a long day at work, plug in my all-new EV to my home charger, eat supper, watch a bit of TV and go to bed. Shortly after I get into bed and get into a deep sleep a major electrical storm blows through and knocks out power. When I wake up the next morning, power is still off in my neighborhood. I need to get to work but my new Whiz-bang 3000 is not charged, there is no bus service in my area, and Uber is extremely overloaded. Guess I'll have to drag out my Schwinn and get to pedaling.

Looking for information on any upcoming shows in the Roanoke, VA area, The Simpsonville/Spartanburg, SC areas, and if the CKM is back in work for a show in Clemmons, NC. Really enjoyed the CKM shows until Covid shut them down. Never had a chance to go to Richmond but did make a couple of shows in Spartanburg and Simpsonville, back about 10 years ago. Need to box up some "spare" kits and try to open up some shelf space.

Most excellent build. I am a Gasser freak and was lucky enough to spend two-wonderful days last summer watching SEGA run my local dragstrip. One rule you didn't mention was the use of four-speed transmissions only and nothing air-shifted, all must be hand thrown. Really like the color scheme you did on yours. One fine machine.

Preach on brother, unfortunately I am afraid you are preaching to the choir.

You might could consider an aircraft hangar, those are some big birds.