Gray Smith

look what I decided to try my hand at.... i'm still getting over the fact that i made the parts..lol and boy is it messy..I used waaaaaaaaaaay too much resin for the first time, some parts got a few bubbles in them, but no big deal since i'm using them all..this is the alumilite kit. one question, the resin i've got is a few months old(like 2 or 3) would that cause it to not cure all the way...I didn't heat my mold up and some of the smaller parts took a while to cure and are still slightly soft..is that common with the alumilite resin? either way i'm happy, now i've just gotta find a place in town that sells rtv rubber...i've got a ton more parts that i plan on casting(ford/lotus quad cam indy motor anyone?) Thanks Gray p.s. thanks a bunch Marc for all the info you gave me a while back concerning casting stuff...its fun!

Looks awesome to me...this ones going to look good when finished Gray

excellent build!, I think i've got this same kit that I got off the bay a while back....did this one come with the dohc ford cammer parts? Yours gives me more inspiration to build mine. Nice job on this one Gray

very good job Billy, this one came out nice...very clean build.. Keep up the good work.. Gray

Wow, this is very cool Lyle...I like what you did with this one.. Gray

heres some pics of the Nova like I promised....finished it up the other day..

hey guys...got the truck and nova done(nova pics will come tomorrow though) heres pics of the truck

nice work man, I like it as well Gray

heres some updates guys... for the truck its testors colors by boyd ice blue pearl shot over gray primer(won't do that again...maybe white or black next time) the nova is the same paint brand in orange pearl....both sot thru an airbrush. the nova needs the chassis and interior finished, and the truck just needs body parts done...both should be finished within the next week or so.. thanks for looking.. Gray

thanks Mike, I appreciate that. its mostly true...other than some work a few years ago on a tamiya skyline, new beetle, and a fujimi initial d model(none of which were finished) i've not detailed a motor out like this since at least 95 or so. I'm hoping that this is only the start and that I can improve on this even more with each build. I'll have some more progress shots on monday...I plan to paint the body this weekend, and possibly get some interior work done. Thanks Gray

Thanks man, Yes aoshima does offer a lhd version, its just called a "toyota double cab 4wd truck" though...I've seen one recently on the Bay. I also remember that american satco used offer some of thier Pathfinder and Hilux models with a resin lhd dash...i've seen em around here and there as well. hope this helps, and thanks for the compliments Gray

heres some pics of the motor....with added plug wires, efi, and alternator bracket. the airbox is the top half of the scoop from this kit with another box scratched up underneath with some carbon fiber decal applied, it will get a clear coat this weekend. I'll also clean up some of the paint lines, and give the motor a light wash before it goes in the car. thanks guys... Gray

hey guys..my first OTB post here(and certainly not the last) some have seen these pics before, for those who haven't please enjoy... i've been out of model building for quite a few years, and now i've got a good place to sit down and work...these 2 kits are my "trainers" to get my skills back up and to clear out the shelves.. the first is the aoshima hilux double cab lift up...building this one box stock, but trying to keep it clean looking... I painted the body this weekend, and when i looked it over under the light the cab and the bed are 2 different colors(didn't give the cab enough coats) time to break out the airbrush again for it..i'll have new pics soon.. and the second kit is the less than stellar amt 76 nova. I like pro-touring quite a bit, so this and most of my other builds will reflect that. I'm building this trying to make a not so great kit look decent, i'm also trying to make do with as much out of the box as I can since my detail part budget and cache is limited. its going to be painted the same color as the toyota(after a not so great can of white spray paint then a bath in csc decided that) with a different base and clear. the front and rear bumpers are going to be modded slightly and i've scratched up an efi system for the motor. the chassis has been thrown together and will be sprayed flat black(this model is built to look good on the shelf, not a contest table and it has some...."questionable" lowering mods...lol. the wheels are fujimi items with some resin casted lips on the back...i'll get some updated pics of the motor this weekend as well anyway i'll get some more pics of these soon since i've made some progress since these were taken. Thanks for your time and any comments or critiques are welcome. Thanks Gray

wow....just wow, thats beautiful. Awesome build man.. Gray

Thats cool Jarius, thanks for the reply. Steve great work on the rods, I like the orange roadster the most.

Hey guys, glad to be here, glad I read this..I needed to make some changes to the ole siggie. Seems to be some easy rules to go by. I look forward to being here a while. Gray

There are some nice looking street rods here, but Jarius I've got one request. How about something a bit more modern, or futuristic even, like the 2032 rod you built years back? Any chance we could get some pics of it? It struck me as an awesome build then, and still does to this day and I was wondering if I could see some better pics of it. Thanks Gray btw give me some time people and I'll post my 32 that i'm building, and my 29 rat rod, with the stock 4cyl and an ohv conversion, efi, and turbo.......