#1 model citizen

Yep! Never too many accessories!

I do seem to have more energy than a lot of people half my age, as they only seem to get exercise on their game controllers & the like. As for vision cateracts come with age according to my eye doc, if we're "lucky enough to live that long''. I have to agree that exercising, aspirin, caffeine & hot showers do keep me going as well. Even at that I do become easily winded of late. I used to ride 25 mi+ 4 -5 days a week on bike (longer in the summer up to 100 in a day) but this summer 10 mi. 2 days a week seemed to be all I had time or interest in doing. (And I used to do RAGBRAI - a week long ride across Iowa, sometimes even riding to the starting point & back home at the end). I do put under the hood (or Chassis) time in on my '50s 1:1 cars (and what I can on my & my gf modern cars) Being a couch potato is not on my bucket list but, bottom line - Getting old sucks!

Thats true of the JoHan '35 Mrecedes, too. And the tire tool(s) under the seat of the Revell '41 Chevy PU if I recall correctly. I just laugh and throw those bits in a parts bin.

I have been wearing contacts (1 eye with astigmatism) for several decades & learned long, long ago I had to remove them to do any serious modeling details. Its the only way I get a clear up close view but now cataracts are beginning to affect my vision & I'm concerned that when it's time for surgery my modeling vision will be compromised. Just hope I can get the projects done I most want to complete before then. (& I have have just barely started 2 of the 5-7 on that list, and I'm slow! ) I used to bicycle quite a bit but hardly ever put in any saddle time anymore (mostly I guess I moved to a less than bike friendly part of Ia.) I really need to get more physical again! I do go for walks occasionally, but it seems there is much to do before I become too feeble & that time seems to be approaching quicker than I...

That's cool. Who makes it?

Welcome Robert. I too spent a lot of time growing up in Albuquerque - 5th grade thru high school. Even did a semester @ UNM. My sister still lives in Santa Fe. My grand dad & dad were both born in NM. as well. I did a lot of model building there and kinda wish I was still building there. Its a beautiful part of the world.

Says it all!

It looks absolutely real in the outdoor shots! If you you had it on a different base I don't think anyone would know that it wasn't.

Welcome Paul. Wagons are indeed cool!

Oh! And a '49 Buick, Olds or Caddy Sedanette? Thanks!

Greg, Would you mind checking with Rik & see if he has a '61 Dodge wagon? I would greatly appreciate it!

Very cool!

I have never heard of "fingernail resin". Is this something you'd find at a beauty counter? Nice job on the bumper/grille, BTW!

Just curious: How does the hood open? Not sure I'd like to do any wrenching with all that exhaust in the way Maybe its better to just leave the hood shut!

Very nice work!

Yep! I was thinking of my poor Hemis having to run on regular

That's a nice looking gas station. (But no ethyl?) I need to make me a dio like that. Very cool!

The wood grain looks good! Are you going with wood or plastic for the panels?

Thats cool! & it only took 3 drops of paint!

I want more pics too please! Some more of the background details in the !st pic. I too like the duster's color.

I like your unique models & the builds are well executed!

Very cool! Nicely done!

I usually build 1/24 - 1/25 scale but I currently have several 1/32 scale cars started & maybe 20 or so more 1/32 kits.(maybe 200 1/25 scale} I may get around to building some of them, but like a lot of us I have more unbuilt kits than I have life left. I probably have at least 3 of each scale started. I'm trying to complete some of those before starting others, I will concentrate mostly on 1/25 in the future. I have a growing collection of 1/64 die-casts & some 1/25 die-casts. I also have 2 1:1 collector cars to contend with. I hear HO scale calling too!

The broken grill & newish heater hoses in the weathered engine bay add to the look. I like the hose clamps, too! Great job!

If it is the wood grain on the plastic that is causing the contrast concern, perhaps you could sand the wood grain on the plastic to lessen or eliminate the texture & then do your wood graining technique as it looks very realistic. When I saw your practice piece I thought you had done it on balsa wood, Also, keep in mind that there would be some contrast in the grains as the framing wood is a different type of wood than the panels. Also if the wood has a new coat of vanish, that would have an effect on the appearance of the grain. You have probably taken all this into consideration, but I know sometimes I tend forget about the forest when looking at a tree. (just trying to maintain the same "timber" with that last remark )