tedd60

I wouldn't touch a thing.

Neat! What scale is it in? Which model? T

.... wow ......... THAT is gorgeous. note to self: this exact setting can be done in 1/18th!

The subject lines say it all ... how to you diecast builders/modders get your diecast's paint to look so good. Do you buy polish kits ... or is there stuff you go to the local parts store (or Walmart) and buy that might work as well and maybe save some bucks? T

I had to do this with my military rifle (not ... "gun") collection. My sons are not all that interested in all of them ... and it would be a real burden on my wife to deal with them. It wasn't easy, but I culled out the ones I could part with, and sold them. Doing it this way, I was able to sell them for what they are worth, not not the amount they would bring in as a collection, or a , can I say, estate sale. Like I said ... it wasn't easy. I really had to (wait for it ... w a i t for it...) BITE THE BULLET. Hey, I'm sorry ... I really am. But I just couldn't resist the joke. T

The past two months I've been having difficulties of the Cardio-Pulmonary kind. I had been converting a 1:1 short school bus into a RV for my wife and I to go and see this country of ours when the problems arose. I figure, very conservatively, I have about 20-30 days of work left to finish the bus. Yeah ... I'm getting a lot of work bench time ... and LOVING it. But I'd really like to get that bus done! T

OK ... the model came. I bought the Texas Longhorn tribute car ... because I'm just going to mod the thing anyoldway. There is an amazing amount of detail ... and VERY cool parts ... under the hood of this model. It even has a working antenna, working vent windows (!!!), working gas cap door and working sun visors. The hood hinges might be a bit out of scale ... but they work and have proper springs. Heck, even if you don't like the car ... if you are a builder/modder of 1/18th scale, the parts alone are almost worth the price of admission. This is where I got the car: http://www.ebay.com/itm/131103284194?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT I see he has 3 left. Please note that the shipping is reasonable ... and the BEST OFFER button really works!!!! T

You must really love them F-1's! They all look great, especially the red one. Great paint. And the rusty one is very good ... but it needs bullet holes to represent something from NoGA. BTW ... I know where there is a red one in NoGA that looks exactly like your barn find blue one. T

If life were all that simple. I bought the 49 Buick ragtop, the 1953 Buick ragtop and the 49 Caddy Coupe deVille ... none of them correctly match my Father's 1951 Buick Roadmaster (Black, grey interior) ... but there are elements of that car in each of the models. It just might be easier to start with the Caddy ( or ANOTHER 49 Caddy ... I really have come to like the one I have) and start from there. But that project is WAY down the road, I have much I want/need to learns first. Re: the diecast rot: Don't I know it! I have a bump on a fender of one of my Bburago 356's that ain't just paint. It looks exactly like how rust/rot begins to form on a 1:1 car. I ended up with a lot of paint failures (especially Black paint), but ... so far ... the Bburago Porsche is the only one showing signs of possible die cast rot. I have read a LOT about soldering diecast, and I know about the difficulties, but I have also read of the successes, howsoever few they may be. Like I said ... I have scraps ... and time. I'm willing to invest both just to say I gave it a shot. Who knows ... even a blind squirrel comes across an acorn every once in a while. I've only been at this a very short time ... you on the other hand ... . Just on a dumb guess, see the aforementioned unfortunate squirrel, I picked up a tube of the 3M product. I apply it over primer, i.e., paint on paint. So far, it seems to do what I need it to, and appears to hold up OK. Thanks for the conversation! This is a very pleasant way to spend my morning coffee. Beats the dickens out of reading the news! T

I keep thinking I'd like to try soldering the stuff myself. Some guys in model railroads have done it. The right flux, the right solder, real low heat... and lots of practice. I have some scraps to try on ... and only time to lose. I also wonder if there are any new epoxies, adhesives or bonders out there since your build. I keep looking at the 49 Buick ragtop in my cabinet wondering if there were a way to put the hardtop from a Caddy on it and build a model of the first car I ever drove. T

And the carb and exhaust are on the wrong side. About the external dimensions, I don't know for sure, but, as I backed checked the info I found on Wikipedia, it indicated that the engine was developed from the Model A engine. It is not an unfair assumption to think the outside dimensions and appearance of the engine block could/would be the same despite a large difference in displacement. Since we're discussing British makes, I would cite the Austin A40. I did manage to locate another view of this little Ford engine. Perhaps, when the op gets back, he would like to scale it up, and check the external measurements against that of a flat-head 4 cyl. from the Model A, and then decide to go on with what ever mods it would need. I still think is still a pretty good place to start. T

The thing that kills me is the number of threads that are missing the pictures. There are a lot of beautiful models that nobody will ever see again.

I see that a number of 1/18th scale Tamiya MacLaren M8 plastic kits are on Ebay and priced VERY reasonably. I'm wondering if that kit has parts that may have value making copies of for other 1/18th scale projects. I already own an M8, the 1/18th GMP MacLaren M8 #48 Dan Gurney car. I'm wondering about putting that up for trade for a 1/18 Chaparral, and building the kit to replace it.... as the Gurney car, of course ... But the price differential between GMP and Exoto (or other) makes me think I'd be better off saving my money and buying Chaparrals as I can afford.

I saw this photo in a build thread on this forum. At first glance, I almost thought it WAS a diorama. I still think, in many ways it LOOKS like one. I don't build dioramas ... maybe someone might like to try this photo as a build. The subject line under the photo explains the whole story.

Yeah ... that ain't the effect I'm looking for. On a related matter ... I really do appreciate how helpful to a new guy the folks on this forum have been. Thanks Eric. T

Those rear fenders look terrific. From the original posting date, you built this a while ago. How have your epoxy and styrene patches held up all this time? Any separation or cracking in the area of dissimilar materials? I am new to modding diecast and have wondered how this type of patch would hold up over the long haul. Another great build/mod. T

Sweet!!! A little dent in the grill, a little twist in the bumper. VERY Nice.

+1 all the above. Good lookin' Jag.

Thanks for the info, Brett. You probably saved this poor nube a lot of frustration.

Put the word "Chaparral" in a subject line, and I come a-runnin'. Except for the 2H, I think all of them are some of the best looking racing cars ever built. Most of the stable is built in 1/18th scale ... but I just can't afford them ... otherwise I'd own them all. Very nice, clean build. T

Nube here with what seems to be a VERY stupid question, but it is my experience some materials do change a bit when color is added or removed. Do white and clear styrene have the same characteristics in matters such as painting, gluing and vacuum forming? I want to begin learning vacuum forming and one of the projects I have planned I'd like to form in clear. This would let me avoid having to re-make and install the windshield sections. I could just mask them off and paint around them. Thanks T

Gotta be the racing number. This guy's got more Cobra than what was built!

... and at one time you could by all the wonderfulness this car is, for less than half the price of a VW Beetle. If you look up the 2CV on Wikipedia, you'll find a picture of a maroon/black two-tone. It's one of the few cars that would not be out of place in a Monet, elegant in it's simplicity. You are doing a nice job on a car I love.

I love this picture from that Hot Rod article of the herd coming up through Echo Valley. From the spot from which the picture was taken, the sound just HAD to be amazing. Back when NASCAR ran something called Grand Nationals, somebody tried to turn the Bridge into "Riverside East" and ran a couple a couple stock car races up there. I bet the residents of Bridgehampton could hear those cars in the middle of down town. Same with Can AM. Those big engines rattled much crockery. .