ismaelg

Congratulations on a very productive year! All are very unique and great in their own right. I don't recall seeing that boat before. Very nice! But that Riviera Royale is in my list of this years overall favorites! LOVE IT! Thanks, Ismael

Very nice year! All look great. I particularly like the 48 Chevy, the Nova and the '70 442 the most. And the '70 Firebird. Heck, I like them all

Hello, Happy holidays and best wishes for a wonderful new year! Life continues to be beautifully chaotic. Very busy with work, family, community and other hobbies. This 2023 was a very interesting year. Hobby-wise, while 2022 was dominated by cameras and stereophotography viewers restorations, in one of those curve ball life throws at you, I spent a lot of time in 2023 with a modeling tool that became a new hobby in itself: Airbrushes! I now collect, restore and research airbrushes, particularly vintage units. I have worked in more airbrushes this year than scale models. Very few cameras were worked this year: serviced 3 but they were not mine. I also worked one or two stereophotography viewers. I also did an epic trip with my wife to Italy, one of the most beautiful places in the universe. But talking about scale models, this was a productive year. For the first time in over a decade I was able to finish 9 models within a calendar year. Granted, most were curbsides so sometimes I felt like cheating They were also quite diverse: 4 Corvettes in 1/25 scale 2 Star Wars spaceships 2 cars in 1/32 1 race car in 1/43 No aircraft models this year, nor any modified Hot Wheels Here is my class of 2023 in chronological order: 1. Darth Vader's TIE Advanced X1. 1/36 scale While mostly built in 2022, it was finished in early January so it counts for this year. AMT kit: Contender for the worst fitting kit ever made. Link to the build thread: race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/2962/finished-darth-vaders-ride-advanced 2. 2012 Corvette Grand Sport Coupe. Carlisle blue: one year only color. 1/25 scale. Modified Z06. Very long term project started almost a decade ago. Link to build thread: race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/1857/finished-2012-corvette-grand-sport 3. Red Squadron Leader (Red 1) X-Wing Fighter 1/63 scale Reissue of the old MPC kit. Modified. Link to the build thread: race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/3072/finished-star-wars-wing-fighter 4. 1978 Pontiac Trans Am 1/32 scale. Monogram kit. Fun little project. Link to the build thread: race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/3103/finished-judge-monogram-pontiac-trans 5. 1915 Ford Model T 1/32 scale. Excellent old Pyro kit from the 1960's Tons of details added. Complex project. Very happy with the results. Link to the build thread:race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/3111/finished-1915-ford-model-pyro 6. Early C4 Corvette Racer. 1/25 scale. Contender for favorite of the year. Part of a local Corvette buildoff. Heavily modified 1984 promo. Link to build thread:race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/3242/finished-quick-builds-local-buildoff 7. 1990 Corvette Convertible. 1/25 scale. Part of the local Corvette buildoff. AMT kit. One of the worst fitting Corvette kits ever made. Tons of work required. Link to build thread: race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/3242/finished-quick-builds-local-buildoff 8. 1963 Corvette convertible Restomod. 1/25 scale. Part of the local Corvette buildoff. Quick custom using the Revell snap kit. Link to build thread: race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/3242/finished-quick-builds-local-buildoff 9. 1956 Ferrari 290 MM (Mille Miglia) 1/43 scale white metal kit. A most challenging build. Link to build thread:race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/3147/finished-43-1956-ferrari-290 What is your favorite? As usual, your comments are appreciated. Looking forward to 2024! Thanks, Ismael

That's a very nice rescue. It looks GREAT!

Sorry I missed this earlier. Great job on that L-88 racer!

Great job on 005! The famous "half-shaft from the parking lot" story. Love it! Thanks, Ismael

I don't think so. I gave up over a year ago after trying every possible laptop, desktop, home or office, different OS , tablets, apple/android phones, etc. Thanks, Ismael

Thank you everybody! Always appreciate your comments and feedback. For some weird reason I have never been able to like or "react" to comments in this forum. Must be a setting somewhere. Thanks, Ismael

Hello, I'm happy this ordeal is finished ? Did my best but the kit was quite crude and basic. Ended up creating my own decals after countless attempts of creating a stencil for airbrushing. It was simply too small. Ended up making quite a few sets until the final one (probably the 6th or so attempt) worked. You can see the build thread here:https://race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/3147/finished-43-1956-ferrari-290 Anyways, 1956 Mille Miglia The Mille Miglia (Italian for thousand miles) was an Italian race on the open roads. It was held between 1927 and 1957. By the 1950's it was a loop between Brescia in the north, down the east coast, west to Rome, north back to Brescia thru central Italy. A little over 1,000 miles. Been a very prestigious race, the 1950s saw intense battles between Ferrari, Mercedes, Lancia and many others. For 1956, Ferrari entered two Ferrari 290 MM (Mille Miglia as these cars were specifically designed for this race) and two Ferrari 860 Monzas. Privateers also entered a few other Ferraris. The numbers of the cars represented the starting time, as they were released 1 minute apart. Juan Manuel Fangio's car was number 600, meaning he started at 6AM. Eugenio Castelloti's car was 548, meaning he started his race at 5:48AM. Eugenio Castelloti won the race in an astonishing 11 hours, 37 minutes and 10 seconds averaging over 85MPH thru torrential rains on public roads! (What a maniac! ? ) This is the car we are representing today. By the way, Ferrari finished 1,2,3,4 and 5. Total sweep! Castelloti-Ferrari 290 MM Collins-Ferrari 860 Monza Musso-Ferrari 869 Monza Fangio-Ferrari 290 MM Gendebien-Ferrari 250 GT LWB Scaglietti Race stats: 426 cars entered, 365 actually started the race, 182 finished. This is my first 1/43 serious model, but the kit, probably been half a century old, was very crude. It required a lot of effort as you can see in this build thread: https://race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/3147/finished-43-1956-ferrari-290 Except for the body, steering wheel and tires, which required massive amounts of work, pretty much everything else was scratchbuilt. Here is the end result: I was able to find reference pictures of the race. I had converted the following images to black and white (remember photography is my other hobby) to represent those press images from 1956. to put it in perspective: I hope you like and approve. Your comments are appreciated. Thanks, Ismael

Thank you all for the nice comments! Really appreciate. This is my favorite of the trio.

Thank you all for the nice comments! Really appreciate.

Thank you all for the nice comments! Really appreciate.

That is VERY cool! Love it!

Very nice! I was not aware this kit existed.

Nice job! And thanks for leading this build-off. I had a lot of fun making mine which I have posted here as well. Thanks, Ismael

That's a beautiful build indeed!

Hello, For the last few months, I've been working "in secret" on a special build-off project. You can read more about this build-off here:https://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/186704-ladies-and-gentlemen-presenting-my-grassroots-corvette-autocross-racer-build-off-entry-1-of-3/ This was the third and last completion of this build-off. Since I was tight for time, a proper factory stock build was out of the equation. I will eventually get to a proper factory stock later. Starting with the Revell snapper, I shaved emblems and door handles. Custom grille with monochromatic emblem, scratchbuilt Wilwood brakes, valve stems, seatbelts, hardware, interior details and mirrors (door mirror turned in aluminum). As usual, the windshield was blue tinted on top. Paint is LeMans blue with Cyber Gray replacing all the brightwork trim, wheels, etc. Carbon fiber flush door handles. I obviously don't have a progress thread as this was some sort of a "secret" but it was a very straight forward rather simple build, different to the '90 convertible which was a fit nightmare. Special thanks to Roberto Fanfan (madslammer) for driving the buildoff. My 1963 Corvette convertible Restomod And family pics with the other 2 builds that will be posted separately. Will update this post to include the links once posted. Link to the C4 racer: https://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/186704-ladies-and-gentlemen-presenting-my-grassroots-corvette-autocross-racer-build-off-entry-1-of-3/ Link to the '90 convertible: https://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/186705-ladies-and-gentlemen-presenting-my-1990-corvette-convertible-build-off-entry-2-of-3/ Finally, It is 1/25 Hope you like it! Thanks, Ismael

Hello, For the last few months, I've been working "in secret" on a special build-off project. You can read more about this build-off here: https://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/186704-ladies-and-gentlemen-presenting-my-grassroots-corvette-autocross-racer-build-off-entry-1-of-3/ This was the second completion of this build-off. This project had been in my mind since 1989 when at a local car show a dealer brought a brand spanking new 1990 Corvette convertible with dealer installed ground effect kits. But the only kit with correct 1990 wheels (one year only wheels) was the AMT. Unfortunately, this is one of the worst Corvette kits ever made. Nothing fits. So this was relegated to the back of the stash. When the build-off was announced I thought "it is now or never". More than 70% of the battle was to make it fit. Paint is Scalefinishes (what else?) Arctic white with Scalefinishes new Honey Gloss clear. This model has an engine, but the hood had to be glued shut to force the car to fit. Added valve stems, mirror faces, seatbelts and other interior details. Wheels were de-chromed and painted correct aluminum. As usual, the windshield was blue tinted on top. I obviously don't have a progress thread as this was some sort of a "secret" but I'll include progress pictures below. Special thanks to Roberto Fanfan (madslammer) for organizing the build-off. My 1990 Corvette convertible in 1/25 And family pics with the other 2 builds that will be posted separately. Will update this post to include the links once posted. Link to the C4 racer:https://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/186704-ladies-and-gentlemen-presenting-my-grassroots-corvette-autocross-racer-build-off-entry-1-of-3/ Link to the '63 Restomod: https://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/186707-ladies-and-gentlemen-presenting-my-1963-corvette-conv-restomod-build-off-entry-3-of-3/ Finally, It is 1/25 Hope you like it! Thanks, Ismael

Hello, For the last few months, I've been working "in secret" on a special project. For over 2 decades, local modelers in Puerto Rico have been participating in friendly build-offs. You know the drill: A topic is selected and you have to build a model within a specified time frame. It can be a common kit, a theme, a specific car, whatever. Very few rules: We have a Whatsapp chat group. You need to post a picture of the un-started project at the start date, and there is a deadline to present completed builds. At the end we simply share our work. There are no prizes. Just for fun. It's been over a decade since I've participated. Either I don't have the time (99% of the time) or the topic may be of no interest to me. But this time, the build-off theme selected was "70 years of Corvette". As the "Corvette guy" and the Priest of Corvettism, well, I was thrown head first. Not only I had to participate, but I also tried to help the organizer and other modelers with reference material, information and even parts from my parts bins. The rules were: Register yours by July 1st, post a pic of it un-started (either parts or a junker to be reworked), post progress pics but do not post finished pics until December 1st. For this build-off I finished 3 models. That in itself is a great accomplishment because I am a glacier-pace builder. This was the first one finished and my favorite. Since the timeframe was limited, I concentrated on an impactful paint job rather than engine detail like I usually do. This started as a 1984 promo that was disassembled and extensively reworked. The paint job was done with Victory red, Cobalt blue and Arctic white lacquers. The red was laid first, then masked. The blue and white were done with 2 airbrushes at the same time: blue on the Badger 150 and white in the Badger 100SG. Going back and forth between both until I got where I wanted. This paint scheme was loosely inspired by a real car that my good friend Robert Wheeler (the other Corvette guy) photographed years ago. Brakes, valve stems, fire extinguisher, nitro bottle, belts, harness, dash details, roll bar and many other details were scratchbuilt. The helmet was casted from a Monogram Indy car and I added visor and straps. I obviously don't have a progress thread as this was some sort of a "secret" but I'll post in progress pictures below. Special thanks to Robert Wheeler for the reference pictures and Roberto Fanfan (madslammer) for organizing the build-off. My C4 Corvette Autocross Racer in 1/25 And family pics with the other 2 builds that will be posted separately. Will update this post to include the links once posted. Link to the '90 convertible: https://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/186705-ladies-and-gentlemen-presenting-my-1990-corvette-convertible-build-off-entry-2-of-3/ Link to the '63 Restomod: https://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/186707-ladies-and-gentlemen-presenting-my-1963-corvette-conv-restomod-build-off-entry-3-of-3/ Finally, It is 1/25 Hope you like it! Thanks, Ismael

Hi David, That is exactly what I use to store/display my 1/32 Model T Thanks, Ismael

The best out there. Thanks, Ismael

Thank you Sam!

Thank you!

Love it! Very cool effect. Well done. Glad to see factory stock early iron. Thanks, Ismael

Thank you all! Appreciate it! For some reason I don't have the option to react to comments and provide a like to each one of your comments. Not sure why. Thanks, Ismael