ismaelg

Hello, First primer test. Looking good and heading in the right direction. Thanks, Ismael

Thanks! It does have an engine. Which I haven't touch yet. But I will... eventually 🙂

Hello, Started preparing the body for eventual primer. Started wet sanding carefully with 1500 grit. Like I mentioned earlier, the 3D resin behaves differently. This little lip on the cockpit quickly started to disappear with the sanding. I carefully re-scribed it and I am checking on it constantly. At this level of magnification (bigger than actual size) you can still see the 3D lines. Carefully working those before even thinking about primer. Call me weird but I'm really enjoying this. 🙂 Thanks, Ismael

Hello, Ray Harroun won the very first Indy 500 in 1911 piloting this car. As early as 1910, Marmon engineers knew they needed to reduce air resistance. Ray was a savvy racer for its time and understood you need to take care of your tires. In his experience, he knew if he kept the car at around 85 miles per hour, lower than the top speed it could achieve, the tires would last much longer. His strategy had worked previously in other smaller races. Another major innovation, is that this is credited to be the very first time a rearview mirror was used in an automotive application. The idea was to check for traffic without the need for a riding mechanic. I can spend days talking about this car. Let's just say I love it, especially after seeing it in person. Just the shear history it carries is mind blowing. After a few years of hunting, I was finally able to get a kit I consider a holy grail for me: The Indycals 1/25 Marmon Wasp! When this kit was first released a few years ago, it was a very limited run. I think it was only like 20 copies or so. More have been made but it is still a very limited availability. It is not easy to produce these. It seems the kit has changed slightly since it was introduced. For example, the original instructions show separate wheels and tires, while my copy has them molded together. While that may be a challenge for painting, it is definitely easier to manufacture and is one less area to have possible fit problems. So I am good with that. Some other minor changes were noted but nothing major. The kit is 3D printed. This is not for the faint of heart or the beginner. You need to step up your game and face it. Don't complaint it is hard. 3D printed resin is slightly different to traditional resin and to plastic. It is slightly softer than classic resin and care must be taken when working it. Also, the finish of 3D printed parts usually needs some additional work as printing lines are pretty much inevitable. This will be a slow project but one to be built not only with my hands, but with all my heart. Here we go: Here is a quick mockup of the major parts: Despite the excellent packaging, a trip in the mail is always a rough ride. Upon opening and inspecting it, I noticed the chassis had a broken piece and the body had a crack. Nothing a drop of superglue couldn't fix. Fixing these was the official start of the project. Stay tuned for more! Thanks, Ismael

Hi Ken! Thank you my friend! Well, that 427 is still very close in the family.

Thank you guys! Appreciate it!

Very cool Anglia!

I respectfully disagree. 🤣 What a cool tool! Love it!

Hello, I am late to the party but this is gorgeous build! I hope to get back to mine soon. Thanks, Ismael

Thank you Dennis!

Hello, In the second page of this thread I posted my oldest surviving build, from around 1984. But here is another one with a twist in its history. The Revell Magnum's Ferrari was released in 1982. I must have built it probably around 1983 or '84, ~age 13-14. This picture is from around 1986 (we moved from that house in early '87 and I see my built '85 Trans Am). You can see the Ferrari in this picture. While I already spray painted some bodies back then, the Ferrari seems to be bare plastic with only the roof brush painted black. After we moved to the new house, I remember disassembling that Ferrari and Spray painted it after discovering the Testors little spray bombs. Pretty sure it as about 1988 (age 17 or 18). By the way, parts from those other builds are in parts boxes everywhere as I disassembled those to be rebuilt. Back to the Ferrari, I clearly remember I couldn't get the tail lights out, so I painted over them with the hopes of "eventually" repainting them red and amber, which I never did. So technically, it is a newer build than the one I previously posted by about 3 years. I re-discovered that model years ago and put it in a box waiting to be cleaned up. This is how it looked up to last week. Untouched for about 36 years. I decided to clean it up but strictly refraining from improving on it. Strictly getting it back to what it was in 1988, including painted over tail lights, warped front hood, tons of flash, misaligned wheels and taped-repaired hood prop among other things. Touched a small corner with polish and the paint came out. So only soft brushes and cotton swabs (Q-tips) were used, damped in clean water. This is how it looks today. It will now reside in a proper display case. This is history. This is 18 years old me. Thanks, Ismael

Hello, Quick update: We were able to buy Make 'n Take bundle from Atlantis: 1/32 scale funny cars. We will host 2 events: One on Saturday and one on Sunday. It's been like 15 years since I hosted one. Any pointers? any videos of recent events to see the flow? We were thinking to limit it to ages 12 or under but it will depend on the crowd. Thanks, Ismael

Thank you all for stopping by and comment. I am glad you like it. Really appreciate it. Thanks, Ismael

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 year 2024 saw some limited action on the scale models workbench. This year I also got into airbrush illustration paintings. While I've been airbrushing models for over 30 years, it was the first time I get into this other aspect of airbrushing. I also continued restoring and collecting vintage airbrushes, some photography, etc. Unfortunately, no time this year for any camera or stereoscopy restoration. Scale models I completed only one model in 1/25 scale, one in 1/32 scale, two in 1/43 scale and a bonus in 1/64 scale. All were cars. Here is the class of 2024 in chronological order: 1. Custom C2 Corvette based on the AMT 1/43 'Vette Showrod, made from 3 junkers. More details and progress tread here: race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/3336/finished-corvette-showrod-project-junkers 2. Box Stock (Yes, BOX STOCK!) 1937 Chevy Convertible. 1/32 scale, Pyro/Life Like kit More details and progress thread here: race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/3350/finished-chevy-convertible-box-stock 3. Citroen 2CV. 1/43 scale, Heller kit More details and progress thread here: race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/3365/finished-43rd-scale-heller-citroen 4. C5 Corvette. 1/64 scale, Modified Hot Wheels More details and progress thread here: race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/3405/c5-corvette-64-experiment-expected 5. 1967 Impala street/strip racer. 1/25 scale, based on the AMT 427 SS. Most complex and serious build of the year. More details and progress thread here: and here: race-car-models.proboards.com/thread/3414/finished-67-impala-street-racer I hope you like it. Best wishes for a great 2025! Thanks, Ismael

Thank you all for your nice comments. Really appreciate it!

Hello, This one is DONE and posted under glass. Thank you for accompanying me in this adventure! Ismael

Hello, The Impala is DONE! So this was supposed to be part of a 3-4 months build-off, and I had to rush it to complete in 7. Almost twice the allocated time. Sounds like a government project. I had to rush to finish it so I can say I finished ONE 1/25 scale model in 2024. If I hadn't finished it by Dec 31st it would have gone back into the darkness of a box on the ever growing pile of "Likely to never be finished". The idea is a kind of a "sleeper look" muscle drag racer. From the outside it looks like a plain Jane, vanilla car but the secret sauce is under the hood. Super-detailed, fully wired and plumbed Big Block 427 with racing headers, a gargantuan Pro-Stock type 4-barrel / double pumper carburetor, aluminum heads, magnesium covers. Machined low profile air cleaner for clearance. Wired battery and alternator, plumbed brake dual master cylinder: a safety feature introduced in '67. Plus who knows what I've done to the internals that you can't see... Beefy 4 speed transmission and hi geared rear end complete the package. The interior was "downgraded" from bucket seats/center console to a 50-50 split bench seat. The body has no emblems and no antenna. The hood was modified to remove the hinge mechanism and use 4 hood pins. There are pins under the hood matching the top pin plates. The original indentation for the SS427 hood ornament was filled for a more sleeper look, but key observers will notice this is not a stock Impala hood. Period correct license plate. "100x35" is a common reference to the size of Puerto Rico in nautical miles. Current RFID Inspection/registration sticker (windshield's top center). Scalefinishes Butternut yellow, MCW lacquer clear. Everything else on craft acrylics and enamels. Kit's wheels were detailed and added valve stems. The walls have posters of famous Impala racers. Not perfect but my best effort this year. You can follow the progress thread here: Sorry for so many pics but I hope you like it: Bonus: I hope you like and approve. Let me know if there is any question or comment. Thanks, Ismael

Hello, Reworked the kit's upper radiator hose. A little carving, copper wire clamps and paint. I think it looks better now. Thanks, Ismael

Hello, Shoes for her Street crayons screaming smoke generators Thanks, Ismael

Hello, My arms hurt. Can I stop polishing now? What's the lamp number in case I need a replacement? Thanks, Ismael

Hello, I'd like to invite you to our biggest show of the year in Puerto Rico: The Puerto Rico Open Model Cars and Collectibles Show. The 3rd edition will be held February 8-9, 2025 at the San Juan Convention Center in Puerto Rico. Attached is the official promo with contact information. In 2024, among many other things, I did an airbrush seminar and it was a success. I'll be conducting another one this year and would love to have you with us. Please share! Thanks, Ismael

Hello, When you look at the bottle, the color doesn't really say much. But when sprayed, WOW! Once satisfied with the color coats, then we are now ready for clear. This before clear: Ready to apply clear as soon as I get a chance. Thanks, Ismael

Hello, Shaved door handles in process. Added styrene strips to the sides of the hood to tighten the gaps. HUH? Ohhh, going for a more sleeper look you sneaky. Only the sharpest eyes will note this is NOT a base Impala hood. Thanks, Ismael

Thanks Bob! I just sent Atlantis a note. Let's see how it goes. Thanks, Ismael

Hello, About 15 years ago I did a Make and Take event with my Boy Scouts unit and it was a huge success. Now I am part of the staff putting together the Puerto Rico Open Model Car and Collectibles Show which is quickly becoming the biggest show in PR. I've been asked to coordinate a Make and Take for the kids attending. However, I contacted Revell and was informed that Make and Take packages have been discontinued. I emailed Round2/AMT but did not get a reply. Any idea on how to proceed? I mean, other than buying 20-30 retail kits... Thanks, Ismael