bobss396

I agree that they have just about ruined the market, everyone thinks that they have a BJ car that they're selling. But the thing is going the other way now, evilBay auctions with over-priced cars are not moving. I see the same cars relisted 4 times or more. Prices will come down in time when people get a reality check about the market not as hot as they think it is. I watch the auctions once in a while, mainly to put myself to sleep or kill an hour or so. The "car guys" on the show don't know their a$$ from their elbow about cars. Their spiel is "wannabe" rhetoric that they regurgitate on a predictable basis. Bob

This thread should be cut. It reminds me bickering on other boards that I have fled and hoped this one would be different. Is there a moderator in the house? Bob

Oh yeah, HOK doesn't play well with too much unless it is also a lacquer product. I have very little paint problems, I keep it simple and try a sample on something scrap if I have my doubts. I secretly get a kick out of people who post about "lacquer over enamel" woes. Call me sadistic but it gets me through the day. Bob

What shows are covered in it? I have a streak going of being in model car magazines and only 3 days to keep the consecutive streak alive. Bob

I should pick up one of those myself. I have a Clausing that I have to set up at home soon. I'm well set up for it with various tool holder and other accessories. With the small lathes, you have to be able to change tools quickly so I'd suggest a small turret or something that allows you to take pre-set tools in and out quickly. Micro Mark has some good small lathe tooling, I'd start there. Then you have to have a means of sharpening tools. Carbide is great put requires a special grinding wheel, high speed steel is pretty good and sharpens well on a regular bench grinder. You'll want a coarse and fine wheel with some sort of dresser, or buddy up to someone who works in a machine shop. Think of using tools that you can combine uses. Like a tool that can do facing and part off. Knowing how wide the tool is essential, so you can face the part, dial off to a specific number and do the part off. Try to do as much as possible in one operation. I like to use a water soluble oil for cutting fluid. The mix ration is something like 50:1 so a little goes a long way, again a buddy in the business is good to have. PM me if you want some, I'd be glad to send you some to get you going. I get most of my stock from McMaster-Carr or MSC Direct. I have work and personal accounts with both. I also grab any scrap cut off lengths of anything round 1" in diameter and under. For aluminum, 6061 is pretty good, so is 2024. 7075 is a true aircraft grade, a little harder to machine and not as easy to get as the others. You should have a set of collets that will take dimensional stock, like 1/8", 3/16" and so on. Bigger stock you can turn in the chuck, even turning a "handle" on a bigger piece and finishing it in a collet and cutting off the handle later is good to do. You can make up "blanks" that can be worked on in stages, if you want to make multiple parts or the same thing. Best of luck with your new asset! Bob

Thanks! I'm leaning towards a Tamiya metallic green or a HOK green. The interior will be either a lighter green of a combo of that and a lighter cream. I dislike 2-toning interiors though. Bob

Based on the Flintstone resin body, '66 T-Bird interior and hood scoop from a donor kit, '68 Charger 383, Modelhaus wide whites, Lincoln steering wheel, custom made exhaust. The tailights are different now, body is about 90% done. Firewall is .012 thick aluminum sheet. Hope to work on it over the holidays. Bob

I build to wow the chicks. Bob

What really "stinks" is that there is now a FINITE supply of NA$CAR kits for whoever wants to build them. I personally use them for kitbashing and have a decent amount of stock on hand. However, any time I see a $3 or $5 kit around, I'm grabbing it. Bob

IIRC, the old (soon to be reissued) double T kit has one in it. They are slightly different from the 332-427 Ford FE line and deffo look better in hot rods. Bob

Polish it up, slap some BMF on it and call it done. Overall. it is probably more valuable as a collector piece left as is at this point. Bob

It keeps me out of the 100 proof Smirnoff and nose candy! Besides, I like cars and don't have the time of $$ for the real ones right now. Bob

It did cross my mind, but would open other cans of worms. Plus my bro is a Christian and it would go against his beliefs. It was a defining moment and let everyone know what she was all about. I actually wish her a LONG life since she has so many health problems and is in constant pain. Bob

I belong that other "Traditional Hot Rod" group and see that it is being torn apart by what is traditional and what is not. Which is not cool. There is a fine line between a RR and HR. I'd say give the RR fans their sub board. I'll check in with the group later today, I see that there is a poll going on which may be used as a deciding factor of which way the group goes. Bob

What an incredible bummer, I feel the pain myself. In 1991, my model collection dating back to 1964 or so was thrown out by my step mother. Everything was stored at my Dad's house in the basement since I was doing a big renovation project at my newly acquired house. They announced that they were selling the house and could I please get my model stuff packed up and moved out. I went over on a Monday night, looked over how much was there and said I'd be back Wednesday night with enough boxes to accomplish the task. Wednesday comes around, I'm there with the boxes and everything is GONE. My brother took a bigger loss with a complete pickup truck and his prized 327 Chevy engine in the bed which also vanished. She couldn't (or wouldn't) tell us who took the goods away. Needless to say, this and an array of other unpleasantries over the years has put a serious damper on our relationship and also unfortunately with my Dad. I could go on, but it wouldn't be in the best interest of modeling. My take on step mothers since then is, avoid them at all costs! I've recently told my kids that is anything ever happened to their Mom, I'd never hang the step mother albatross around their necks. I'd rather opt for high priced hookers if I wanted any close female companionship from that point on. Messing with anyone's models or anything that they care about is a total affront to who they are. I am the models, the models are me. Bob

The LIARS monthly meeting is on for Thursday night 11/20 at 7:00-9:30 PM. We're always looking to add new members to the roster, so come on down! Dues are $25 for the year and you get the right to wear the signature black LIARS t-shirts and other apparel. Remember: Bring a canned good or other non-perishable food item for the food pantry. Every little bit helps. The location is: Henrietta Acampora Recreation Center, 39 Montauk Hwy, Blue Point, NY. From the Long Island Expressway (495): Exit 62S, Nicholls Rd. Make a left onto Montauk Hwy and take it for approximately a ¼ mile. Center is on the left-hand side just past the King Kullen shopping center. Directions from Sunrise Highway (Rte 27) are the same, grab Nichols Road and head south. I don't know what this month's theme is, but there will be a re-hash of the 11/08 show which is always interesting.

I was in Florida last December when they were having fires outside of Jacksonville. Not as bad as what they had some years prior, but just an eerie thing even though I was nowhere near the danger. But if you have nice warm weather 320 days of the year, there has to be a down side whether it be fires, earth quakes or mud slides (not the bartender conconctions). Bob

I'm an old school hot rod type and cringe at the term. I see it as "ripping off the culture" by a bunch of wannabes. Hot rods just happened, not by design, they went by the resources in the pocket and what was available for them to work with. Bob

This is a "touchy" subject, lol. The only time anyone is really allowed to handle another modeler's car is at contests, unless they hand it to another person, which I do sometimes. At our contest, the entry form that stays with the model has a box to check off, can the judges handle the car? Yes or no. If the car can't be handled, then it gets judged as it sits. Which can work for you or against you as a contestant. I've seen special instructions added, the body is loose, pick it up by the rocker panels, etc. I've been fortunate and have seen very few cars damaged at contests, usually in transporting or the owner setting it up. I did see coffee sloshed into a model at one show, man was the owner pi$$ed off. I took two giant steps backward from that scene. So discounting events dictated by bizarre irrational human behavior and the full moon syndrome, the majority of modelers are respectful of the work that others put into their models. I've had to tell non-modelers who have seen my work, not to pick it up, I'll do it for them. Which some have taken as an insult, oh well. Bob

I would just sand it smooth. Anything that would take it off would harm the plastic. There is a CA glue de-bonder, but I don't think it would help. Bob

I was one of the judges and didn't like some of what was going on. I was overruled on a few things that I thought were the right choice. Some of the orders of winners got mixed up and is being straightened out or already has been fixed. I'm not sure if I'll volunteer to judge the contest in the future. I'm glad that you had a good time though, it was a pretty good modeling day. Bob

Thanks Frank, I was able to get a name and phone number off the entry sheet from Bill M. and will call him today. Bob

Thanks for the nice comments. I figured it may have been good for a 3rd on the outside. But there were so many mind blowing builds on the table that day that beat it. I build what I like anyway. It was my first full tilt flathead attempt and I learned a lot doing it. The intention was to depict a period correct rod. One judge knocked it down for not having a urethane shine to it, but that would have been wrong to what I was doing. Some people have no clue to what they're looking at anyway. I did some different things that I haven't tried before. The trim rings are turned aluminum items I made up and had nickel plated, which goes with the body color. I used one of Norm's crab style distributors, beehive oil filters and dipsticks. I'll have to take more pictures and post them when I get a chance. Bob

Lots of things have contributed to GM's woes. They carry a considerable load of retirees that are living longer than anyone there expected, paying out huge amounts in pensions and other benefits. The labor unions have lost some of their influence since the mid 1970's but still are a factor. Then you get to them building cars that are not what people want. Losing Oldsmobile was probably a smart move overall, maybe Buick could go too? Even though I like Buicks in general. I bought a used car in May. I tried very hard to buy an American car and wrestled with it for close to a year before I bought a Nissan product. Even the car salesman steered me away from the Malibus and other cars I was looking at. Ford had nothing that I liked. I did like a couple of Chrysler products and test drove an Avenger, but I liked the Nissan over that as well. What about bailouts? The US government did AMC a favor by having them supply fleet cars for many official usage. They did tend to rust out and fall apart faster than anyone expected. In the end, AMC, exit - stage right. Does GM now offer a car that would be fleet-worthy or would the bailout be a one shot deal or would it involve other breaks? I guess we'll have to wait and see. Bob

This I had just finished for the show last week, didn't win anything but at least I finished one in 2008. Bob