Jantrix

So. After perusing the kit, reading the comments and staring at the body for a while, here's my plans for the kit. Caddy engine and wide whites + sombreros from the Revell '49 Merc. Of the custom changes to the body, the swept back windshield and roof are the most unsightly. However they do bring to mind the roofline of the '53 Stude Starliner. So I'm gonna do some measuring and see if the Stude roof is a good donor. In my minds eye it seems a good option that will make this custom a bit less modern, yet keep the overall look of the car intact.

I once knew a guy that had one of these. Looks fantastic. I'd love to know where you get a lot of your jet parts.

How do you get through life without managing your expenses? I don't normally keep track of every penny I spend on models, but when a model requires more than average resources, I tend to take notice. Not to mention the fact that I do keep a rough estimate of hobby expenditures keeps me in the black with my wife. So that when a new kit comes out she's happy to indulge me.

It's a source of pride for many of us how inexpensive this hobby is, compared to many others available to us. I spend more on handgun ammo yearly than I do on my models. Anyone into RC anything is the same way. Having said that, whats the most you have invested in any particular build? I know that large scale is more expensive by their very nature and aftermarket is much more hard to find. So for the sake of comparison, lets just keep the discussion to 1/24 or 1/25. Personally, my most expensive required four kits to be purchased and parted out using ebay, so about $70. A few aftermarket parts, evergreen stock, paint and other incidentals another $25. So all told, somewhere in the realm of $100 for my Cherry 2000 movie car. Most of my work is much less than that, perhaps half.

I have the roadster version that I'm also planning to hot rod, so I will be paying close attention.

New tool?

I noticed that too. The nailhead was terrific. I hope it's not gone for good.

I finally have a roller. Lots of chassis work yet to do.

Yeesh.

Michael, Jeremy, good work. I've decided against the flat black. I have recently got my air brush set up complete and some paints. I'm going to use this as a test vehicle with my first air brush paint job. Going into the purple pond. Stay tuned.

Wayne as usual you do top notch work. That roof decal would have driven me out of my mind. Say hello to the gang at Jaxcon for me.

Here's the Revell Pickup piece that Richard mentioned. As Bill said it's not the best. I used it here and although I liked it well enough when I was building this kit, in hindsight I don't care for it. Perhaps if it was less deep.

I'm married now for 25 years. I was building when we were dating, so she knew what she was getting into. She's supportive of my hobby, and though shes tried twice to get into it herself, she has little interest. What she does like, is that I enjoy it, it keeps me at home, and that compared to a lot of hobbies, it's fairly low buck. I spend less than $250 a year. I keep a modest stash. About 65 kits I think. This way she never feels like the hobby is taking over the home in any way. She went out unasked and bought me the new Caddy on Monday. My sons enjoy seeing my work, though they are not really into themselves. All in all, I'm a pretty lucky guy.

I mentioned this kit to my lovely wife and she popped right out and got me one. What a great gal. After staring at it for a while, I think the windshield is laid too far back. I wonder how a '53 Stude windshield and roof would look on this. I think it would remove a lot of the "modern custom" from the model. Time to do some measuring.

A comfort model kit? No, not really. But a build style? Certainly. I find weathered subjects particularly enjoyable because you never really know how they are gonna turn out. Also not everything has to be perfect. It's kinda freeing really. As much as I enjoy them, I don't do it a lot because I don't want to lose the novelty, and I want to continue to grow as a builder.

Yep. A lot of us use 30 gauge wrapping wire due to availability and color choices. They are a bit out of scale than the wire you will get with a pre-wired dizzy, but I think they look better. We used to get it at Radio Shack, but sadly those days are past. A Google search might find you some.

Thanks. It's on a shortened AMT stocker chassis.

I always like Nascar kits for kitbashing. I'd save one of the AMTs for a chassis swap for something like this.

You sure it's a 390? I could have sworn it was a Y-block. Looks great though.

Nicely done. I got some work done on my Catalina this past weekend. I'll get some photos tonight.

Looking great. I like the stance and the tires are on point for a street rod, but the rims are a bit dated. Very 1995. Maybe some five spokes?

I use the plastic totes and support the model in old soft t-shirts. I don't wrap it, I just use the fabric to hold the model in place from the front, rear and sides. I moved 35 built models this way, from Florida to Idaho in a moving van and had two loose parts. I put 12 or so totes in a moving box. Some totes had two small models in them. It works out great for me.

Agreed. No need for apologies. Although the Cannonball is a competition, we're all here to help you get to the starting line. David is dead right on the Super Clean. If you used a lacquer, you'll need 90% isopropyl alcohol from the drug store to do the stripping. Between those two mediums, you're pretty much set. A heat gun is too unfocused to use for dents. I prefer an open candle flame and the handle of one of my tools. Rust, I can definitely help with. Shoot me a PM some time and we can go over some methods.

Cale, what are you doing to "wreck" these kits maybe we can help sort things out? If it's paint, there are several options for removing bad paint with no damage to the plastic.