Jantrix

Pics or it didn't happen! Sorry man, its kind of an unofficial rule here.

Are you asking if I'm going to quit at this point?

Insanely cool!

Kelly, I appreciate the ideas and the enthusiasm, and keep it up on both counts, but I'd rather not have someone doing it for me. You guys have all been great with ideas and feedback and the odd part or three, and I am very appreciative, but I've been looking forward to doing the mural since I started this build. I'm not very successful my first time out the gate, but I'm just that much more determined to get it right. Thanks though.

Mark, I have been through the Google pirate/treasure map search several times and while there are many, there are few good ones. Maybe I could find some sort of old map of Middle Earth or something and do some creative changes.

Thanks Roger I appreciate it. And that goes for everyone else who gave me the feedback I'm needing. I have WAY to much work in this to go half-assed now. I'm leaning hard toward starting the body over again. The palm trees and some of the other detail I tried to paint (trust me it wasn't pretty) look too much like a kid with a crayon. I'm even unhappy with the dotted line. It's too large and the paint dried so fast it was hard to get all the tape off so some dashes look ragged. I'm thinking that I might want to look into doing the map mural with actual maps made into decals. I have set the model back into the box until I figure this out. Please continue to chime in if you have an opinion, much appreciated. Bruce, that's my middle name brother.

You know I don't really recall this happening too often here. Generally when someone here calls their work scratch-built they are being accurate. So the best thing here would be to just not worry about it and carry on with your life.

Very bold. I look forward to seeing this.

I may actually try that.

Wicked!

This one neither! Thanks man. You too Tom.

Thanks man. I appreciate that. Jim's work was a real eye opener for me and really inspired and motivated me. I'm not sure how to go about the sepia idea, but I do intend to weather the "parchment" a bit. I'm just not sure how my hand painted details look. I'm no real happy with them, but I don't know how to do any better either. Ideas welcome.

I may yet do some more with the former first mate, but I want to finish the rest of the build first. Ever since my carpal tunnel release surgeries my hands are a lot less steady then they used to be, but honestly I was never that good at freehanding.

Tony - the hood will feature a compass rose. Painted or decal, I'm not sure yet. Jim- the spot next to the center palm tree represents a hole in the map. I have decided not to add a X to the map, because the journey is the point. Jacen- I figured this forum had already figured that out. Joshua- Thanks man. Thanks for the comments everyone.

AND HE FUMBLES ON THE ONE YARD LINE! Clearing did not go well guys. I rushed it a bit and got some bad orange peel. And on the white it looks like little bubbles in the paint. In an attempt to salvage it, sanding it has caused me to go through the paint as well. I specifically used the one coat lacquer because of how shallow the window trim molding was and I could get by with one coat. I ended up ruining it. I have no paint remover at this time, no extra decals, and not enough paint to re-shoot. Looks like I'm not going to see the start of the race. Sorry guys. I will be finishing this. Just not anytime soon. Anyone have a spare decal sheet from the '49 Merc laying about?

I really love what you are doing. Keep it going.

Man you can't go wrong with a set of classic Cragar SS'. The Vectors would look okay too. The modern stuff............not so much.

Guys, I need an honest critique here guys. Please pull no punches. You cannot hurt my feelings. Here is the starboard side of the Jolly Roger featuring some really lousy paint work on my part. Since I'm using craft acrylics I can wipe it off and do it again before it sets too much and this is like my fifth try. It's just not going to get any better I'm afraid. I'm just not that good at freehand painting. From a foot or more away she looks okay but up close (like a contest judge might get) she shows her lack of refinement. What do you think? Maybe make some small templates and do the trees and stuff that way?

Hmm. I think you should end the body right where the trunk starts so that the rear of the frame and gas tank are visible. I really like what you're doing here. I've been kicking around the same thing but I haven't found the right victim yet.

Wow. That's one of the nicest compliments any of my work has ever gotten. Thanks very much Kelly. Welcome to the forum.

Ever since it became more about the drama than the work, I lost interest. No loss in my book.

I think you got a contest winner just as it sits. Nice work.

Anyone know if a police car like this was ever used in a film? Movie replicas would interest me more than just an ordinary police car from Anywhere USA.

Well 'ol Bones is done. This took quite a bit manipulation. I had him more or less sitting up originally and he looked kinda cool but I forgot one very important detail. This is a chopped Merc. The canvas top would not fit with his bean sticking up. Here he is now, in a very reclined but uncomfortable position. Many thanks to Rich Manson (no relation, I hope) for the excellent steins which when drilled out made for an excellent pewter mug. The knife is a cut and filed down sword from a Dungeons and Dragons figurine. More soon.