Jantrix

So what are you trying to say? Seriosly though, seems to me a person finds a barn fresh car, the first thing he's gotta do is put fresh rubber on it. And yeah, those are five lug wheels. I didn't notice the six lugs when I replaced the kit parts. But it's not a mistake I'll make again. These are all good points being made, however like anything we do in this hobby there is a learning curve for anything we try. On my Gunslinger 57 I used real dirt and sand. On my Cherry 2K Mustang I used spray paints to get the same effect. Neither was very convincing. But I think I nailed it with my junkman's trailer using brush on acrylics. We learn as we go. I think weathered rides in the past wereoverlooked and under appreciated. But thanks to rusty guys like the good Doctor and others, that is changing. And people are realizing that it takes as much or more skill to make a weathered model look authentic than it does a nice shiny one.

*Quietly slides the rusted dented Corvette body into the purple pond while no one is looking.*

Jim mentioned he is coming down to Tampa for the MAGS show on Oct. 15/16 at the SE Streetrod Nats. If anyone is planning on being here, there's some things you aughta know. This show is different from most. It is in the vendors area of the car show. Every year the car show shrinks up the clubs space so table space is limited. The tables are laid out parking lot fashion. There's not much room to get in there and photograph with a lil tripod. Although they give no limit to the amount of entries, I'd bring no more than six of your best work. Also, you have to walk through the car show to get there, making transport of a large quantity of models problematic. Because this is in an area open to the public, your models will be surrounded by spoiled, over-indulged children and their inattentive parents all day, both days. However the MAGS guys are out in force with their friends and spouses too, keeping the grubby little hands away. I've not heard of an "incident" at this show, but be advised, the possibility exists. I'd try to keep your builds away from the edge of the table if possible. You gotta leave your models overnight. That's when they do the judging. The facility has a security guard overnight. The MAGS guys are excellent judges and great modelers. Be advised they do award their members awards. However I didn't see a MAGs member win an award for a model that wasn't deserving. It was a tough show. Lots of great builders. I plan on being there. I hope to see you.

I can understand where they are coming from. They know the openings have dried up and I just sort of lucked into my spot. However I was chosen over them, and that's where the hurt feelings come into play. Good news Jim, can't wait to see ya and catch up.

That is very sharp. Great paint, super clean assembly. The only thing I would add is some short pieces of aluminum tube over the exhaust ends. I see you had the same hood fitment issues that I did. I build my 50 a little differently.

Wow. Your attention to detail is fantastic. Great work.

I am an engineering test technician at Honeywell Clearwater, FL. I inspect and test circuit boards (very expensive, used in space is all I can say about that) from design to finished product. Basically the engineers design it. I test it. Then we both figure out why it doesn't work. Lather, rinse, repeat.

After near two years languishing in the limbo that is contract work, I recieved an official offer from Honeywell of a permanent position. You know, the kind with benefits, vacation days and stuff! This is such a load off my back. I was looking at the unemployment line in October if this didn't happen, and the only reason it did, is because another Honeywell technicians poor health forced an early retirement. It's been a tough couple of years for the Mattis' I gotta tell you. But now the wife has finally found work and this happens for me............whew. What a life. The only downside.......having to deal with the guys that are still contract and odds are will not be seeing my good fortune. There just aren't any openings left. The temperature in the lab has gotten much colder if you know what I mean. I know lots of us are dealing with this crappy job market. I'm hoping we all see the upswing soon.

No such luck. That soft top I posted above will be removable in order to show the interior detail which I intend to be a focus of the build. I'm either case, I'm gonna rethink the piping. I put the test piece in the purple pond to see if it will disolve the spray adhesive. If that doesn't work I'll try some 91% alcohol. If I can get the part clean I'll redo. I'm heading to Michaels anyway to find an alternative piping so I'll look at the Halloween decorations. Thanks for the suggestion.

Yeah DD, so did I,however as it was glued and pressed into place, the CA glue wicked into the fibers and flattened it quite a bit. I'm going to stick with it, it's not the only eye-grabbing thing I have planned for this, so it's not going to be a big deal in the end I figure.

After some serious grokking on the subject of the soft top for this build here is what I have come up with. I really want this to resemble sail canvas. 1. Repaired the corners of the piece that was cut from the roof. I drilled the corners to start the cut and shape the corners. Then I added some half round stock and sanded it down a bit. With the expected gap, it still fits pretty good. 2. I stretched a piece of lint free cloth across the surface and taped to the back side and taped it into place on the model body. These lint free cloths I have gotten many private messages about (I used one to make the mexican blanket in my shop truck build). They are a thin cloth wipe often found in machine shops and labratories. They only come in bags of 100 and are VERY expensive. I wish I had more. What I have is left over from a previous employer. 3. I mixed a white glue/water mixture and applied it liberally over the cloth. If all goes well when dry it should hold it's shape pretty well. Note to self: in the future use a new (read: clean) brush for this application. I was so into what I was doing that I failed to notice the little slivers of brown acrylic paint that we being left by the brush. I'll likely use the removed portion of the top to make a frame to go beneath it. Seems simplest to me and I won't have to bend something to match the arc of the roof. More soon.

Honestly I don't have a lot of "rare reasures". I've pickep up a few well remembered kits from my childhood (Johan 63 Olds)(AMT Double T) but aside from that they are all pretty available kits. So I consider them all my treasures, because every kit that I have in one way or another inspires me and fires up my creativity. Any kit I aquire that doesn't do that is traded away to one of you fine folks for something that does get my juices flowing.

Keep on. I wanna see more.

Hmm........no valve stems, no weight on the wheels, the door seams don't seem to have much depth. Model.

A most impressive creation. As a fellow vet (Coast Guard 92-01, active) (Florida ANG 02-05, reserve) I appreciate the sentiment and thank you for your service.

I like the fact that it doesn't have all the added wiring and detail goodies. It's called Bare Necessities and I think the idea crossed to the model as well as the car it's modeled after. I did a AMT 25 couple similarly. Very nice work.

Very intersting. Well executed. I'd believe that has been setting in someones car post for a few years yep.

Very cool idea. Lets see it.

I'm really looking forward to seeing this one completed. I have this same kit at the house awaiting my attention.

I like this idea a lot. I used a Pontiac Nascar chassis under my Revell Monza Spyder body. This should be great.

Guys thanks very much for the input, my wife was of the same mind. Over the top is the way to go. You know this model building would go a lot faster if I didn't have to go to work.

Most impressive. I think the sponsorship logos should be your personal choice and that should be the end of it.

Hmm.......................okay I'd like some opinions here. I have painted the tuck and roll to look like wood. And added the gold piping. And I'm thinking the this piping thread is way too thick. Now bear in mind this is supposed to be a bit over-the-top and kinda gaudy, but still I think this is too much. The thread is multi strand and I can wind a smaller piping using fewer strands. What do you think? Toooo gaudy or tasteless enough for any self-respecting pirate?

Dave it is in fact a micro-fiber and yep, pretty stretchy. It helped me pull it around the edges and superglue it to the back. I tried cutting out the center panel when I got home from work tonight, (couldn't wait) and it trimmed off nicely. No unraveling or pulling. I'll do the other side and the rear panel (remains of rear seat) tomorrow. This is not going to be a rat rod. It will look like a traditional hot rod with a wierd theme. I'll be doing some mild weathering in the engine bay and underside, but that's about it. Alright.......................maybe not so traditional...............but I promise you. No rat. Chuck..............your Uncle Kevin says hi.