Jantrix

May I make a suggestion? I've been around a while and seen hundreds of CBP's start and never get much interest. The reason for this? The scope is made too narrow. The thread originator wants people to build something similar to what he has in mind and sets a tight set of rules. There might be just a few people who have an interest in that particular genre. And with life and it's endless diversions keeping us away from the bench, nothing comes of the CBP with just those few people. As I'm not a circle track or open course racing fan, I've no idea what you should do to open the field up more, I'm just throwing the idea out there. Good luck with the CBP. I look forward to seeing what you've got in store.

The dio looks great. What else are you going to do with the 56?

We don't see a lot of OOB build ups here. To see one so well done is really a treat. Thanks for posting.

Marvelous work. Two questions. Exactly what bandage material are you using and where are you getting the pewter? Something that flexible, I can think of lots of uses for.

I have 22 completed models. I would have about 16 more but I had a a moving company guy take a liking to my work while I was packing them. The case mysteriously disappeared and the military reimbursed me for the cost of the kits. It really is a shame because it was a lot of my older work and many of them are very hard to find now. I have about a dozen in progress, I guess.

Well, I tried anyway. No.

Dagnabit! You beat me to it Darin!

HOLY SMOKES! I thought those guys who had the air conditioned sheds had the best digs, but man this looks like a two story warehouse?

Jose, this is really impressive stuff. Just fantastic work.

Some interesting projects. I'm seeing a lot of paint build up and you building on pre-painted bodies. There are ways of stripping old paint. Unless that's the look you were going for? Let me know if I can help out in any way.

Entirely possible, the Bruins are playing well and deserve the win as much as Tampa, but if you recall a lot of Pittsburg fans said the same thing as you, two weeks ago. Go Bolts!

Guys thanks very much for the excellent comments. I'm glad this has sparked such an excellent discussion. Man I hope so. I've been considering doing replys like this for a while. "Nice effort, but I have some thoughts that might make your work better. Would you like to discuss it on this thread or via private message?" If the thread originator doesn't reply then I haven't wasted my time and if he does I will understand whether this person is looking for advice. Another good point here is that we still need to say "something" to these newer builders. So many of us subscribe to Thumpers mama's rule of "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." When that happens a persons work is seemingly ignored. We HAVE to risk more when we see builders like this. We need to risk hurting feelings and offer criticism and praise where appropriate. Because, as I have experienced, being ignored is the worst feeling. It's a total confidence crusher. The internet has made what used to be a very solo hobby into a social experience. Like a quilting bee but without the tea and cookies. Thanks again guys & gals.

Beautiful work. The paint and attention to detail are really to be admired.

First off, nice work!!!! A good clean build. Black is hard to pull off, but you did it well. You added some detail and it looks good. The lack of red lenses for the tail lights is unfortunate, but it's what you have to deal with with a lot of older kits. Did you lower that engine at all to get it to clear the hood? The oil pan/filter and lower A-arms are soooo low! A speed bump would wreck a 1:1 like that. I ran into a similar situation with the AMT Studebaker. When I asked folks here, they suggested that it was due to bad kit engineering when they wanted to add posable steering.

I realize that I'm going to catch it for this but this has been percolating in my brain a while. I've got some spare time tonight and I'm going to try to get this off my chest. I'm going to have to word this carefully, forgive me if I miss the mark. We seem to have a lot of new builders (new to the hobby) on MCM forum lately and this is a great thing. Like me they come here to learn the hows, the whys and wherefores. To see what others are building, and how they done it. They see the chop tops, brass frames, custom this and scratch built that and the infinite creative possibilities that exist within our hobby. But I think they really don't get the best advice of all when it comes to building. Walk, then run. I see a lot of builds started but few finished. Now I'm no stranger to unfinished builds, but it's mostly due to modeling ADD. With a lot of new builders they don't get finished because they try to take on too much for their skill level. I discovered scale auto magazines in my early 20's and they opened up a world to me. Trying to replicate some of those wonderful models, I turned a lot of perfectly good kits into hamburger. Mores the pity, many are no longer available today. It took me a while to learn what I'm telling you today. Walk, then run. Learn to build cleanly first. Learn how to paint. Learn what glues to use and when/where they work best. A cleanly built box stock model with good paint will beat a super scratched, chopped, channeled rod with mold lines and bad bodywork/paint every time. I'm posting this because we see this every day on this forum, but no one says anything to the builders because we're always afraid of how the builder will receive the criticism. We've had too many threads in the past turn into a mess of hurt feelings and the builder storms off the forum to another where everyone will pat him/her on the back and tell them how great their work is, when it'€s not. Many new builders get discouraged because they aren'€t getting ataboys. "I've gotten 476,000 views and no comments! What's up with that?" It's because no one wants to be the bad guy and say, "Hey go back and learn the basics fella." I'm posting this because I wish someone had been there to tell me this. My dad turned me on to models, but he wasn't much in the tough love department, he just smiled and said "Nice job son."It gave me the warm and fuzzy feeling I was after, but it didn't make me a better modeler. So here I am. I'll be the bad guy. Put down the saw. Step away from the body filler. Grab out a kit and built it with no alterations, as clean and carefully as humanly possible. Grab out all those model bodies you've trashed and practice painting. All these things I'm still learning now, after modeling off and on for nearly 40 years. That's all. If this message reaches one new builder and makes him/her think, it'll have been time well spent. I'll step off the soap box now.

Okay quick question. It's become obvious that these rims are hard to find in the 18-20 inch size range. The guys that make the trans kits for Eleanor seem to be out of the biz lately. Is there a reason that you must have that rim? Check with PegasusHobbies.net. They have several wheels that are at least close to what you want. http://pegasushobbies.net/catalog/Peg.-Model-Car-Acc.-Rims-&-Tires/c3_25/index.html Semper Gumby - Always Flexible

This needs some big 'ol wide whites with either some classic five spokes or some black steelies. I've never cared for those itty bitty wires on full size anything, but I know its a popular trend and to each his own. But by all means lower the heck out of it. But remember, it's a model, you really don't have to explain why its low. You don't need pumps and air tanks. Just alter the ride height like they would have in the past. Dropped axels and de-arched springs, cut the coils and flip the spindles. Old schol all the way for this one. But that's just my opinion. This has a great gothic feel that I really like. I've got something like this planned for the future and you've given me some real inspiriation. Keep it up.

THAT is a really good point. In years gone by you tended to keep cars longer, and after the warrantee was over, you had to either utilize the local garage or get your own hands dirty maintaining them. Things wore out faster back then. My 98 Stratus lasted 168k miles and never needed a starter, alternator or anything else we commonly replaced back in the day. When you work on your own cars, you get attached to them more I think. They have your busted knuckles blood on them and gallons of summer sweat. And when the engine went south, a few tears as well. I think that's why we get so nostalgic over that 60's/70's car that was crazy fast, handled like a shopping cart, had no ac, seat belts, or power anything. I've never had a car that I liked as much as my 76 Olds, or my 73 Plymouth. They had "soul" as Roadhawg says. And I put it there myself, installed it with my dads tool set and a Chiltons guide. Good times and great memories.

Are you going to paint this or leave it in its bare metal glory?

Gary get rid of those water colors. Get a few cans of Krylon at the local super store. There might be cheaper paints there, but Krylon has much better nozzles and it all works great over styrene. Head to Harbor Freight and get some tools. You can get knives, clippers, clamps, wet/dry sandpaper and such and not spend a great deal. Go to a beauty supply store and find some of the sanding sticks for ladies nails (in various grits) and you will have most everything you need to start building.

After re-reading you are correct Harry. I mis-spoke. My apologies.

I think those spider-leg headers gotta go, but over all, I REALLY like this rod. It took a lot of imagination, talent, and know how. I don't know about any of you, but I can't weld my way out of a wet paper bag, so I'm certainly not in a position to critique someone elses work. Unlike a lot of the rusty junk people are passing off as a rat rod, this one looks mechanically & structurally safe. Those whacked out valve cover .....umm....covers and snorkel are obviously NOT trying to fool anyone, but make an artistic statement. I dig it. You don't have to like a piece of art to appreciate the effort it took to accomplish. This looks like something Cranky would have done, except in 1:1 scale. And if he had done it we'd all be ooo'ing and ah'ing like we normally do, and deservedly so. Yet, because this is 1:1, and it wasn't built by a guy you know, you guys feel free to bash the work? Sometimes I just don't know about this forum. If there wasn't such excellent work and know-how here, I'd have split a long time ago. Shame on you.

I like the ones you have on the mock-up.

Working on one of the old AMT '34's now for the Car's of Rock & Roll CBP. It's a very nice looking kit for it's age. And yup, I'm using the dual rear wheels. http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g73/Jantrix/Shop%20truck/

What are you trying to say? And we prefer the term "geek". And hey nice build! I wish I could say I've enjoyed the thread but.............yeah. Keep it up!