Jantrix

My thoughts exactly. Terrific workmanship.

The discussion thread for next years theme is up. http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/126553-2018-cannonball-theme-discussion/

It's time to kick around next years theme. I will be running it and hopefully participating. So I'd like everyone who is planning on participating suggest TWO themes. Just two. We need to keep this thing manageable. Later on I'll tally it up and we'll vote. I'd also like an explanation of what your idea is. For instance if you're gonna suggest musclecars, tell us what years and level of technology allowed. Give us specifics. I'm gonna chew on it for a while and get back to you.

Guys thanks very much for understanding. I'm just as sorry as you are to not be involved. We'd never planned on buying this soon. It just sort of dropped in our laps and was too good to pass up. We've been cleaning up for two days now. Here's some pics. I have five acres on one side of the trees/creek and five on the other. Lots of renovation inside the house this winter and then a outside full repaint with window replacement in the spring.

I'm already seeing an improvement.

You can post directly from your PC now.

Thanks Gary. Unfortunately the new place does not have a garage. I have plans to build a carport though. As for the mancave, I'm going to have a hobby room. With the kids moving out over this month and next, it's just the wife and I again (finally). The house is a small 3/2 about 1100 sq. feet, but it's perfect for us. I'll post up photos in next years thread. Speaking of next year. I will be able to moderate next years run. Participation is possible, but I'll play that by ear. As for next years theme, I will start a new thread in the Community Project section next month and we'll bat it around. Lets not clog up this thread with that now. I'd like everyone to come up with just TWO theme ideas. Whichever ones seem most popular, we'll take vote on. I can handle this, as I can check on it during lunch breaks at work. No major rule changes, but one rule from this year I plan to carry over is the inclusion of completing a previously unfinished Cannonball racer from a previous run, as long as it still fits the theme. That 's likely it from me on this thread. Good luck to everyone and thanks again to Mike (Lunajammer) for seeing this through for us.

Some thing tells me it would race in the "Stand back she's headed into the wall" class. Awesome work Chuck, it looks dangerous.

That looks terrific. Nicely done.

I really dig this. A very cool build.

No I think that's doable. I'd just cut a similarly shaped piece that's thicker, and weld it in with some Tenax. As the plastic softens, really jam the wedge in there to fill the whole notch. Then let it dry and plastic re-harden. Sand to shape and thickness, filler as necessary.

You did a great job with a famously lousy kit. Nice work.

Okay guys. Mike (Lunajammer) has agreed to be the new grand poobah for this years Cannonball. He's helped me out before, running the race polls at the end, and he's a heck of a builder. I appreciate the support from you guys. This has been a great change for my family, leaving the big city behind. Everything about our lives has improved. My wife has been talking about a hobby farm for the last ten years and I'm finally in a position to make it happen. I'll check in here occasionally at lunch from work. Be cool.

This is a fact of life in the hobby, most of the time. Shiny paint gets noticed. Period. If you can lay decent paint and polish well, sometimes the other basics of clean building get overlooked in the judges eyes. One of the highlights of my competitive experiences was winning Best Paint with a weathered model, and then it made it into a contest annual. Odds are he was also a friend of some of the judges. Favoritism will always be a problem.

I've done contests all over Florida. I learned the good ones and the bad ones. Don't give up on contests for a couple bad experiences. Most contests and judges I've known don't care if they can see the battery, if the model is well done. Most good judges will tell you that opening doors, removable tops, mirrored bases are most often opportunities to spot flaws and mistakes rather than view additional detail and can be a detractor rather than an asset. Ever seen the face of a builder who's told he'd have won first place if he'd left the mirrored base at home, as it let the judges see the ejector pin marks on the chassis. It's not pretty. I understand some people are REALLY competitive. But if the only reason you go to contests is to win a $12 trophy, you are missing out.

Racers. It is with regret that I'm going to have to pull out of this years race. Furthermore, after the end of this month I'm not going to be able to moderate the build or the race thread so I'm looking for someone to take over both. I'd like it do be one of our regulars who are reliable and proven. Our track record with new participants running the show hasn't been good. The reason for this is that as some of you know, I've recently relocated to the Boise, Idaho area. Originally my wife and I had planned for two years in our current rental, but the perfect property has recently just dropped in our laps. Great location, good price. It's a ten acre spread in a canyon about 50 minutes from work. It's got good bones, but the whole property/house/barn needs a lot of cleaning up, and has no cell service. We're moving on Oct. 1 and have no plans to add satellite or wifi until after the new year to limit our distractions from the work that needs doing. This little farm has been my wife's dream for years and I'm gonna bust my @$$ to make sure it happens. I know you guys understand.

Heard from my friends and family in Tampa Bay. They avoided the worst of it, only dealing with about a Cat1 storm. I hope they realize what a bullet they dodged. If the storm had skirted open water on either coast, the effects would have been catastrophic.

That's what I'd do.

I'd just like to pass along my best wishes to any of our folks here who may be or will be effected by Irma. Please stay safe people. If they tell you to evacuate GET THE HECK OUT! This isn't like other storms that we've gotten used to in Florida. This ones a killer. We will see Katrina level destruction from this one. 1836 people died in Katrina. If everyone does what they're told, when they're told, hopefully we can avoid that catastrophe. You don't want to see what 150 mph winds can do with a trash can, 2x4 or deck chair. I've no idea where this ones going, but right now Idaho seems like the place to be. My folks in Tampa FL. have already high tailed it to Tennessee. Forecasts say she'll still be at least a tropical storm when she gets there. Stay informed. If you are in this storms way, may whatever god you feel akin to, watch over you. https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/hurricane-irma-florida-georgia-south-carolina-north-carolina-forecast-path

Thank you sir!

Please refresh my memory - what ever happened to Bran's wolf and Jon's wolf, Ghost?

As a technician I have a different perspective when dealing with engineers. It's hard to deal sometimes with folks who were never taught the term tech-friendly in their fancy college and with whom five pounds in a three pound sack is seen as a design challenge.

That's a very interesting idea. They sure look the part. I'd be very interested in your findings.

These '37 Ford Monogram kits are really underappreciated in my opinion. They are the quintessential "billet rod" but with a little parts swapping they clean up real well. Tom, a great looking build. Nice work. I'll have to contact Z-Man and get some of those wheels.