Raul_Perez

Very nice, Dennis!! Yes, the back could go down just a bit, but it also looks pretty mean just the way it is!! Keep up the GREAT work!! Later,

Thanks, Tom! Let me know if you need any instruction on what I did. I really didn't use all that much from the Lightning kit on the hauler. Later,

Clay, Send me an email with some pics of what you've got and I'll see if I can help you get it sorted out. Later,

Actually, I just got a new display case from my friend, Al, so I have PLENTY of room...for now. Besides, I'm still waiting to see you finish your hauler and trailer for the Avanti. Thanks, Bernard! I may get the back done today on the hauler and the trailer. I'm in the process of making the taillights for both of them. They're made by cutting the custom taillights from the AMT '57 Ford in half, adding a small piece of plastic to finish off the end where they're cut, then BMF and a bit of red paint. Later,

Looking good, Dave!! One suggestion; instead of using masking tape on the hinges, I use either rubber or aluminum tubing. That gives them a smaller profile, minimizing any disruption in air flow when you're spraying around them. Later,

Infidel!

Thanks, Dave!! I should be able to get the set done tomorrow and have the final pics posted Under Glass by the end of the day. Later,

Your lakester is looking awesome, Bill!! The detail work is so clean, crisp and precise!! If I hadn't already seen this one in person I'd have a hard time believing that its 1:25th scale!! Take care and we'll se you in a couple of weeks at the NNL!! Later,

Very nice build of a very difficult model!! I've seen that site before. There are a lot of great show cars to see and enjoy!! Thanks for sharing,

Thanks, Dave!! Jerry and I really don't compete against each other. We each have very different interests and skill sets. With Jerry's background in mechanical engineering, he loves making all of the intricate details like complete drum brake assemblies, hand-made wire wheels and brass chassis. I'm more interested in the design and styling side of model building. The funny thing about Jerry is that he'll only work in 24th and 25th scale. He says that anything larger isn't enough of a challenge for him. As far as the Raptor trio goes, I've been busy around the house and haven't have much time to work on it until the last few days. Here's the last pictures of the trio "on the workbench" before I finish everything up in the next few days and put this one "Under Glass". This shot shows the interior that matches the color scheme of the Raptor. You can also see the side exhaust from the '99 Ford Lightning kit that gave up the front chassis clip, engine, dash, seat and a few other bits. I really like the way this angle shows how the combination of the repositioned front wheels and the seriously pie-cut hood lighten the look of the front of the truck. Here you can also see the removable trailer hitch. Except for the taillights, the license plate and a few other details, this one is almost done. Here's the supercharged 4.6L V8 from the Lightning pickup. The wipers, after they were cut down and reshaped a bit, also came from the Lightning pickup. This picture also shows how the interior of the pickup match the Raptor. Here you can see the dash, steering column and wheel from the Lightning truck was built into the hauler. Here's a few shots of the trio...yes, I used a lot of Pegasus Chrome T's for this build. these last shots show how the stripe runs from the nose of the truck all the way through to the very end of the trailer, tying the set together with a consistent color theme.

That's looking really good, Dave! I can't remember if you've decided on a color or wheels yet... My Raptor hauler and trailer are almost done, too. Later,

Correct, Bill. Jerry hasn't fastened the body to the chassis yet. He wants to add door latches and finish a few small details before he glues them together. Later,

Here are a few pictures of my friend Jerry Cardinal's model of Bill Cushenbery's 60's classic; El Matador. Like many of Jerry's other models, this one is made mostly from brass. Here are a few pictures of the solid brass block, transmission, heads and intake manifold. Here are a few shots of the working front and rear suspension, rotating U-joints and the drum brakes. If you look closely enough you can see the retaining springs and clips used to hold the brake shoes in place while the primary return springs get loaded. Here's a couple of shots of the all brass chassis with and without the brass driveline, mufflers and gas tank in place. Not being able to find the correct wheels for this build didn't slow Jerry down for long. Being a veteran of making the best 1:24th scale wire wheels I've ever seen in both brass and aluminum, Jerry spun aluminum tubing in his custom made tooling to form the awesome rims and center sections. Yes, the wheels are mounted on threaded studs. Starting with the Revell '40 For coupe body, Jerry made several modifications to match the shape and proportions of Cushenbury's original work in 1:1, including grafting on sections of brass sheet where plastic would not have been strong enough for the thin section areas of the body. Since the dash and console in the El Matador was fully custom, Jerry mastered his own replica, then molded it in resin for the final product. Here are a few pictures of the brass carburetors that Jerry fabricated for this build. No, those beautiful resin and photoetched carbs from Model car Garage just wouldn't do for Jerry. He wanted to make his own. Here are a few shots of the U-joints and the headers that Jerry fabricated. Jerry often makes special tooling, like what's pictured below for the headers, whenever he needs to make more than one set of something. Here are a few shots of the interior, chassis and a top view of the finished model. Here are a few shots of the finished model with a picture of the 1:1 car. If you ask me, Jerry nailed it on this one, right down to the color. Congratulations, my friend, on an awesome build. Click here to see all of the pictures of Jerry's El Matador. Thanks for looking,

Nice build, Mike!! That is one of the best kits to build that I've ever seen Revell make!! Thanks for sharing,

I really like the Uncertain T, but anyone who can build those old Revell Roth kits is a real modeler in my mind!! Thanks for sharing and welcome,

The model and the diorama look GREAT!! I can't wait to see this one Under Glass!! Thanks for sharing,

Curt, When it comes to model building, especially rats, there is no such thing as "too much fun"!! Later,

Yep!! That's the one!! I like the name you chose for the Tube Rat back in it's glory days; "The Beast"!! All the hauler needs is a mean and nasty blown Caddy engine sitting under the hood and some serious side-pipes to bring the entire look together!! Later,

I'll second that!! The colors look awesome!!

Cool new avatar, Bernard!! Maybe we'll have to find you the, (now old and ratty), truck/trailer combo that the Tube Rat once rode to the shows on in it's glory days with a picture of it on the side!! Later,

Another nice build, Brendan!! We'll have to setup a table at the NNL just for all of your builds!! See you next month,

Very nice and highly accurate build, Bryce!! The only thing you didn't show us a picture of is the glove box full of speeding tickets!! I remember that movie VERY well. I was a senior in high school when it came out...and that's as far as we'll dive into that story on this forum... Thanks for sharing,

Virgil, Another great build!! I really like your weathering skills!! As for the new, shiny chrome parts, they can be explained by the new JC Whitney catalog on the front seat!! Keep up the GREAT work and thanks for sharing!! Later,

Correct, Dennis. Only the stock version of the AMT '34 Ford 5 window coupe comes with the flathead hotrod parts. It really is a nice representation of an early flathead, including a separate dipstick, seperate exhaust manifolds and a cross-over pipe, a two carb intake manifold and finned heads. As I recall, the heads, intake manifold and the carbs come as chromed parts. Later,

This picture totally sells the "Evil, Wicked, Mean and Nasty" look in a very menacing and sinister way!! Like you said, "meet the Future Rat's evil twin!" Way cool, Bernard!! It'll definately stand out on the table of rat rods at the NNL!! Later,