Claude Thibodeau

Hi! I used to rely on white plastic spoons for color testing, but I found a better accessory... I use the white plastic "cones" upper section that come with the gel based air fresheners (1$ each) that my wife uses inside cabinets, in the rest room, etc. The gel evaporates over time (about a month), and she throws them away. I junk the lower section that carries the remnant of the gel, and get rid of the stem at the top of the upper section (just push it out from inside the cone) so they can stack on top of each other. . It is white, satin smooth, and doesn't even require primer, handles well, and can't break. It's great for testing metallics, candies, etc. Once your base coat and clear are dry, you can polish it and write the paint codes inside the cone with a Sharpie. They stack on top of each other, are light, don't discolor, and present curves and notches that reflect light in different gradients, just like a car body. Be warned that they are NOT made of styrene like plastic spoons. Therefore, don't use them to judge compatibility of your paint with styrene, but just to test finishes. And those test cones don't lie: whatever the spray can cap shows... you get the true color of your paint here! I have about 50 in my paint area, and "consult" them often to choose color for a build. Just my two cents... CT

Hi Jay! If you ever convert it to rear wheel drive, the 66 Riviera chassis (AMT) is a shoe-in. I did it on a 1970 version. See pix below. The wheels are the alternate version on the Revell Caddy Escalade, but with slighly lower sidewall ratio tires. Have fun with your project! CT

Hi Alan! Thanks for the kind words, much appreciated. Please, show us your lakester as soon as it's done. There will never be be too many members of the FLAT EARTH SOCIETY! Keep them coming! CT

Merci Philippe! I also posted this car on the Koolest kruzers forum of France. I was pleasantly surprised to see they used it in their monthly newsletter as a "subject of interest". You never know... CT

Hi Jim! Very nice, your chassis and paint work are impressive. Keep on! CT

Salut Mario! Thank you for the compliments. Inspiring each other seems the best side of this forum. Keep building: so much styrene, so little time! CT

Thank you so much, Steve! CT

Thank you Trevor! It was, indeed, a lot of satisfaction seeing it come together. Hours of fun with styrene! CT

Thank you Chris! CT

Hi Daniel! Wow, talk about cramming so many details in such a small space! Your fuel system itself is worth the price of admission, and the finish on the headers is so life-like it's hard to distinguish from the 1/1! Bravo! CT

Thank you Carl, I'm flattered! CT

Hi Mario! Very nice, you somehow take me back to my youth. It is "period correct", just as they left the dealership. Bravo! CT

Hi Paul! Very unique and impressive. It is loaded with unique ideas and original thinking. Can you say RETRO-NOUVEAU... For lack of a better definition? Or Forward to the Past? Bravo! CT

Hi Chris! Very impressive work. Your sense of colors is obvious, not to mention the precision of your masking technique. World class. Bravo! CT

Hi Tim! Happy you stopped by, and reacted to my yearly salt car. I was at a show this last weekend, and I'm always amused to see the large amount of people who have no idea what kind of race car this is. Granted, SCTA does not have the same media attention as, say, Nascar, but fellow modelers mostly end up telling me "I'll look it up". On a different note, I follow your current built, and I was impressed by your Autolite in-line scratchbuilt carb. I can't wait to see the whole car! Regards, CT

Thank you Mike for the great pictures. Next best thing to being there! CT

Hi Scott! Thanks for the enthusiastic review. I can tell that you are into details, and I share your passion for LSR vehicles. That's why I "founded" the Flat Earth Society after all, and I hope to be chair for the rest of my life! LOL. Now, I have to come up with another annual salt car... What will it be? CT

Hi Chris! Thank you. Please, go ahed, and "steal" as much as you please! LOL. CT

Hi Gary! Thank you so much. I know what you mean: I find myself in the same situation when I look closely at our fellow modelers posts on this forum. Good source of inspiration! CT

Hi Francis! Great work. But now, I'm puzzled... You say the odo reads a smidge over 36K... Do we understand that you waited for the manufacturer's powertrain warranty to expire BEFORE the drag racer makeover? Or is-it just a coincidence? Come to think of it, your friendly Mopar dealer would have refused any warrantyy repair once he realized you actually raced this truck... Keep at it, really impressive! CT

Hi David! Thanks for the compliments. I always try to build-in some kind of "feasibility". This one was a real "packaging" challenge! CT

Hi Dave! Thanks for the comments. I had to make some research, since my Italian is not very impressive. On the other hand, you are very good at French, obviously! CT

Hi Tom! Thanks for stopping by. Hope all is good in your neck of the woods. I know you have built a few "steampunk" school vehicles those last few years. I might borrow from your playbook, and build my next Bonneville car in that style... Who knows, it may surprise a few fellow modelers! Keep at it! CT

Thank you Wayne! I try to alternate between the varieties of salt cars. This year, it was time to go for a second streamliner. It was long overdue, my Sosium Glider going back a few years...(See pix below). CT

Hi Bill! Thanks for the comments. I know you build 1/1 cars, among other things, and so do I. It's sometimes easier to create your vision in styrene. Certainly much cheaper. Ferrari engine are quite hard to come by in my neck of the woods, so... CT