Claude Thibodeau

Hi Ray! I always knew that we shared a sense of humor! Thanks for the comments. CT

Thank you Alan! Since I did not have the box nor the instructions, I could not be certain if it was a Tom Daniel design. But I take your word for it. Besides, most Monogram's original designs were his, so... CT

Hi Francis! Thanks for the generous comment... but I'm a bit angry that you exposed my secret technique... What am-I gonna do now? CT

Salut Mario! I always try to find an different angle. But truth be told, I was inspired by a fellow modeler whose work I saw in a magazine. He put tracks under a stock medium blue VW platform "pick-up", and threw a tarp over the rear compartment. But what I needed was a fuel truck, so, here we are! CT

Thank you Larry! CT

Hi Steve! Thanks. I was surprised to see this old beach bug come back from 2019, but hey, what's the saying about the VW Bug being an "immortal design"? There may be some truth to it! CT

Hi Tom! Happy you like it. Now, if only my "secret shop" could, indeed, be in the Arizona desert. Alas, I'm in the middle of a snow desert, in the Great White North. The upside is it leaves me more time at the bench in the winter! CT

Thanks David! The salt lake can, indeed, become a flood zone in case of flash storms. Hence the tracks... CT

HI! Over the years, I've built many lakesters, all members of my FLAT EARTH SOCIETY. But, I realized that this fleet needed trackside refueling, so, why not deliver, even if the flats become soaked, as they are once in a while? I started with a gluebomb junk bin Baja Beast VW van (heavily modified) and a Revell Patton 1/72 tank undercarriage (also modified). Front wheels & tires, horns, extinguisher and door handles from my parts box. Inverted bumpers. I saved the windshield with polishing, Future dip and inner black-out. All the rest scratchbuilt: rear platform, gas tank, gaz nozzles & hoses & meters, roof light, rear stops & licence plate, etc. Various Craftsmart acrylics, weathered with the spray-net method, Testor's satin clear + Vallejo light rust wash, Molotow chrome. And countless Meng "nuts and bolts", fully rusted. Long live the salt!

Hi Anton! I'm certain Swedes have an eye for VW's, so I'm flattered. Thanks! CT

Hi Steve! I had a 1/1 flat-nose 64 Chevy van back then, and it was deemed "cool" when properly customized. I see no reason why you could not pull this one up the food chain... I'll be watching, with a smile! CT

Hi Ian! Thank you for the compliment. I'll try to live up to it on my next projects! CT

Hi! A friend runs a high-end "last resort repair" shop, where all manners of dealers bring cars when they just can't admit to tell their customers that "there's nothing they can do anymore". My friend is a whiz, but even he is sometimes puzzled by the rationale behind current techno choices by OEM, and the level of expertise at their service department... Case in point: a superb low miles A5 Audi is back to the dealer every other month, because the dealer warranty-supplied PCM computer burns after a short time. They are up to 14K$ in computers. My friend told them that the law of logics indicates it must NOT be a computer fault, but some unsuspected 2$ glitch. They paid him to investigate, and he soon discovered that the ground strap that links the engine to the chassis was poorly installed at the factory. It was, indeed, a 8$ faulty part, but do you think the dealer will refrain from "passing over" his excessive costs to many other unsuspecting customers at his service department? They will be charged strange-souding parts or service procedures that will be buried at the bottom of the service invoice. Wanna bet? A famous auto journalist once said: "if you get a high-end luxury car dirt cheap, good for you. But you will soon discover that whatever the price you paid for your dream car, whenever you open the hood, it is STILL a 75K$ exotic". Amen. CT

Hi Steve! Masterfull, bravo! Now, you've (again) raised the bar for your next build. I can't wait... CT

Hi Bill! Somehow, it resurfaced from the past. Go figure... Thanks for the comments. CT

Hi Greg! Thank you. When too many leftover parts lay around, I can't help it but try something. I must have been a cook in a previous life? CT

Hi Dave! Thanks for the comments. I always spend way too much time choosing colors and textures. It slows me, ultimately! CT

Hi Roland! This is very impressive, not just by the sheer nature of the beast, but your meticulous recreation is world class. Bravo! Now... Just how such a car could leave the line without smoking the tires for the full 1320 is beyond me! CT

Hi Cliff! On the cool front, i find it's hard to go wrong when you start with a classic Bug. Thanks for the comments! CT

Thank you Seth! CT

Hi Sir! Thank you. Much appreciated! CT

Hi Steve! Absolutely fantastic, what a beast. And true to the original. Bravo! I can't help it but smile when I see that you flattened the contact patch of the tires for realism. That is dedicated modeling! CT

Hi Eric! Not a minute too soon! Thanks for the update. Your blend of colors, panel effects and flake effects is world class. I remember your Gremlin. This one will top it, for certain! CT

Thank you Mike. Fully appreciated! CT

Hi Bruce! Well, to adapt the old saying: " The future of this Cobra looks so bright, I need to wear shades". Spectacular shine, bravo! CT