Claude Thibodeau

HI! A good friend owns a hobby shop that's been around for 45 years, and keeps expanding. He tells me the three sectors that are very active are: RC controlled toys (cars, crawlers, drones - stable), model kits (automotive,planes,military - slight increase ), and puzzles (!?!), major increase. He also tells me the only downside with plastic models is some manufacturers now demand he buys ten (10) units minimum of any kit he wants to order. He then can't afford to "take risks" with more obscure or marginal subjects, cause it freezes up too much money. A funny note: he tells me the new Revell kits (in the large, flat boxes) are selling like crazy, even the latest reissue of well known "standards", even if he jacked the price by a good percentage. He surmises that for most people, a larger box is seen as "more of a good thing... a better deal", and generates sales. Go figure... CT

Hi Mario! She's a beauty, really. The smooth flowing lines are well served by the color selection. Bravo! CT

Hi Thomas! What a rescue, bravo! This design is, IMHO, one of the most elegant 60's icon. Your color combo and finish work pays justice to it. Your deep dish wheels choice is a bit visually unusual, because the FWD system on that car required high offset wheels, like on the Toronado. Did-you have to narrow the "track" to get them to fit inside the fenders? Just curious... CT

Hi Tim! Thank you so much. After this long "Covid desert", it's good to see such fine work. Regards, CT

Hi Charles! I look at the precision machining of your wheels, and the suspension's outboard upright so finely executed, and I can't help to think that the great, late Lil' John Buttera would be impressed by your skills. Ditto for Boyd Coddington, as they share the same cloud. On a different note, I envy the palm trees and crystal blue skies that fill your panoramic windows. Must be hard to stay at the bench sometimes... CT

Hi Steve! I'm finishing 4 cars at once these days, but alas, I'm slower than I would like. I should be able to post some in the coming days. So much styrene, so little time! Regards, CT

Hi Phil! This is a difficult kit, and all this time ultimately paid of! Bravo! CT

Hi Sir! Great work, bravo! Your gasoline budget must rival the GDP of some countries... Those land yatch were thirsty! CT

Hi Steve! wow, very very slick. Exactly what you were shooting for. Bravo! Now, get a lawyer: the Crawling Insects Protection League will get after you: none of their members will be able to cross the street and stay alive with such an "in the weeds" front splitter. It will be a carnage... CT

Hi Sir! Tremendous mastery of metal working, with all materials. Truly world class, bravo! I went trought the whole thread, and all I can add is... Good for the soul! Regards, CT

HI! I use the refill of Molotow, shake it very well, pour 2 or 3 drops in a spoon, and apply qith a blunt fine brush. My experience is that you get best results when you really "soak" the part, just a the limit of having it to run, and most important, NEVER go back to do a second stroke on the surface you just applied the Molotow to. If you do, it creates a surface wrinkle, and the smooth even "chrome" look is marred. Let dry a full day, and THEN recoat if needed. The intake cross-tube in this pic is done this way. One coat only. For you to judge. Good luck! CT

Hi David! Well, I beg to differ with you. Your brasswork is proof that you ARE smart enough to buil more "complicated" parts. Fine work on the coupe and the Impala! CT

Hi David! Here's my typical scratchbuilt system, on a 61 Impala (Lindberg body). Hours of fun with styrene! CT

Hi David! Another beauty, bravo! Your hood hinge system is very simple, and very clever! I'll try it on a future build... CT

Hi Steve! Wow, first glance at this beauty for me... I'm late to the show! Very nice, the stance is great, and the space under the hood must be as scarce as in downtown Vancouver. It gives full meaning to the word "packaging". Bravo! CT

Hi Sir! Tremendous workmanship. bravo! Having bent some tin on real 1/1 rod projects, I know how capricious it is when the issue of heat dispersion arises trough welding sheet metal. I can only imagine the added complexity of doing it in scale. Your metal surface is small and very thin, but heat is heat, whatever the scale of the work piece. Truly masterfull, really! CT

Hi Francis! World class work, as usual, bravo! But now, I'm seriously worried about your mental health, my friend! Let's see: you machined a fabulous metal tank, in a hobby that relies mostly on PLASTIC, and now, you will paint it in a way that make it look credibly like... PLASTIC? Help me God, there is something I don't get! Dr. CT, Psychiatrist. PS: Just pulling your leg here...

Hi Mr. Woodruff! Thanks for the great pix. I'm very surprised by the large amount of "track cars" ( Le Mans, rallye, euro-racers, etc.), that show a superior level of detailing. And that large-scale 32 lakester (obviously heavily scratchbuilt) is world class! Bravo CT

Hi Pat! I assume you are talking about my "Rot 'n Roll" sedan? Thjs is the AMT's (née MPC) 32 Chrysler roadster, the Connoiseur Series in-line 8, with a few mods mind you. But a great engine, perfectly suited for long and low slung rat rods. Details are fine out of the box, and you can easily detail up. CT

Hi Guys! Who doesn't have a few waiting in his stash? I do. So much styrene, so little time... Here are two variations I built in the last few years. CT

Hi Mike! Great build. This kit IS a very good and well detailed kit. Just the engine speaks volume. To your point about clear: lately, I've been experimenting with all sorts, and lo and behold, my new favorite is MR. Hobby (Japan) super clear. Lacquer based, marked smell, but flows and flashes very well. They have a second variety, called Top Coat, that I tried also, as a "flash coat" after 2 medium coats of the former, and it flashed very well, and was easy to buff to a mirror shine. More expensive than, say Tamya's, but you get your money's worth. Just my two cents, FWIW... Good luck! CT

Hi David! Both cars are great, and the color palette is in tune with the "luxury" status of those cars. Bravo! But even if they roamed the streets in the same era, one can tell the TBird more "slanted forward" lines are more futuristic than the squarish "formal" look of the Lincoln. If only we saw more of those big luxury cars "in the weed", for one, I'd like it! Regards, CT

Hi Patrick! Really nice ensemble, and the weathering is superb. Bravo! Are those wheels the extras that came in a Maisto Dodge Challenger? Their shape and color look the part... Just curious. CT

Hi RRR! Very nice, and that 60's flavour is really spot-on, Bravo! Now, that driver will be in a noisy working space with such exhaust pipes. Ear plugs anyone? CT

Hi Francis! Wow, even the milling swirl marks in the first pix have been polished or "brushed" away. Very impressive! I assume this is 12 volts, right? CT