Claude Thibodeau

Hi Steve! Thanks. I feel there NEVER can be too many salt cars on this forum. CT

Thank you Ray! You showed interest in many of my cars, and I'm honored by that. CT

Thank you Joseph! I try to improve with each sucessive car... CT

HI! I build at least one Bonneville car per year... so here's my latest member of the FLAT EARTH SOCIETY: FULMINE DI SODIO (salt lightning in Italian). I started with the hull of an unknown battleship found in the junk bin at a model show, fabricated the lower "pan", frame and monocoque driver's pod, front and rr canteliver air suspensions & reservoirs, Optima battery, rear-wings actuator, steering linkage, electric system, Paxton blower air intake (I inverted the OEM plenum), vertical wing, parachute tube, push-bar, modified the front wheels pods (from Carl Casper dragster, modified) fuel cell from Phantom Vicky, lipstick tube canopy & various other parts. The air scoop, twin oil filters & radiator are from the Hays Tbird, the rear wheels from AMT's XJ220 Jag supercar, the engine from Revell's Ferrari California Spyder, the quick-change rear from MT's Challenger, the steering tiller from an old Monogram show rod, all modified. Fully wired and hosed. Special mix of Tamya TS-84 + clear orange, Wet Look clear, Molotow's chrome, home-made decals. Hours of fun with styrene. Long live the salt! CT

Hi Tom! My technique with WLClear is 2 light coats, let get "tacky", and one heavy wet coat. Usually, very little orange peel. Good luck with your experiments! CT

Hi Tom! The Testor regular clear lacquer (blue can) is fairly thin, much like the TS-13 by the way. The only Testor clear that really produces stellar results, in my view, is the Wet Look Clear,( brown label can) that is not avail anymore here in Canada, much to my chagrin. If you can get some, do it! It is thicker and more forgiving than the blue label, and will definetely resist vigourous rubbing. Case in point: this 49 Ford, polished but NOT sanded beforehand. I rest my case! CT

Hi Tom! Thanks for the feedback on your method! I tried this Rustoleum (the green can with the black wood chair on it) over Tamya's and Testor's lacquers, and even with very light coats, it was so strong (hot) that it smeared the color coats... I suppose it would go OK over automotive base-coats (such as Duplicolor, Axalta, PPG, HOK & al), but I still have to try it. But whatever I did, I too ended up with some orange peel, even if my wet coats looked perfect after application. It shrunk during evaporation. That's life! CT

Hi Steve! Here is something refreshing! I will never look at Scobedoo in the same way from now on! The LED experiment is fun.I'm surprised at the intensity of the glow. Are those wheels from the Plymouth Prowler? They look like it... CT

Hi Tom! What a looker, bravo! Can you comment on your use of the green label Rustoleum Clear? I'm curious as to how well it flashes, endures multiple coats stacking, and polishes... Your technique obviously works very well! CT

Hi Mario! Bright and spectacular! I must admit the carbs are very impressive. And the licence plates bring a smile. Bravo! CT

Hi Phil! Quite the compliment coming from a tried and true "Deuce" guy! CT

Thank you Chris! CT

Thanks for the pictures, Tom! Much inspiration here! CT

Thank you Anders! CT

You are welcome! CT

Hi Phil! Verrrrry nice, it looks the part! I remember that rod vividly. Tom McMullen also had a Dodge D100 open-box hot-rodded truck for a while. It made the rounds of mag covers, but never as much as your roadster. The man seemingly had all the toys: Deuce roadster, Trucks, AEE choppers... Bravo! CT

Hi Bruce! Thanks for the compliments! CT

Thank you Steve! CT

Hi Steve! Wow, quite a daily driver! May-I hop in for a ride? Seriously, your color combo is very effective. Bravo! CT

Hi Steve! Thanks for the comments. There is something to the look of a 32 Sedan Delivery that always appealed to me. Luckily, I had some extra parts laying around, so... CT

Hi Paul! Can't wait for this upcoming "eye candy"! I know your daughter has the touch with HOK paint, so... to the spray booth! CT

Hi Paul! Wow, what a pair. As usual, your finishing work is world class. It runs in the family. Bravo! Now, when do you go cruising Van Nuys Boulevard with this dynamic duo? CT

Hi Dave! Wow, that's great work, bravo! And your subject is so rarely seen. Being a Javelin fan myself, I can say that there are never too many on contest tables. Move over Ring Brothers... Dave has arrived! CT

Hi Bill! Thanks, As you know, sometimes we get lucky and it all falls together in a pleasnt way... CT

Hi Robert! They come from Revell's Sidewinder Dodge Concept Truck kit. I'm told they are the same size as the Prowler's rolling stock, but the flame thread pattern is unique to this kit. The real concept truck had those, so they replicated them in the kit. That kit also has a Viper engine, and a very detailed custom frame and suspensions, and a cool interior. So, a trove of parts perfect for mashups! CT