Claude Thibodeau

HI Jeff! To conclude on the subject of "enthusiasm"... One of my late friends was so much in Caddies that he had a special tombstone made to mark his grave. It is made of granit, and has a 60's convertible "riding into the sunset". The tombstone artist said it was a first for him. To this day, it still makes a strong impression on the cemetary visitors! CT

Hi Jean-Philippe! Sacrebleu... You are the only person I know who masters the dimensions of funeral flower cars. That's passion for the Caddy! There was an interesting article a few months ago in the Hemmings' Classic Cars mag about a gentleman from NH who found and restored a flower car. Just like you, he was very versed on those special vehicles... CT

HI Jean-Philippe! Merci for the comments, and the pictures! According to my researchs, there were TWO coachbuilders that offered such cowboy Cadillacs in the late 60's. The Mirage had a more formal or "squarish" roof, streching a bit over the rear box (that's how I did mine), and the Caribou, with a flying buttress roof (à la Camino) mostly like on your pics. Many people confuse the remaining ones with so-called flower cars from the funeral industry. Different animals, completely! I agree: this Cad is missing white sidewalls... CT

Hi Jean-Philippe! Very nice conversion, bravo! I saw those cars up close when they were new: I was washing cars at my dad's favorite service-station, and a local gentleman had one, painted in Willow grey. It was a stunning car. Yours recreate the era perfectly. I know you are deep into Caddies... I'm finishing a 64 Johan convertible, that I've transformed in a Mirage (Camino-style custom) after I saw a few of them on a thread on this forum. Just need polishing and final assembly. The Johan bodies were great. CT

Hi! Great collection of parts, just like most 1/1 rods. The end result is superb, bravo! And as usual, your paint job is a mile deep... CT

Hi Grant! Well, what a conversion for a snap kit... Bravo! The salt even got inside the car: that tells me it ran like hell and the suicide doors were not perfectly sealed. Long live the salt! CT

Hi Peter! Great stance, and the roof/windshield adjustments really carry the day. More in line with the artistic rendering on the box! CT

Hi David! Well, never had such reaction with the TS-13, even when applying MANY coats in one session. The only suspect, IMHO, would be your use ov Novus clean and shine. The "shine" part might be the culprit. If you had a bad can, your first parts would have presented the same outcome. Even if is a pain in the neck, washing your remaining parts with a damp cloth treated with a drop of dishwasher soap might do the trick, without soaking your masking job. Finally, as you may know, it is counter-indicated to make successive TS-13 application in a short span, such as the next day or the day after. They recommend waiting 30 days (!?!) before a second coating. So, it's all in one day, or a loooooong delay between clear sessions. It sounds extreme, but I paid the price for defying this common wisdom among Tamya's users. Never again. Good luck! CT

HI! In the last year, I've built three Johan kits that I was lucky to find at "reasonable" prices: A 70 Challenger FC, a 72 Torino, and a 64 Caddy convertible. I agree that the standard cars platform and interiors are just "typical" of model technology of the 60's, but the bodies are first rate. Past experience with a 68 Javelin , a 68 Chrysler 300 hardtop and a 70 Eldorado confirm that opinion. I still have a few waiting for their turn on my bench: two 68 Javelin (a promo and a FC kit), a Pinto FC, a 70 Eldo and a 35 Mercedes coupe. The kits among those confirm the "great bodies - average remaining components" opinion. The plastic used under the Seville management does NOT seems the utmost quality. And the tires are "poor" on average. Even the more reasons to "mash-up" those, without guilt I might add... CT

Hi Jim! Great design, and the body mods make it truly contemporary. Bravo! CT

HI! To Roger's point about Tamya's PS series... Try as I may, with all sorts of precautions, I never got a smooth laying uniform coat, Always "eating" into the subcoats, be they Tamya's or 1/1 automotive products. I suppose their "etching" chemistry is the reason. Too bad, since the color selection would be interesting. I would stay away from them, unless for their specified use (polycarbonate bodies). CT

Hi RRR! The stance and strech are spot-on. Brutal beauty... CT

Hi Steve! I had an absolutely busy spring, and somehow, I missed on this built... I'm the most sorry for it! Great project, and your attention to details shows again. Masterfull. I like your "color-coordination" efforts. They are effective in all your cars, and this one will be a magnum opus. The interior is world-class. My two cents: the second set of wheels makes it more contemporary than the Pegasus. And the lighter base coat for the green would get my vote. Just MHO. Keep on! CT

Hi Roberto! Great truck, the custom touches improve the basic design a lot. Bravo! The Sidewinder from which you sourced the frame is a goldmine of parts for kitbashers. I guess the rest of the kit ended up in other creations in your collection? CT

Hi Roger! The term that comes to mind is... sanitary! Very tasty mash-up. Bravo! CT

Hi David! Very clever, rne Merc variation seems like a "natural", bravo! I have both kits in my stash, and for years, tried all kind of mash-up concepts with them, but never by marrying those 2. Now, you make me thing of more variations... CT

HI Joseph! What a great discovery, thank you for sharing it. My house will get new roofing this september, so I'll stock a few choice sheets. CT

Hi RRR! Well, this thing will be "a handfull to drive down the quarter-mile", as Wild Willy used to say. Wheelstands will be daily occurances. Fun! CT

Hi! Actually, the whole line-up of 33 and 34 Fords cars (excluding the light trucks) had suicide doors, Vicky included. They reverted to "regular" doors in 35. As to your question about any "3W Vicky"... Ford did not offer that, but some imaginative rodders came up with what they called a "town coupe", which was a cross between a 5W and a Vicky "semi-bustle" back. I know famed modelist Jack Davis reproduced at least one about 25 years ago, and it was widely seen in model mags, presented as part of his collection of "Phantom" rods. You might be able to Google it and find some pics... CT

Hi! The 32 Vick also had a roof that was a smidge lower than the sedan. Already chopped, so to speak... CT

Hi Greg! I believe only the 3W body style had suicide doors in 32. The other models had standard doors. CT

Hi Roger! Surprisingly "current" for a model built 20 years ago! The wheels, the stance, the powertrain... The only detail a 1/1 builder would probably discard today would be the side vent glass. Other than that... Bravo! CT

Hi Clifford! Great fleet. And you certainly master the "glossy" part of model car painting! Bravo! CT

Hi Gary! Ae usual, world-class painting and a perfect shading job, ever more impressive at that small scale. Bravo! And to top it off, your silver flake top is in the perfect "scale" with the model size, perfectly replicating the ultra-flake many lowriders use on their contrasting tops... CT

Hi Ray! Don't be too hard on yourself. This is a finnicky kit, and don't ask me how I know. What is the saying, already? "Let's have fun"... Just one more to add to your lurning curve! CT