Claude Thibodeau

Hi Rich! Thanks. It comes from Revell's 2005 SRT Dodge Magnum (station wagon). I skipped the wood decals that were included on the sheet, and match-painted it with Model Master Grape acrylic, white pearl, plus Tamya's desert sand beige for the neck, plus Molotow for the frets, keys and pick-ups. A very well molded guitar for such a fine scale. I know there's one in the Stacey David's Rat roadster 32, but I can't tell if it's the same tool. Maybe someone can confirm? CT

Hi Nigel! I like your notion of "lateral thinking". Thank you! CT

Thank you David. Much appreciated! CT

Thank you Carl! I try do do things that integrate both the old car's essence, while throwing a pinch of contemporary in the mix. I never know how it will play out in the end... CT

Thank you Dennis! CT

Hi Steve! Great fabrication. May I dare a question? On the Pierson Coupe. it appears the lower front edge of the skirt is actually parallel to the vertical cut line of the running-board-fender joint. Yours point slightly forward. Is-this an "editorial choice"? Just curious... CT

Hi Chris! Now, THAT is something I'd be honored to hear Mister Gibbons say! CT

Hi Kurt! As they say: If we can think of it... someone can build it! CT

Thank you Greg! Or, is-it a case of too much time on my hands? Don't ask my wife... CT

HI! ZZ Top frontman Billy Gibbons is well known for his love of unique Custom sleds, and has the collection to prove it! What if he fancied a 41 Lincoln Continental? This fantasy is based on Monogram's 1941 Lincoln, mashed with Monogram's 93 Camaro Z 28 greenhouse & rear viwe mirrors (both modified). The rear trunk was shaved down, and a custom interior scratch-built, as well as a lenghtened (integrating the cowl)front opening hood. Revell's 68 VW rear bumper with scratchbuilt rear lamps & front flashers relocated to the front bumper brackets body openings. Maisto Mustang rolling stock (modified). Tamya's Lavender & Wet look clear + Craftsmart Vanilla for the interior. Mister Gibbon's matching guitar was detailed from the Revell SRT Magnum kit. Will increase the value at Barrett-Jackson, right? Wonder what the Reverend Gibbons would think of it? CT

HI! Story has it that Henry was convinced to go along with the idea of his Australian managers, because after the world economic crash of 29, banks in Australia were lending money mostly to farmers, and only for "work vehicles". Hence the design, claimed to be a "utilitarian" vehicle. Never sold in US and Canada, according to many Ford experts. However, General-Electric had a run of 30 or 31 Ford custom-built for their refregirator retailers. It was a few hundreds, all white, if I remember correctly. Few have survived the saying goes... CT

Hi Steve! Nice survivor, brings back memories. 3 wives? Even I can't beat that... So I guess that makes YOU a survivor too? CT

Hi Les! Thank you. I had to cant the handlebars slightly... or they would have rubbed againts the roof! CT

Hi Lou! Thanks. Well, let's just say I remember SOME of it... Mostly the model cars part, back when a new kit at the pharmacy (!) was 2$... Memories! CT

Hi Steve! Wow, very "OEM" as they say. Even more so because flat primer has a tendency to accentuate any flaw, and... They are nowhere to be found. Bravo! CT

HI Michael! Can be done, with the appropriate Evergreen or Plastruct materials available at your LHS. Mostly C-channels or H-beams that you refinish for your needs. The grille itself can be made of plastic coffee filter mesh, cooking spalsh covers from the Dollar store (the ultra=fine one), or in a pinch, some car speaker expanded mesh covers that you cut to fit. See two examples of scratchbuilt units below. Good luck! CT

Thank you Peter! I'm curious: what happened of your scratch-built Bonneville lakester? Last time I saw it, you were working on the vacuum-formed body, that was looking very good... Maybe I lost track, or you "suspended" the construction? CT

Thank you Cliff! My first time with this Tamya "hard to apply" Silver Leaf. Reasonnable results... CT

Hi Bill! It looks like your orange peel might be caused by the most common reason: too thick a second or third coat BEFORE the underlying coat has fully cured. This happens with almost any brand of clear, therefore, not really tied to the color coats underneath... UNLESS those are not fully "flashed" either. Good luck! CT

HI! For one, I always use it over Testor's ENAMEL gloss black. I also got different shades over gloss white (more like polished aluminium) and gloss light blue (more like polished stainless). I usually airbrush the Alclad Chrome within about 6 hours of my black base. Then let it harden for at least 48 hours. My experiences showed that, in my case, this is the best way to obtain maximum "chrome" gloss, while still resist usual assembly handling. Just my two cents... CT

Hi Bob! Very nice, and period-correct. Bravo! Is-it me, or is the deuce frame enjoying a slight "kick-up" in the front? The parts lay-out pic suggest that, but I would prefer your insight... CT

Hi David! Very clever approach. In the early 2000's, I grew nostalgic of an '85 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe that I owned back in the day. I started to look for a car to restore, but all I could find were "regular" aero birds of that vintage. Which got me to thing about "Pro-Touring" one: distinct full lenght frame, Mark VIII modular 24V engine, etc. Of course, that allowed playing with the notoriously short wheelbase of the Fox-based TBird. I resorted to your technique to figure out how it would look if I moved the front wheels 6 inches forward. I used hi-quality photocopies of Ford Brochures, and with some care, an Exacto and scotch tape, it "almost" looked photoshopped ! So, I can aprreciate your technique. Bravo! CT

Hi Kerry! What would be the proper way to access your YouTube "account" to view those marvels? CT

Hi Paul! I used the dessicant material enclosed in those minuscule paper "bags" that you'll find inside vitamin bottles and some other food supplement. Most are like coals, even the proper color. Who knew? CT

Thank you Chris! It certainly gives credence to the old suspicion that "some custom painters a really just lazy"... I know I was on that one: all in all the gel effect took less than 60 minutes. CT