Claude Thibodeau

Hi! Considering the hurdles you say you faced, this is a superb result. Bravo! I have this kit in my stash, and I will look at it hard and long, the glass in particular, based on your remarks. CT

Thank you Carl! I'm honored by your comment. CT

Thank you Jonathan! CT

Thank you Andy! Now that you mention it, I must say I never imagined that... But what about the traction on ice? Who knows... CT

Hi! For what it is worth, the bugcatcher scoop on this coupe was "plated" with Chrome spray paint from Michael's. Not as chrome as Alclad chrome, more like polished aluminium. CT

Hi Tony! Thank you. Hard to resist the smell of a warm slice of pizza, isn't it? CT

Thank you Ken! CT

Hi Tim! Thanks for the picture. Formative. Besides, I would venture this unit is worth enough today to finance a comfortable retirement, should the owner be willing to sell it... CT

Hi Alan! Thanks for the comments. It looks like that PU in your picture is about to serve some refreshment on tap. Don't drink and drive? Hmmmm..... My exhaust pipes are long sprues, drilled at the end just passed the bend. The shields were made with sections of a Ford Taurus rear shelf speaker's bezels, wrapped around a 1/1 brake line tube for radius. They are stiff to bend, but the pattern felt in scale for the intended purpose. The clear "cases" over the counters were made out of recording cassettes boxes! Memorex had a variety that had slightly rounded corners, and they reproduced the typical food store rounded counters fairly well. I kept those for years, not knowing what I would do with them... but now you know! How come people seem to be driving on the wrong side of the road in your pictures? Just kidding... CT

Hi Tim! The colorizing of Hot Rod front page was indeed frequent, you are perfectly right. The real thing you are showing in your pictures, on the other hand, show the effect of time, that slight dullish surface old cars rebuilders know so well. One can only imagine how the parts looked when they came out of the box, back then... Keep on! CT

Hi Ray! Sweet roadster, bravo! I specially love the hues of the seat inserts. What is-it exactly? CT

Thank you Craig. Im flattered! CT

Thank you Chris! CT

Thank you so much, Barry! CT

Hi Dominik! Let's pretend it's "nouvelle cuisine"... sort of... CT

Thank you James! CT

Hi Russell! But, they have to be slim to slide trough the opening. Not certain they can eat much pizza... CT

Thank you JT! I'll keep a note to build somethink else in this color... I like it too. CT

Thank you Ron. Much appreciated! CT

Hi! That Evergreen pack, for 99 cents? Can't beat that! CT

Hi! So, let's see...every time you roam flea market tables to find interesting OOP kits, actual savings , divided by the time spent , make for a great return, no? CT

Hi! My LHS carries a vast array of supplies, so just like you, I support it as much as I can. However, the new kits prices are unreal: some new releases of old AMT's very basic kits, for example the 71 Bird of paradise TBird, fetch 52$ Canadian. The owner explained that the "new" Revell has a policy forcing LHS to buy 10 units minimum at once (ten) for any kit they want. So much money is frozen there that he clains he has to pass overhead to customers... on every unit, regardless it's a Revell or not. How high can you go before your nose bleeds? CT

Indeed! CT

Hi Jim! In Canada, Michael's has a 30% on-line discount every single day, that you can get simply by evoquing it to the cashier. No need to show any paper coupon. The 60% is also among their policy, but mostly around mid-december to mid-january. To clear excess inventory around the holidays, I guess. That means kits for around 13$ Canadian, which is a good deal! CT

Hi Tom! Well,. it has to be the most extensive collection of custom early Rancheros under one roof in the free world. Interesting. ct