Claude Thibodeau

Hi Sir! Beautiful combos. I had seen many of the towing vehicles trough past features in mags, but the boats... Many are new to me. Bravo! CT PS: I was looking at a 2014 issue of Rodders Journal this morning, featuring Steve Stanford's fantastic creations. He had a phantom 48 Chrysler woody pickup/wooden speedboat combo, and it was great! You could certainly pull it off should you try...

Hi Dale! Thank you for the detailed reply. So far, I've avoided using real automotive clear on my models, because if polishing is ever needed, the sheer hardness of this cured "real paint" most often requires vigorous rubbing, i.e. heat... and styrene does not like heat, as I'm certain you know. But, you changed my mind, and therefore, I'll soon pull-out the HOK Show Klear that I use on real cars, and give it a try. Who knows? Thanks again, and stay safe! CT

Hi Larry! Well, what can I say... COOL seems to be the general feeling here. Ah, those beach cars... CT

Thank you Larry! Much appreciated. CT

Thank you Carl! CT

Thank you Larry! CT

Hi Wayne! Sorry I missed you comment when you posted it. Too much styrene vapors, I guess. Thanks for the compliment. CT

Hi Hector! Thank you for the comments. When I was young, a neighbour had one in the same combo. The car obviously made a lasting impression on me... CT

Thank you my friend! I must say that upon choosing that grille, I wondered what you would think about it... Let me say: I knew it! The Mopar powertrain and grille changes us from the ubiquitous Chevy engine in a Ford. Who's to complain? CT

Thank you Oliver. Happy it pleases you! CT

Hi Alan! Of course, experimenting with "surgery" is less risqué when you do it with styrene. As the famous Ken "Posies" Fenical once said" It takes a real man to cut one up"... CT

Hi Jerry! Sorry I missed your entry the day you posted it. Thank you for the comments. CT

Hi Steve! Sorry I missed your post. With kids back in the 80's, I can tell, to paraphrase you, that there was a mini-van in my past... Those Mopars were very efficient on trips. Loved mine. CT

Thank you Chris! CT

Thank you RRR! CT

Hi Sir! Your 36 is dead-on as it relates to "vintage" early 60's look, and so cohesive. It is a textbook case as to how to recreate "the look" at early AMBR events. The wide whites, the bell shaped air cleaners, and the dropped axle all scream "genuine". The hair-pin radius rods seal the deal. Truth be told, if I had a 37 truck grille on hand while building mine... I would have used it, but totally chromed with Alclad. The Chrysler unit was a case of "let's see what leftover part could do". Superb build, bravo! CT

Hi Marty! A channelled 30's car, if raked properly, looks somehow as if it was about to "leap", like a predator. Even more so if the rear wheel wells don't make the tires look lost in a hole. Many refer to that as the "Ohio look", championned by the late Barry Lobeck, a 1/1 hot rod builder of considerable fame. That might be it... CT

Hi Marty! Glad you like it. But I'm curious: what is-it exactly that won you over? Just so that I can repeat that in future builds... CT

Don't forget to look over your shoulder. A lady by the name of Bella might well catch-up with you! CT

Thank you Sir! Well, coming from the Master of Kitbash, it is a source of pride. USPS tracking suggest my copy of your latest book should be delivered in a few days. Can't wait to dig in it. I'm certain I'll see kits that I forgot existed, or worse yet, once graced the shelves of my room when I was 10. CT

Hi Mate! Well, thank you so much for the praise. You'll make me blush. As they say: "Packaging is everything"... I hesitated between the Chrysler grille and a 35 Mercedes unit. The Merc was a smidge too tall, and squarish, which clashed with the rotund shape of the 36. Decisions, decisions... The joy of kitbash. CT

Thank you Gary. Actually, that's the first thing i strive to determine at the beginning of a project; The relation between the chassis, rollingstock and body can make or kill the look, isn't it? CT

Hi Peter! Somehow, I can't open the pix. What to do then? CT

Thank you Peter! The hardest part of the built was blending the roof to the belt line in a satisfactory way. This AMT kit is finnicky in that respect. The half-round reveal that runs under the door window opening is tapered, somehow, whereas on the 1/1 car, it is constant from the quarter panel to the cowl. SO, lotsa sanding, putty and primer. What can you do... CT

Hi Chris! Thank you. Once it is extracted from its native surroundings (fenders and hood), it focuses more attention on its beautiful design, in my view... CT