Claude Thibodeau

Hi Sir! Truly a world-class design, execution and finish. Bravo! CT

Hi! I built a couple of Bonneville cars myself every year, and the canopy is always a challenge. A few suggestions: In the beauty aisle of big box stores, you will find a cheap lipstick brand called NYC. Their transparent caps are crystal clear, accept styrene glue, and are easy to "slice" lenghtwise" to get the part you want.(see Holy Flats Pilgrims Vette and Sodium Glider below). Also, the shallow section of clear throwaway spoons can be cut and flat sanded to give you a slight dome that may fit. I also use a lot of "blister pack" clear section that come with some small lightbulbs, or even sharpie pens. They come in infinite shapes, and are usually distorsion-free, since very thin. The canopy from the Drag-U-La 60's show car can also be adapted, albeit a smidge thick. Hope it helps! From a fellow member of the "Flat Earth Society" to another... CT

Hi! Considering the difficulty level of the body you started with... this is a VERY GOOD execution. Bravo! CT

Hi Francis! To your point about the "hardness" of aluminium... I fabricate many brackets or ancilary parts for the "real" 1/1 hot rods I build from aluminium, and I found a source that I did not expected... The maintenance shop at a local food manufacturing facility uses a lot of that T6 aluminium, and mucho stainless also, because food processing machinery needs to be cleaned and disinfected often, with sometimes very harsh cleaning agents. They usualy have scraps, leftovers or just worn parts that they are willing to let me scavenge tru. You would be surprised at the number of trick parts I found and adapted to rods and pro-touring 1/1 cars. Your Lenco is fabulous (as usual!). Keep on. Hope we will se all this in person this coming october at the Québec show! CT

Hi! Very... no, make it VERY impressive job! Thank you for your dedication! CT

Hi Sir! I've looked for the speed demon myself 2 years ago... to no avail! Whenever i attend a model show, I dig in the "garbage bins" for old fighter jets that might feature some parts that could be modified to create a scratchbuilt version. Hard to come by... Good luck! CT

Hi! This is my tribute to Dick Magoo Megugorac's innovative 29 roadster, circa mid 90's. I took liberties with his design, and it became "Pinocchio"... a slightly elongated 29, with opened trunk, custom windshield, tru-frame exhaust tips, and home-built hood & radiator shell. The front axle is scratchbuilt, with shockwave air at the four corners. Rolling stock is from the Phantom Vicky, engine from the 32 5W kit. Hours of fun with styrene! CT

Hi! The more the better, then. Keep whittling at it! CT

Hi Sir! Great work, as usual. Bravo! If it can be of any interest, Hot Rod magazine ran a feature on this carb set-up in late 69 - early 70. It was even a close-up COVER SHOT. I remember vividly, because I was 14 back then, and it was my first newly subscribed copy to come tru the mail! I'll try to locate it in my collection, and if i get it, I could scan it and email-it to you if you wish... Regards, CT.

Ah-Ha! Thank you for the infos. I happen to use mostly the same combo of Tamya's color and testor's Wetlook clear myself. Out of years of testing, gave me the best results so far. I use a lot of House of Kolor clear urethane for custom painting motorcycles, but this clear is so "hard", it's difficult to polish it fully on a fragile styrene miniature body... Therefore, Wetlook carries the day! Thanks again, and bravo for your Nova! Regards, CT

Hi Lorne! Thanks for the infos. I'm finishing a 41 Willys that I converted to a roadster, and I may well use your tip! Regards, CT

Hi! Your paint polishing is world class, Bravo! I've used this Tamya red often, but always with clear on top to ease polishing. How many coats would you say you applied, and what was the gradation of your sanding grits, if I may ask? CT

Hi! What a great built. Bravo! May I ask: what is the color and brand of paint/clear used? CT

Hi Kerry! Indeed, you should! It was a very detailed kit when it came out, and it remains above the average "current" kit as far as engineering and precision is concerned. Just the wheels and tires (airless experimental at the time) are worth it. Plus, since you are obviously as fond of salt cars as I am... the modular bodywork could be used in scratchbuilt projects of your own design. It has been issued once as part of a "monster machines" combo pack, including the Tommy Ivo Showboat 4-engine dragster. All in all, a total of 8 engines included between both cars. Who can beat that? CT

Hi! You may also find 2 at once in the Mickey Thompson Challenger Bonneville car (the blue one). They are modular, and are easy to adapt to any built. I bought a couple extra kits of that car for the fantastic (for the era...) parts that are included. CT

Hi Francis! I was preparing for the RAM we were supposed to attend together, in late march, but that was canceled. I was packing some new builts: a Foose F100 P/U transformed into a pizza truck and a 66 Nova transformed into a pharmacy delivery truck (both for the theme), a modernized early Jaguar with a Potvin blown hemi, a 49 Ford coupe turned into a Pro-Touring (429 Boss, full scratch built chassis, suspensions and interior... and just to tease Louis Labelle: opening suicide doors & trunk ! Plus a totally scratch built 32 Ford roadster for the lakes, with 4 cyl turbo powertrain. All are now in showcases, waiting for the next event. I'll try to make photos and post them on this forum in the coming weeks. To combat Covid, I'm finishing: the 48 Caddy Eldorod converted to a casket renting company delivery panel, a 41 Willys coupe converted to a roadster, a low-rider VW early van, a 65 Pontiac Grand-Prix custom, and a 36 Ford 3W dropped and air-suspended rod. Voilà! As you can tell, I've got too much time on my hands. Never a better time to be productive at the bench! I'll be ready for the Quebec show in october, for shure. See you soon! CT

Hi Francis! You are happy now... but wait until you have to crawl under the truck to polish it! Might as well anodize it in Dow 7 color... (Just kidding, of course!) Keep on! CT

Hi! Great built. Is this the Johan kit or the AMT's? Just curious. I have the Johan in my stash, and you are having me look long and hard to it... CT

Hi Sir! What a pair. It feels like we're back at Lion's Dragway, in the early days... I can almost smell nitro! Truly world class builds. BRAVO! CT

Hi Paul! Glad to see all is good at your end. I know CA was among the first to order stay at home measures. Same here. Most people are doing OK, but the old persons residences are getting hit hard, with hundreds of victims. Otherwise, in the general population, it seems under control so far. The arrival of spring is starting to give cabin fever to millions of people. I guess they don't know the joy of modeling at the bench ?! I'm completing 5 different buitls at once: 36 fenderless lowboy, 65 Pontiac GP custom lowrider, a Foose Eldorod converted to a delivery wagon, a VW surfer's van and a custom Harley chopper. Ah, the joys of styrene... Stay safe, and take good care of Bella! Regards, CT

Hi Sir! In the age of internet and instant research results, this all makes sense. Can't wait for all the "backlog" of posts to be re-indexed. Thank your for your work! CT

Hi Kerry! Great work, the rake is absolutely perfect for a salt car. Impressive! Keep going... Just a quick question: any relation to the famous late disc-jockey Dan Ingram? He was my idol when I was aspiring to make a living in radio, back in the 60's... Just curious... CT

Thanks for the infos. Now I can sleep well, knowing that you have not developped a miniature mandrel bend fixture... That would have made me jealous! CT

Hi! But wait... is it me, or is the rear diff seal dripping on the bench? See picture 9.... Hope it leaks a sugary beverage! CT

Hi! Great workmanship. Bravo! But what gets me smiling is the rubber cap on the water-pump. Just like any respectable fabricator would use while an engine is around a milling machine, just to be prudent... CT