Claude Thibodeau

Hi! Lots of imagination here! Here's a Speedwagon, but stretched "à la Boydster", using the hood, front fenders (with wheelwells filled) and front frame section from AM'T's 32 Chrysler cabrio. The cowl was removed and rebuilt under the hood to allow continuous side panels to the front door cut-line and base of glass, which was replaced with a slightly curved unit. Lot's a fun! CT

Hi Bill! Nice proportions and stance! I see you used the rollingstock from the Phantom Vicky... It IS one of the best combo for low slung fenderless 30's cars, in my view. Just like on this stretched 29 Revell roadster, that I based loosely on the Magoo red 29. That very car (the 1/!) used a cut-dowm VW rear window as a windshield, as per Mr. Magoo admission. Hours of fun with styrene! CT

HI! I try to assemble the whole cage to allow it to be removed and painted when ready. Case in point: this pro-mod Duster, in before and after pix. CT

Hi! Actually, Boyd Coddington built a car in the 80's for a gentleman by the name od Gillette, if I remember properly. The body was Dana red, made of aluminium by Marcel Delay at Custom Metal in Corona, Ca. It was visibly sectionned (or actually made like that from the get go), and the upper quarter/tulip panel much more "rounded" than usual. It made the cover of Street Rodder back then! I'll try to retrieve it in my mag archives, and post it here... CT

Hi! I recently used one as the basis for a heavily modified salt racer car... It was fine, but I found the molding a smidge thick. The trunk lid wokrs fine. The belt-line reveal molding is more square than hald-round, actually. I suspect they had a mold parting line located there? The chassis/powertrain reflects the 60's origins, of course. However, if you want to replicate a Boydster type of Deuce (low and long), the sectionned body is a good start. For what it's worth, my two cents... CT

Hi Sir! What a great concept, and perfect execution. Should go directly to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Élégance! Bravo! CT

Hi Dale! Thanks for the reply. I too do custom painting on 1/1 cars and rods. Mostly use HOK clears and Farecla compound and G-Mops. However, I find automotive clear is too hard for polishing "harmlessly" on plastic bodies without generating the heat required to get it to flow under the buffing action. A steel body can accept such heat/pressure in polishing, plastic is more fragile, That is why I mostly use Testor's Wet Look clear (in spray cans), followed by wet block sanding (with a supple eraser as a block) with 2000, 3000 and 6000, and hand polishing. Usually works fine (see Javelin below). Regards, CT

Hi! You indicate your paint is Dupli-Color "Ginger Ale". But my real question is: what about the clear, and your polishing technique? Super results! CT

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