Claude Thibodeau

See message above... CT

Hi Sir! Your computer with which you interact with this very forum is likely powered by Microsoft MSDOS. In which case, you probably have WORD text processing in your tool bar. If so, import your pics as you normally do, and then access them tru the icons that appears at the top of the page when you open them individually. It will likely offer you the option to "modify" them with the photo program included in you Microsoft software. You can then crop them, calibrate, colorize, contrast or "resize" each of those to your liking. After the procedure, you will have the option to "save a copy" of your modified pic. Do it. It will therefore show you the original, and the modified, usually side by side. The modified will generally have the same pic ID number, followed by a (2). That one will be smaller and "lighter", and therefore, easy to load on the forum. Believe me, Mr. Woodruff, I am NO TECHIE... If I was able to learn it, you will most likely do faster than yours truly. Can't wait to see the pics. Good luck! respectfully, CT.

Hi! Couldn't you fabricate longer tube intakes oriented sideways? Just picture typical dragster "zoomies" upswept headers... but turned upside down to arc over the valve covers and point downward. At which point you could fabricate a lenghtwise "tube" to distribute air to all of them. That would locate your turbo-charger unit about the same level as the exhaust ports, therefore increasing the "efficiency" of your turbo set-up... It looks like the avail space between the valve covers and the side wall of your body shell could accomodate that. Just an idea... Of course, you might have to modify the angle of the actual header flanges on the zoomies, but nothing out of your range, based on what I saw of your previous builts... If "standard" zoomies don't do because of canopy interference... the convoluted headers that came in AMT's 53 Studebaker coupe might fit... For what it's worth, respectfully. CT

Hi! Thanks for the comments. I have a friend who has a real Rat Rod... Everybody is blown by the look of it... bu HE is terrified to drive it. It is therefore a "trailer queen". Go figure. At least, my rat has front disc brakes, and very strong "seat belts"... CT

Hi! Thanks for the info. Your expertise is much more acute than mine. I will correct my descriptive form for the next show, in october. I would like to attend Classic Plastic in Lowell october 6. Schedule permitting... Otherwise, the Quebec City model show will be its first outing. CT

Hi! Thanks for the comments. It is true that the exhaust fumes could swirl back into the cabin. However, the hole you refer to is in fact in the stepped-up "floor" that fills the rear of the cabin. And just for good measure, I dispensed with all windows, except the opening windshield... Safety first! (just kidding!) This could be an issue only at stoplights, I suppose. Alas, I did not test the car in a wind tunnel to see the buffeting effect regarding exhaust fumes. I told you: building rat rod is hard... A few years ago, at the North-East NSRA nat in Burlington Vt, a young army recruit at my hotel was hosing his rat rod with water at 6:00 am... to adjust the "patina", he admitted... He had no floor at all, barring a unique 2X2 xmember that supported the seats and belts. The "floor" was made of wire fencing, just like the one used in the roof of my model. Said he got a lot of slack from Patrolmen about it... but they ultimately always let him go with a "thanks for your service" comment. Exhaust fumes was the least of his worries, I guess... CT

Hi! I never ever dared to buit a "rat rod"... but I finally gave it a try. Used a pile of mis-matched parts from the junk bins at the last 2 shows I attended... It is what appears to be a Revell 32 sedan body, with a junked 32 Ford frame of unknown origin, plus L8 engine, tranny & luggage rack from 32 Chrysler imperial (AMT), and wire wheels & IRS from a 39 Mercedes found in the same junk bin. Rear floor pan, dash, seats, windshield, radius rods, sun visor (made from the rear spoiler of a Revell '71 GTX !). steering linkage, column, door panels, pedals, chain & padlock "seat belts" were scratchbuilt. Fully wired & hosed. The roof is a laminate of styrene sheets, opened, with wooden effect & chicken coop fencing for good measure. Paint is Tamya's acrylic with the hair spray technique. The licence plate is litterally suspended with wires... Hours of fun with styrene! CT

Hi! Thanks for the comments. Some fellow modelers on an european forum observed that the "contemporary" mirrors (from a current Dodge Challenger) are a less than ideal fit with this car. They may have a point. I should had favored small "vintage" mirrors, I guess. CT

Hi! Thanks for the comments. For reasons I don't grasp... there seems to be a resurgence of this timeless design these days. I will not complain, quite the contrary... Keep them coming! CT

Hi! Interesting project, rare subject! My brother had a similar 71 Comet, that he drag raced with. These cars were "minimalist", to say it bluntly. But when converted to Pro-Stock, they flew off the tree like crazy. Souvenirs... To your point about the Johan chassis... I concur. Their kits were mostly upgraded promos with extra parts for the kit market. Their bodies were GREAT, even in minute details. But the chassis plate... You are right to discard and start with something else. Can't wait to see where it takes you! CT

Hi! Thanks for the comments. Much appreciated. CT

Hi! Thanks for the comments. Much appreciated! CT

Hi! The whole package works beautifully, bravo! Those Polar light FC front wheels are great. I use them whenever I can. With little detailing, they look very real, as on your car!

Hi! Nice built. You are lucky: I would do unspeakable things to get one of those Invicta AMT kit... Hard to come by, alas! CT

Hi! I will try... More recent production coming in a couple of weeks... Stay tuned! CT

Hi! Understood. I did not know, however, that the word itself had that connotation, when used randomly. Sorry. Rest assured that it never crossed my mind it could be offensive. Regards, CT

Thank you gentlemen to help my nascent knowledge of the German language! Heil! CT

Hi! Thanks for the comments. KK, please, can you translate "Wassergekühlt" for me... just to improve my culture... I think I know what it means in the context of the phrase, but not sure... CT

Hi! Thanks for the comments. The pictures I got all show the car with the clamshell up... because when it is lowered, most show spectators think it's just a "regular" funny-car. But, here are 2 pix taken during construction. Sorry for the quality... photography is not my forte! CT

Hi! Very good design... and great execution! Many good ideas here... Keep on! CT

Hi! Everything old is new again, goes the saying... Sure goes for vintage Funny-cars! When I got back to modeling in 2014, my first "re-entry" built was this scratch-built Mustang, inspired by the famous Mickey Thompson xperimental monocoque F/C that was the cover car of Hot-Rod back in 1970... Used a Going Thing Polar light body (already good proportions) and used a few parts from the kit, plus mucho scratch-built. Not an exact duplicate, more of an hommage... Not perfect, but certainly better than my original attemps at 15, that was "crude", of course. Goes to proove that you can do virtually anything with some styrene and some time at the bench! CT

Hi! Very clever, and nice execution to boot... CT

Hi! Great conversion, bravo! CT

HI! One of my favorite design, the 53 Stude... but this time, converted to a contemporary custom Roadster! AMT trash bin find, that missed the hood. Therefore, a 49 Ford unit was modified to fit, and blended with a customized front end. Rear tulip panel is made of removed roof panel. Full width flush-fit rear stoplight and custom roll pan. Extended sills, scratchbuilt door panels & console. Custom removable hard top. Tamya's pearl + Testor's wetlook clear. Stude engine straddled with custom Weber injection from 65 Grand-prix. Fully wired. Custom alum exhaust. Maisto rolling stock. Hours of fun with styrene! CT

Hi Sir! This is very impressive. World class built, for sure. Bravo! CT