Claude Thibodeau

Hi! Imaginative use of your parts. Just in case you wonder, you may clean up the stuck tire rubber on the lower quarter panel with WD40. It works! CT

Hi! Very nice car, with lotsa details! The stance is right-on. Bravo! CT

Well, keep safe! CT

Hi Kerry! What a great project. I'm also a fan of Bonnie cars, and yours is already very detailed. I bought 2 copies of this body from Flintstone a few years ago, with the intent to modify them to obtain an Alloway Speedstar, since the proportions are ok. But your work gives me second thoughts, and I may lean again toward a salt car... However, my copies were VERY thick in the side walls, due to the molding process, I guess. Did you face this problem, and did-you grind them down? Just curious... CT

Hi! Great execution, but above all, good taste in the colors, finishes and various components. Bravo! CT

Hi Mike! On the notion of "simplicity"... That is exactly why my favorite scratchbuilt subject is Bonneville cars. Devoid of body jewelry, excess weight, down to the ground, as slippery as can be: the essence of "less is best"! A friend who happens to be a very well known french singer once admitted to me: "writing songs is easy... it's getting rid of all the superfluous notes and lyrics that's so hard". He should know, since he enjoys world wide fame, and with every new album, he strives to be more and more "minimalist", to great effects. Amen! CT

Salut! Thanks for the infos. You made the best of your circumstances, bravo! I could have bet it was the "real" color... CT

Hi! Great, masterfull work, bravo! I always felt that quality work is good for the soul of the onlooker. Needless to say, I fell good looking at the delicious "simplicity" of a FED design. Your rendition is world-class, for sure. CT

Hi! Great built, as usual! The setting is also world-class, bravo! Just curious: what is the paint used? It looks like the "sandalwood" shade that was popular back then... CT

WoW! That is litterally importing fighter plane technology in a car! Just as was the obsession of the big three back then. The spirit of Harley Earl lives on! CT

Hi! Good idea! I had one of those Fieros when the car came out. Fun car, but the anemic "iron duke" 4 cyl. was the weak link. Your swap gets rid of the problem! CT

Hi Kyle! Hope you are dooing OK trough this pandemy? I was ondering if you finally shoehorned an engine in the delivery? I'm building a lowboy 36 Ford currently, and the chassis I'm using is the same as yours, with many modifications however. That's when I recalled your project. Just curious... CT

Hi Paul! Hope all is well for you in California even with this lockdown caused by the virus... I was reading an old issue of SAE with a cup of joe at noon, and I saw a mention of one of your winning models in a report about the NNL West! The isue was from circa 99, and the model was referred to (no picture, alas) as a 57 Chevy if I remember well. Goes to show that your talent was already well recognized by your peers even at the turn of the century! Talk about lifelong dedication! All the best to you and your loved ones! CT

Hi! A great MASTER at work. Thank you for the lesson! CT

Hi! Thanks for the answer... I guess it means that even if there is a "JR" at the end of your name, you are not a young pup, and have been at it for a while... Like I suspect most of us old guys! Great to see that you still have the passion for fine modeling. Wish you many more years of fun with styrene! Regards, CT

Hi! Just curious... are you the Guy who had a great Keeling & Clayton T/F in an old ('94?) issue of SAE Contest car? The caption mentionned that if so, you were then a resident of the "east coast"... Regards, CT

Hi! Perfect blend... It looks like it came out of the Rodder's Journal! Even the colour "dates" it in an appropriate manner. Bravo! CT PS: I LOVE those American front "spoke" wheels. I'll dig out the copy of the AMT kit in my stash to verify if they are included. Thanks!

Hi Sir! Thanks for posting those pics. Very inspirational! It's been a while since I made it to the big Detroit show, but your report covered all the bases. Regards, CT

Hi! Impressive work, for sure. Your welds are "blending" well with the parent metal. It shows great mastery of the technique. Mr. Fuller would be admirative, I'm certain. Keep up the great work. Bravo! CT

Hi Francis! As you may know, the RAM on march 29th has been canceled until further notice. Hope we'll be able to attend it together with our friends as soon as the rules againts public meetings is released, and a new date is announced... As to your rad cap, I'm worried... Will this thing sustain the usual 16 pounds of pressure in your cooling system? Please reassure us... CT

Hi! Nice built, lots of great ideas. Specially the paint theme. I built this kit a few years agao, and I too got rid of the belly pan, molding the lower section (roll-under) to the flanks. It makes for a smoother look. Bravo, well done! CT

Hi Sir! Wow... World-class built. Bravo! Your gaps around the doors is ultra-precise, and you obviously have a PhD in headers. Not only is their nature complicated, but I can relate to the chore of shoehorning them in the chassis. Hours of fun, I guess... CT

Hi Michelle! Great build, what a superb colour! Bravo! Your subjects become better and better with every built. Keep going. I wish I had such a growth curve back then. CT

Hi! Thanks for sharing your technique. Much appreciated. I like to learn from the best! This show rod creation is mindblowing, truly. Imaginative, and perfectly executed. Bravo. I've never tried spraying the molotow chrome myself. Used mostly Alclad. However, I've started spraying it over gloss WHITE or LIGHT BLUE instead of the usual black. On the white, it creates a sheen akin to real polished aluminium. See the Duster ProMod engine below. I'll ultimately try your technique, however... CT

Hi Eric! Your method is great, and your twin engined beast is SO nice! Is-there a thread here where we can see the final result on this car? I'm specially impressed by the sheen of your engine parts. Is-this paint? Your chassis looks like the finish we can obtain from Krylon's Premium Classic Crhome spray can, but I might be wrong... Bravo! CT