Claude Thibodeau

Hi! Harry Bradley did a lot of "outstanding" designs in the early 70's. I remember a feature in Car Life titled: The wagon as a GT. The crop of pony-cars (Mustang, Cougar, Camaro, Javelin, Cuda, Challenger, Pontiac Trans-Am ) were given the "shooting brake" treatment, or sport station wagon if you prefer, à la Nomad. It was very well done. This, however, looks more like an answer to the Neo-Classics: Excalibur, and the design exercises made by Virgil Exner for Renwall... revisiting Stutz & Al. glory days. Well, the detroit Big 3 were playing catch-up with each other... so for the kit companies to do the same is not a suprise, isn't it? CT

Hi Mike! Really? Lucky guy, they are rare nowadays. I think there are slight variations in the design of those, depending the year of the kit. I saw that the 67 Eldo kit seems to have horizontal bars only in the custom grille. My kit was a 70, and the rectangles in this custom grille, oddly enought, mimick the rectangles of the... 67 stock grille! Go figure... CT

Hi! Thanks for the comments. To Tom's point: indeed, the Eldo, Riv and Toronado were all part of the same "platform program" at GM. They also shared a few components, such as roof strucrure, door frames and glass, and many other bits and pieces. Therefore, since the Johan Caddy and AMT's Riv were of the same scale, the Buick chassis was a shoe-in. The only major difference was at the firewall level, since Riv was RWD and Caddy FWD. Other tan that, a breeze... CT

Hi Jon! Well... I try to think "out of the box", and come up with things that are different, if not really unique or innovative. To that end, Bonneville cars are a blank canvas, because all kind of engineering marvels have raced the salt. There are rules of course, mostly for safety, but salt racers are an imaginative bunch. I just try to see things like I think they would! It's still just a fantasy, hence my Flat Earth Society theme... CT

Hi Chris! Thanks for the comments. I went trough 4 of those kits so far... and none built! Just an endless source of good parts for mash-ups: Viper powertrain, IFS, IRS, interior, chassis, rolling stock,etc. CT

Hi Bill! Thanks for the comments. Indeed, the Cuda rear seat was removed, scratchbuilt tubs glued in place ( the Dodge Concept truck rear wheels are 20" X 13" in scale, so they needed space, even more so since I lowered the rear end and swithched to 4-Bars instead of blade springs)... In place of the rear seat, I filled the narrowed space between the tubs with round molded enclosures for 2 big speakers and a large central bass speaker. The amp is mountes vertically where the seat back would normally reside. I added a custom speaker grille (tweeters?) from Foose's 67 Charger on a reworked rear shelf. I suspect it would sound great... CT

Hi! New attempt to upload missing pictures. CT

Oups... I made a typo: it is now a RWD Caddy.

Hi! Johan's 1970 Eldo as a great body... but a rather simplified chassis. Therefore, I transplanted a 66 Riviera chassis (AMT), but kept the Caddy engine. I suspect it is indeed an Olds engine, from the Toronado twin kit. Anyway, this Eldo is now a FWD lowered custom. I used the custom parts included in the kit for the grille & rear bumper. Boby smoothed & shaved. Swapmeet wire wheels, probably from Revell's Caddy Escalade. Maisto low profile tires. Testor's Inca gold, with Tamya's pearl clear (to soften the flake reflections) + testor's Wetlook clear, polished. Interior coated with craft store butternut yellow shade. Thanks to Wayne Kady, Cadillac designer, for this timeless classic. CT There was a problem uploading more pix. I'll add some later...

Hi! Thanks for the comments. If I had to do it again, I would choose a slightly lighter gunmetal shade. The car might look a tad bigger. Next time, maybe... CT

Hi Ron! Thanks for the comments. The stance is the result of a custom-built chassis, with precisely calibrated suspensions. Hours of fun! CT

Hi! In my case, I use Testor's glue (the black plastic bottle), very sparingly, but applied to both side of the fishmout joint BEFORE joining them (90 seconds). After it dried for 24-36 hours, I "paint" a VERY light coat of straight MEK, to "blend" the joint even more, giving a usually solid and smooth assembly, that will withstand endless adjustemnts and mounting-dismounting common in extensive builts. To fight "spring back" of bended tubes, I insert a strand of copper electrical wire at the estimated location of any sharp bend. Not only does it remain in your favored shape, but it also helps avoid caving or kinking of the tube surface during sharp bends. Good luck with your project! CT

Hi! Hard to improve the design of the 70 Cuda, but we can stuff in Viper's V10, 4 bar rear suspension, Sidewinder Concept truck rolling stock, 67 Charger Foose optionnal buckets, speakers enclosures and amplificator in the back, plus mesh type grille & enlarged rr lights. B/U lights relocated in the exhaust ports. Extended and molded rocker sills with lateral exhaust dumps. Tamya gun metal + Testor's Wetlook clear. Plymouth is long gone... but we can still celebrate it! CT

Hi! Thank you for the kind comments. To Barry's point, many grey beards like me believe that Bonneville is the purest form of automotive sports left... simply because it is still mostly AMATEUR, meaning without major sponsors. A bunch of faithful show up, and weather depending, go at it! I read all that is avail on le salt flats, but I've never been there. It IS on my bucket list. In the meantime, I try to built at least one Bonnie car per year. This Willys is the latest member of my imaginary Flat Earth Society. If only the GSLMCC could coincide with the running of the races, I would be there for both! And thanks Mr. Woodruff, for the encouragements. It's an honor. My wife was curious: any relation with Bob Woodruf, the news anchor at ABC? CT

Hi! Wow, impressive! Is the frame-platform-powertrain from Revell's 55 Chevy ? CT

Hi Bill! Actually, I used the rwd powertrain from the Corvette Indy, which was low on details. I added many components, plus a custom driveshaft that goes to the front differential, which is a Winters-type unit out of the Mickey Thompson quad-engine car. Said driveshaft passes under the driver's seat and the front bulkhead panel, to join the fixed quick-change third member. The IFS was converted from twin to single transverse mono-shock, for packaging issues. CT

Hi Tim! It's the Smithstonian Museum curator on line 2. He wants your car on display once completed. Can you accomodate him? So much quality concentrated in one model is good for the soul of any modeler. That's all I can manage to say. Keep on! CT

Hi! Thanks for the comments. To Mr Mopar's point... I suspect the combination of wheelbase and ultra-low stance would generate a "go-kart" handling. Alas, we'll never know! Thank-you Tim, coming from a Master, your compliments are much apprciated. CT

Hi! A very sliced and diced Revell's 41 Willys coupe body (chopped, sectionned, fenders molded shut, opened trunk etc.), hiding a scratchbuilt AWD custom chassis that integrates modified Corvette Indy front & rear suspensions + rear engine. Parts box skinny tires & disc wheels. All the rest scratchbuilt, with painted carbon fiber finish on belly pan/floorpan & bulkhead panel. Testor's White lightning pear over grey primer. Home-made decals. Another member of the Flat Earth Society! Long live the Salt! CT

Hi Mike! Actually, a friend on a model forum (Koolestkruzers.com) in France felt the same about the rake of the windshield... But it is the actual Chrysler Atlantic Concept angle... I just transplanted it on the Stude body, with the alterations described in the intro of this post. CT

Hi Mr. Woodruff! Well, from one of the original luminaries, it is quite a compliment! I could not ask for more... Regards, CT

Hi! This is "out of the box" thinking at its best! Congrats! CT

Hi Chris! Thanks for the comments. If you DO try the typical gel pen, bear in mind that you will have to let your model aside for at least 72 hours before the first light mist coat of clear (to seal the gel), otherwise, it will most likely smear, and you'll have to start again. A dehydrator might speed it up, but I've not experienced it... Just to make it easier for you!! CT

Hi! What if Tostitos was to sponsor a NHRA Funny-Car? Miller Lite car with detailing and a few mods, and with a custom paint scheme designed to mimic the snack package commercial artwork. Pinstripe between paint panels done with gel pens in various metallic colours. Home-made decals, and web search for the Nexium logo(!). Good Tex-Mex often induces acid reflux, so... CT

Hi! Thank you for the comments. Don't forget, it's still just... a curbside! CT