Mike Williams

@CT, thank you. The stubs, I forgot to remove the four of them. Two at the very front, two at the firewall. I solder these on as soon as the chassis is together, so the ride height is maintained throughout the build. Just sort of a simple jig. Here the 4 stubs in the beginning days; I just noticed recently on the shelf, a Fiat Altered built years ago still had them on! Gone now, finally. Mike..

Thanks Marcos! To be honest, the paint came out better than I'd hoped for, haven't figured out yet how to capture the real view in a photograph. UPDATE: The car is 99% finished. A few small things need attention, but the project is now ended. Still working on some light box possibilities, here the current state. Thanks to the modelers that showed interest and commented, as this is truly an incentive to first of all, realize other methods and secondly to possibly enhance your own techniques. A wonderful opportunity! Motivation is the key, momentum the result, improvements are the future. Mike..

Hello Bernard, good that you're back to the roots. Especially good you're doing the famous 150" FED. You got my attention a few years ago with the 150" look, I'll readily admit total agreement. The golden look is 150", give or take a few. The idea of chopping the long body is a good one, small enhancements, front laced wheels and a good motor foundation and you're on your way. I like this one. Mike..

Marcos, compliments on the coils, a wonderful source for these parts. My former attempts with these were minimal at best. I like the path you've chosen, going further into modeling is a good thing. The finished model will show that a touch of real metal here and there make for a completely new look. You'll be pleased! Mike..

Ha, I knew it! You've shown the proof. Francis, your model is much better than the original, as your headlight housings will not rust! Wonderful indeed, a true incentive! Mike..

Thanks guys, greatly appreciated. The car will be finished today. Just a sneak peek.... Mike..

Thanks guys for the encouragement! @Ian, wonderful. There might be something I can add to your knowledge, this is the 3rd dance, I'm learning as things move forward. @CT, I like the thought, "a glass of wine in the sun"....exactly the look I'm after! @Francis, yes. Get the sunglasses out! I've been mixing and painting away on spare brass body panels....I have it! @Tim, you've told me this tip before and no one in Europe has this solder, and the ones I found in the US won't ship to the EU! Two different solders were already used. Meantime a small amount of filler was added and sanded smooth....Ready to go now. @CT....Clear coat urethane as a filler over strongly brushed brass! I can easily visualize the effect, wonderful... Meantime, I've experimented with various shades for the base coat....YES, I'm ready to go forward now....the red wine with the sun rays shining through...right in front of me on my bench now! Got it! Here a teaser. 1st photo shows the red with only solar gold, very similar to the bare brass. The far right shows the new base coat. 2nd photo left is bare brass with H of K "solar gold", which is very, very similar to the bare brass itself, along with 10 (!) coats of candy red....it will not get darker. Not good. The right probe has a base much darker, using 2 parts solar gold, 4 parts candy dark brown, 5 drops of pagan gold intensifier.....bingo! No clear on there yet. This is the candy red tone I was wanting...only 3 coats of red so far. ...another showing the way forward; The real body will get a base coat today... Mike..

@Francis, yes, the new AK Metal paint is a keeper for me. Gold on bare brass, not shiny! I like the look. No primer needed. UPDATE: Body works. I've decide to go with brass sheet for the body panels. Shown here is the 2nd attempt. The first had an excellent uprise at the windshield, but was sadly too long and was chopped for this newer one. I wanted to not use putty/body filler, but a solder bubble and a pit or two would need filling, no way I'll risk filling with solder.....only to have the rest possibly melt away! New also, a chute pack mounted, seat upholstery, oil filter added chassis right side, new oil pump with oil lines attached right side. Fuel tank is finished and mounted up front... Paint, since using brass sheet for the body panels, will be House of Kolors, Candy Apple Red. Might look nice covering a brass body. Mike..

Great update Ian! Mike..

Francis, you wrote earlier, a few comments above here, this; "As for the photos, I find that they are often taken too close but I admit that it can help to demonstrate the building steps. On the other hand, it reveals the flaws..." This is a wonderful statement! Taking multiple photos of each and every step of a project build is important to the builder....we need to see mistakes and flaws! We wish to make a decent and almost exact replica, when the near views are nice....the model can be a sensation! Only recently have I noticed, with painted parts, the view is better when further away! METAL....makes the best models look real! Mike..

Very nice work on the custom built pipes! Mike..

Francis, a wonderful view. I like the rounded-off edges on the small metal parts, even seen on the pedal assembly. Compliments. Your photography in close up view is superb, to realize these parts are so minuscule and so realistic, is actually quite a sensation. We all love your updates, personally I find myself seeking to better my own methods, truly your entries are an inspiration. Mike..

What a wonderful creation here! Machining skills, wonderful detailing....and yet the gall to paint an all aluminum motor block and oil pan! I love it! Excellent. Mike..

@CT, many thanks. I agree with the very decent description of "slightly worn" warrior race car. I wanted the "dirty" look, learned a lot about the metalizer paints along the way. For chrome though, Alclad is still the king! For the other FED being built alongside this one, White Aluminum was sprayed directly onto the Revell kit chrome....wow, I like it! Looks like plain tin, I'll use it. @Marcos, I suspected it might be a decent motor and am pleased with the results. @Francis, Yes, CT has a talent for eloquent description and I agree the look is plausible. This was not meant to be a showboat, but one as a usual racer from 1965. No chrome except the front wire wheels. I'm pleased as well with the brass chassis. It's painted here with AK Extreme Metal "Gold". No base, just directly onto the clean brass rails. Different, but I like the look. UPDATE: Here the finished motor; Meantime, through intensive manipulation, the zoomie pipes will be re-painted. Perhaps even white this time.... Mike.. EDIT: Yesterday I decided to change the zoomie paint scheme, so the black was washed off (cotton swab with lacquer thinner) and some good old fashioned white satin from a tin was brushed on....I like! Mike..

Man, I look at these photos and just do not understand how you build this...I know z-e-r-o about the class, but am very impressed with that interior and motor...mercy. That's more bars than I could handle. Great scratchbuilding. Mike..

Great looking car! Looks like you hit it, paint and the overall. This could almost be classified as a "saved model", as the kit is wonderfully terrible. Fitment and flash were a category for themselves! You got it right, such an iconic car, well done. Mike..

Oh my! Francis, the parts you make probably fit better than those you can buy in real scale! Anodized.....they even look better. Mercy....this is fun to view! Mike..

@CT...many thanks for the Alclad, Airframe Aluminium recommendation. Also the tips for chrome have shown success! Just yesterday you wrote about "touching" the paint.....well, I had the valve covers painted with "Airframe Aluminum" (excellent shade !) and after a lot of manipulation they of course let the black base shine through. BUT, this let the covers achieve a great look, not as shiny. Exactly as you mention. Just today a small and short spray was added overall using the new AK paint (Metallic Smoke) ....HA! I do believe the look is what I was looking to achieve. New photos and post added after this reply. @Francis, meantime I'm quite enthused about the new paints and the mixed applications. The goal was a believable non-chrome motor with a possible metal looking finish. Today a step closer.....look below. UPDATE: Valve covers added with preparations for the plugs and wires. Also, just a small mockup to have a look. I feel this car is getting an attitude! Mike..

@Marcos, yes we meet here too. We're doing it, making progress and taking chances that create success. I really like the path you've chosen with chassis plans and the adaptation....the only way for some great scratch building results! @Tim, thanks for dropping by, I'm enthused about the new paints. Mixable, to get other shades, plus more durable (touching) than Alclad. Still, be careful though, surgical rubber gloves help a lot when parts need intense attention. Mike..

UPDATE; Now with the blower hat and fuel lines along with a barrel valve. Throttle linkage right side is meantime finished....on to the fuel pump and lines to the barrel valve. Valve covers and plug wires will be last thing to do here. Mike..

Marcos, the beginnings you've chosen is THE only way to build scratch built models. Printed out paper to keep things square is cheap, and always the easiest method forward. Compliments. I like your build style! Mike..

Believable! I like the real steel looking can too. This unit will be a hit when installed. Well done. Mike..

UPDATE: Blower hardware and magneto. New cap for the magneto and a few changes there, still needs black paint. Water spouts added to the heads and blower is bolted down and ready for the injector hat, fuel lines and barrel valve setup. Irritating still, the rough surface of the resin motor, I should've tried polishing before paint....valve covers are not nice either, seems as if the "Donovan" covers have the street Hemi crinkle look. Mike..

Francis, wonderful progress. None of us understand how you make these panels and parts, but surely an incentive for each of us to do something better with our model projects. How does the Hemi fit with headers? Can we soon have a view of a mock up situation? I'm also interested in seeing how you construct the radiator. With cores? Mike..

Ian, "serious mockup"....lets me easily smile. The build sometimes becomes a drag, never ending....Man, something has to move here! I get it, enjoy that things look excellent after all of the work and the parts fit! I really like this project, certainly unique...a great thing! Do you have a color in mind for the chassis? Mike..