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Ian McLaren

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Everything posted by Ian McLaren

  1. Ian McLaren
    Sometimes you just wander off into the wilderness with a project concept, this is going to be one of those times. I have normally built representative models of real cars over the part few years. This one most certainly is not one of those. To paraphrase Straightliner59's tag line This is a replica of an imaginary car. Sorry Daniel, I just couldn't resist. LOL
  2. Ian McLaren
    Thanks Bob, I'm kind of excited about this one. I haven't modeled a Hadman chassis before so there is going to be a lot of research and drawing involved in its developement
  3. Ian McLaren
    Thanks Daniel, I'm doing this one at the same time as my Vega project, which I will post in the next couple of days.
  4. Ian McLaren
    Hi Brian, I really appreciate your kind words and also your offer. That being said I live in Canada and freight on the T-bird would be in the 40 to 60 dollar range, and as I said I'm well down the road with the printed body already. It's a great kit and an excellent starting point for a S/G or S/C roadster project and I'm sure someone you know in your area could benifit from the kit. I'm jumping ahead a bit showing this to you but here's were it stands today after about two weeks of cutting fitting and sanding, with a very rough read wing/ spoiler assy made out of cardboard trying to refine the size and shape of it. Please keep following as I go over the steps needed to get to this point in the project.
  5. Ian McLaren
    I'm a ways down the road on this one as I didn't know if I could pull it off initally. There is no 55 T-Bird 1/16th kit and I didn't want to buy Revell 1957 T-bird kit just to throw 80% of it in the parts box. Also no 1955 T-Bird STL files werer found, but I did find a reasonable 57 factory stock style file that could be modified but it was going to be a huge undertaking. To turn a factory stock file into funnycar proportions I had to save three versions of the file changing only the length, once the width and height were adjusted. I ended up with a 20% shorter, 10% longer and 30% longer files. The files were then sliced and the required parts saved, body behind the roof at -20%, roof rear window and windshield section at 10% longer, and front end from in front of the windshield at 30% longer. The challange was to print and convert the nose to a 55 from a 57 which required changing everything but the headlamps and hood line. This took the better part of three days but I do have a creditable result so now the project can advance. The real car was driven by one of the daughters (Courtney Mageau) of a friend of mine and was run out of Edmonton Alberta. Initally Rodek powered it was up graded to a KB Hemi with a 14-71 to bring the performance up to standard. This is the version I'm modeling. If you are going to follow along on this adventure please feel free to ask questions or leave comments, they will be replied to.
  6. Ian McLaren
    No excuse Francis, they are suppost to idle like a coffee can full of rocks😎
  7. Ian McLaren
    Tim, first off I hope things are going well with your arm. Your Lenco absolutely has blown me away, having R&R'd, stripped down and generally thrown around the real item, and built what I thought at the time was a fairly good 1/16th scale version, I feel justified in commenting on your final product. I have a 30 inch monitor in my model room and really looked at your transmission. I have said in the past that such and such part was virtually indistinguishable from the real thing, in the case of of this item I can't say that. I see nothing at all that would tell me that this is not the real part, not the surface finish, fasteners or linkages. So I am trusting you that this is not in fact a real transmission. Simply amazing work Tim!
  8. Ian McLaren
    Just simply a masterpiece model!!
  9. Ian McLaren
    The fuel tank is a seemingly simple part but as usual you manage to bring it to another level. Amazingly realistic looking, to rephrase an old saying, nothing looks plastic like plastic, your material choice was right on.
  10. Ian McLaren
    Thank you so much Dave, I really like being a part of the forum due to the camaraderie and inspiration here. Just being here and looking at other peoples projects has made me a better modeler.
  11. Ian McLaren
    Thanks Ian, I think he might have but I enjoyed building it regardless
  12. Ian McLaren
    Thank you so much Tim, it means a lot as you are one of the builders on this site I look to for inspiration.
  13. Ian McLaren
    Thanks Mike for following along on the marithon build, I appreciate your intrest!
  14. Ian McLaren
    Thankyou Jim i'm glad you liked it.
  15. Ian McLaren
    A masterfull model my friend, the amount of detail involved is staggering, the fit and finish is spot on. Quite a journey for what started out as a glorified curbside model. To quote Independance Day " Not bad, - Not to bad at all!
  16. Ian McLaren
    Now that I am at loose ends (modeling at least) I got a chance to go back and review your progress made to this point. I was struck by the notion that if the photos had the rulers,coins and fingers removed there would be no way to determine the scale of the subjet. 1:1, 1/12, 1/16th or 1/25. I wager most people would pick one of the three larger scales if asked, and 1:1 would likely be the goto guess on a lot of the photos. I was also struck by the diversity of your talents (again) it maters not, be it sheet metal,mechanical components, or trim pieces being replicated, the final result is always exceptional. Then the materials used in the construction aluminum, brass, plastic and others are all crafted into the proper form with the same precision. Your attention to scale fidelity is among the best I have seen. I guess what I am saying is that on a day to day basis your individual parts are impressive, but when taken as a whole the project rises to another level entirely. It is a priviledge to watch and learn from you.
  17. Ian McLaren
    Very cool, and as an aside the transmission is looking spot on, fantastic job!
  18. Ian McLaren
    Francis you leave me lost for words. I have never and most likely will never again receive a reaction to one my projects that has touchsd me in this way. Thank you my friend!
  19. Ian McLaren
    Thank you very much Daniel, yes there were some interesting moments, but as you know they are part of the landscape when you model off the beatin path and scratch build. However at the end of the process there is a certain sense of accomplishment when combined with comments like yours tends to make the journey worthwhile.
  20. Ian McLaren
    I finally reached the light a the end of the tunnel on the first day of spring and can call the Bubble Up Trans Am funnycar complete. Another one in the series of Alberta based cars that I have modeled. I've been wanting to build this car since way back in the 80s, but other than gathering information and some parts it wasn't untill early 2024 that construction actually started. The break through came when Nick Bradshaw from Flashpoint resins contacted me and said he had a 77-78 TransAm body in 1/16th. It was a newer style body but the basic shape was there and a deal was struck. The body arrived and I was please with the quality and the modifcations began.The big challenge was the Al Swindahl chassis as it was a very limited run series as Al was primarily a Top Fuel chassis builder. The chassis to my knowledge has ever been modeled and certainly was never released as part of a kit. It would have never been built if not for the help of numerous people most notably Bryan Hodges (RIP) and everyone that answered my requests for help with information and or photos. The other break through came with the decals, To help create the graphics on the particular car I enlisted the help of Chuck Boerner at Chucks Decals and again this project could not have been done other wise. The hood bird had to created from scratch and that was handled by David Farrin from design to coloration, a huge thanks to both of you for your efforts Shown are the results as well as some of process that was followed. The photos do have anotations where required. Thanks for looking and comments and questions are encouraged
  21. Ian McLaren
    Closing up the shop for the night, about an hours work tomorrow morning to get ready for the photo shoot. Ready to rock and roll. Its been a long time coming!
  22. Ian McLaren
    First coat of primer and still a lot of body work to do, but the attitude is starting to show through
  23. Ian McLaren
    With the Pony Express pinto completed and the BubbleUp Trans Am waiting for just the clear to cure and be polished, I drug the R-M Pro Stock Camaro out and did some work on it. Primarily I cut the front clip of and cleaned up the resulting gaps. Right now it looks pretty grim with all of the repairs to the body contours that were necessary showing but it will be back in white primer shortly. I'll be starting on the rear floor pan and frame members next
  24. Ian McLaren
    Simply amazing Tim, almost indistinguishable from the real unit.
  25. Ian McLaren
    Thank you very much Francis it means a lot. Plus there was a personal factor with this car, having worked with it for over two years and then Norm passing this last spring I wanted to get it right.
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