AmericanMuscleFan

Thanks Scott, I appreciate your colorful commentary on my work, let's say that the subject interests me a lot, it motivates me to give that little extra touch, I'm hard to please... 😉 Francis

It's pretty rare that someone would remove details from parts in a kit, but I understand your goal to get the most realistic representation of the real truck, this matches everything you've made so far, it all makes sense and it gives us a good show! 😊

Great work Nicolas, it's always intimidating opening the doors and trunk panel the first time, but it helps you appreciate all the great details in a build that would be hard to see otherwise. It feels like a Street Outlaws workshop, the color is great by the way! 👍

Unlike Brian, I know exactly how much time and effort went into making these little gems of precision! What is certain is that you don't need to be a machinist to admire the result of the passion of the hand that made them! Let the show go on! 👌

You're funny Will, actually I can't say until the oil pan is made! 😁 Francis

Hi Rich, sorry for the delay, your message arrived between my replies and I hadn't noticed! Yes, the plan is to bolt (with simulated bolts) the headers onto the heads, I plan to make brass flanges but I have a lot of things to do before I get there. Good weather is coming my way and it will probably be next fall/winter, I don't have any free time to work on my models during the summer. If I get a chance, I'll try to make the valve covers, I ordered some very small end mills to try to create the details that I couldn't do with what I had. Francis

Thanks Pierre, I think you're retired, aren't you? I imagine holidays must taste different when you're at that stage of life, but a holiday is a holiday, isn't it? I find myself surprised to be providing updates at this time of year, but as you mentioned, the many rainy and cold days of May allowed me to do so. Perhaps one more update before I take a vacation from my project, I am not yet retired, but every day available to advance the project will be wisely used, be sure of that. Passe un bon été mon ami ! Francis Thanks Robert, It's all about preparation and organization to get good results, it also takes a lot of tools of different sizes. It seems I never have what I need and despite having a large stock, I always find myself buying more to create the desired detail. The advantage is that by working slowly so as not to break them, the cutting tools remain sharp for a long time when machining aluminum or brass. By the way, it's been a few weeks since I've seen an update on your Scorpion Gasser, you're off to a good start with your aluminum engine, don't give up! Francis

Thanks Charlie, I'm learning myself as I go, I'm kind of in familiar territory but I'm trying to improve the recipe as much as possible from my previous efforts, I must admit I'm proud of the result so far. Sure, 1/25 scale requires less material for machining parts but it also requires super small and super fragile tools, it seems like I never have the tools small enough to do everything I want or would have the ambition to try to do... 😔 Francis

Thanks Ian, I've been wanting to reproduce these heads for a long time but good visual references are rather rare. There are small details missing (like DODGE and B1 between the exhausts) but I don't have end mills small enough to even think about trying, there are limits to madness! 🙄 Francis

Rest assured that I am really interested in seeing this complex piece come to fruition, it's the kind of detail I like the most and you excel at it! As I can see, there is not one element that will be forgotten, I really like it!

Great work Steve, the separate floor for the box is a great idea to show off the suspension details, it's the kind of thing you see at modified car shows like the SEMA show!

If that's not passion for a particular subject, I don't know what else you call it!!! How many kits or parts from other kits have you used so far (besides all your scratch building) to get to this point? Maybe the answer is simply in the title of your thread? I take my hat off to you sir, you know your stuff! 👍

Thank you Tim, I appreciate your kind comments on my machining techniques and your approval on my choice, I knew you would like them because I know that unusual subjects are what interests you the most, we clearly agree on this point among others! Thank you for taking the time to add the link, it is absolutely relevant and constitutes a good and rare source of information on these heads, it is also one of the resources that I had found on the net to launch my project. I also found some ads with photos and discussions on forums to guide me. If the weather permits, valve covers will be my next project (as you subtly suggested 😁), it's Mother Nature who will decide, but I know that my fellow citizens are starting to look forward to summer settling in for good, summers are short north of the border and the months fly by like weeks! Francis

Thanks Brian, rest assured that you are a good example to follow when it comes to providing high quality updates, your thread is a must for me, you bring a lot of motivation and wonder to all those (like me) who visit your current project. Francis

The rest of the photos. By the way, the spark plugs are from RB Motion, I had them for years and hadn't had the chance to use them, you wouldn't have seen them on a HEMI. 🙄

Hello everyone, I don't know if this is good news or bad news, but the cold, rainy days we've had in abundance here in May in my area have extended my modeling season somewhat. The planned build sequence for the engine was cylinder heads, so I started my milling machine and sent some aluminum shavings flying. Based on the very limited information and photos available or at least what I found, I tried to make the best possible representation of the famous B1 heads, the ones the Dodge Boys used in the early 90s in Pro Stock. There seems to be a bit of mystery behind the history of these heads but I have read that the original part number is P4529832TS, but fear not, I do not have tools small enough to engrave the serial number. 😂 Why did I choose to build an engine like this? Because it was a beautiful era that ended for NHRA events in Canada, more specifically at Sanair where I used to go with my friends for a great weekend of drag racing. It was also at this time that the Dodge Boys (Darell Alderman and Scott Geoffrion) competed with these heads on their big block and the Dodge Boys were on site at the time. Enough story, I'll show you the results of my work, I think these are the most detailed heads I've ever made, judge for yourself but I must admit I'm pretty satisfied! There are several photos, I put on two separate posts. Francis The target.

I don't have enough free time to keep up with your impressive progress Brian! What is constant is your precision and your talent, I am always amazed by the quality of your work, it is great art! 👌

This is absolutely spectacular Charlie, it's simply in a class of its own! 👌

You have good sources Tim, it's 7 degrees here this morning with a rather cold rain!😱 I'll be able to continue working on the Demon a little longer, the promised photos of the engine heads are on their way! Francis

Another gem to put in the box while waiting for the final assembly, it's going to be epic! 😊

Thanks Anton and Trevor, I'm trying to improve as much as possible on my previous efforts to create more detailed and realistic parts as possible with the tools I have. On the other hand, I am still buying new, smaller tools (end mills) to be able to make the smallest details that I can't do with my current arsenal. My build season has now entered slow mode (as if it wasn't always like that... 🙄) but due to the bad weather we've had since the beginning of May, I managed to find some time to machine the engine heads, I'll try to post the pictures in the next few days. Come back whenever you want. Francis

It's different seeing you working with styrene Charlie, your tools will stay sharper longer! 😁 The carburetor is off to a good start, it's promising! 👍

Nice job Ian, the aluminum skirts are superb, in addition, the thickness of the material is a plus! 👍

"Put your work back on the loom a hundred times", the motto for perfectionists like you Tim, on the other hand you mostly succeed the first time! Superb work, the scars are not visible if there are any, precision surgery! 😉

Another great update Brian, no matter what part it is, it's all done with a lot of dedication and professionalism, it seems like you make a living doing this. 👌 I'm not sure it would pay well though! 😁