AmericanMuscleFan

Superb work Claude, once again but I'm not really surprised, your imagination and your ability to bring them to fruition have been demonstrated for a long time. Of course, I'm a little biased, but this one could be a serious SEMA show winning contender. ? The execution is flawless as usual and I notice the skid plate under the car, a legacy of your love for salt flat cars if I may say so. ?

Don't know why but I love your new project Pat! ?

Great project Ace, sad to know that something is stopping you from moving forward?

Thanks Scott, I would have thought you would be "blown away" at how slow I am... ? I would love to have more time at the bench and follow the cadence of ideas that loop in my head. I have the impression that when I get there, my brain will be lazier... ? I'll come back to you with my latest madness at the start of the week, I hope to have a productive day, it's snowing around here, heavy spring snow... in winter! By the way, I love your Motown Missile, they're my favorite drag racing team, I'm a little biased... ? Francis

Good job Robert, great idea for the hood scoop, it's certainly the best way to have it perfectly aligned with the carburetors! ?

Thanks Tin, I'm surprised myself, I made the last one using a completely different technique. The important thing is to achieve your goals as they say! ? Francis

I am limited by the size of my end mills... ? The trans will surely squeal, I don't have the appropriate grade of oil for the 1/25 scale... ?

Looking at your work on the grille, I think you don't need anyone's help my friend (I love this kind of improvement by the way). These old Johan bodies are so beautifully molded and the sharpness of the body lines and details are unmatched today it seems like a lost art. You have a busy workspace but I love your board with important information about your project, my workspace is pitiful in comparison! Glad to see you back, I hope I can finish a project in less than 3 years one of these days. ?

Breathtaking or mind-boggling, I don't know which of these words is more appropriate so I choose both!!! ? I was just wondering where you source your white metal, there aren't many modelers who use it but you have mastered an art that is not common to everyone or anyone I should say!

Thanks Randy, what surprises me the most is that you can do better with two hands and manual tools. This is proof that tools do not replace talent and you have no shortage of it, I am in awe of your prowess my friend! Francis

Thanks Daniel, I love the four-jaw chuck because it holds the workpiece with more force, the only negative side is that it cannot grip parts as small as the three-jaw chuck. Francis

Stop giving me ideas Rich, I'll never finish it! ? Francis

Thanks Scott, I'm still waiting for the tapping and die tool kit but the elves who make them are on strike at the moment. ? Wait until you see the differential yoke I started working on, I'm starting to find my tools unnecessarily big for these things. ? Francis

I am with you Charlie, sad that there is only one in a normal car! ? Your work is so inspiring my friend! ?

Hello everyone, Sorry for the delay, I'm a bit stuck on time this week as I work nights but I wanted to post my recent progress before heading back to the factory. I have few comments to make, I think I'm not fully awake yet and I'm having a little difficulty finding my words... ? In any case, photos are worth a thousand words and feel free to ask questions if you want explanations on anything. See you soon with other machined parts. Francis Dana 60 cover at the very beginning of machining. I moved on to a smaller end mill to gradually add more detail. Slow progress is essential to avoid making mistakes and having to start again. Almost complete, the simulation of the embossings between the holes for the mounting bolts was done using a 0.020" end mill. The cover is now separated from the rod. Thanks to Tim (Codi) for the inspiration (you can never have too much!) to add these little extra details. The fit is very good. I will drill holes later on the Dana for the small brass bolts.

At my current pace the parts would cost as much as the real ones, my slowness would probably earn me 10 cents an hour... ?

Thanks for the kind comments Ian, it's just the result of an endless amount of little cuts, rotations and angle changes with a good dose of filing and sanding! You'll laugh, I'm happy with the result but I think the next one I'll make will be in styrene because I think I could do better with more details, we'll see then... I've made further progress and will post the photos soon. Francis

WOW !!!!!!!! Fantastic job Scott, the paint job is absolutely superb. The Clutchflite would have been an incredible detail, but I understand your feeling about all the resources that would have been required to make one. Sometimes you have to make choices and that doesn't take away from the quality of your project. ?

Thanks Randy, the word artist is certainly exaggerated and coming from a master like you it is received with great humility. I still have a lot of work to do to approach the quality level of your talent! Francis Thanks Tim, as I mentioned on your Maverick thread, I'm so happy to see you back, your prowess has been a huge inspiration to me since I joined the forum a few years ago. Documenting and explaining how the pieces are made takes a lot of time, but I think it's my way of showing what you can achieve when you believe in it. Trying to improve the flaws of the original kits is more difficult because there are many great experts on the forum, there is little or no margin for error. With your great talent, I have no worries that everything will be done to the highest standards! Francis Thank you for your open-mindedness Ace, I always think that regardless of the brand I would have the same interest in it, I'm just more in my comfort zone with Mopars. When you spend so many hours on a project, you have to choose the right one because it stays on your workspace for a long time and the motivation has to follow to the finish line. Maybe one day I will change my approach and do less detail in order to make all the models I like and there are Fords in this long list! ? Francis

It's nothing but styrene, aluminum and brass Rich, the marks of appreciation and camaraderie are priceless though! Francis

I'm going to go see the final photos, you did a fantastic job Terry! ?

I'm happy and excited to see you back in the saddle Tim, I was starting to miss your prowess and I'm certainly not the only one! ?

Hello everyone, Jimmy: I hope your expectations will be fulfilled. ? I made further progress on the Dana 60 last weekend and I'm showing you tonight what it looks like now. I'll probably have some minor tweaks to do but it's mainly done and I think it's my best one so far, in any case the measurements are according to the information I found on the subject. During machining I had the idea of simulating the thread of the pinion using a small brass bolt and I think it will make a great detail even if it will be barely visible but I think that you are starting to know me... ? Anyway, here are the new photos and let me know what you think if you feel like it. See you next week, Francis This is the cylindrical shape where the pinion is housed, I have made the opening for the yoke (to be made later). I used a small brass bolt to simulate the threaded end of the pinion, I will cut the screw to the desired length when the yoke is machined. I turned two pieces of aluminum to simulate the wider part where the axles are inserted and made the fins using an aluminum plate. The pieces are just put in place, nothing is definitively assembled. View from another angle.

Thanks Rich, everyone sees art in a different way, I just see it as DIY! ? Thanks Will ! Thanks Charles, I have to use it, it was so hard to find! ? Thanks Ian! I really liked your last project and I can't wait to follow your next opus. Thanks Scott, I thought this swear word was spelled with an "s"... ? Thanks Terry, I really like your 67 Camaro and you have done an incredible job in such a short time, something I could never accomplish! Thank you all for your words of encouragement, I hope to finish the Dana this week as the base part is quite advanced, I will update the thread if so. Francis

Hello everyone, Another small update. Once the wheel flanges and brake discs were completed, I was able to determine the exact width of the tube that will form the differential. I decided to use brass because many elements will be welded to the tube, it will be stronger than epoxy glue to assemble aluminum parts if I had used this material. I have made a few easy parts but the Dana 60 will be a different story, this will be one of the most difficult parts to make as it contains many angles, radii and ribs. I have already made one in the past, one for the GTX and the D100 among others but I wanted to have something more precise, I always remained hungry so I did some research and I finally found relevant technical information. I haven't finished the Dana yet but I'll show you what I've done so far. There will be a lot of parts to make so I think I will be working on the back of the car for several weeks... ? Francis One of the housing ends in the rotary table, I used brass for these parts as they will be welded to the differential tube. They fit perfectly on the tube, the holes will be used to bolt the brake caliper bracket (to be made later). Rear End Axle Spring Perches in the rotary table. I drilled a hole in the middle for the center pin. They are finished, they are a little thicker than I wanted but I need enough surface area to have a solid weld. The real work begins, the Dana 60, here are the first cuts. I determined the exact width and the hole for the tube was drilled. The rough shape is done. I machined the angles on the back that will be used for the rear cover seat. More cuts are made, it's a long process of endless rotation in all directions. It looks strange at the moment but I'm well on my way, with some more finishing cuts and sanding it should do the trick. The rest of the machining will resume next week!