AmericanMuscleFan

Thanks Jim! Details, we can always add more but I will save some imagination for my next project ! ?

Thanks again Ian ! I must say that I am quite happy with the final product. There are some things I would do differently today, but I'm going to leave it as is, I see it as room for improvement on my next adventure because as they say, there is always room for improvement! ? Francis

Thanks Ian ! You have followed and encouraged me since my first days on the forum, your comments are very appreciated, I will continue to follow your good work, you are a talented modeler my friend! ? Francis

This is really cool! Very good start, a great start like the real truck can do on the track or the street !!!?

Hello Everyone! Done, Terminé, Completado, Abgeschlossen !!! It's over guys, after 4 years on my bench, I can now say that this adventure is over. For all of you who have followed this build from the beginning, I cannot express how grateful and honoured I am to have received your feedback and support. Since the beginning of this long project, I have met an incredible number of passionate people here, learned many new techniques and found an inexhaustible source of advice from all the talented modellers on this forum. I can only wish long life to this forum and this wonderful hobby ! With this build, my first goal was to reproduce in styrene the body and the interior as close as possible to the original based on pictures and references found on the internet. The mechanics and chassis components are pure fantasy and some technical aspects have been addressed and modified with the help of comments from friends more knowledgeable than me on the subject. This unlikely truck is a mix of everything I love, that sixties body style, a big healthy engine, a flashy color and wide tires. The real connoisseurs will probably find a lot of technical flaws, but it's just a hobby that allows me to satisfy my search for precision and to make my brain work during my too short moments of free time, obligations and responsibilities of life come first ! Now it's time to clean my bench and think about my next project. It will be strange for me to not see this thing on my workspace anymore but it's high time to move on. This is a good time to get it over with as summer is not my most productive season with all the maintenance work that the summer season brings, it will give me time to find motivation and choose the next subject as they are rather long on my workspace. For those who are interested, I have created a thread in "Under Glass" (Model Trucks: Pickups, Vans, SUV’s, Light Commercial) where you will find the majority of the final photos. Some of them are a little blurry, I'm obviously more comfortable behind the milling machine than with the camera, I'll try to take a few more outdoor pics when time permits. Thanks, Francis

Hello Everyone! Done, Terminé, Completado, Abgeschlossen !!! It's over guys, after 4 years on my bench, I can now say that this adventure is over. For all of you who have followed this build from the beginning, I cannot express how grateful and honored I am to have received your feedback and support. Since the beginning of this long project, I have met an incredible number of passionate people here, learned many new techniques and found an inexhaustible source of advice from all the talented modellers on this forum. I can only wish long life to this forum and this wonderful hobby ! With this build, my first goal was to reproduce in Styrene the body and the interior as close as possible to the original based on pictures and references found on the internet. The mechanics and chassis components are pure fantasy and some technical aspects have been addressed and modified with the help of comments from friends more knowledgeable than me on the subject. This unlikely truck is a mix of everything I love, that sixties body style, a big healthy engine, a flashy color and wide tires. The real connoisseurs will probably find a lot of technical flaws, but it's just a hobby that allows me to satisfy my search for precision and to make my brain work during my too short moments of free time, obligations and responsibilities of life come first ! Now it's time to clean my bench and think about my next project. It will be strange for me to not see this thing on my workspace anymore but it's high time to move on. This is a good time to get it over with as summer is not my most productive season with all the maintenance work that the summer season brings, it will give me time to find motivation and choose the next subject as they are rather long on my workspace. Thanks, Francis For anyone who is not familiar with this project and would be curious to know more about the construction steps, you can find the WIP thread here :

Thanks Ian! In fact, it's just a matter of choice or having too many choices because there are so many subjects I'm passionate about. I have the basic kits for at least a dozen possible subjects but I have to choose wisely because they stay on my workspace for a long time. When you start integrating and making your own parts it becomes difficult to make less, it becomes like a vicious circle! I go back to work tomorrow morning but I hope to upload the last pictures next weekend. Francis

Great job on the remote oil filter block Ian, did you fabricate the Mallory coil? Don't worry about your missing stuff, everything will magically reappear without warning. The fun of moving!

I lend myself to the game, maybe if you have to wear a surgical mask so you don't suck it in when you look at it, it might be considered too small? Technology is advancing fast, in a year or two they'll make an improved version with the spark plug wires if not an all electric version... ?

Thanks Tim, actually they are now on the truck and I took pictures of the final build, I'll have to reduce the resolution of these before uploading them to the forum. It's coming soon. Thanks Dave, precision is something you know very well. I know you've put your Camaro on hold, a good wine needs time to mature, a "grand cru" waiting to be tasted! Thanks for your continuous support Trevor, it's coming soon to a forum near you! ? Thanks Ian ! Usually I prefer not to do anything again but sometimes it's for a good cause. You have to strike while the iron is hot, once the project is done, I won't look back and move on to the next topic to prove to myself that I can still do something else! ? Thank you all and happy Father's Day, Francis

Fantastic Tim, your progress on the manifold is amazing and well done. I love the technique you used, I would never have thought of taking this path but the goal is the end result which is obviously successful ! Thanks for sharing, I love it !!! ?

Congratulations Bella! Young blood is rare in this hobby and girls even more so, it's refreshing to see a smiling proud face with renewed motivation to pursue this fantastic hobby! ?

This is a great topic you started Tim, but I think it will never find the answer you are looking for ! As for me, I only build 1/25 scale models because that is the scale of my youth which is leaving me a little more each day... I left the hobby at the beginning of my youth to spend time on my real cars and drink some cold beers with my buddies during the hot summer days. One day, in my early forties, I was intrigued by an ad on the bulletin board of a shopping center near my home that mentioned a model car show. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, I went there with no real expectations but found the interest that led me back to this wonderful hobby. On the table was a model built by Del Paone and the detail it contained just hooked me, I had never seen anything with so much detail for a 1/25 scale model. Upon my return home, I did some research on the internet to realize the incredible amount of product detail available for the hobby of my youth, it had changed greatly. I started to buy all the photo etch kits and detailing products available only to realize one day that it was no longer satisfactory. In fact, it satisfied for a while my desire to build more detailed subjects but I was still hungry. Then I read an article where Mr. Augie Hiscano was using a small lathe to machine his own custom parts, a new spark, an answer to my questions. The beauty of this hobby is that everyone finds satisfaction in it in their own way, for me, it is a rare subject or not covered by the industry with details that bring discussions and comments from those who take the time to stop and look at them. I am my own most ruthless judge and the pleasure of meeting people who appreciate what I do is a bonus, the trophies are nice to receive but the people you connect with are far more satisfying. As a colleague mentioned earlier in this thread, I build for myself and I choose the subjects that interest me As far as scale goes, I am able to appreciate these no matter the scale, brand or era, it's the quality of execution that impresses me the most when it's handmade and the best wins! By the way, thanks Bob (bobthehobbyguy) maybe you like my build but there are better than me on the forum no matter the scale! ? Happy Father's Day for those who are. ?

The great painters use the canvas to express their creativity and genius, you chose a beautiful first generation Mercury Cougar to express yours. That's what I call a genius idea because the canvas is superb which is not a disadvantage. All the ingredients for a finished product that will surely please all the amateurs and I am one of them! Now I don't know where to follow your creations my friend, you are everywhere... I guess genius is not limited by the subject ! ? Francis

Thanks Steve ! When I started using a dime as a reference for size, I chose an American coin because I thought it would be more easily recognized (in size) than the Canadian version. I hope I didn't shock my Canadian colleagues by making this choice, our little dime with the Bluenose on the front is also very nice. Maybe it's time to place my subjects between the two versions? ???? For the pictures, I will do my best but I am better behind the milling machine than the camera! ? Francis

Thanks Russell ! This only happens with American currency, a Canadian dime would have made my handles look out of scale... ?

Thanks Anton ! You have exactly captured my intentions, besides loving this shade of green, I wanted a color that would not hide too much of the details that I took so long to make. A little bonus, the color looks rather "racing" and does not distort the truck too much because many were green when they left the factory. Let's say that the HEMI was not an option but that's another story... ? Francis

Hello everyone, I usually do what I say, but this time I decided to break my word... After looking over and over again at the door handles I made a few months ago, I thought it was necessary to make new ones. They are another very distinctive part of the D100 pickup and my first pair were just too short and I wasn't happy with how they looked on the truck. These are the last parts made (redone...) for this build and I should finish the assembly in the next few days. I'll take several photos of the final product and post them as soon as the build crosses the finish line. Only one photo today but be patient (you've already been a lot) I promise to offer you many more for the grand finale! ? Francis The revised door handles, the new ones are more representative of the original ones in my opinion, what do you think?

A pure pleasure to look at, your attention to detail and cleanliness of assembly are the mark of a very talented model car builder. Truly inspiring !!!?

Fortunately, styrene exists to express the excesses of your limitless imagination. You're obviously not the type of guy to throw away an old model that's collecting dust, that gives you the honorable title of Styrene's savior of the year! This unusual vehicle may be street legal south of the border but it would not pass the test in Quebec. Luckily, styrene and Claude are there to remedy this situation. ? Bravo my friend, nothing can surprise me anymore from you but you may have something else up your sleeve so I'm going to mentally prepare myself for your next opus (don't see any pressure here...). ? From an anonymous admirer. ?

All this is simply in a class of its own, all the talent and mental investment to create this kind of masterpiece is out of this world. It's pure pleasure for the eyes and it makes you dream! ? Thank you for sharing your vision with us Randy! ?

Piece of Art !!! Can't wait to see the outdoor pics. A black diamond in the sunlight. ?

Thanks Randy ! Speaking of details, I work hard to improve with each project by taking inspiration from the greats of the hobby like you but I doubt anyone will ever be able to match your talent. Thank you for your visit and encouragement, it is much appreciated! ? Francis Thanks John ! I'm really glad to see you back, we can never have too much inspiration and your great builds only add to it. There's no harm in taking inspiration from the best! ? Francis Thanks Ian ! I must say I feel a little intimidated to get this kind of superlative considering the quality of the modelers on this forum (and you are one of them). No matter how much time and effort you put in, there will always be someone who does it better and you have to know when to stop. Even the most beautiful piece that we make could be improved by looking at it more closely. My truck will be finished soon and I hope to have learned from my mistakes to help me do better next time! I am very happy to have met passionate people like you on this forum, beyond the hobby, respect and friendship remains the best gift! ? Francis

Is it a car? Is it a truck? I know what it is, it's a pure beauty, a design that not even the GM designer thought of creating. Your decor and the perfect lighting only bring out its beauty! As my friend Claude always says: Fun with Styrene. Question: Did you use a sheet of sandpaper to simulate the asphalt, it's a great effect !

Thanks Ron ! I have a modest collection of about 100 vintage kits, so it would take me 400 years to build them at this rate. Hopefully, science will make giant steps forward so that I can build them all... Maybe it would be better for me to make some choices... ? Thanks Andrew ! I must be one of the rare bird on the planet without cell phone... maybe I invested too much in my equipment and not seeing the time, it must be time to change my rotary dial phone for a Touch-tone version. ? For animation, I must have a Super 8 projector in the attic. ?️ You just saved me a week of work ! ? Thanks Dennis !