AmericanMuscleFan

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 !

It's good to know that you are finally settled in your new home Ian. One thing at a time, the time available for the hobby will come back, sometimes choices have to be made, health and home come first.

Nice work Roger ! I'm glad to see this little drag car back on the bench, I love these too often overlooked car projects like the AMC Hornet. I have a pristine white '74 promo version that I've always wanted to turn into Wally Booth's Pro Stock, but I have too many projects in mind and not enough time to do them. ?

There is nothing like a beautiful background to bring out the beauty and realism of a beautifully built model ! Did you take the pictures outside, the lighting is perfect? ?

Thanks Ron !

Daniel, I just checked the pictures of your frame and it looks great. Have you ever tried to build one in brass? I know it's more difficult but with your talent I think you have what it takes. Don't see any pressure there, I'm just curious. ?

Thanks Dave ! Your "WOW" means a lot to me ! Thanks Steve! Yes, I realize that now that the project is coming to an end, but I must admit that I wondered several times what I had gotten myself into... On the other hand, the construction was stretched over 4 years, when I joined the forum, it was already 2 years that I had started the project. As for the number of parts, it would be possible to make a count but I did not launch out in this adventure... If I remember well, the carburetor alone contains more than 50 parts, that gives you an idea. ? Thanks Daniel ! I first did a simulation with the grille and bumper in bare white plastic before painting in aluminum color. I thought it was a bit dull and the look was too "farm truck" even if it's precisely this type of truck that inspired me... ? Thanks Scott ! Love it or hate it, that's the kind of reaction this model of truck usually generates in people. I'm one of those who likes it a lot, so I dare to assume that you're more on the same side as me! ? Thanks Bob ! I'm running out of updates soon, I hope you'll be along for the ride on my next project. I can't promise you that it will be that extreme but I'm a "details" kind of guy so there should be some for those who like the genre... Thank you all, Francis

Hello everyone, I was finally able to find some time to finish the front of the truck, I wanted to wait until everything was finished before updating the thread. The front bumper is now installed using the aluminum brackets I made earlier and the hood is also finally mounted on its hinges. The hood is functional as expected and I put bare metal on the DODGE letters. This last operation was more complicated than expected because even if the material is very flexible, there are limits. So I was forced to use several small parts and to hide the joints as much as possible. Despite some minor problems, I am quite happy with the results and I hope you like what you see as well. I am more convinced than ever that the truck will finally be completed very soon and ready for the next show next fall. I take as much care as possible not to have a catastrophe which does not add anything to my speed of execution... ? Your comments are always welcome. Francis The front bumper finally installed. The DODGE letters have been covered with Bare Metal. Seen from another angle with less reflections... The bumper brackets, I am very happy to see that the bumper is straight. Close-up view of the brackets. Another one... ? The hood is functional as I expected. Fully open view. Partially closed. Sorry for the partially blurry photos, my camera has trouble focusing on all the details.

Thank you for your comforting words Daniel ! You are right, life goes by at a breakneck pace and we need to enjoy every moment !!!

That's what I call an heavy duty housing Dave ! Superb !!! ?

Thank you Steve, it was a beautiful ceremony, my uncle is now free of this horrible disease (Alzheimer). Francis Thank you for your comforting words Emre, your appreciation of my work means a lot to me. As I often say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I am aware that what I do is not for everyone but I am very happy if what I do can motivate others. Francis Thanks Joe, right now it's back to work, I have some new pictures of my latest progress, they will be posted soon. Thanks for your patience and understanding, I know you've been there too! Francis Thanks Bob! I knew from the beginning that this project would be a difficult one in every aspect. 4 years have passed since the beginning of the adventure and I can start to see an end to it. Only a few more parts to assemble and details to add and it will be mission accomplished! It's not time to give up as we say around here! ? Francis

Hi partner, I'm glad you still like my project, I had to take a break yesterday for the funeral of one of my uncles and I hope to come back soon with some pictures of my latest progress. I can now think about my next project without getting too distracted and lost from the pickup... It's been too long since I've started anything new, I feel a bit lost by the embarrassment of choice, everything about drag racing interests me but my speed of execution doesn't do it justice... ? Francis

Very cool Ron, the hood opens and closes perfectly, not many venture into this terrain and you should be proud. The paint is great by the way! ?

Thanks Ron, you don't need to thank me, your project is a good one and you have shown us your talent and perseverance. There are not many model cars on the site with functional hood hinges and it's partly thanks to you that I'm doing the same for mine. Summer is not the best time for model building but it is possible that a few rainy or hot and humid days will bring me back to the bench. However, next fall and winter should mark the beginning of my new adventure... if the Styrene gods agree! ? Francis

Thanks for the information Scott, I'm glad to know that your Peterbilt project will be back on track soon. As far as the magazine goes, I'm at the age where the good old paper version is still appealing, even though I've been a computer guy since day one. We live almost at opposite ends of North America and as you point out, the post office and its exorbitant rates are often a hindrance to ordering because it often costs more than the product purchased... I managed to work a little on the truck and I'll post some pictures later, the last miles are very long to cross... Sorry to keep the suspense going but I can see the finish line! ? Francis

Looks like you hit a home run again Claude! If you didn't know you had talent and taste, you should take the time to reread all the deserved praise for this fantastic model. If it wasn't for the fact that you have to expand your garage and the scarcity of customers, I could see a bright future for you in the manufacturing of this type of unusual vehicle, you would just have to find an adequate local test track (certainly not the St-Laurent river on winter...) or pay for a few trips to Bonneville per year, the real black misery... ?

You know yourself well Daniel! You are way too detail oriented for simple builds, even your box stock builds are examples of "little added details that make all the difference". It's not for everyone, but it's a treat for fans of the genre and I'm one of them... ?

Did I miss another one of your WIPs Scott? I know your super detailed Peterbuilt project hasn't been updated since May 2021, but maybe you were working on another project I didn't know about or you completed the FXI Hot Rod Peterbuilt project without updating the thread?

Well done and clean assembly, another good step in the right direction Ron! ?

Thanks Tim, I have to admit that I'm very happy with the project so far, I'm just struggling to find the time to finish it before summer sets in for good and I'm buried in the outside work attached to it. On the planning and dedication side, I think you know a thing or two about it, inspiration for all !!! ? Francis