AmericanMuscleFan

Welcome to the forum Michael, model making has no boundaries so I hope you find your favorite projects on the web.

Welcome back to this fantastic hobby Darryl, there are many members willing to help here on this forum, so I hope you enjoy your hours assembling your next models. We seem to have a longer season for this hobby in Canada and we have to thank the weather and the long winters... ?

Very nice and refreshing build Steve! It is certainly good for the soul to take a break and build something less demanding just for the sake of it and this build just screams that... It's noticeable though that you don't do anything to get rid of and the quality of the work and the attention to detail is always evident even in your "fantasy" projects. Well done sir! Hey... this thing has a HEMI... I lLOVE it! ?

Thanks Edgar! The next update will be on the front end assembly, I put a lot of effort on the grill and all the front components so I hope for the best... to be continued! ? For now it's back to work...? Francis

Thanks for your "way too" kind words Steve! As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it seems that the expression fits you perfectly my friend... It will soon be 4 years since I started this project and it seems to me that I have reached my limits. I am very happy to see the light at the end of the tunnel because it is not the time to turn corners when it comes to the last details. My full time job limits my progress and I hope that once retired I will be more productive... I will now concentrate on the front part and I hope for good results because this part is very distinctive for this model of truck, even a non-expert can conclude that it is a Dodge so there is no room for error... ? Thanks again for your great support, Francis

Nice work on the decals Daniel, it only adds to the realism. ?

Superb Charlie! All that hard work and long hours spent at the workbench have produced such a beautiful car, you can be proud and feel that you have accomplished a unique model ! ? The Keystone wheels will be quite a challenge to reproduce but if anyone can do it it's you. ?

Hello everyone! Sorry for the delay in updating the thread but the time spent on my latest progress was not planned. The interior is not my favorite part of the build but it has to be done anyway, I thought the small pickup's interior would make the ordeal shorter but it was not. Overall, I'm pretty happy with the final result but I only have a picture of the completed interior. When the truck is finally completed, I'll do a good cleaning on my workbench and try to improve the lighting, among all the pictures taken, only one was acceptable but will give you a good idea of the whole. I decided to make a switch panel and moved the RPM to the side of the dash because I thought it hid the dash gauges too much, I really like this part and want it to be visible... The racing harnesses were particularly time consuming to assemble and it is always difficult to make them look realistic. In my haste to get this done, I forgot to take pictures of the seats before I put them in the cockpit but I'll try to take more pictures later. I used real fabric strips and a photoetch kit from Scale Motorsport, the shoulder straps are secured to the roll bar behind the seats. The assembly continues... Francis Dashboard with aluminum knobs and black ABS glove box button. Close-up view of the gauges, the odometer reads just above 36,000 miles. Main switch panel in the rotary table. Different vue. All components before assembly on the dashboard. Installed on the dashboard. The interior is finally completed, I will assemble the doors and its details a little later.

WOW Dave, this is great! Tim (Codi) has always mentioned your skills in his threads and we can see his words with this outstanding project. I'm not familiar with 1/8 scale, are you going to use the Monogram '82 Z/28 Camaro body or are you going to build your own? Like birds with open beaks we always want more... Brass, aluminum and drag cars are my favorite ingredients, I will definitely be back for a visit!

WOW Claude! No need to ask if you had fun building this beautiful Bonneville car, it exudes passion and ingenuity from front to back. Considering the length of this car, I have a hard time imagining all the imagination required to fill the space and make it look so plausible. Yet it is, despite my lack of knowledge on the subject I could not tell if it is a tribute vehicle or the pure invention of a brain overflowing with imagination. You continue to impress me my friend, in addition to the quality of assembly the color is fantastic! ? Bravo!!!

Superb Brad ! Whatever obstacles you may have encountered, the end result is first class and the assembly is impeccable. This hobby is not a race, the important thing is to cross the finish line and be satisfied with the result. You can be proud, the attention to detail is the first impression that comes out of your work. Well done!!! ?

Thanks Joe! I hope to put the finishing touches to this project in the next few weeks, the hardest part is behind me so I dare to hope for a happy ending... ? Francis

Thanks Anton! As I mentioned earlier, sometimes it's the most unexpected or easy details that get the most comments... I'm glad you like it! Francis Thanks for your comment Chris! Francis

Superb small Resto-Rod Greg, the assembly is first class. I really like the fact that you took the time to blacken the grille, it makes all the difference. With your background and the concrete surface it's hard not to mistake it for a real one and that's for me an indisputable mark of success! ?

Steal it Daniel, you are generous with your innovations and you have already given a lot so far, your account is still in credit... ? Francis

I agree with you all the way Noel ! The level of satisfaction I get from machining my own parts is priceless and takes my hobby to the next level. Everyone has their own priorities and budget restrictions, it is not for everyone and everyone finds satisfaction in their own way. There must be 95% of modelers who don't have this kind of equipment and who are (rightly) proud of their results. Being a computer graphics designer myself (in my previous career) I am very interested in 3D technology because I know the vector base of the files required for printing. However, I'm not ready to invest in it yet because I find that there are still too many limitations to the printing of very small details at the 1/25 scale that I work on. I have to admit that the non-existent car or truck models available in 3D files make it another temptation... ? Francis

Thanks Bob, sometimes it's the most unexpected things that produce the most reactions... I came close to not photographing this detail because I found it rather insignificant. I'm glad you liked it, I guess it was worth it! Francis

Very good job on the front and rear panels as Craig just mentioned. ? The Alclad chrome looks great and gives a more realistic finish than the kit chrome, it's just a bit of a shame it's so fragile and sensitive to handling.

The paint only adds beauty to this beautiful little build, the graphics will only add another layer! ?

Thanks Ron! I'm getting a little closer to the finish line every day I can work on it, the final assembly is long and worth the time when you've spent so many hours making all these parts. My parts bin is almost empty, this project will be completed in the next few weeks! Francis

Thank you Noel ! The Sherline equipment and accessories that I have cost me a lot of money and even more because I live in Canada. The Canadian currency has been devalued a lot in the last few years and all these beautiful tools have cost me at least 40% more for this reason, not to mention the expensive shipping fees. Despite everything, I chose to equip myself because this hobby is mine and I had the financial means to acquire them, I am rather thrifty and reasonable in my expenses what allowed me this extravagance. In all modesty, I am able to make all these details in a manual way, the lathe and the milling machine allow me to do it with more precision, that brings me more satisfaction in my search of the impossible perfection... Everyone takes this hobby to their own level and that's the beauty of it, a hobby where you express your dreams and tastes in your own way, the goal being to find satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment! Let's just say it's a bonus if it pleases those who take the time to visit and comment! ? Francis

Thanks Greg! I try hard to keep my junk pile as small as possible, it takes me a long time to do all these little things and I don't want to start over as much as possible.... ? The decision to paint a well-machined aluminum part is sometimes difficult or questionable, but it's the end result that counts. I like to share photos of the making process but sometimes I get carried away with the project and forget to take photos along the way, I am always open to explaining the method used if asked! Thanks for the comment Tim! However, the part next to the tank (first part shown in the post) is an inline fuel filter, the fuel pump was installed a few months ago underneath the rear of the truck opposite the tank. This is the first time I saw this model, I came across it while doing a search on the web and I thought it was different from what we usually see. Francis

Another beautifully made piece, Tim! You took a long break from this project, but you've taken the "bull" by the horns since... ?

Thanks Trevor, I think I used a 0.016" carbide drill bit. I didn't have smaller enough head screws so I just fill the holes with my Molotow marker and polished the lens surface, I think the illusion is acceptable... ?

I think it would look nice and you have a good method for making them. The center of the hood looks pretty flat, so you shouldn't have too much trouble making them. However, you need to get it right the first time, it would be sad to mess up that pretty hood (but don't take this warning as if I doubt your talent ?).