AmericanMuscleFan

I love seeing someone jump into an unusual project and this is the kind of project I love! You have a great attention to detail Andrew and you haven't let the lack of information stop you, your TV screen photos are proof of it! You can already be proud of the work accomplished, there will not be another like it for sure... ?

Thanks for the kind words Ron! I'm very happy (and surprise at the same time) how well the frame fits with the body. I saw (and admired) the work of some talented members who use a jig (to make the frame) to make sure everything stays perfectly straight but I felt too lazy to make one so I took more precautions as usual during construction to make sure the structure is straight. It was actually my very first frame made from scratch and I'm very proud of it, maybe I will have the guts to make one in brass in a future build (if the project requires this type of framework). By the way, you inspired me with your superb FD-100 and I started working on functional hood hinges for mine, the mechanism is different from the ones we usually see but I can't resist trying, they will be decorative at worst... ?

Sometimes it does not take much to rekindle the flame and a break is sometimes beneficial for a comeback. This project deserves a second wind, your concept is one of the most beautiful that I have seen for a long time and I hope to be able to see it in its final form one of these days (see no pressure here on my part, I am in a very bad position to speak...)! ? By the way, Trevor is absolutely right and it's a bit of a shame that the new valve covers don't have the "ARDUN" markings (even if these have never been marketed for a V12 engine) but I think a good CAD designer could design them and add the markings between the grooves and print them with a high precision 3D printer (SLA)?

You started this project over 6 years ago according to the thread's information, so I imagine you must be feeling a mixture of sadness and joy to see the end of this grand project approaching!? High caliber work by the way!!! ?

HEY Tim, your new valve covers look great on the engine and might get the better of the debate around the implausible placement of the spark plugs on the stock ones (even though these were never produced). However, I don't think this is the distraction from your fantastic creative work on this all-brass racing car... We want more of this masterpiece in-the-making please!!!

The paint job, polishing and final color produced fantastic results Steve! It would have been a shame if the hood didn't close completely but I guess this great engine will be in plain view with the hood open anyway if you decide to put it in competition at a model car show! ?

You are clearly younger than me Marcos and I bow in awe of modelers like you who are able to work on more than one project at a time! The only distraction I can afford is to start thinking about my next project when when the one I'm working on is in its last hours... ?

Thanks Marcos! It wasn't the hardest thing to do but I thought it would be interesting to explain the technique I chose to do it. I have much more complicated challenges in front of me... ?

Great improvement on the engine Mike! All that good work will pay off as the engine is in honor on these front engine dragsters. Are these the brass bolts from your German supplier? The chrome valve covers would look great and the Alclad will produce a perfect shine but be careful and avoid handling them too often, the Alclad finish tends to wear out rather easily and it's quite frustrating to have to redo the finish at the very end.

Hello everyone, I'm still working on the body panels and final adjustments these days so I have little to show for it as I didn't think it was relevant to take pictures of this operation. There are going to be scars on this body... fortunately the finishing putty was invented for that... Meanwhile, I made the fastening system for the tailgate and tried to recreate something that looks like what was the standard back then. I was initially preoccupied with having the brass pieces properly aligned and I will probably have to enlarge the holes to make a removable hook system in order to be able to open the panel as I wish. Comments and suggestions are welcome. Take care, Francis I engraved openings in the box and the tailgate to insert the fastening. I will probably have to make the holes larger in order to add a removable hook system. Different view. I filled the holes and the brass parts lined up nicely ?

Very good job Bill, powder blue is a very good choice for the truck, it gives it a vintage feel! Very nice details under the hood, it looks real. ?

Nice work inside and outside Steve, your hard work pays off and the color is awesome! Maybe you already mentioned it somewhere but what type of paint did you use for this project, acrylic, enamel or lacquer?

WOW Mike! It really is a great job going on here, this brass body is a work of art for sure! It'll definitely be a tough decision to cover this beautiful body with paint, but it's not like you can't do another one for another project, right? You have proven it more than once!!! We tend to forget that nail polish is an incredible source of very interesting colors, we often have the solution at your fingertips... ? I love what you are doing my friend!

It is absolutely beautiful Claude (as for all your builds my friend)!!! In the last 5 years (but sadly not last year... thanks to the coronavirus) I went to the NHRA New England Nationals with two of my good friends and there are always a few of these beauties on display near the entry of the competitors on the track. There is always a lot of traffic around the cars and it is even sometimes very difficult to be able to take pictures of them due to their great popularity. As with the Pro-Stock class, I found the Funny Cars of that era to be prettier than those of today because they looked like their original versions in every way. You know my weakness for the brand by the way... Well played again my friend, you certainly have a well garnished display cabinet! ?

Thanks Marcos, your version of 64 Dodge is also a pleasure to follow!

Thanks for the advice Tim, I usually try to keep or make a temporary and holding point on parts to be painted (or plated...), as I mentioned before I will definitely give Caswell's plating system another chance, this is arguably the most durable option for turning the color of brass into chrome. Francis

Glad to know that you have finally found Alclad's base in Germany, you are used to being served pretty well with specialty products across the Atlantic... I agree with Claude, your version of Ed Pink's dragster looks really good sir! Did you also make the hull with aluminum on this one?

I think that's bad for a good Marcos, the shorter wheelie bars are more appropriate for that big body. There are no such builds that are done without small adjustments along the way, you are heading in the right direction my friend! ?

WOW Daniel, I missed the start of this new project and I still have to admit that you impress me my friend! Everything you have done so far is done so well, the rusty effect is perfect! One of my good friends is a real enthusiast of these old work horses, he restored a few old trucks from that era and I am remember the look of the frame and the "well used" mechanical components was exactly like what you did. I didn't know styrene could rust and there are some good wizards (like you) who do it wonderfully on this forum!!! ? Do you give magic lessons?

Thank you for confirming this point Tim, I intended to make an attempt with their chrome plating solution and your details confirms the information I was looking for. Your bumper has exactly the kind of effect I'm looking for so I'll give their system another chance, if it works for others, I should eventually get there too ...!? I had planned to make the front bumper out of brass ? so the Caswell plating system should be the best solution, you proved it my friend! ? Francis

Thanks for the kind words Glen! My first goal was to reproduce the styrene body with as much detail and precision as possible but I have to admit that I got a bit carried away by the obsession with details. On the other hand, I honestly think that there are other talented model builders who have gone even further than me in terms of details and you can find them right here on this forum! I really appreciate your appreciation for my work sir and I still have a lot of work ahead of me, welcome to see more... Francis

Thanks Tim, I try to be as precise as possible with a show of hands because my beautiful precision equipments are not really useful on body panels... I still have to remember to keep a little clearance for the paint but I must admit that I go a little too tight sometimes and I have to correct this aspect of my building method! Thanks for the actual name of the bolts my friend, I was pretty sure the name (carriage) but we have so many words in our language that are borrowed from English (or distorted from English) that I am never sure if it's real or just jargon. By the way, I saw your reply on Mike William's thread regarding your Caswell plating system, do you have the "Plug N' Plate Copy Chrome kit" version? Mine is the "Plug N' Plate Nickel kit" and the results were nothing more than a sort of black chrome, not quite what I was looking for so I gave up. Francis

Thanks for telling me about this story Daniel, I didn't know but it just makes me like the guy even more. I will forever remember the great humanity and humility of this talented human being. He went through so many ordeal and his inner suffering never seemed to affect his work, a man of great discretion! Working Man ? Thanks again for you good words on my pickup Daniel, I do really appreciate, I hope my old uncles Philibert and Raymond are watching from above, it's a bit of homage to them that I'm doing it!! Francis

Thanks so much for the statement Joe, I can't resist making well-fitting parts even though it's not advisable to do so. I always try to keep the paint coverage of the parts to a minimum as this becomes a problem during the final assembly. Difficult to reconcile precision and realistic effect at the 1/25 scale... Take care, Francis

It's always fun to watch your progress Scott! Usually, I look for photos of my subject on the net with different angles to have as much detail as possible to recreate the parts but in your case, you are working from the photos of your subject which is under construction. It can only produce amazing results and your attention to detail is flawless! I really like your steering column, nice reproduction sir! ?