JPL-ACE

Thanks for looking. I have to warn you, this is not even close to a rational easy kit. The hood hinge is difficult to get to work, the front suspension tie rod links have no way to stay on. the springs there also hard to align to make a working steering. The side windows are hard to install without fingerprints and smears. I made my own out of clear packaging. The frame does not fit properly and I never did fix it so the car sits much higher than I wanted in the front. The tailpipe extensions don't quite fit. I need to warp the frame about 1/4" in front and somehow hold it (I am thinking wire). I leave it now as I like to take it apart to show the details. On the good side, the car has good detail (mostly) and extras like steering, open doors, and hood. The interior, frame, and engine bay are also quite good.

Yeah, even though it was (IS !) a beautiful car built during the classic era (1950-1972) It never took hold like the 55 Chevy for example. It was bought up and produced for many years in low production and has a small but significant following today.

Thanks espo, I said turbo instead of super. my bad. Your detail is correct as I had looked it up earlier but forgot most of it. Happening a lot recently I'm afraid. I had more trouble with the front suspension which had no way to hold the steering links on their posts. Made some tiny caps about 2 mm (1/16") and managed to glue them on without gluing to the link too. Look at the frame view and you can see the caps on the steering links. Also, I acquired this kit slightly started and some parts were missing, like the radiator. Nothing I could not replace with my extensive junk stash. I wonder if I should go back and edit the mistake?

Thanks to PappyD340 and ncbuckeye67. My Family had Studes my entire life but they could not afford this one (unfortunately)

Thanks, XYHarry, ChrisR, and David G. Old School, tried to paint the numbers on the dash and tach. I need to come into the new world, tiny decals.

That kit is on my todo list. Owned a couple of them (1:1) in the distant past. Yours looks great. Thanks for showing it. Neat garage too.

I think is no longer made. Apparently, it was never made in Canada (I just read) and the last one was made in Mexico in 2006. Unless I got bit by fake news.

Your detail is incredible. I especially like the LEDs as I have thought about doing that for many years. I have some CPU on a chip (Picaxe) that could do blinking, Hazard, brights, etc. But I am too lazy, I guess. The engine bay is just great. I like the Holly. WOW. Fantastic job.

Glad you post it. I like some of these old cars because they have so much character and people are so creative with them. Be cool to tool around in this in 1:1

I just finished another test build to restore my abilities. After 60 years or so, I am doing well. This is an Avanti. Studibakers last gasp. If they could have done it even 1 year sooner, I think it would have saved the company but not only were they late but their best model (turbocharged V8) could not be produced fast enough for demand. It was marketed as the fastest production car at that time, at 189mph. Anyway, here is my take on this beauty. I am not a painter and a worse photographer but hey, what do you want for free admission?

Wick, I somehow thought you were in Canada. The Park Fire I hear about is just N of Sacramento, CA. I happen to have 10 acers near Redding (old investment).

Replying to "Thanks, but..." More and more similarities. I had a friend in all 4 HS years and about 50 more (though he passed on a few years ago). I had to wait an hour for my dad to get off work and Mike and I would sit and doodle (where much of my posted art was made) and hit off each other. He was the better artist and even had some commercial success until he was drafted. We corresponded while we did our tours (I joined so went to Germany). But he went on to be a Postman till he retired. Too bad he did not pursue his art. I was not in the same league as you guys, so I went to college for engineering and worked for NASA/JPL as a Mission Controller for most of my career. I had dreams of fixing my crop of old classics in retirement but waited too long and a few medical problems left me just strong enough to walk normal (more or less). But I married a wonderful Ethnic Chinese and we raised an artistic daughter we talked into computer science. She was good at it but did not like it so tried to go the starving artist bit. So now she works for the school district and does her art for fun. BTW, my 1:1s are 64 Camino, 56 Nomad, 56 Sedan, 57 Chevy Truck, and a couple of foreigners. 86 Samauri and my brother's 79 Toy pickup. Only the Toy runs. Humorously my main driver is 20+ year old Subaru with a junky old 2000 Kia as backup. I live in the Boondocs in S Calif and can't find any cheap backyard mechanics to start working on these. So there you have my life in a nut shell. Here are 3 more pics.

Wow, your art is better than mine ever was. Here are a few more of the old pics I did. I cant draw well anymore so no new stuff. Now I need to get a few pics of the Avanti and upload them.

To "Thedragsterdude reacted to a post in a topic". I got an email with this quote from the forum but I can't find any post. Thanks for the comment anyway. That is if the reaction was positive ?

I took a little break, hope you are still listening. My family loved Studies until they died. I like the 53-54 design second to the Avanti. I just built a model more or less stock. Maybe I will put it on the Forum. My closeup work is not the best. Your drawings are great and remind me of my own in years past. Look back at our pics in this thread.

I suspect the picture is an airbrush painting with a little upgrading for shock value. Blower looks so much more powerful. Note the detail is kind of blurry and the headers are "chrome" and the fire is kind of fake to me. I have that second picture and it is a metal plate. The website that makes it does not offer it for sale now. But they do custom ones and Gabin has the money to order one I am sure. Just a thought. You may be right. But it does look cool.

My 1st real car was a 57 Ford sedan just like the Galpin (but stock) Rebuilt a 312 with 3/4 cam and try-Y headers. Painted orange that looks pretty close to the photos of the Galpin. See the pic from 1968 below. I have a kit ready to build (along with 6 or so other cars I have had). I also have a metal print of the Galpin 3 with blower vice dual carbs from retrovisions.com. I hope Derick can get back to models soon.

Always good to have another kit basher Tom. I very rarely build kits as stock. In fact many are partials and pre-started ones from my brother or cousin. And as mentioned above, plenty of help and advice here. Hope to see your stuff soon.

It was an educational ride Mike. Thanks for the detail. I will check out the finals.

Lookin good Mike. Light at the end of the tunnel. Can I ask why you chose to use a flathead engine on a 1960ish vehicle? The detail makes it work but, why not a Shelby small block, say?

You really go out of the way with attention to detail. Thanks for the How-To. Nice technique to have in the toolbox. I just hack them off with an Xacto. Measure it with a micrometer, mark it with chalk and cut it off with an ax.

The metal bands really make it outstanding. I never used bmf since it did not exist for me in 50s and 60s. I guess I will have to be dragged into the modern age (kicking and screaming). Your a learning experience Mike. Loven it.

Tip for hoses. Get some electronic shrink tubing which is available to about 1/16" and then shrink to 1/2 size with heat (soldering iron, match, etc). Black looks like radiator or heater hose. Also available in many colors. Can get a little creative with a cheap $7 soldering iron heating (shrinking) part of the tubing. Also, to make stainless steel woven hoses for race cars (or show), look at the fine woven necklace thread in Micheal's jewellery makers dept. Just a suggestion. Fine work so far, Mike.

You keep surprising me with your intimate detail. Cool.

Mike, when I want to do wiring and tubing, I look at polystyrene solid and tubing, electrical wire and the insulation, and for really fine stuff (imitating wiring harness) I use transformer wire which can be VERY fine. Thicker copper wire is good for fuel lines is very bendable, and very tiny jewelry store beads make nice couplers. Just a suggestion. Looking good so far.