2doors3pedals

Heller 1/43 Citroen 2cv.

In my 60+ years of model building I have never built a military vehicle - I like them shiny! When my local scale model club decided have a contest with only military models I did some head scratching and came up with this one. It's mostly out of the box but being the street rod only version I had to find some stock parts make some adjustments. I used Tamiya flat olive drab on the outside and Tamiya light sand with an overlay of clear orange and clear yellow inside. It was a nice break from hours of wet sanding and polishing paint but felt a little funny dechroming the shiny parts. I got out of my comfort zone a bit with this one and enjoyed the journey. I'll probably never need the rest of that can of Army green again.

Thanks, I'm glad you like it.

Engine swaps like these were fairly common in my youth. A guy with a welder, a big V8 and a little imagination could build an inexpensive high-performance car. In the early 70s my cousin had an Austin Healy 100-4 powered by a 327 Chevy. I can't remember the rest of the power train but the rear tires stuck out past the fenders quite a bit. Probably added 100 horse power and was plenty fast and squirrely. While pretty crudely put together it reliable enough for a wild eyed kid to be a daily driver. Another kid I knew had a 58 Corvette with a 389 tri-power Pontiac engine. How we survived in those things is a mystery. The car culture's fascination with this type of car is probably why the Cobra was and is so popular.

Thank you all for your encouraging words. Wouldn't it be great if Moebius kitted this subject with some Wagoneer versions too? I think they would be good sellers. I'm glad you guys enjoyed the Jeep.

Hi guys. Here's my version of a backdated Jeep Gladiator. I started with the Revell '80 Honcho kit and a Model Car Ranch resin grill conversion. I removed the kit rear window louvers, side marker lights, emblems, gas filler tail lights and wheel lip trim. The interior was largely scratch built by reforming the dash and adding a photo reduced instrument cluster, heater controls, speaker grill and seat upholstery patern. The steering wheel was modified and scratch built door and window regulators were added. Outside the front bumper was filed to a more accurate shape and the hubcaps are the centers of the full wheel covers found in the Mountain Goat kit. The grill emblem was made from a mold taken from the hub cap centers, but it's a little oversize. Finally, the back bumper is a Rookie Resin 3d item (really nice!) with a home made hitch ball. Paint is Ace Hardware spray cans with the clear coat sanded and polished. This one took a lot of time but I like the results. Thanks for looking.

Thanks, these old trucks are my favorites currently. The Klondike Gold is simply Ace Hardware metallic gold rattle can that's close enough for me. I'm having good luck using all Ace products for primer, paint and gloss clear. It takes some color sanding and polishing for a good finish.

These are four I've been working on this year. They are a little past "mock up" but still in progress. I clearly need to focus!

Wow, I haven't seen this one for a long time! A friend of mine owned this car sometime in the '80s and it looked pretty much the same. He drove it to car shows and got lots of attention as you might imagine. I remember being very impressed by the workmanship and quality displayed. It looked like a factory job. When I rode in it the ride was best described as "squishy ".... I sure wish we had a scale '50 - '53 Buick. Thanks for the memory jog.

I learned to drive in my dad's 66 GMC Suburban - V-6, three on the tree and power nothing. That was a beast for a 16 year old. I kind of miss the old column shifters!

As they say, it's only worth what someone is willing to pay. $3K for a work of art by a recognized master seems appropriate. By the way, this Lincoln is built off a 3d printed body. The interior is mostly scratch built as are many details. Awesome work Paul!

That's a great looking model! Nice to see an unusual subject finished to such a high level. The scratch built air cleaner is very clever. May I ask where you sourced the hub caps?

What a fun model! It looks like a replica of the 1:1 Big Foot museum in Willow Creek California. I've been there a few times.

Great looking Dodges Terry! I'm pretty sure you started the weathered look trend way back in the 90s with your Cowboy Cadillac at GSLMCC. Looks like you still do it best. I'm inspired to finish my '78 short bed! I hope our paths cross again someday soon.

Great looking Nova! Simple but well executed. They don't all have to be super detailed to be great models.

Nice truck! I think the color and sheen are just right. Love it.

It's a knock out! Great work. I'm inspired to dig out my half finished example that I started 20 years ago. Gotta get the engine decals.

Thank you all for your kind words. Glad you liked it. And I agree - a Falcon has to have a six and a stick.

I've always had a fondness for the Falcon Rancheros but was disappointed with the latest AMT reissue - Chevy engine, ill fitting wheels and the simplified chassis had to go. Over the past few months I have fitted a Revell 68 Mustang chassis (extended 5/8 inches at the rear, used a nice resin cast 6, and adapted Tamya Lotus 7 wheels. The Mustang chassis had the right wheel base, width, and fender well details but required a lot of cutting and filing around the firewall. The single exhaust is bent solder and the gas tank is from an old Revell 55 Chevy. I've never looked under a real Ranchero so the added structure and gas tank shape and size is my best guess. The paint is an original 60 Ford Belmont blue under clear coat and lots of polishing. I think I have overdone this one but I'm happy with the result. Comments welcome. Thanks for looking.

Here's a rear shot. Apologies for the quality... Thanks

I've known Paul since he was 13. The stories I could tell! Unfortunately for me he recently moved to Florida. I have watched him create masters of many never before offered models and am just amazed by his creative talent. These can take years to develop to his standards.

Thanks Charlie! The chestnut interior isn't very exotic - just Testors leather (a military color) with dark brown inserts (enamel). I sprayed it all with some Ace Hardware satin clear then Molotow pen for highlights. Your choice of Oxford blue should look awesome. Please post some photos when it's finished.

This is an awesome project Bill! Your technical skills and creative ability are inspirational. This level of work is what keeps me striving to do better. Thanks.

Thanks all. I'm inspired to continue.

Well thanks guys, as a newcomer I feel very welcomed.