TexasRoadWarrior

I've been using my Harbor Freight reciprocating saw for several years now to shake my paints. Instead of tape I have an assortment of hose rings that I can clamp the paint bottle to the blade (I use a carbide blade, which is nowhere as sharp as the other blades). The clamps have a 5/16 hex nut to adjust the tension. I put the clamp over the bottle about halfway down, and slide that whole assembly over the blade. I use the 5/16 hex bit in my cordless screwdriver and it snugs up good and tight. I pull the trigger slowly at first and then once the paint balls are rattling I give it about 5 seconds at mid-speed. I tried the ratcheting clamp like in the video, but I couldn't get the end into either my jigsaw or my reciprocating saw, without having to do some serious grinding down. I also have a hose clamp big enough to shake both 5 and 11 ounce rattle cans, and they are ready to use in about 15 seconds. I'll still look around and see if maybe I can find a thinner clamp that WILL fit into either my jigsaw or my RS. I got this clamp at Wally World, so maybe I should check out HF next time I am near one.

When I was growing up Checker taxis as well as Yellow Cabs were Checker Marathons. I don't think I've ever seen a Checker Marathon kit, but if I do, I'll try to buy 2 so that I have one for Checker and one for Yellow. As far as cop cars go, most departments try to get about 300,000 miles out of them before they strip them down and auction them off. I have a neighbor who has two former cop cars. He's not a retired cop, so maybe it's his way of wishing he was. And they're both rattle traps. I'm expecting him to call me one day needing a ride home.

Thanks for this tip. I have been using a Sawzall with a carbide blade, and assorted sizes of automotive hose clamps, depending on the size of what I am shaking. I haven't used Testor's in years now, but I DO use acrylics, both craft store brands and also Createx, as well as use it to shake rattle cans. One thing I bought online which is also a huge help are stainless steel paint mixing balls, so instead of a rattle can I get rattle bottles. This method looks like it could do one size fits all, so I just need to pick up a spreader clamp and I should be good to go. Thanks for the video!

Things are on hold again for me, thanks to the devastating tornado we got hit with on May 16 in Houston TX. I had some structural damage to my home, and my garage had a tree fall on it. We are all okay but I ended up taking my wife and two dogs to a pet friendly hotel in Downtown/Galleria Area. We had over 2 million people lose power and it took Centerpoint Energy 9 days to restore power. I lost my paint booth in the garage, but all my kits were stored inside so none of those got damaged. We finally got our power back on May 25, but all our frozen foods were ruined. But the main thing is that we are all alive and back in our home. My garage was the worst damage, but I will be able to use it again, once my homeowners insurance pays off. So it's going to take me a few weeks to get back up to speed, but I will start posting pics once all the repairs are done. Next purchase on my list? A 30KW whole house power generator. Along with more paints.

I found it at Model Roundup. But at $86 plus shipping, I think I will haunt eBay or Mercari. Thanks or the heads-up!

In either 1/16 or 1/25 scale. I have such a bumper on a 57 T-Bird 1:25, but I think I would have to do some kitbashing to get it to work. Of course I may have to do scratchbuild if I can't locate this. I have searched the web with no luck, but I may have been tired when searching and just didn't name it right. If anyone has one of these or knows where I could find it, please let me know. Thanks!

That's a good idea, but how long does it take to dry say a 1:24 Chevy Belair Body? Also, since I also work in 1:16 I am not sure if it would fit in a dehydrator. I use the hairdryer or heat gun, since with acrylics (Mainly Createx), which is all I am using nowadays (I got cheap in my old age, and found I get more bang for the buck with acrylics than say Testor's enamels.) and it only takes about 5 minutes to get the paints to the re-coat stage. At least on my HO RR buildings that's all it took and I only used acrylics on those. I'll know better once I get ready to primer and mist coat the 57 Belair. Priming is one thing. I use Badger's Stynlrez Primers for priming and it dries FAST.

Wow! Now I know I have been away too long from the hobby. I always have and probably always will use either a hair dryer or a heat gun to dry the paints. I never had any warpage at all on any of those. I'm trying to see how to make a drying booth out of commonly used components. How does using a dehydrator compare to using a hair dryer or heat gun from 8-10 inches away on a rotating turntable? Although I am not ever in a hurry when I build, but since I love multiple coats on the model, a hair dryer always has been a help to me. Thanks for any information!

Thanks Dan! Lots of new things since I last did this. Been practicing with my airbrush to make sure I can get my control back again, although I never could do pinstriping with an airbrush ?

After a roughly 20 year break (the ex hated my modeling) from modeling, I'm baccccck! Looking forward to seeing what I have missed all these years. Now, without someone to complain about it, I can enjoy it again. First work off the bat? 1957 Chevy Belair Convertible by AMT in 1:16 scale. Just cracked the package and getting everything together that I will need. Got tons of sandpaper, airbrush paints, sprue cutters and most of all? TIME! Now that I am retired, and my time is my own, I plan to make this one a home run on the first swing, since this is going to a good friend of mine who has a 1:1 Chevy Belair. I am using acrylic paints for it, which doesn't overwhelm me when I am airbrushing My favorite era for cars is between 1930 to 1960. If it's younger than 1960, it's not for me. I inherited from my Dad when he died his 1930 Ford Model A, and I have pampered that little beast, just like he did I am the 3rd owner, the 1st being my grandad, the 2nd being my dad and the 3rd being me. Won't break any land speed records, but it looks great cruising around town. So that's me in a nutshell. Hope to learn and share many items. TRW