OldNYJim

I actually sometimes like the “how could that even work?!” look to a car, but only when it actually DOES work somehow - it’s like a magic trick! Real life example - this 1:1 Chevy that I found online at some car show wherever: I’ve gotta assume it’s airbagged, but who knows? It’s a cool magic trick to get it sitting on the deck like that! That said, my modeler’s conscience won’t allow me to build one sitting this low without trying to figure out how it could work for real and replicate that somewhat (which I might just mess with on the 57 that I’m building right now)

Picked up a set of these plastic sanding sticks from Hobby Lobby - they work GREAT for sanding into round corners and hard-to-reach-spots:

Belated birthday gift: Looks cool - not a whole lot of parts in the box, but I’m sure I’ll manage to overcomplicate it anyway so it takes me months to build ?

Good tip! I’ll check my local Michael’s tomorrow! Thanks!

Some cool stuff there! I like the Cappuccino and the Figaro (although I’d look dumb driving either), and the Lotus is nice too! Did Batman set any shrubs on fire? ?

Couple of eye-catchers in the parking lot at the racetrack tonight: And I saw this at the gas station when I was on my way there (but then, weirdly, never saw it at at the track)

My wife sent me this pic this week and asked if I wanted it - heck yes! They just got those Polar Lights Beetle kits at my local store too - they have those AND the Revell kit (which I have already)...how do you like that Polar Lights kits kit @HomerS?

Visited the South Bend Speedway this evening, which is my current local 1/4 mile pavement track...been meaning to go for a while and they had vintage modifieds running and some other cool stuff tonight so I got my “backside trackside” as their slogan goes... Thought you all would enjoy some pics maybe...100+ photos in this Fotki link with a few cool teasers below:

There’s an RC store in Valpo but that’s about it without driving out of town. Hobby Lobby AND Michael’s across the street from each other probably make it hard for an independent store to survive...but I’ve found a few cool little stores outside of Valpo at least!

My wife surprised me with my favorite paint rack from Hobby Lobby today ? Just gotta finish ‘restocking’ it (with all the paint that came from on this rack in the first place ?)

I just cut them about as close as I could get to the flared end - took a while but I managed to make them all without one pinging off into space ? Couple more little bits of progress made...now I REALLY gotta get hustling to get this thing done... Made some brake lines, secured with some little photo etched brackets: Machined some air filters and a bracket for the distributor and started on the engine: Doesn’t look much like a car that will be ready for DSC in two weeks - I’m pleased with how the frame’s coming together tho! More soon!

Love it! What a great start! I like the wheels you chose, and the little roof scoop is a great idea!

That looks amazing already! I’ll be watching this one for sure! ?

Thanks fellas! Another couple of days worth of progress - cut a graphic for the trunklid: And shot some color on it: Still need to paint the driver name on the roof there but I felt like adding some era-correct (I think?) decals tonight - really starts looking like a race car once you’ve got some logos on there! Building this for a friend of mine - he races pink oval cars and his initials are MPC - so it was cool that MPC puts a decal of their logo on the sheet for these! Happy little coincidence! More soon!

I've heard from more than one person that there's some other interesting undercover NYPD vehicles, similar to the 'cop cab' taxi that I haven't managed to find photos of to date (or see in person)...apparently they own a black Camry, complete with Uber graphic in the window to fit in with the billion other black Uber Camrys around the city, and also (more interestingly) a garbage truck (?!).

I got inspired by that recent thread on this kit and really wanted to try one for myself, trying to keep it loosely box-stock without building a new frame and swapping the motor and chopping the top and scratchbuilding half of it...trying to mostly use what’s in the box as best I can. You know how that usually goes tho... This particular issue of this kit only really comes with the stock parts, so that should keep me relatively focused and resisting the temptation to use anything major that DIDN’T come in the box should be a fun challenge. I’ve never done a 57 so I looked at a BUNCH of different ones to decide what I’d do if I built one. I think they’re cool stock, but then you can clean up some of the chrome doodads and tidy the design up a little too maybe... And I like the idea of having it LOW, like this... Or less lowrider and more custom-influenced like this... But also this kinda floats my boat too: So, I guess I’ll be doing something along the lines of those, taking the bits I like most from each of them and see where I end up... First up, plug the hole in the firewall: The firewall isn’t accurate for a stock build, if you’re worried about that kind of thing but I think I’m going to go for a super-clean but still traditional look and feel for this one so that’ll work great for what I’m doing anyway. I kind of imagine like how street rodders like smoothing out all the lumps and bumps and clean everything up...but without the billet and LS motor. I think I’ll probably fill that recess in the firewall somewhat to make it connect to the sides nicely, but I need to get the engine figured out and make sure nothing will interfere before I get too crazy here... This being an older tool, the body needs some attention so I’ve been picking a panel every night this past few days and just getting it levelled out and perfect ready for paint. Started off with the driver’s side front fenders - I removed the three vents from there and shrunk the crease that runs along the top of them: I like the smoothed-out-hood on 57s too, so I did the same as Dennis Lacy just did on his excellent 57 build too and plugged the holes with some round bar... ...then shaped them into something like what I’d imagined: I think the real challenge with this build is getting the suspension as low as I’d like - I need to do some research to see just how low people managed to get stock-framed 57s back in the day and how they accomplished it. I guess blocks between the rear leafs and the axle and heating the front coils were the order of the day but I’d really like to get it as low as would be FEASIBLE without using anything modern like airbags on there...guess I need to do some more researchin’! More soon!

This is going to be great! Looks killer already! That frame is super clean and nicely done - and I too like your workspace!

That kit more than halved in scale between the original issue and the AMT reissue, if you believe the box ?

Thank you sir! A company named Baomain sells a set on Amazon - you get five sizes for $8 or something...super useful for all kinds of things! Thanks Jerry! Wanted to do a few bright paint jobs before I start messing with some more traditional stuff - the bright colors look nice on my display shelf! ? A little more progress today, seeing as I’m replying anyway - polishing day in the shop today! Not totally done yet, but it’s getting shinier! Waiting for the sun to come out again so I can really see the spots I need to perfect, but it’s getting there!

Stumbled upon this this morning, on my way to grab some groceries - not the biggest meetup but some interesting stuff to see!

They’d never be able to park that in NYC ?

Can you slice a little off the linkages and drill those circular end pieces out so you can glue them back on? It’s looking great so far!

Yes sir! Just cut on my little Silhouette cutter! They’re, like, $120 but they’re an AMAZING tool for the money!

A little more progress this week - need to get this wrapped up by the end of the month for DSC17, so need to get hustlin’ here... Painted some lettering on the rad: ...with a reverse version on the backside, for my own amusement... Painted the trans so I can start assembling the engine: Then scratchbuilt some linkages for the shifter and started getting the frame assembled: I’m waiting for some little photoetched brackets to arrive so I can start plumbing the brake lines nicely but the USPS is currently taking them on their third trip of the mid-west so that’s holding me up a little...so today I shortened up a bunch of these micro ferrules to make some little inserts to finish the holes in the bomber seats nicely: Like so! Then I gave them a black wash to add a little character and make them look less flat and plain-looking, and cut some seatbelts from some textured card: And finished them off with some PE buckles: Got a lot to do still, but about everything is painted and just waiting for detailing and the next step - more soon!

Thanks fellas! Been working on the door numbers this week... First up, cut and applied some masks: Then, Vallejo gold with a band of Createx white through the center: Then, remask: Shoot Createx black over THOSE masks: And remove masks! Need to do some little touch-ups to the black to get it perfect but that’s about what I was shooting for! More soon!