The Modeling Hermit

Vince I've been wondering what happened to you and what you're up to. There's an open door whenever you get back up this way.

This is a project that I've been working on for awhile. AMT rereleased the Ford LN8000 race car hauler. I got to looking at it and thought that it would not only look cool as a crew cab, but a crew cab would fit the need of a racing team. I have several Ford deliveries around so I dug into one and combined it with the race car hauler to come up with this.

I thoght this might be useful to some of the members.

Those are cool 56s.

My inspiration is not found so much in my model room, or in my case, the whole house, as it is in the way the model subjects are presented to me. That's clear as mud, so allow me to elaborate. In the early years of modeling the boxes were displayed with artwork that had the mind going long before the box was even opened. Some of my favorite car boxes were the 1962 AMT "car show" series with the pink convertible on the cover. It didn't hurt that they had multiple building options. For the trucks, it was once again the early AMT big rigs showing the trucks in action and stiriing dreams of the open road. In the 1990s Monogram scored some huge hits when the introduced a series of Chevrolets with large boxes and cars placed in beautiful settings. I'm going to be a lot more inspired to build a model from a "fun" package with attention arousing artwork than on from a plain box with a model displayed that wasn't even completed. Much of my other inspiration comes from web sites such as Tim Ahlborns, Hank's Truck Pictures, and the AITM gallery, and from viewing great photos found on forums such as this one. My main concern isn't so much what inspires me, but what am I doing to inspire others. What can I do more to encourage others? I'm by no means a great modeler, but I have learned some tricks and ideas along the way, and I feel obligated to pass those on to others. As these modelers, and many others, have developed their own web sites to encourage and inform, I felt it prudent to do the same plus providing a group on a social network for tow truck modelers. I would have to say that my biggest inspiration is watching new modelers develop their skills; reliving my skill developing years through them, and watching them discover new concepts and ideas. I have been quite fortunate to watch several modelers progress from brush painted bodies and glue on the glass to award winning miniaturists. They were quite shy about displaying photos of their early works, but it was beautiful to share their progression with them, and those of us who gave to them along the way received ten fold in return. George, I know that you started this in fun, and that I'm digging way to deep, but when I look at my models, I see you and every other modeler that shared wisdom and knowledge and helped me build my skills. I'm sorry to hijack your thread, but it gave me a chance to thank everybody for all the help that you've given me to increase my skills.

It looks done, but it's not really done until your scale people have taken it out to see "what it will do". Becareful though. If they like it as well as I do they may not bring it back.

I'm glad that you're not building straight from the box. Your creations are amazing.

That is one impressive longroof MOPAR.

A company called Arrowhead Aftermarket Accessories makes them.

This is my latest project. I turned a 56 Chevy DelRay (210) into a 150 4 door sedan and put it to work as a taxi. The taxi theme is a direction that I generally don't follow. It seems that whenever it's mentioned that one is making a 4 door car that it's assumed that it will be a police car or a taxi, but this one just seemed to call out to be a taxi. I'm including a comparison photo to display the changes that were performed.

They are all beautiful.

THE INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF MODEL BUILDERS Be it known that -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- by the authority of some unwritten law that modelers made up years ago, hereby, is licensed to practice model building wherever and in whatever manner he/she so desires. In Testimony Whereof this license #_____________________ is granted by the board of Nitt Picker Examiners, The signatures of the President and secretary-treasurer thereof are hereto affixed this date____________________. By reciprocity; Attest; _____________________ Secretary-Treasurer _____________________________ President

This does really mean a lot to me, and it's been spectacular to literally watch a dream come to life. Thanks to everybody who took part.

I weathered the chrome and gave it a load. I think that I can call it done now.

Those are really good.

That is beautiful. The brochure photo reminds me of an episode of Home Improvement with the kids and a remote control Indy car. That truck looks poised to show that little thing who really is king of the road.

I want to thank everybody who is helping to literally make this dream come true. What I'm seeing so far from everybody is really impressive. It's hard to sit on the sideline and not comment, but now that this has turned into a competition that could/would be considered a conflict of interest, and I don't want to do anything that would spoil all of the positive fun that I'm seeing with this thread. I may be limiting my comments but not the enjoyment I'm receiving from this thread. Keep up the great work.

Pavel, I was thinking the same thing. I'm going to work on that when I get a chance.

Here's my latest completion. I attempted to make the Revell Pete 353 into a Pete 353. I did make a couple of other minor alterations to the kit.

Over 15 years ago I had somebody tell me that a black & white diorama could not be done. I couldn't leave that alone and took on the challenge and this is the result. The inspiration was a small photograph of a 53 Ford 4 door sedan that had this paint treatment sitting beside a garage. In order to add more interest to the scene I placed a child and some outdoor toys. I posted this someplace else and soon discovered that I could have saved myself a lot of work if I'd just had brains enough to research "black & white dioramas".

Cool idea. Now I'm going to get variety and get to see lots of variations. Thanks Greg and Harry.

That's is. Go with it. Thanks.

Thanks Skip. My problem is that I could come up with the idea but I don't have the drawing skills to implement it. I'm just hoping that somebody will see my post and make it happen.

I hope it's alright to post this here but I need somebody that can do an art project for me. For many years I've wanted to do a yard sign, and as my areas for displaying it have decreased, even a small picture, of a very happy Santa in a 20s type hot rod pickup with a toy bundle in the back, and a disgusted Rudolf facing to the rear lying on top of the bundle with his nose as a tail light. I've tried to do this myself but I don't have the skills to pull it off. What I'm asking is for somebody to take this idea and go with it. All I ask is that I be allowed to share it on facebook type sites and on my website with credit going to the artist. Other than that, all rights are yours. I just want to see it posted; hopefully this year. Have fun and thanks

I managed to post it in the wrong place. I thought sure I was putting it in the "under galss" section. That's what happens when one does things when they're very tired. LOL