The Modeling Hermit

Are you sure that you didn't use a shrink ray on some of those? They're too good to be models. Seriously, those are some excellent builds.

Eric I have a few fenders hanging around here too. (guitars that is) I hope you enjoy yourself here. There's something for everybody. Jeff I like the picture in your signature. I used to have a red 68 Impala convertible. I do miss it.

Those big Caddies and Duesenbergs were beautiful cars, and you've done an exceptional job on this one.

I really enjoy watching the progress on a quality build.

Impressive. Well done models have a way of hiding all of the work involved behind a "natural" look. Yours does that.

I'ts not my intention to hyjack your thread, but has anybody heard more about Revell release of a 66 Impala?

This is what I did for my Classic Model Cars company truck. This is made from one of those many "van" Fords that are everywhere. I simply shortened the frame and made some wheel changes. It looks good with the AMT trailer, and since it hauls "classic" cars, I don't have to worry about era. One thing to remember about the AMT car hauler trailer, is that it's not actually designed from any certain trailer. What my research has turned up, is that AMT wanted something where modelers could display their cars on a car carrier (that's compacted, but it serves the jist) and developed this trailer. That's fortunate for us modelers, because often the 1:1 companies altered older trailers to serve their purpose, allowing us to give reason why something like this could be possible. I don't know if you work in resin, but this Ford chassis gives a great base for some conversions. AITM offers a Dodge CNT, GMC 9500, as well as several other bodies that would fit your needs. There are also some other companies that offer good subjects, but my mind is blank on them right now.

This is a 62 Mercury that I've had sitting around for years. I kept thinking about building it, but the value kept going up, and I felt some guilt about building a perfect example of an unbuilt kit. I finally surrendered and built it. I wiped out it's collector value, but it sure was enjoyable, being transformed back to 1962. The hubcaps are not stock. I found the originals to be boring, and replaced them with some that would still blend in well. The originals are taped into the trunk area, just in case a future rebuilder ever wants them.

I was looking at one of those grocery store classic car ad magazines, and found an ad for a 76 Cordoba, that had been made into a convertible when it was new. It got me to thinking back to when the factories stopped building them. I worked for a Chrysler dealership in Iowa, and had a few cars that were commissioned from new to be built as convertibles. I remember a Cordoba, that also had a continental kit and wire wheels, and a really cool plaid interior. There was also, either a Plymouth Volare or the Dodge variant of that. Those arrived by a special carrier, but the one that I remember as being an odd subject was a full size Chrysler 4 door hardtop that was cut into a convertible, and arrived by standard carrier. I also saw a 75-8 Ford LTD Landau that had been turned into a convertible. There didn't seem to be a lot of these conversions running around, even when new, at least not where I lived. I've been wondering where they fit into the "classic" car realm. They weren't built at the factory, but were built right from the factory. They spent their entire existence in the form of a convertible, so are they considered "one off" customs? Are they factory stock? Are they "classic"? There's no doubt that they're part of automotive history, but what part? Are they considered rare or just chopped up? Would something like the 4 door Chrysler have a special place as an even rarer historical subject, or just be placed in the section of "why would somebody do that"? Where do the "cottage industry" (for lack of a better term) convertibles fit in?

That's a beautiful rig, and well executed. I might suggest one improvement though. It would look much better if it was in my collection. LOL

I was in an engineer unit, first in Viet Nam and then assigned to Ft. Lewis Washington.

Welcome Rob. I'm also on some other forums, and find them all a pleasure.

My wife got me a Revell 63 Impala SS for Father's Day. I was thinking of some way to build it that would be different. I remember a car that I saw when I was a teenager. It was a gold 63 SS with a tan colored interior. What set this car apart was what was under the hood. It was a "six". It's the only one I've ever seen, and I would like to model it. Now that I'm done with all of the dribble, here's my question. Is there a good six made for a Revell 63?

That's a fantastic build on a fantastic truck.

I think it's cool. I'm going to be starting one of those soon. Keep us posted as you progress.

It's the only type of models my wife will let me play with. LOL

WOW, you even had talent back then! LOL That's a cool truck.

Dozer, for our purposes the detail is cosmetic. Any place where there is a cross brace or attachment there will be some means of connecting it. You can use other cross braces for a pattern.

Dozer, notice the area between the spices. That's where I added a cross brace as Ray mentioned. The wrecker body covers most of the spiced area, and where it doesn't, I've added fuel tanks and other items to span the spices. One thing that I forgot to mention, is to make sure your measurements are correct. One doesn't want a truck where the front goes one way and the rear goes another. LOL

I'm not up to the quality that many of the other members are, but I cheat and use a donor frame. I decide how long I want the extension to be, and then I just simply cut the frame pieces at the desired location. From the donor piece, I cut the length that I need, and put it in place. I then use Plastruct or scrap pieces to back the splice. I use just a touch of Testor's tube glue to hold the pieces in position, and after I'm satisfied with the fit, and the glue has set enough to hold it there, I add liquid glue to bond it. Do remember that when you stretch a frame, that it might be enough to also have to include another cross brace. You will also have to lengthen the driveshaft. These are not hard to do; you will just have to plan for them. In this picture you can see where I've made the cuts and splices. This is for a wrecker rebuild that I've been working on. After things have set up and are secure, I do the necessary sanding and smoothing. After that I go in and do the rivet and bolt detail. I'm sure that there are others that have a much better technique than mine, but this works for me. I hope this helps.

I've used several different methods, including Rust-all. My favorite is simply to use various colors from the craft section at Wal-Mart. The bottles sell for around a dollar to three dollars and last a long time. They're cheap, and once you get used to them, you can do some fantastic things with them. I've got a picture of a diorama that I've used this process on, listed under the diorama section. A rough surface can be had by mixing in silica sand.

I saw on another board that Auto World is looking for input on suggested rereleases. Has anybody heard from them, or do you have any information on this?

Detailing is addictive. We start out with envy of these people and then discover how much we learn from them. We also discover ourselves doing this work. I'm not as good as many of you, but it's posts like yours that get me to push my limits.

That's one cool looking Dodge. Nice build.

I started on this several years ago, and then got sidetracked. It's been packed away in a box ever since. I won't be able to get to it soon, but I still have plans for it. The premise is that these were customs started back in the late fifties or early sixties, but were abandoned. They're now rusting away in a pasture.