Bernard Kron

Thanks for all the kind words. Closeup digital photography can cover up a myriad of sins ... as well as reveal them! But I’m glad you all enjoyed the vibe of the build. I didn’t know that a set a fenders could be such a lightning rod of controversy! As an FYI here’s the pic that inspired the build: Maybe those rear fenders are more to your liking, Crap’n. The car is a 1958 high school auto shop project and the kid in the pic is the builder and he’s 16 (no he’s not me). I’d say he did pretty good. The kid completed the build by adding front fenders and front and rear nerf bars. He showed the 5-window a few times in local custom car shows. Then he sold the car to the guy who had built the engine. That guy then installed a small hemi. The second owner’s son revived the car a couple of years ago after decades in storage just in time for his father to see it run again before the old man died. Typical of the stories we hear these days about these great old rods. Yeah, I think that photo is the “money shot", too. That’s the perspective I was after in the build. Like I said, stance is everything. The trouble is we can’t reproduce the sound of the car in our builds – you know, that low lumpy idle at the light, all the little rattling mechanical noises of the ancillaries turning over, and then the throaty roar of lightly muffled pipes as the little coupe pulls briskly away from the stoplight with a crisp chirp of the rear tires! That’s what gits the girlz...every time! At least that’s what the boyz like to think... After all, they’re sitting in the car and can’t see how very cool it looks! Thanx for lookin’... B.

I've gotten several responses to my query already and it's virtually 100% positive. Most replies are from long time customers. I'm so glad because I've seen several items on Chuck's site that I would really like to get. It's always great to here about people who are recognized for the great work they do. Thanx to everyone for the prompt replies! It's the 186 Chassis to build a California style early 60's Blown FED, of the no frills style seen at LADS on a Saturday night. Also looking at the Shorty FED Body for the same project, although I've got a modified Hemisphere rear section already done for this build. Additionally I'm interested in the 34 Ford Chopped Coupe (although it's for a strteet rod project), and the Drag/flats Roadster (for its intended purpose).

Does anyone have any experience with these folks? I'd like to order a front engined TFE chassis and some bodies from them but they don't take credit cards so I'd be sending them a check. I did a search on the board and several builders referenced parts from Altered States Models. The parts looked good and they were included on some pretty sweet builds. I PMed them but I'm wondering if anyone else can provide impressions of quality, delivery times, communication, etc. from this caster. Thanx for any help, B.

Only one of the Scratchbuildin’ Big Boyz can sculpt free-form with a big honker of a belt sander! I hafta say, as an aspiring member of the realist school the Murkypanel pushes my button – your eye for scale and proportion (I’m not kidding) shows on this one – you gotta see this one through, even if it’s in one-twenny-five... On the other hand, Finky Rod plays the proportion card a whole other way – perhaps an odd choice of words, but it’s lovely! I’m reminded that Ed Roth worked in plaster and both sides of his 1:1’s rarely matched – and nobody gave a ######! Looking forward to a build that splits the difference!

This is my first complete build since coming back to car modeling last fall after being away for over 40 years. I’m a died in the wool auto buff with wide ranging interests and for some reason I figured out that modeling cars would be an ideal method to express my passion for these beasts. I love what the internet, cheap digital photography, aftermarket resin casters and p/e parts, state of the art paint technologies, and a bewildering array of adhesives have all done to “the hobbyâ€. I used them all in this build! I really chose the wrong subject/model for my first completion since the basic kit used was the Blueprinter edition of the AMT ’34 Ford which had virtually nothing other than the basic body shell and interior and most of the frame and suspension to contribute to final product. I won’t go into the detail’s here. If you want the full skinny on the build check out the Workbench WIP at http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=10518 . The completed model is the result of kit bashing, scratch building, resin and p/e parts and way more technique and ability than I had when I started this build! Anyway, I have a long way to go to achieve some of the stunning works we all enjoy on this board, but I’m pleased with this model because it represents what I set out to build, and it captures a bit of Old Skool vibe with a degree of realism that I like. Thanks for looking!

This is a project I started last fall when I first got back into car modeling after a very long (like several decades long) hiatus. This was the very first kit I bought. It’s the Revell Goodguys 3-window ’32. I told myself I would build it OTB but within minutes I was mocking it up w/o fenders. I didn’t like the highboy look – I thought it wasted the nice rake of the Pete & Jake’s setup they have on this model. So, within an hour I was cutting it up! Then I got sidetracked by some other builds, the first of which is will be completed this week – the ’34 5-window that’s the subject of another post. The build is still pretty close to OTB because I’m using the kit’s suspension, engine and interior and the body, other than what it takes to channel it (which, admittedly, can be a fair amount), is stock. The hood side panels are from the Revell Goodguys ’32 Roadster. The grill shell in this rough mockup is the kit shell, but I’m using a Replic’s & Miniatures Co. of Maryland 2†chopped shell and p/e grill set which puts the bottom of the shell just in line with the front axle. The motor is built except for wiring the distributor. The chassis is trimmed at the rear, prepped and ready for paint and the interior and firewall are cut up and fit for the channel job. The car will be fenderless and use the kit wheels and tires you see in the pictures. Paint will be a solid, very bright, red acrylic throughout. I’m not sure what I’ll do about the front radius rods because I want to keep the frame rails covered up. All of which is by way of saying that channeling is a non-trivial exercise, certainly not on par with sectioning or chopping a roof with compound curves, but hardly a straightforward out-of-the-box paint and assembly job. But you gotta love the way a nicely channeled 32 3-window looks! (Click on the picture for a larger view)

Thanx Raul. I doubt that Revell ever anticipated that their big old Caddy Hydramatic (?) would find its way shoehorned into a funky old AMT ’34 Ford 5-winodw!

Thanks Bob and Jim! I just wanted to say how much I enjoy your respective websites and your blog, Jim. As I mentioned on another thread, I think the instruction sheet resource on you site, Bob, is an invaluable tool that has made my transition back into car modeling a lot faster and more enjoyable..

This build is just about completed. There’s some final clean up, alignment and detail work yet to do, but I thought I would post some final detail shots before I buttoned everything up. The interior is made from the kit interior with Plastruct sheet tuck and rolls. MCG p/e gauges and a steering wheel from the ’49 Merc kit. The armrests, door handles and window cranks are from the detail set from Replicas & Miniatures Co. of Maryland. (Click on image for larger view) The Caddy motor is from the Revell ’49 Merc kit, virtually OTB except for the headers which are from the Revell Parts Pack Caddy motor. (Click on image for larger view) The chassis had to be completely rebuilt to accommodate the big V8 and automatic transmission. The front suspension is made from the kit but the axle ends were heated and dropped, the spring cut and de-arched and the spring eyes reversed in order to achieve the proper stance. The rear suspension is stock except for the addition of tubular shocks. The exhaust system is scratch built. (Click on image for larger view) My avatar is a teaser of the front end with a p/e grill from Model Car Garage. The next post will be in the “Under Glass†section later this week...

This promises to be a fantastic build of an archetypal car from the GTP "golden age". I will stay riveted to this thread...

Let's just hope it's not a SEMIASSENBURUMODERU so you have something to work with!

I’ve been watching this one throughout the WIP. Really worth the struggle – as the build progressed it just got better and better. When that knockout flathead first showed up we all new we were in for a real treat. Too bad that gorgeous interior is buried behind those tiny windows! The P/E grille looks great. And then the payoff at the end – those terrific green scallops. Like I said – it just got better and better. Anybody who missed the WIP should really go back and check out the workbench thread... http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=9763

Oh yeah ... and I love the Parts Pack Caddy with the white ignition wires and the quad '97's!!

Yeah those skinny fronts and wide white slicks look great. What's the scoop on them?

Tight and Right and Real Nice....

Beautiful, elegant and a lovely stance. How did you get the back end low like that so that the frame rails sit parallel with the ground? I think I must have missed that in your WIP.

Hi Jody: Start with this link: http://public.fotki.com/davetoups/aftermar...flathead_parts/ It's not completely up to date. I suggest you get the RMCM catalog and also contact Norm Veber via e-mail with your specific requirements. He's extremely knowledgeable, very helpful and will answer your e-mail promptly. From your description I quite certain RMCM has what you need. Here's the contact information: Replicas & Miniatures Company of Maryland 317 Roosevelt Avenue SW Glen Burnie, MD 21061 Phone: 419-768-3648 Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST E-Mail: replmincomd@aol.com Catalog: $4.00

Got more work done on the hand built chassis. This is going to be one heck of a lot of round styrene!!! Building this based on the Vanishing Point style Pro Mod cars. the cave where I build em: (build a shop out back so the mess is contained -- yeah right!)

Out of the paint shop/// Click on picture for larger image: ...and into the garage for assembly and final detailing.

Stunning realism. What a sense of scale you have! A beautiful model.

New pics of the rat “explain†it better and make it pop. Really nice in the style... I also like the Z28 tons. Sits nice. And I dig the exhaust dumps (ditto on the rat). Any pics of the engine? BTW, thanx for the props on the 34 WIP!

Beautiful, and beautifully photographed. Such sensitivity to the subject and so much realism, right down to the in-scale paint textures – the stormy skies didn’t hurt either! Your modeling muse must be revived so that all that talent doesn’t go to waste. “Much respect†indeed...

Couldn’t resist an “in the paint shop†pic or 2 with the windows masked, the white firewall in place and the first color coat rubbed out with 2000 grit. It’s moments like this that fill a modelers heart with hope! I included a pic with the model box to remind me just how far from the original this baby will be! Thanx Dave! Yeah the wheels will stay as –is although they’re supposed to be gold according to the label on the paint jar. Anyway, next another color coat, some detail sanding and then the clear. Click on the picture to see a larger image:

Ni9cely worn and weathered look. The "replacement door" works very well. Where do the wheels come from?

One must visit your album to truly appreciate this build! Wonderful! A masterpiece to be proud of. Love your comments on the build shots.