84vanagon

This was supposed to be an "edit" STOOPID ME!

OOH, Can't wait to see what you to to the Safari, Dave! Ed, HURRY UP AND SHOW US THE PICS!

I'm lucky, I don't live in the rust belt anymore. If it's a bad winter the TXDOT might have to SAND the bridges and intersections twice a season. Both my cars, 15 and 25 model years old, still have the factory finishes under them. A thinned wash of grey will suffice on finished and aluminum surfaces, with surface rust on non finished parts. In the case of my "newer" ride semi to glossy black will be needed to depict the areas of oil leaks! Plus don't forget to add some "new shiny" bits here and there, if you're building a "daily driver" that is in service daily. We have to keep NAPA in business!

Dadgumnit guys, I WAS born 10 years to late! Dave, THANKS for starting this thread and do tell more! What a cool idea! . Y'all keep the great stories coming in!

Glad to see ya back sdrodder! My 53 F100 was put on hold after I botched the top-chop . Oh well glad I had a few more of them laying around. Last month at work was a busy one. We do our inventory in November and it makes for some long days. Now that it has passed, I'll dig the p/u back out, and start on it again this weekend. I was digging through some of my old magazines and found some pics of a pretty cool 54 that I'm going to base mine on. One site I ran across (and didn't think to save it, probably never find it again ) showed the white 54 as it exists now. It is being restored. My version won't be a replica of this truck, as there were some things on it that I didn't care for. At one time I thought about doing a replica of Barris' "WildKat" pickup. When AMT came out with the 53 F100 George was on their "Customizing Consultants" team. Because of this most of the customizing goodies are already in the kit. Different rear roll pan, tail lights, wheels and tires are the only items that need to be procured. I decided to save the "WildKat" for a painting exercise. While not having a terribly complicated paint job, it is doing to take some time to figure out how to lay the two colors out, and how to do the pinstriping between them. Sorry for the long post, (insomnia sucks !) I'll try to get some in progress pics in this weekend.

Nice work, Avenger. When I was your age, my models didn't look that good, and still don't! Keep showing us your builds.

Beautiful work on the Merc (as always)! Thanks for the insights on your "bus rides". I was born ten years to late, and in the wrong state!

Love the '60 Kevin! Plus don't throw the T-Bird in a box just because of what some horse's anuses (can I say this?) will say. It's YOUR build! To quote Nike "Just Do It"! Ftw!

I did/do it for fun/relaxation/diversion. My cousin built an AMT '62 Valiant Styline kit for me. That was the start. The first model I "built" was a '63 T-Bird 'vert. Mom cut off the windshield frame because I wanted the bubble top. Then I advanced to brush painting. Mostly inteiors/or bodies only. My first spray job was the AMT annual '66 Riviera (Testors red).(oh the salad days....!) The '60's to '85 were bliss, until I joined the MCMA. Then I found out that mould lines, seams, and orange peel WERE TO BE ADRESSED! At the SouthWest Challenges Mark Gustavson (Love ya Mark-no dig here!) Was screaming "lacquer paint"!!! My head was beginning to hurt! In '88 I started my current job at a car dealership which has evolved into a love/hate relationship with cars. Then there was the advent of the computer with such great sites as this one. Too many great ideas, not enough time! If I can wean myself away from this stupid computer and find my box of snap kits... '65, fun/relaxion/diversion here I come again!

Late 70's Mazda Cosmo / RX5 / 121, depending on country of export and rotary or piston engine fitment.

TOO COOL! One of my grails too. We can only hope that the New AMT finds the dies to this one again!

Dave has a good suggestion in the 348/409 Chevy. It was a popular swap in the 60's. You could dare to be different like "The Big Daddy". B.D. dropped a tri-power F.E. Ford motor in a 55 post in the early 60's' With the wide engine bay pretty much anything will fit. There are some pics on another site of a Merlin V12 (Rolls Royce aircraft) engined 55!

Yay!! George is back! Missed ya, bud!!!!!

Excellent, Dave! Zora and Harley Earl are grinning from ear to ear! I still can't get over how fast you crank out these works of art. Thanks for all the pics.

Lookin good Evil. Hmm "3 week builders block"? I can top you. I am always tinkering with something, however I suffer from: (now this is truly sad) " Haven't Finished A Glue Kit Since The Mid-Nineties Syndrome ". After we finish inventory at work next weekend I'm going to get back on the 53 F100 and the 04 GTO, for the "Custom" and "Death Race" build offs, hard and heavy! (yeah, right...)

Beautiful, Dave. Can't wait to see this one "under glass"!

Guessing model.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY!!!!!!!!!!

Looks great Dave. I'm glad you kept the w/w's and the 'vette covers. Not that anyone would consider your work "run of the mill", the wheel and tire choice will really make this stand out in a crowd. It's really unique.

1976 Chevrolet Vega Nomad wagon conversion.

Real .

Hmm... not sure. It sounded neat in my head, but I like the 'pala covers better. What about the stock 63 wheel covers from the Revell 63 Split Window snapper? I spoke too soon Dave. I saved the pic on my 'puter cropped it and enlarged it. The flash was making the wheel covers look too much like 57 Caddy wheel covers. Enlarged you can see the detail much better. Looks good . Still the 63 covers might be kinda cool too .

Too cool Dave! I do like the wide whites on this one. One suggestion in keeping with the Corvette side of the build is some Corvette spinner wheel covers (Monogram 57, AMT/MPC 60, Monogram 53 or AMT 53-55) to keep it from beeing too Impala-ish.

This thread has been running for a bit so I think I'll toss my $.02 in. I haven't quit building... my unfinished project pile is ever increasing. Alas the problem started 20+ years ago when I joined the M.C.M.A. and figured out that you were SUPPOSED to get rid of mold lines, fill in seams etc.... ! Finishing one is the part that always gets me.

As far as I know the Mustangs are still on. The current body style will run through '09, with a new Mustang in 2010.