torinobradley

I love the imagry your bringing to this "stage". Looks like what I would think a lobby for a burlesque show would be like. Cranky, any thoughts on making the scene a little more run down to match the merc? You could fade the paint, tatter a bit of paper, etch the mirrors and generally give everything a semi-matching patina to enhance the mystique of the merc. Subtle stuff, just to take the newness off the edges. Just making a suggestion.

Stumbled across this site today and, as certain Cranky individuals come to mind, thought I'd share with the rest of yas. Got a whole lot of nifty stencils for creating custom paint jobs. Have a look-see! http://www.airsickstencils.com/

You don't actually need a g-string back there... Just a Whale Tail pinstripe in red with maybe even a Victoria Secret tag hanging out...

Darn nice so far. Concept is unique and kicking! I don't know what you have planned for the interior but I would think a liberal use of some "distressed" fish nets held on by garter straps across the seats would really bring this one home. Nice satin colors and maybe some bustier headrests. Of course, a multi-colored collection of garters hanging from the rear view would add some detail and color too. And how about a stocking tied to the tip of the antenna?

Cool projects to be sure. Looking forward to seeing where they go. An interesting tidbit on the inspiration car: It's a fiberglass body detailed, drilled and painted to look like rusty metal. Saw it in a mag a few years ago.

Academy had announced a Daytona Coupe late last year for this years release but I haven't seen hyde nor hair of the beast. I heard it was no longer on their site either. Can anyone confirm?

I was going to say the same thing. And when you look at what some places charge (epay) to just sell your stuff and handle the financials (paypal), the shipping materials just add on to the 30% hit you take just to sell your item. Not to mention, they also take a percentage of the shipping fees... So when you pay $6.00 to have an item shipped, paypal takes their cut even before the seller pays the actual shipping charges. I sell stuff on ebay from time to time and know first hand how they can nickle and dime you out of business. I scrounge most of my shipping materials but there are some items I just have to buy (I sometimes wonder what people think when they get a dog shampoo box in the mail...) I try to be fair on shipping but sometimes, it doesn't work out. Seems, unless you actually go to the brick & mortar post office, you can't get that shipping down below $5, even on the smallest items.

I kinda straddle the fence on this one. I am working on replicas of real cars/things and cars/things that don't exist. My current/last few projects were an Orion Pirate Raider spaceship of my own design made completely out of wood, Corvette Grand Sport #004, Penske 66 L-88, Bully Mack C Cab made from a radically reworked RC Cola Wagon and I have many, many more on the drawing board (little sketches in a big folder). In contests, I have seen truly original models passed over for well done kits and vice versa. All in the judging. Some value the effort it took more while others value the finish more.

VRM does two decal sheets for these and each one does 5 cars with some extra decals thrown in to boot. HRM still does the trans kits and replacement parts and MGC still does the photo-etch sheet for it. You should be able to order the VRM and HRM stuff from Strada and the MCG from almost anywhere. In case your wondering, on the VRM decals, you can read the odometer... Here's some of the stuff I got for my build:

There is actually a hobby shop in San Antonio called Dibbles Hobbies that is full of all kinds of obscure kits and subjects. An old, hole in the wall place that deals more in trains and games but has a lot of cool stuff. Anybody ever check out the Pheonix Follies white metal kits??? Not the kind of kits you want the kiddies around... That's where I usually pick up the off-beat stuff.

I still have mine unfinished in a box somewhere, though with a supercharged 289 stickin' sideways out of the hood...

I have a few in my stash. Here are some. Fiat Abarth 131 with opening doors and clockwork motor Life-Like Roman Chariot with no date to indicate age And a Naval 24 Pounder Cannon with scale rope and chain. The nifty thing about this one is that it's in 1/24th scale!

I asked the seller about the photo-etch frets and he basically said what you see is what you get... I don't see the photo-etch. As mentioned, the motors are worth the price of admission.

Looks like we found out what happened to those kits AM was "throwing away". I could use a couple extra of these, anyone want to go in fifths? (1/5ths that is.) The way I figure it with the secondary shipping it would bring them to about $24 a pair.

Might have to try this out to make a burled walnut dashboard. I know my daughter uses fingernail polish tecniques that use this method.

Anyone know if the small blocks in the older ford vans were 302s or 351ws?

Looks flippin cool. I love anything with kill marks/stickers... As for the turbo setup, all you have to do is explain the motor is one of the rare reverse-flow-heads exhaust carberation high-effeciency updraft motors...

When I was first looking through the kit I was impressed by the fact it came with all the hoses and wires. Now, reading all the comments, I believe when I do build the ones I have, I will just use them as guidelines for replacing them with more in-scale lines, wires and fittings. The last thing I want is some un-trained eye to think I bought the darn thing after sinking many, many hours into it. Will be watching this one till it's done to make sure I can glean off as much experience as you wish to impart to us drooling masses... Keep up the great work. That body is impressive.

Wonder if this one was a "factory approved" version... Found it in someones Billetproof blog and thought it might inspire.

Looking great! I can't wait to "attempt" this one. I have some in my stash ready for me to give them a try. I can certainly identify with your painting the louvers to match the decals. I built the Miller IMSA Mustang many moons ago and had to mix the perfect color orange so the hood louvers matched the decals. I am anxious to see more progress on this one and am definitely taking notes...

I'll see your Pantera and raise you a 6:71 supercharger sticking up out of the middle. Gotta make a statement, after all.

The Snap 57 Chevy has some nice Salt Flat style wheels reminecent of the old Halibrands but in large diameter. Another source could be the Dubbs 1/32 scale line of die casts. some cool stuff there that spec out to 18-21" but the tires are way too thin. Some aftermarket and kit tires fit them so...

I just picked up one of these at the last show for $5 and was wondering what I was going to do with it. You solved that! Way to go bringing a bit of style AND bling into the rod & custom world. A diamond shifter and dash knobs would fit right in. Maybe even in the center of the wheel (and wheels) as well. Not too big, just a little bling. And how about a diamond dot instead of blue dot taillights?

Knowing how bad___ this truck is, I'm wondering what was in that little blazer that could keep up with it...

Didn't the early Datsun pickup kits have a 6 lug steel wheel as an option? I seemed to remember having one in my stash somewhere in all those boxes... Looking on the instruction website, it was the spare for the MPC '78 Datsun. Mod it with the little vent holes and you can copy them in resin or have someone do that for you. Can anyone confirm if that was a 5 or 6 lug rim?