Matt T.

Ritch, The method that offers the most control and maintains the parts best is the "X-Acto blade turned over" method. It takes some time, but is worth it. Billy's suggestion of buying a second kit is also a good one, especially since the Scout II kit is so widely available right now. If you have some curves around the doors that the X-Acto can't do, think about using your smallest pin vise drill bits to drill holes next to each other to weaken the styrene and loosen it. Good Luck, sounds like a neat project!

Hi Vicky, Sounds interesting, combining the two scales. If you'd like to keep it all 1/25, I know a lot of builders that do AA trucks use the Italeri 'Opel Blitz' kit frame as a foundation on which to mount many American early truck bodies. The kit isn't widely available, but may be worth the effort in finding it. Good luck with the replica project!

Brian, you'll need a set of 23" wheels that come with the fatter sidewall tires and those tires will fit on the 23" sleeves no prob. Then intall your BBS wheels in there and it'll look just right. The 19" wheels usually fit without an issue. Sometimes some sanding of the chrome around the outside may be required to seat them in the sleeves. It looks like there is enough material on the bead of that Tamiya wheel that if you need to shave it down to get it in the sleeve, that should work. These fronts & rears are the taller sidewalls offered by Pegasus. The 19" front you're using is the same as this front. So this should give you an idea of the ODs you'll get with this combo. HTH.

Ken, I think the AMT '51 Chevy headlight bezels/lenses would be the way to go for a rep stock '53. I used them on this '50 pickup build. They look just like '53s - '54s are different, IIRC.

I like that color, but have been thinking what to use it on. It looks perfect on that car! Nice work so far, Pat. Git'r'dun!

That's perfect! Is there anything you can't build perfectly? Nice work.

Another nice one from JayVee! Paint and stance make it. She's mean looking.

Cruz, that thing is awesome! Wow, that should be the AMT boxtop build and they'd be sure to sell. Seeing your build, I may buy that kit tonight! Very, very nice.

No laughin' here. That thing is mean looking! It has character, for sure. Nice build.

Wicked! I like the "broken" look of the body raked on the frame like that. I'll have to borrow :roll: that idea for mine. Nice hot rod!

Sweet! The black/chrome combo looks great on the fork and wheels. Nice homemade drag bars too. Very nice so far.

dustym, That looks like the Triumph. It looks great with the pickup. Nice shade of blue and stance on that!

They were a Harley/Honda combo and a Triumph/BSA combo, in 1/25. Those would be neato to have back! Maybe the Model King could do it??

Nice rake on this one!

Those are modified Aces Wild pipes. I shortened the front one about an inch, sectioned the vertical portion of the rear pipe to raise it up as needed and drilled out the tips.

Welcome aboard, Charles!

I heard about Fred closing up shop. He's not taking orders directly via mail anymore? Dangit. There's a guy on eBay that does a lot of decal sales, and a lot of them are Cady sheets. His username is jimheller I've bought from him a couple of times and he's a great seller to deal with.

Thanks all! Dave - I should have mentioned that your vast "Tamiya Spoon Painting Tests" are what gave me the idea to do the Met. Red over Lt. Gunmetal. So, thanks for that! khart - the carb & stack are from the AMT '25 T-Rod kit. I sanded some detail off the carb edges and installed it. Lyle - my next hardtail will have springs. I did seem to recall seeing a 1:1 with a seat mount like this, and Papafo's post confirms it. So, while uncomfortable, at least it's not unrealistic. 8) Papafo - what forks can we be expecting in resin? Sounds good!

Lookin' good, Len! GREAT idea on the red seat too. Please post a nice pic of it when the car's done.

I like it a lot! Great use of paint & color to accentuate the [simplistic] kit parts. And the wiring on the engine really sets it off. Welcome back to building!

OUTSTANDING! :shock: Look at that shine! Nice job, Uelder. She's a beauty.

That Stang is beautifully neglected, James. Very realistic. Nice work again!

Lookin' good, Dan! I look forward to seeing this one in-progress for several years. :wink: Nice color! I think the spoiler looks like it was made for it. Keep it simple and you'll have a blast.

Here's my entry for the build-off. If you'd like to see more of it, it's also in the 'Under Glass' forum.

This is the Crusader kit with Aces Wild pipes, oil bag and foot pegs. I bobbed the rear fender, channeled the tank down a little and added seat risers to the frame. The springer frontend and handlebars are from an Imex Harley Bad Boy. Headlight is off a Revell 1/25 '32 Highboy. The primary drive covers are the air cleaner from the 1/25 Ed Roth pickup (rear) and an AMT 1/25 '53 Ford pickup hubcap mounted in reverse (front). Pinstriping on the tank is a Fred Cady decal. I had a lot of fun building this kit, and I've purchased several 1/12 motorcycle kits. My next 1/12 bike build will probably be a more "traditional" bobber made from an Imex FLH or hardtail. Thanks for looking! More pics here: http://fivets.fotki.com/my-model-motorcycl...ell_112_bobber/