Scott Colmer

Great upgrade Steve! I forgot that one. You can use 1-2 layers of masking tape to estimate thickness up paint depending on how many coats, clear, etc you plan to lay down.

Wow, Dan that guitar is stunning. Post pics when you are done. What paint are you using? Tom - I am in awe. That room looks great. I've never had the guts to try such a renovation. Sheet rock scares me.

Happy Birthday, Jim I like your dedication to increasing your skill set. Your approach to ask for input will help a lot. Way back in the mid 80's I went to my first NNL West - also my first model show. Mark Townsend was putting out his stuff. I was in awe and afraid to talk to him. My friend drug me over and helped me start the conversation. Mark was very nice and explained his design and plastic welding techniques. Since then, I always ask someone how they did this or that. I went to one GSL and got a ton of great scratch building advice from past champions. Heres a couple: If you are making a part, its OK to make it more then once until you are happy with it. And also, when making a part, try to make it rough and a little bigger that then carefully file and sand it to shape. I have also picked up some good strategies from car building shows on TV. Make sure every thing fits before paint to limit handling painted parts. That includes test assembling parts - pin them is necessary. Block sand primer for straighter surfaces and a smoother final finish. For me the vison I want to create drives the amount of scratch building I do. I try to keep the level of quality high by sanding even small parts and airbrushing over brush painting. With that said, I have never created a model that did not have flaws. I feel that adding scratch built parts to a model increase the chance for fit, out of scale looks, and finish issues as you handle parts, etc. That's why guys like Mark Jones and our friends who make parts from aluminum are at the top of the game. They can pull it off. My plan is to go back a few steps and try build a high quality box stock build. I believe that's my best chance at a flawless execution. Have fun and enjoy the process. Scott

"Since I opened the interior of the bellhousing, I will try to make a convincing clutch and flywheel system, knowing that most of the parts will be barely visible. " But you had the fun of making it happen. And I'm glad to you did. That (and everything thing else) is an amazing piece of work.

Superdan (AKA Dan Clark) inspired me to create this thread when he posted his masterful pergala he just finished. So this summer I vowed to finish at least three major projects around the house. First up, the driveway lights. It took a few iterations (and a deal with my wife that she gets absolute pick on the next car we buy) to come up with the design. The posts were here when we bought the house. They were wired but we had them all checked out to make sure they worked. The brick caps were ordered and then almost not used because of a design disagreement. The aforementioned agreement solved that. (Compromise : ) ) The lights are inverted under deck lamps that have been sealed. The first pic is a test run before the cap was cemented to the post. It took over a year from start to finish. And at night... Next up the loooong planter. Actually 6 planters. The design was based on the pool equipment enclosure in the background of the second pick. My youngest son and I built the enclosure about two years ago. The enclosure was based on another planter my two other sons built for father's day 8 years ago. The hard part of the long planter was the beveled edge with the channeled board and then curving the wood to follow the wall. I built the straight ones first then went for the curved ones. They are sealed with Flex Seal and heavy plastic. They are also plumbed to the irrigation system. When I was staining them I thought "Hmmm this stuff smells like chocolate. That's weird." Well, It really must have smelled yummy because in two weeks I came home from work to find the dogs had chewed on some. Grrrr. Anyhow, I finished them this morning. I still have to shimming to do underneath for a cleaner look. Because they were already growing the yard and they are very hard to kill, I planted them with geraniums. Next up is a fire pit. Let's see your building projects! Scott

When you started this John, I was excited to see you pull off this paint. You did not not disappoint. Excellent work! And of course the scratch building and detail is top notch - as usual! Could you tell me if Steve A. did the graphics as well as printing the decals? Can I reach him here on the board? Thanks for any help you can provide. Scott

So I'm waiting to pull out on the Van Buren Blvd and I see this coming at me. It's sucking up all the light in the sky. "What is that!?" If flys by with a very throaty rumble. I get in behind it and then next to it. My wife snaps the best pics she can. It is my favorite full size car! The gloss black is miles deep and the body is super straight. You can't see the front but it has a split bumper so the grill can go first into the wind. EVERYTHING is blacked out... All the chrome is gloss black and the windows have good tint, but you could still see inside. I am guessing those stock rims will be replaced. This has to be my favorite car I've seen in a long time!

Hot Rod has come a long way for their Model Car contest back in the 80s. I agree, we need a a writer to follow up on the article. It is not really a great representation of what a contest and building for a contest is all about. The timing is good since we have more people building models since they are stuck ay home.

Thanks again for the enthusiasm, Francis. Honestly, I will be glad to pass this to Louie when it's done. He is pretty enthusiastic about the project and he is a really fun guy to work with. I will also be glad to get this off my bench so I can complete a bunch of unfinished projects. Working on the small details that need to get done before I finalize the underbody exhaust system. First we have the mounts for the master cylinder and brake pedal. That the rod and bracket with attached to the inner frame rail. The exhaust had to clear those so they needed to be in place. Next, we have a mounting system for the side pipes. That has not been created yet on the 1:1 so I used my own design that incorporates a chassis to body mount on the 1:1 truck and then a smilier style mount for the rear of the pipe. This design allows me to slide the assembly out and in while creating the inner exhaust. It is very stable to I don't have to worry about fit issues after painting.

I get you Rodney. I can't see ever selling a model I built for myself. I have built a few models by request. Almost every time I say I will never do that again. But lucky for me, some people are willing to sell their creations - even if I am not one of them. Here they are in case you are interested. And to keep it on topic a couple of them are from "Pro Builders" (as in people who make money by building car models) or are known builders via magazines and such. https://public.fotki.com/Scottcolmer/the_mini_museum/

I am built model buyer. Back when I had a little more extra cash, I would buy a model from a builder who's work I admired. I've got a few nice models that are an interesting part of my collection. I'd buy an RRR classic if the circumstances were right. Scott

Thanks for the kudos, Francis! Louie is my client on this one. My job is to replicate his real truck. As you can see from the longevity of this thread he is very patient but the 1:1 is still unfinished too. In fact, I just caught up with him on his progress except for Louie has a lot of his paint done. The difference is that I want to get all the scratch building done before I start any paint. I hope to have the model finished before the 1:1 is. Scott

Great follow up, Marc. Thanks for posting. I'll be saving these pics. Who, knows, maybe someday I'll have time to make a 1/25th scale copy. FYI - The scale model of 29 Palms is still up on eBay. No takers a $2000.00.

Let me add to the congratulations on a near sweep of the Master classes in the Dessert Scale Classic! Your Bantam is an outstanding piece of work. Simply amazing! I enjoyed following it's construction from start to finish. A well deserved win; one of many to come.

I'm still fooling around with the exhaust. I finally got the block securely mounted. That put the headers on the driver's side a bit too far from the body. I might have to shorted the headers to move it in. I got the exit done for the side pipes. My first attempt a bending the large tube with heat. I lucked out and got two good ones in two tries. The exhaust to the rear is mocked up the way Louie described it. It is very simple and runs under the axle. I sent him a pic for approval. I picked up some wing shaped bars to build the radiator grill and some PE radiator mesh. So the radiator will be next. I also picked up some tiny springs. I'm going to try making operating door latches.

Ira is kinda one of those unsung heroes of the hobby. He has been writing articles since the way back. His Moon Cube version 4 is what inspired me to make a body from sheet plastic. It was thrill to get to know him through the Showrods site and talk with him at the NNL West. Ira is definitely one the great original thinkers and prolific builders. I recently found a link to his collection. It includes his magazine cars too. http://www.sonic.net/~joymkrs/Dahm/ACP.html

This thread was meant or me. Lots of very unique stuff. And some familiar ones too. I usually try to do stuff that has not been seen before. This time I'll post some things I don't usually trot out. First up - The Ultimate Salt Shaker. A team build from me and Tim Lantz. When it was clear our pink 66 Nova would not get done in time for the NNL, we came up with this. Time got the Nova; I got the salt shaker. UFO 40 version 1 before it was a UFO, just a fantasy 50s drag racer. UFO 40 version 2. Once I narrowed the roof, it became the UFO 40. Still unfinished after 25+ years. The product of the last Rat Plastic Thrash I attended - A one day event. Build a model with only glue and primer using scrap box items. Bring your junk. Build models. Have fun. I was accused of being too detailed. The Island Girl. Recently disqualified from competition at the DSC. Even though it is a plane based on 49 Ford woody, it was just too far from a car to make the cut. Understandable. I knew it was a long shot. So it is in the display section. The Lo-Cal special. A skinny Vette for LSR fun. Still unfinished.

Wow, Marc. Thanks for posting those great pics. I would love to hear any stories you picked up too. This makes me wonder what happened to all the one works of art and of course The Spirit of 29 Palms. Scott

(After I read back, I saw the the CC thing was played out. I deleted my CC explanation from the view of a new teacher but I could not delete the quote.) And now let's get back the funniest thread on this site. Please keep the coming guys. They make my day. Scott

I really look forward to seeing those photos, Marc. I first learned about Jocko in a book called Heros of Hot Rodding. His work was amazing.

That was a really good read, Steve. Time to look for part 2.

Cool video. Good times. I went to the Sacramento SM nationals a few times back then. It was always from the hear those cars lope by.

I could not agree more, Bill. Dr. Weller - Wow. That would be a privilage to get taught by Jocko. Did you get a chance to see the radial engine he was putting together for the car? I think the car was finished, but I am not sure about the engine. I found some pics to post. I think the elevated rear was dropped from the original design when I look at the 1:1 version. I don't have a good pic of the engine. The articles are interesting.

Hey Bill - Did you see it run? Dobertin said he used a lightweight flywheel so the car would rev like an Indy car. I always wanted to hear that.

I really liked the whole Pro Street thing. They were the customs of the 80s. I think I have all the pro street kits that were 1:1 cars or variations of the J-2000.. They used to be cheap so long ago. I've always wanted to take a shot at the J-2000 armed with a lot of Alclad. That second link is loaded with great pics. The original Baretta had great box art. The kits were pretty pricy, so I got the reissue and a set of the decals.