simonr

The Show

Here are a couple of my pictures... Some of the hobby shops we visited A swap meet at a mall.

Brian, I say the same thing about you, it was a real pleasure to meet you at the show and see in person what a great guy and modeler you are too. Feel free to post any pictures of our models you want. By the way, from what I've seen until now, what a great pictures you took! Simón P. Rivera Torres

After an unforgettable weekend at the Phoenix area with my friends from Puerto Rico; Mickey, Alex, and Wilmer, I would like to thanks to all the organizers of this fine model car show who did all the best they could, and they offered the best no doubt about it!, for present one of the best model car shows I've attended ever. Specially I would like to thanks Bernie Kankiewicz, who was almost a whole year in contact with all us in order to answer any questions and always being at our service to help in our trip. Also, Hal, who offered his wonderfull home for the affter show BBQ..Oh!..what a burgers!...Also, the great city of Phoenix, who have one of the most polite people I have ever met, in ANY place we went, ALL the people was so well educated. If anyone who reads this message is thinking about a place for a show to visit and wants to have the best time, think seriously on this one. To finish our weekend, on Sunday morning, we make posible one of our dreams. Taking advantage we were there, we hitted very early the road to Las Vegas and another highlight we didn't expect...the impressive Hoover Dam, best known in recent years for the shots of the Transformers movie scenes. Again, thanks to all you guys there in Phoenix for make an unforgettable weekend! Simón P. Rivera Torres

After an unforgettable weekend at the Phoenix area with my friends from Puerto Rico; Mickey, Alex, and Wilmer, I would like to thanks to all the organizers of this fine model car show who did all the best they could, and they offered the best no doubt about it!, for present one of the best model car shows I've attended ever. Specially I would like to thanks Bernie Kankiewicz, who was almost a whole year in contact with all us in order to answer any questions and always being at our service to help in our trip. Also, Hal, who offered his wonderfull home for the affter show BBQ..Oh!..what a burgers!...Also, the great city of Phoenix, who have one of the most polite people I have ever met, in ANY place we went, ALL the people was so well educated. If anyone who reads this message is thinking about a place for a show to visit and wants to have the best time, think seriously on this one. To finish our weekend, on Sunday morning, we make posible one of our dreams. Taking advantage we were there, we hitted very early the road to Las Vegas and another highlight we didn't expect...the impressive Hoover Dam, best known in recent years for the shots of the Transformers movie scenes. Again, thanks to all you guys there in Phoenix for make an unforgettable weekend! Simón P. Rivera Torres

Weeeell, I don't have mine yet, but, I have to make shure I board that plane too. Simón P. Rivera Torres Got my boarding pass!!!!!Yeah!!

Oh yes...preeeeetty early in the morning! Simón P.Rivera Torres

Just one week....just one week! Simón

This one could be my next stop next year..I've been following this ones for the last 2 years, due to I would like to take advantage of it and see my mighty Steelers!!! Simón P. Rivera Torres

Thanks guys for you comments...I still have to do the horn button with a rounded bas piece this kit comes and some epoxy to give it body..then, satin paint. I still have some more interesting things to add to this model. Simón P. Rivera Torres

For a last alteration of the out of the box components, I cutted the turn signal switch and place instead a metal pin length. Again, with glue and satin black paint made the knob. Finally, everything is together in place... This is it....for now! Simón P. Rivera Torres

One of the main attractions of the cockpit is this correct great Derrington Steering wheel kit from Replica & Miniatures of Maryland. I thought to use a Renaissance Nardi one, but, it would be completely incorrect. It comes with the two real wood halves, the photo etch rim, and metal line to make the rivets. I started sanding it until I could see the light through the inner part of the wood halves. Finally, the wooden parts for the steering wheel are off. The rim was perfectly polished, but, I had to hold the temptation to leave as it is, because the correct factory stock look is covered by satin black paint. After glue the halves, the metal lines are placed trough the rim and the wood. After that a nail cutter is used to give it a flush cut. Uffff, after 4hours!!!...I finished the part. Next, masking and paint the center. I take out some old cans of real wood paints and make some tries to see which color I would use. The upper right corner was the winner, after I painted it, I should use the upper center minwax one, but, it was already painted!:confused: Final look:

Toggle switches from Sakatsu, their knobs made out of metal tubing and photo etch washers and photo etch bolt heads made everything look real different. Here's how the final dash looks.

Masking tape was used to do the shift stick boot and the emergency brake level boots. The shift stick is a Sakatsu one that I altered its shape with my Dremel and the Emergency level with metal tubing. The side floor panels also were treated with flocking and also were scribed in order to get the lined pattern. Vents controls were made out of thin wire and the knobs are white glue with semi gloss black paint. General overview of the seats area. A last time view to the out of the box dash look. The Dremel and this tiny polishing swabs help me to open the enclosing for the gauges and toggle switches. I chucked in my Dremel a Sakatsu toggle switch and re-shape it in order to make the glove box lock. Some bare metal foil to the molding and this is how it looks now. Model Car Garage black gauges faces and its bezels made the perfect combo for what I had in mind. In order to get the deep look of the bezels, I stocked them one over the other and have what I wanted.

Before the new update, I have to give credit to my good friend Dave Morton who pointed me a misplace of the rear brake lines to the correct master cylinder. After had spent so much time looking the underside upside, I forgot what goes up and what goes down:tongue: Here's the correct placement, thanks Dave! Ok, here I will go from the downside to the cockpit of the car. Like I said at the beginning, I won't follow the instructions order due to a modification I did to the body. I started painting the two basic shades for the carpet and leather upholstery. Light blue for carpet, dark for the leather. I did two simple floor carpets from sandpaper and wire to replicate the molding. Everything was treated with white primer in order to give a light shade of color for the base of the light blue that will be used as a base for the flocking. The protective carpet guard was made out of plastic sheet. I lightly scribed them in order to replicate the lined pattern on them Same treatment for the carpet guards.

Weeeepaaa, It would be great, now, it'll be better ....jajaja. Oh yeah, we will atending to that activity on Saturday evening. Since the very first time I contacted Bernie, I asked about a Hospitality or something like that to have a get together with you guys. We will be there untill monday morning. We will take advantage of being there and will have a trip to Vegas!! We can wait to see the time to arrive the Phoenix area. Simón P. Rivera Torres

It sounds will be a great one, I already decied to be there on that weekend. I hope to have a great time over there. Also, I hope to meet some of the Model Cars Mag Forum guys. Simón P. Rivera Torres

Hey, a really nice build Mike,...something different. Keep us updated on how this model is turning out. Simón P. Rivera Torres

Do you have the address for this Gordons Hobbies? Simón Rivera

$12 each or a piece? Simón Rivera

Totally agree with Dave. I did it thanks to his advise, and this people got to me in a couple of days. Also, like he says, look in the Aston sites, it has a lot of helpfull information, specially, the HERITAGE, section. Simón P. Rivera Torres