Dr. Cranky

Here are a few more shots . . . And here's this build's namesake element: It was almost impossible to do but finally I decided to try my shakey hand at freehanding it. I think it looks all right . . . I wanted to give it that rattlecan look.

Wow, Kevin, that's really challenging, but I can't say it can't be done. In this hobby you push the envelope my trying things. Okay, here's my idea on the desert. Metal does rust because at night the temperature drops and dew and moisture fall on the vehicle. Check out desert military vehicles from WW2 to the present that other builders have done and see where they put their rust. Do that kind of research and it will pay off. I think I would definitely do rust spots on a desert vehicle, sure, why not? About the flying sand, I would say cut some clear and flexible food container plastic and form in the shape of sand flying out of the vehicle, like underneath, and then cover that with sand . . . this is going to be a little tough to do, but check out how model ship builders do the waves and water. You might be able to do the same with resin, etc . . . I would say experiment first on something else so that you don't ruin your model . . . Give it a try . . . for the snakes, I would roll them out of Games Workshop "Green Stuff" which is two-part epoxy, or better yet do them in Sculpy. Hope that helps you out.

All right, here's the painting progress as of this afternoon. This is all airbrush work with Vallejo acrylics (my favorite acrylics right now!) and keep in mind that all the rusting and weathering so far has been accomplished with the salting/hairspray technique AND with the airbrush, that's it. Nothing else has been done to this . . . There's lots that still needs to be touched up and hit again with the airbrush. The white of the top is too close to some of the body panels, so I might have to change it a bit here and there, and I also sprayed some aluminum which got on places I don't want it . . .

Kevin, you can ask them here . . . by all means, buddy, ask away . . . also stay tuned in for more painting progress . . . I think this one is going to make Doctor Cranky do the Curly on the floor!

Very nice. I love the colors!

Here are a couple of more pics of this beauty in its salt suit! Next time you see it it will already begin to look different, I hope . . .

I went ahead and dusted a few coats of hairspray over the whole thing . . . I normally like to begin with the smaller parts . . . when I get back into the final colors . . .

Thanks for all the kind words, folks . . . I am making slow progress . . . I finally got the body painted in a variety of rust colors, and also I began with a basecoat of acrylic black for the shadows . . . the same routine I've been using now for the last couple of builds. Black really provides the best coverage for the impending colors . . . Here's the body salted and ready to be coated with hairspray. This also marks the first time I combine the two techniques (salting and hair spray) to achieve both levels of rust throughs and scratches . . . You can see how over-the-top the salting is . . . I want to make sure this one plays the part in this scene . . . talk about beat-up!

Looking good, I wonder what color is going to make this one POP!

Nice job. Love the color.

Thanks for the great question, Rick. As a matter of fact, I had a lightbulb go smoky white on me and it blew out, thin glass, so I took it and smashed it up into smaller (in scale) shards, so there's going to be broken glass here and there . . . this vehicle is going to be totally vandalized . . . I'm excited about how this one is evolving . . . right now I am getting the color layers done . . . I hope they turn out right. Stay tuned in for pics . . .

The painting process has begun, but it's going SLOW, SLAW SLOW SLUNG!

I love the color, it's going to look great.

They look pretty beat up and road weary. Perfect for this build!

So far it's looking great. I love the paint, and the fact that everything goes together so well. Great job.

Show me the money! I love it. Keep it going.

Saw this in the video . . . great work. You sure do have those flames jobs down!

This build just keeps getting better and better. Lots of fun stages and lots of fun progress. Well, at least it is so from here.

Randy, there are some 12 inch Zombie figures that would go really well with this! Great job.

You guys are too funny, sure, hold Doctor Cranky to any realistic level! Ha! Actually, you got me there. I don't know what came over me in the frenzy of drilling holes and rust-throughs . . . just a momentary lapse of MADNESS!!! Stay tuned in for more . . . the painting is just around the corner.

While the primer cures, I decided to start the base where this one is going to sit . . .

There's nothing prettier than styrene in primer dress . . .

Greetings once again, My Fellow Lab-RAT-ory-ITES! Welcome to another chapter in Doctor Cranky's Cracked Cranium of FUN! This time it's going to be yet another abandoned vehicle used for target practice somewheres . . . maybe one of those vehicles you see once and it haunts your dreams forever . . . we'll see what Doctor Cranky pulls out of his demented cauldron of styrene soup. So here's the beginning . . . Drilled out the grill and headlights and put a few too many bullet holes on the hood (it doesn't take a genius to realize where this one got its name . . . ) It took me a while to make all the right body damage and modifictions . . . this poor thing will not have much left . . . The trunk will be open too . . .

No, nothing but put all the parts together. Once you start spray (water to test) you can adjust the parts again. The best thing to do with a new airbrush is to practice with water or window cleaner and then to take the thing apart and put it back together until you learn all the parts and how the machine works. Keep the instructions near by.

Love the use of a transistor in the engine. Nice work, and that interior is sweet. Love it. Congrats.