Dr. Cranky

Ha! I thought Tommy Lee Jones just had bad skin!

That's because you don't have to live with me, buddy! Thanks for the nice words though.

Thanks, Bill. Yes, I often think of possible stories while I am building, but then I also reserve the right to change my mind.

HA! I knew it. Go crazy, Chuck! Have fun, and please post progress pics.

Thanks for watching. It's been lots of fun.

Ha! Someone has lots of helicopters! Some great benches so far. How about a TV show called MODEL BUILDERS BENCH SWAP! You moved into someone elses' bench and build something from the first 5 kits you find! Yeah, that would go over real well!

Thanks, the three amigos are up on the display shelf for the time being. Thanks for all the kind comments.

I guess I won't have to build another 38 Ford for a while now. I got it out of my system. I think it's time to paint a couple of glossy paintjobs! I am cross-eyed and exhausted! Cheers, D. "Chip & Crackle" Cranky

Just a couple more: This one is my fave:

--to take a little break and refresh my eyes I took this one outside for a photo-op on an old Cranky "gunk" base . . .

My bench has is roomy and clean, for the most part!

You bet. That shopping cart really is one of those details that makes any set up or diorama jaw-dropping. For example, a pick up truck with one of those carts on the bed . . . enough said.

I bought it off Ken Hamilton a while back . . . he sells some pretty cool etch elements, although I don't know if he has any more left . . . http://www.wildharemodels.com/

I had to add a few shims for the thing to sit perfectly squared and centered. All this paint chipping makes me miss the salting technique where you just brought out a pinch of salt and BOOM, it's be on there . . . holy cow, this stuff is TEDIOUS!!! Well at least I like the way the engine looks up front! Stay tuned in for more progress . . .

Thanks, folks. I am making slow progress on the boom, but here's where I'm at now:

Thanks, maties, and today I have the distinct pleasure of sitting there chipping the paint on the boom . . . I don't even know where to start . . . After that it should be easy to detail and finish the whole thing . . . I am looking forward to a group portrait . . .

Go, Tom, go . . . dirty like how dirty? This dirty?

This is the boom I scratch-built last year and had sitting around. Innitially I was going to put it on the back of a 41 Chevy, but this 37/38 Ford won out . . . I still have not chipped the paint off, which is going to be like a whole weekend's worth of madness . . . Everything is pretty much box stock except for the few places where I've lost my mind . . .

Well, you know me, I can't keep a build going without mocking up (thank heavens, it might be mucking it up!) what I have, and so far I have this: I've started to weather some of it, but I am exhausted after the last couple of days of chipping off paint . . .

Chuck, you are always pushing the envelope, or thinking outside of the box. It's the one thing I love about your work, buddy.

Thanks, I really appreciate the comments. Thank you all. Stay tuned in for more progress . . .

The chassis on this kit builds up real nice, I like this one best of the three versions I've built so far . . . Stay tuned in for more . . .

Hum, what could possibly go on this bed . . . ? Well, what do you know, the hairpray coat helped crackle the paint on the engine. I like it although it was totally an accident . . .

All right, maties, the final 37/38 Ford assembly is underway . . . here's the rolling chassis with mocked engine . . . It took me a couple of hours to put the chips in all the right places on the frame . . . A dented hubcap, I think is a nice touch . . .

Thanks, John . . . Aztom, it's great you brought this to my attention because I had no idea that the trim is stamped on the body of the real 37 Ford. Goes to show you, Cranky's not all together there! Stay tuned in for more developments on the 3 and final version of this Ford kit . . .