Dr. Cranky

Thanks, buddy, I really appreciat it!!! Generosity like this is what makes the forum experience such a great thing!!!

Oh, and if the money isn't enough to motivate, wait until you see these hand-made trophies!!! OH MY!!!! They will be a surprised that will be unveiled in the next week or so, I hope.

Oh, man, that's a smooth application of the foil . . . the trick I guess is not to skimp on the amount you use to be able to cut perfect lines.

There should be some more progress today . . . I have most of the chassis components painted and ready for assembly . . .stay tuned in for more progress . . .

That's fine, buddy. It's great help and mighty big of you to offer to help out. I really appreciate it . . . Over at the contest, things are heating up, we almost have 2 dozen people now, and this weekend is almost shot, but you know it is never too lalte to get going and add your name to the hat!!! The clock is ticking, but you can still join in and have a blast.

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet! You are lining up lots of great builds. That 55 is beautiful. Keep it going!!!

Thanks, my friends. I am working on the chassis, and then comes the interior. I usually do the engine last and then I assemble. Stay tuned in for more progress . . . I think you are right, Harry. He must have put something in that coffee. But what? What could it have been?

Other than the top, this is my favorite side . . . it just looks random and haphazzard enough to be believable. Tiki voodoo, nothing like it!!! Of course this will be partly covered by the surf rack, but we'll know it is there . . . Hum, Tiki with mustache or teeth . . .

Here's a side view . . . Maybe I was thinking of Gregg with this vehicle . . . I think he put something in the pound of coffee he sent me from Hawai'i.

Here are some preliminary shots . . . just like it would happen in real with with a good set of stencils and some rattle cans . . .

Folks, I am uploading a new set of pictures I hope you find pleasing to the eye . . . and the rationale for this type of thing is you have to imagine a teenager in this economy who might have received a old beach comber vehicle from grandpa, an old surfer, and the kid went out and bought a whole bunch of stencils and went crazy with them and a rattle cans . . . that's all he could afford. Would you blame him? Plus he really liked the work he had been doing slowy on the paint . . . besides, this thing started out to be a surf-tiki-fied ride, right? You know Cranky can't help himself!!! Besides, I just want to make Jairus proud!!! Stay tuned in for what I hope puts a big smile on your face tonight . . .

Thanks, Terry. I am going to give all the chrome parts the Cranky treatment. Right now I am finishing some final touches on the body and then we'll start assembling some of the body componets including the headlights, front grill etc . . . I am trying to bring in the Tiki flair to it. Stay tuned in for more progress.

Wow, Riz, that's very generous of you. You betcha, I want them. Send them to my home address: Virgil Suarez 4422 Cripple Creek Road Tallahassee, FL 32309

My advice to those of you who would like to enter is to do so soon, although you have until the beginning of December to get your fee in . . . and I hope you've got your build in mind already, getting the parts, etc . . . . Mitchum, thanks for the offer. If someone takes you up on it then they can work out the details with you as to when to get their vehicle over to you. Hoping more people will change their mind. It's just for the fun of it, folks, and besides you know you spend ten dollars easily on practically anything . . . I've seen you at the Walgreens buying lots of nail polish!!!

Thanks for the great info, J. I will go searching. Chris, thanks for the kind comments. Yeah, the technique is fail proof. The more you do it, the more you will enjoy it and the better results you will get . . . .

Progress is progress, and it's looking good, J!

Here's a question: does anybody know which kits bring the best surfing decals and/or surfboards? Thanks in advance!

That's turning out to be a gorgeous vehicle. Great, clean detailing and straight construction. Great going.

Thanks, folks . . . the story behind the stripes . . . I was thinking beach towel!!! Seriously, I was thinking of something different that would maybe say "beach." I think once the rack goes on and the surfboards, it will fit right in. I still have to put a wash on the whole body to bring all the areas together . . . and of course, the foil on the trim parts . . .

I think it just got cooler, buddy . . . now it's really beginning to feel "beachy." . . .

Here's a low angle shot . . . now that the body is almost there, I can start working on the engine, chassis, and interior . . .

I got this great idea to add the three basic primer colors to this vehicle as if it has been patched up by someone who can't really afford to fix the whole thing at the same time while they use it as a daily beach-going vehicle . . . Black, grey, and ruddy primer . . . yes . . . The hood was the first to be done and of course the beach sand has taken its toll on it . . . I really like this side:

A few more pics . . . including the engine bay . . .

Okay, we are back on track . . . here's some more progress . . . I gotta reword the hood. I think it's too far gone and it doesn't look good to me, so I am redoing it . . .

No, buddy, don't use dullcoat. Use water. That's what I use. A little spray with a drop of dish soap or windshield fluid and water. The you spray on. The soap helps break the tension of the surface. Then while it is still wet, you sprinkle the salt, let it dry or use a hairdryer and then you are ready to paint. You can repeat the process for the effect you are after.