Dr. Cranky

One more thing, J--since it looks like you are gonna keep luring us back to your workbench . . . would you mind posting a couple of pictures of what the space you work in looks like? Thanks . . .

Jairus, that's looking great. I love the information on Z-ing the frame, but wonder why you are doing it so close to the front suspension? I find it very interesting indeed . . . I'm amazed that you got it to go lower by simply only Z-ing the front end of the frame . . . Keep it going, buddy . . . heck NO we're not bored or tired of looking over your shoulder!!!

My middle name is Grasshopper! I will wait and be patient but eventually you will have to cough up some eye candy for your fans! Cooking does take time, but also think about how nourishment will keep you young, healthy, and wise--AND more importantly, give you lots of energy to keep building. You know it doesn't surprise me you've changed your mind on some of these elements on this build because like the best builders, you are one partsbox scavenger if there was ever one!!! And I mean that with the utmost respect and sincerity!

Man, I popped some popcorn today waiting to see the latest developments during lunch, but I get the feeling you got busy . . . I just wanted to say I can't wait to see more. Keep up the great work . . . .

Thank you all for the encouragement and kind words . . . I have to be honest and say this one took a lot out of me . . . I usually don't work this fast, but this one had me possessed. I really appreciate your generosity and support. Cheers, V.

Hey, J, that is looking ultra cool. Can't wait to see more . . . in particular how you Z that frame. It's got the the markings of an original build!!!

Just a few more . . .

Thanks, Jairus for everything . . . it's been a blast . . . cheers . . .

All right, folks, if you kindly check over on UNDER GLASS, you will get to see the finished project . . . Jairus, my friend, thanks for the inspiration and all the fun these last couple of weeks . . . oh, why I have not shot it, well . . . check on over there . . . Cheers everone, and happy Holloween!

So this is the bed that I will show this sucker with, the other two will just be on standby . . . I realized that by making the bed too crowded it distracted from the cab and the front . . .

Okay, I took these pictures in the kitchen with as much light as I could muster . . . but I'm still not happy with the results, and I also want to break out my Nikon D-80 and some daylight, so this is not over . . . by any stretch of the imagination . . . I started to dust the pastels here and there just to get all that blue to get toned down a little . . . . And you know after all is said and done, I forgot to paint the brass wire coming out of the carbs . . . geez, it's endless . . . . Though the tires are not as worn as I should have made them, they are looking rather used and "ratty."

Geez, I forgot some of you guys are three hours early, then I gues the joke is on me! Ha! Stay tuned in for some pretty pictures . . .

Now, I still have to get some of the pastels on there . . . keep working the little details . . . some rust here and there . . . Here you can really see the bleaching I am talking about . . . Don't ask what that piece of mesh is doing under the front suspension because you know, it's part of what is holding it up . . . This is, after all, a cobbled together monster, right?

No, no curbside for this one, though the underneath is going to be a very strange mix of elements . . . in a few days, after it all dries, I should be able to be confident that when I turn it over, nothing will get ruined . . . right now everything is a little iffy . . . Here are some pictures to tie you over until you know, the clock chimes 11:59. You know, I should not be encouraging you to stay up late just for this . . . for all you know it is going to look like ######! Here, crankshaft . . . You can begin to see the effects of the washes on the whitewalls, on everything really . . . nothing like a little potion lotion to get things in motion . . . The wash, since it's got alcohol in it, faded the paint in places, an unexpected effect that I really like . . . a bleaching of sorts . . . very cool.

Personally, I think you are possessed! You have the fever, Jarius . . . you better call the doctor and hope Ted Nugent doesn't show up at your house . . . wait, that's Cat's Scratch Fever, not Styrene Fever!!! Keep it going, buddy . . . you are on a mission from a higher calling!

Oh yeah, now that's what I'm talking about, this is the kind of thread that's going to be around for a long time and get a lot of attention, and hopefully inspire lots of builds . . . which then I hope we'll see all over the shows . . . long live the TRUCKSTERS!!!! Keep the great eye candy coming . . . it does look a lot cooler with the tail fins and the windshield posts, no doubt about it . . . very cool.

Mikelo, pertaining to your question about pastels . . . you can use them in two ways . . . you can scrape them against course sandpaper and used the powder and apply it gently with a brush . . . or you can thin them into light washes with a little alcohol water combo. I like to use both forms . . . sometimes I also apply it with the tip of my finger of if the surface is flat, I will rub the pastel directly and then smudge with a brush and/or fingertip.

Thanks, gents, I stayed up late last night and got up too late this morning, but I am still on schedule . . . last night I fitted an extended driveshaft and the whole thing lines up nicely . . . I really want to say thanks to everyone who stuck around and cheerlead . . . and the best part of this is that it sounds like it has inspired Jairus and a few of you into building a monster of your own. I can't wait to see what you guys build!!! Cheers.

Oh man, J, this is going to be a real treat, and yes, please use this thread to catalogue and archive all the building details . . .you are off to a great start . . . so, I will have a healthy supply of popcorn to eat and watch you build this sick puppy. It's going to be a real treat!!!

Between what's left of today and tomorrow, I will have to get busy with the weathering, fixing up a few things, and then wrapping it all up . . . it's been one of the most fun builds I've ever done, and without you guys looking on it would not have been as much fun. And thanks for the spark, Jarius . . . I hope the glamour shots will be unveiled tomorrow under the "Under Glass" section . . . stay tuned!!!

Here are the bed mockups . . . remember it's not a choice, it's only a "mood" thing!!! This last one would worry me the most if this sucker appeared in my driveway!!!

All right, here's the latest mockup . . . a few more hours (like 12 more) and I should have this baby going ARRGH!!! during the next lightning storm. Enjoy! This frontal shot looks very strange . . . it's the angle because in person it looks pretty cute, for a monster . . . . I like this angle . . . it shows all the different colors, though for the most part it is a baby blue sea!

SIZE=7]NEWS FLASH!!!! FRANKIE IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO GETTING DONE . . . I THINK HE WILL COME ALIVE BY LIGHTNING STORM TOMORROW NIGHT--or so says Igor!!! Stay tuned in for latest pictures . . .

I think it looks cool. You did a good job and had a one-day-long blast!!!

There should be some more progress pics soon . . . I spent the whole day working on real life work, and then I just got home . . . so stay tuned in for a progress report. I better book it if I still plan to unveil this sucker tomorrow for Holloween!!! Waiting for a good lightnin' storm, you know!!!