Dragline

My Build.

Love this build. I built the glue kit some years back. Iconic is an overused term but certainly applies to this car.

THAT is a great resurrection! Those neck through Kramer's are very nice fiddles. And that Kramer Floyd is also a great unit. I usually only like actual Floyds since repros are usually junk [IE: Charvel/Jackson et all] but the Kramer ones were nice. They have hardened saddles which helps transfer vibration. That FU block was a great idea as well. I replaced the anemic ones on my Jackson Warrior and ESP Horizon III and it helped them sing right away. I'm not one for thinking woods have any bearing on electric guitar tone. I'm of the school that has figured out construction and pick ups are the only real shapers of electric guitar tones. You went all out with copper shielding which really helps with passive Pups and interference. Just a great overall re-do and classy to boot. Now if I can just get to that old Jackson I have. Non locking Floyd and the whole bit. That will definitely be this summer though.

Both of those are super nice guys. I'd be proud to own either one. This guitar started life as an idea to build a Super Strat with a stripped own aesthetic. To that end I purchased the body somewhere on-line. A big piece of Mahogany with single bridge HB and recessed Floyd. The neck is an eBay item that had the reverse head stock and Floyd clamp I needed. Bridge is an eBay sourced 80's Floyd that needed some love. A set of Grovers and Lace Hemi HB with hardlined Vol knob round it out. I went with a nearly flat finish to give it the Evil look I was going for. It screams like a Banshee in the night for sure. While i didn't build my 1985 Explorer I sure have customized it over the years. At this time all that is original is the wood and the paint on the face of the head stock. This guitar has had several paint jobs in the years since I purchased it new. It started white with the usual hardware when I upgraded it to the Kahler in 1986. That's a PAF Kahler as they hadn't even been awarded the patent at that time. It currently has an EMG Het Set in it and the paint is Martin Senour Sunset Orange Metallic that a friend applied 3 years ago. I went with the Gibson Custom Shop V on the back of the neck because i like the Tung Oil finish on the back of the neck. Over the years I've replaced the Grover's and it was given a fret job about 6 years ago from a very reputable Luthier in Baltimore. I own a few other guitars but those are basically bone stock or upgraded maybe a little. Certainly nothing as custom as the Explorer. I don't want to name drop but I can tell you that quite a few famous guitarists have played my Explorer over the years. Having been able to open locally for some major acts and being friends with some of the bigger acts locally has allowed me opportunities most dream about. I've been fortunate.

Weathered very realistically. Typical winters in Finland look brutal.

Impossible to tell from the real item in many of those shots that don't have any scale reference items in them. What a marvelously Titanic effort you've put into this Cato. Duly impressed.

Those look great Sam. I have the 70 almost done but as you said, I need to replace the alleged cabling.

I'll post some pics later today. I went with Root Beer metallic. I re-did the forks in round tubing, and I'm Alcadding it up now.

I've never used the primer so i cannot comment on it's thinness or thickness when applied.

It is excellent paint but expensive. Last time i bought some was NNL East 3 years ago at $6.00 a can. The candy colors are especially nice.

Those are great. I need to get some of those silly kits. You did em up super cool.

Quite realistic. Being from a fishing town I know a thing or two about old boats. NAILED.

I have mine already in clearcoat. What a great kit.

I use some decal set followed by Tamiya clear or Future with a little flat base to tone down the gloss.

Very well done. For a first you seem a natural.

Break it out and build it Darren... It's not that bad. I did some pre sanding before I used the putty and that paid off. There are a few in bad places but not too bad. The bike was the most fun of all. I know you can do it bro.

Original issue MPC kit I got for 15.00 Bucks. Pretty simple but detailed and that figure is a monster to fill and prep. Not for the faint of heart. Did it up Empire style with banged up bike, but clean Scout. I guess the Empire does snap inspections once in a while. 4 days total from cracking the box to tonight. Lots of acrylic paint. Almost all in fact. I did hit it with Duplicolor filler primer though. That stuff is the best. Lots of Vallejo and Tamiya paint. I custom mixed the brown per internet reference and kinda winged the rest. Google Speeder Bike and do an image search if you want to see what can be done with this kit. The base is kind of weak and then I snapped the ball joint for it. I'll make a metal one this week so I can put it with all my comics.

Those are great . I have one but it's not getting near the bench for some time. I like yours.

I'll weigh in on the Fujimi kits. The engines have optional stands included which lets the builder display the engine outside of the car. Since it is not in the generally cramped [European] engine bay it's out for all to see and needs the detailing. The rest of the kit has all the doodads as seperate pieces and when done look the part superbly. There is no substitute for interior window cranks and underhood assesories to make a finished model look like the actual item. The age thing baffles me too. At 52 I'm craving more detail than ever in my builds. I've built detailed cars before and the desire to make them even better has not waned one bit. I also build Military and know what parts counts can be. So when I open a reissued MPC kit I usually chuckle a bit. After tackling a Dragon M1A1 tank and then going to say the new Yellow Feather kit is actually a break. Even though I know I'll completely plumb the Hemi and add a seatbelt and other goodies it's still a far cry from that tank. It's a matter or perspective I think.

Red Ferrari? They do look nice in Rosso Corsa don't they?

Nice Prancing Horse.

Save of the month.

Crazy Cool Briz

Here is the fret. Comes with exhaust tips as well. Nice scripts in there as well. I think there are even some for the door jams.

There is a PE fret for it. When I bought mine I ordered it at the same time. Wanna see it? I'll snap a pic...