Dragline

I took a customer to the mall about an hour ago. He had a cane and and moved slowly. While he went to GNC to get supplements I cruised the toy store next door. They had Anime and Gundam kits, but on the bottom shelf was a Stranger Things VW and Blazer. Right next that was this adorable little kit from Aoshima. They had all three movie kits there. I almost bought em all. But since I didn't know what I was getting into I just got this. Pull back motor and it's about 1/35 or a tad smaller. I see BTTF and I look closer. I'll def put some work into this to make it look cooler than it already is.

Gonna Bump this. My wants may be not quite in line value wise for this one. So how's about a drag kit? If you really want this show me what you have to trade and we can go from there. I'll give it a week or so. If no bites I'll put it in the queue.

Gorgeous build on every respect. Truly fantastic.

Nope. What you need is a deep paint job. Watching this one 🍿

Another great kit from Tamiya. Looks like you are crushing it.

My 2010 Chrysler Sebring's battery is in the fender well on the driver's side. Pull the wheel and the the plastic panel. It's on a tray that slides out and allows access.

Most of us of a certain age remember this kit quite fondly. Monogram was in the throes of a revival of sorts at the time of this kits release. This kit and the Hemi Cuda were at the center of that revival. Gonna be a great color combo. Looking good already.

This is one of those projects that has been on and off my bench more times than I care to think. I am currently stripping the wheels in preparation for primer. Over the years I have built 4 or 5 of these. Some were for a certain person, a couple ended up somewhere else. They always impress and that's why they tend to leave. I can be generous at times with my builds. I have given many away over the years. My brother Rick has my entire Dave Deal collection at his house. I visit it now and then. My late Father had two display cabinets full of my builds going back decades. They were returned to me only to get redistributed amongst my brothers and cousins. In a way I am flattered. In another I am annoyed. This car is in it's final stages. Time to button it and my 246 Dino up for good. This kit has always impressed me with its brakes and suspension parts. They are truly impressive when finished. I have other EM projects sitting awaiting the plastic to be ripped off and sanding sticks and primer to start flying. Some go faster than others. I can build the Porsche 930 In a couple of weeks with a nice result. But for some reason a Ferrari of any type will take far longer.

Bean counters. The bane of society.

But why do that when it makes perfect sense?

So possibly? I guess it was where there was room.

No kidding! That's awesome. Although I do see those stupid 3 wheel abominations around in the summers here. This one is a far cry from those things. Raptors or T-Rex, or some such nonsense. I guess if you cannot keep 2 wheels up, these are the next best thing?

I was pondering this one. Now don't laugh... Do you suppose it's a performance- weight transfer thing they are going for here? Never mind...

US car making philosophy Vs European have distinct lines but one of the most obvious is oil. In general, Euro cars take more oil. Even a 4 cylinder will take as much or more than a US 6 cylinder. This is because it's a main source of engine cooling. Oil coolers are in a large portion of Euro cars for this very reason. An 8 cylinder Benz will often take 6 to 8 quarts of oil, where an American V8 can take as little as 4. That is only a gallon folks. And it makes an impact. Italian cars take thinner oil. Even V8s. Oil galley and main bearing holes are smaller than US ones. They usually get chamfers as well, while only US hot rodders perform that task. Admittedly, Italy tends to be warmer, but it's a small country, yet the US has similarly warm areas and these practices are not adopted by US manufacturers. Perhaps a small segment of the performance set does. But the big three? Nope. Just an example off the top of my head. If this was already cited I apologize. Edit: I was thinking about all this while having coffee and watching my cat talk to birds. I failed to mention Turbocharged engines. Since they take engine oil as part of their lubrication, oil change intervals and amounts also vary. Just wanted to cover my tracks as there are learned men about and didn't want to leave something out. Although I am certain I did.

As soon as you described the 40nFord I think we all conjured an image in our heads. And that graphic? It was made for that Storm Great stuff

Very day 2 indeed. These roamed the streets of my youth. OK, maybe not Hemi Cudas...

Cause they were chowing on expensive oil instead. I worked on a few Jettas and such back in the day. They seemed fine. After my brother trashed his 318i that I cobbled together and kept running while he went to his first 2 years of college, he bought a Jetta. He would proceed to destroy it in 2 years. He is a brilliant guy my brother. Fantastic career in the Army. Retired a Major. But one day in Baltimore he asked what the light for the oil looked like. I said Jeannie in a bottle. He said it was on. This was a a Isuzu Vehicross. I'm not much at all for Asian vehicles but it was pretty cool. I checked the stick, nothing..it was on a hill. OK. Put it level and nothing. Put a pan under it, unscrewed the oil drain and a drop. The man had no oil! None! The Slick 50 that a friend of his recommended may have indeed saved his engine. I went to my shop and got oil and a filter. I there a lesson here? Absolutely not. I don't work on his vehicles. Simple because I live in Mass and he still lives in DC. And that is a blessing.

You have got to be joshing me on that timing belt thing. I most assuredly would be in the nut house.

Why ask us? We are as disturbed as you.

It could be worse. But not by much I guess. As for the VW thing? The skin has to come off for a regulator swap? Good.lord it's getting diabolical out there. For.my part I am supremely happy I sold my German tools and went to work for NAPA. I seriously would have gone insane by now.

We need both an AA/FC and AA/FD. It's been how long since the Bud King fuel rail came out?

Working on Benz' like I did for as long as I did, the Germans seem to have the replacement thing pretty well sorted. But if you need something odd I have just the thing. On a 2.6 straight 6 the alternator is on a bracket down low passenger side front. The bracket is a sweeping arch from top to bottom with the long end on the bottom. It is smooth with the timing cover, so there is no bump. At the top it's even with the block, the arches out as it goes down. The alternator is bolted to it at the end. If the valve cover gasket leaks, it goes down the front of the block, rides the bracket and goes directly into the alternator. The fix? Well, beside an alternator and VC gasket, you are instructed to take a cutoff wheel and put a 30° cut 1mm deep into the cylinder head. High side towards the front, low side back to aim the oil towards the rear taking the oil with it. Not a terrible idea I guess. But it made me stop and 🤔.

It looks like another 6 or 8 bolts at least to retrieve. At least it's not in the wheelwell.

Perishable, or wear items absolutely have to be engineered with replacement ease in mind. If they are not, them there is "Malice aforethought" as so eloquently put forth above.

Looks great to me. I recall this kit from the 70s. Shep Paine's diorama and diorama tips were a big deal back then. The man was a master and paved the way for all who followed.