VW Dave

The depth of the scratches usually dictate the filler required to make them disappear. If they are mild, a lighter putty like Tamiya basic putty or the red spot filler putty used on 1:1 body work(some of us older guys call it 'NitroStan,' after the original brand). I wouldn't recommend using a high-fill primer, as it can also fill in stuff you need later on - like door panel lines and emblems.

I grabbed a couple of comparison pics to show the 'anti-chop' treatment. The movie 'Car,' image borrowed from imcdb.org: My buddy Tom's unrestored '69 Mark III, snapped at my house: You could probably get away with using a 70's Caddy Coupe DeVille for the roof/hood and get away with it, IMO. I have chrome bumpers from a Hasegawa VW Bus that can be sectioned & pieced into that front one.....made007: email me when you are ready to start gathering pieces.

I'm an admitted A-body Mopar fan, and I must say I love it!! The redlines and steelies really set it off.

Actually, the real cars used in the movie didn't have their tops chopped; Barris' crew built up the sides of the body in the 'shoulder' area, covering the bottom couple inches of the glass. After studying my buddy's '69 Mark III, it's pretty clear how they pulled it off. I'm a long-time fan of that film, and I'd also like to see what comes of this proposed build.

I need to get clearer pics of the finished product, but IMO I got good results using a 2" putty knife heated with a propane torch to flatten the tires on my junkyard Charger. Like a previous poster, I also moved the tire while melting it to produce more material on the front side. I fit a socket into the tire to help preserve the wheel opening shape, and snapped a 3" extension into the socket for easier/safer handling during the melting process.

Sounds like a tall tail to me

Drop me a line if you're headed this way, Mike, and I'll check my work schedule; as a member of the museum, I can get you in as my guest.

Living in the northeast, the 'buckle of the rust belt,' weathered models have become some of my favorite projects.....I'll be keeping an eye on this one for sure. Looks great so far!

I consider myself pretty lucky, living only about 20 minutes from the Saratoga Automobile museum(www.saratogaautomuseum.org). There are plenty of outdoor shows and events throughout the summer, and indoor exhibits that change a few times a year. The most current exhibit, 'Right Coast Rods,' highlights the east coast and upper midwest styles of hot rods; a couple are unrestored examples of the genre, while some have been brought back to their original glory......and one is a faithfully done period-perfect hot rod from our friends at the Rolling Bones Hot Rod Shop(also local to us). The exhibit opened just before Halloween, and runs through the first part of May 2011. Below are a couple of favorite pics from my most recent visit, and a link to the entire album: RIGHT COAST RODS

Our local forecasters are saying anywhere from 4" to 12" between tomorrow morning and Wednesday - what us northerners call a 'dusting.'

See if you can get the I.D. measurement, and that might help narrow down the search......also, what kind of car are they for(and what style of build)?

I've built 4 of the Gunze-Sangyo '56 Beetles already, and I have another couple of variations in the works based on them; even though it's a curbside, that one is high on my list for sure. All except the green one are Gunzes; that one uses a resin-cast rear window section copied from a Gunze, however Any of the Revell '69 Camaros and '32 Fords are right up there on my list as well IMO.

After a little digging, I discovered that I still have an old resin transkit for that Revell Bus made by Think Small Models(Dennis Chung). It included stock US-spec bumpers, a stock VW nose emblem and filler panels to correct the hogged-out and flared rear wheelwell openings in the Rubber Duck/California Roller kits. ...Now if the OP ever gets around to contacting me, I'll gladly help him out.

It wouldn't be Joe's car if you didn't. The center grille and fender scoop holes also need to be opened up: And I did it on mine; the hardest part was not losing the headlight doors after cutting them out and thinning them

IMO the attitude is spot-on, but it's a little low on both ends. When I did my Charger, I kinda 'cheated' and sorted the car's stance on a jig after the body & chassis were assembled.

Good thing models don't have to clear MOT, no? That '36 really looks the business with the stance you are after, and I love the work you've done on it already.

Sorry for the multitude of posts, but I just had an epiphany while perusing my VW Bus reference library: The best course of action IMO would be to start with the Hasegawa '67 panel kit. VW went with the later-style of louvers at the same time they widened the rear hatch(for the '64 model year), so any of the Revell kits would need pretty heavy body mods in that area altogether. The Hasegawa body is far more accurate for a '64-67 panel from the get-go. Depending on the kit you are working with, I can help out for sure.

My LHS carries it, so we can rule that theory out

The pre-March 1963 style of louvers he's trying to get rid of: And here's what he needs: The upper vents were only put on panel vans; the green & blue one posted above was a camper conversion(most likely by the Sundial company), based on a panel.

Joe - Being a Bus fan and also building a few of them in scale, I may be able to help you out. The Hasegawa '67 panel Bus kit has the correct later-style louvers already molded in, including the upper 'panel only' vents, and I may have those body sections available from a cut-up 'donor' body. Even if I can only turn up one side section, you can easily cast & copy it because they are not side-specific. Email me a nudge, and I'll check my stash: plasticman1432@gmail.com

I am not at all surprised at your lack of respect for them....you already disrespected many folks here(or shall I say "illiterate hacks"?)

Benjamin - The Revellogram '37 Fords came with glasspack-style mufflers that measure 1.25"(30" in 1/24th-scale); I have a pair that I wouldn't miss....you have a PM, sir.

Took the words right outta my mouse

I've finished lots of sub-assemblies and small parts this past year, but the only complete model I've wrapped up is the chopper I built for my son: http://public.fotki.com/VWDave/my_model_cars/model-railroad-projects/model-motorcycles/the-dominator/

I concur..Modelhaus. I replied to the other thread in more detail.