Brian Fishburn

Big year- finally started building the shop I'd planned for a few years. The original idea was a two sided diorama (interior and exterior) made from foamboard, with styrene sheet glued on for the surface. BIG MISTAKE. The exterior made it to almost finished before the problems started shwoing up. It's still presnetable, but I have majoradhesive issues. I was never able to get the interior panels smoothed out, the exterior panels have curled a bit, and they curl BAD out in sunlight. The answer is to redo the whole thing, this time as two separate dioramas. The new interior is under way, and in primer stage, as of today. I decided to paint a couple of figures up to be Klutzy Katie, the shop girl, apinter, and eyecandy for posing with the finished cars. I dreaded figure painting, but with the help of Ken Hamilton, I found that I not only no longer dreaded it, I loved it. I may have gone a bit overboard with the different Katies, but they're too fun. And, there are more versions on the bench, too. We finished four projects at the shop this year. Note the curling of the styrene visible really well in the photo. We also have two in progress right now. The surf wagon hasn't seen much work with the holidays and a wife graduating nursing school. The Coupe Devil has recieved mtor work, with the carb linkage and ignition completed just today. Here's to a productive 2007- Happy New Year, all!

Ismael- would you like for me to see if I can locate a yellow F430 for you? I know I saw one recently at our local Hobby lobby, and I'm going there this week anyway (Gift certificates for Christmas, and a 30% off sale!!) Let me know. By the way, your daughter looks just like you!

Put me down for the Scaglietti, but the Seahawk is really nice, as well.

Bill, thanks a million for posting that tip with the mold lines, though I can't picture Chopper ever sanding away a mold line or emblem I couldn't pass up taking this picture. A couple of cool choppers

These days, I usually listen to the local sports/sports talk AM station. When I go for music, it really depends on what I'm building, and my mood. A definite favorite is blues-heavy rock, such as Marc Selby- I was given a tape of his music by Dave Young, and it's great stuff!

Just a Shelby Charger snapper that really wanted to get built. HOK Green pearl with Jeep metallic lime green flames. Rolling stock from the R-M Integra. I hollowed out the grilles and replaced them with copper mesh. I used the ghastly license plate bosses to mount driving lights made from Aluminum tube and MV lenses. Katie just finished waxing it, and dressed up for the pics.

^Naw, build at your own speed. I just said that it would be pretty nice. If you just bring yourself in June, that will be plenty. Wow, that was incredibly considerate for me. Let me think of something rotten to say to make up for it....

How rude, Ismael! I can't IMAGINE anyone giving Art a hard time for being a "seasoned" builder. Never Ever In addition to the Hupmobile, there are some of us who wanna see the Airstream done, too Of course, I think having the Olds done by... Oh, say... the second weekend in June would be pretty nice.

^Yes. The roof is 100% '59 Caddy, it just happens to have come from two of them. And that Chevy is VERY nice.

^ Coupe Devil is looking (at this point) like it's going to be HOK blue pearl with some subtle flamework. The engine is going to remain the 390 Caddy mill, but with a more show worthy induction system. There are a few things yet undecided, such as rolling stock. Does anyone have any suggestions?

These pictures will hopefully be the last you see of the exterior diorama like this. Gluing strene to foamboard isn't the best way to do a diorama, so i'm going to start fresh with the interior, and when it's presentable, i'll deconstruct the exterior and redo it. Hopefully, it will look identical, minus the curling edges! On to the cars: Katie is fully recovered from her latest mishap, and has been working hard- this Charger is almost finished. The surf wagon stalled and almost died with problems in the black paint. We're pushing forward, though it won't be as good as envisioned. Katie looks ready for the beach already. Thanks to K-Dog for the pinstriping! Coupe Devil recieved its' final revision on the fins, and is moving forward in the interior and engine

I have a couple of the RG 427 Ford motors for future projects. Looking at the kits, they look to be spectacular. The idea of treating the engine as a model in itself is a pretty good one. They are very detailed, and can yield very nice results if proper care is taken.

First off, we apologize for our absence the last couple of months. We've had a couple of major problems. The first problem is with our building. We may have to abandon it for new digs. We've been fighting issues with it right and left, but there is finally some progress on Coupe Devil and the Surf Wagon Coupe Devil Surf Wagon It's too glossy at this point, but decals silver on flat surfaces. I'll fix the shine afterward. And, the other problem that's slowed everything way down- I learned why they refer to Katie as KLUTZY Katie. She was checking out a beater car as a possible future project when she stepped into a hole, and landed wrong. She'll be back at work soon, and things will be back to normal.

I have a Hobby Lobby close, if that is of any assistance

She is, Art- just wait and see. I just wanted to see how she could do on something that didn't matter as much. And, she DID spill a gallon of silver basecoat. She's living up to her nickname, that's for sure.

The pictures were indeed shot outdoors. Luckily 1;1 sunlight works fine in 1:25 scale Thanks for the kind words!!!!

Bill- coming from you, that means a lot to me!!

I wonder why I posted pics in another forum here the same way, and it worked fine. Oh well, now I know.

I wanted to see how well Katie can paint, so I gave her an open P.O. at the paint supplier, and the old shop truck. Here's what she did with it. I scratched a rudimentary rear suspension so it would squat a bit with a trailer hooked up So, what do you guys think? Has she redeemed herself as being more than just eye candy? Keep her on?

Hello, all. Most of you know me, or of me. I'm not leaving the other boards I frequent, but I'll be popping in here, as well. I'm finding myself spending more time at the bench than the computer lately, and I'm liking it a lot. Still, I'll be popping in to see what everyone is doing, give or take a tip or two, and show you all what Katie and I are up to at the Distinctive Motors shop- We should be rolling out a new project this weekend, if all goes well. Brian