2002p51

I can understand that but, to me, those things are part of the '46 - '48 Ford "signature", if you know what I mean, and they help "sell" the model.

Back in the seventies this would've been called a "Resto-rod", today you hear the term "Resto-mod" more often. I don't really care for either name, I just think cars like this are cool. At any rate, what it is, is a car that is mostly stock on the outside but modified underneath. This is, of course, a Revell/Monogram "Pro Modeler" '48 Ford convertible. The paint is all Testors Model Master, "Ford & GM Engine Blue" on the body, "Guards Red" on the wheels, and "Leather" on the top and interior. The chassis and underside is "Semi-Gloss Black". All of it applied by airbrush. The engine is a Ford Hi-Performance 289 from the Monogram Mustang GT-350. And in keeping with my current trend of "Minimalist Modeling", i.e. if you can't see it, I don't spend any time on it, there is no detail underneath and a minimum of parts. Okay, I open the table for discussion.

I switch to trains for awhile.

Completely by coincidence, I was looking at parts for our '47 mercury on eBay when I came across this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1938-1950-1947-1953-1949-1964-Chevy-Ford-Mercury-BUICK-LICENSE-PLATE-LOWRIDR-/300767644356?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4607260ac4&vxp=mtr

This is true, however, there's a company in California that will make a fake plate in black and yellow. It's not street legal, of course, but you see them on show cars and race cars all the time. I've also known a few guys who have repainted their legal personalized plate black and yellow. That's not legal either but I've never heard of anybody getting stopped for it. The average cop doesn't really notice stuff like that as long as you don't drive like an idiot.

That's very cool!

I like that idea!

Very nice.

I like to build "factory stock" models sometimes. I enjoy the necessary research needed to get correct colors and accessories, etc. But when it comes to my 1:1 cars I can't leave them alone. I've "personalized' every car I've ever owned.

Well John I'm with ya on the stance, I had hoped it would be lower too. I made 3" scale lowering blocks at first and the tires wouldn't fit inside the fenders. So I made some 2" blocks and the tires are touching the inside top of the fender wells. To get it any lower would require surgery and I was trying to keep this simple. Same story in the front, in fact I had to raise the front slightly in final assembly for the same reason, to get the tires in the fenders. I also would've liked to have used different wheel covers but just didn't have anything on hand that would fit. And of course, I know that the stock '53 Ford turn signals are clear, but since this car ain't stock, I upgraded a little with amber lenses.

Thanks guys for all the compliments. I'm encouraged and there's a Revell/Monogram '48 Ford convertible over on the stack that's beginning to talk to me!

Add me to those who agree with your color choice. Nice job.

Those of you who know me through my writing know that I don't build customs very often. It's not that I don't like customs, I really do, it's that I hate the fill-sand-prime-repeat that's involved in just about any custom. And I don't really do it well so it works out pretty good that I prefer race cars! Anyway, I've had this Lindberg '53 Victoria in my collection for a number of years now and I finally got around to doing something with it. I figured doing a mild custom would keep me away from all that filling and sanding and, for the most part, I was right. I still had to fill in some of the side trim and the dimples where the door handle went and I did okay but if you look hard enough you can still see where the filling happened. I guess the paint is the main feature of this car. The base coat is Testors Flat Black on the body and Metallizer Aluminum on the roof. Then I fogged a little Flat Black around the edges of the roof. All of that was followed by an overall coat of Testors Model Master Stop Light Red Metallic. I was hoping for a greater contrast between the roof and the body, but I guess it's okay the way it came out. The interior is just all Flat White. I built this as a curbside so there's no engine and no chassis detail. There's only enough parts to hold the wheels on and everything under there is flat black. I would have liked to remove the bumper guards for a smooth bumper look but the bumpers are completely hollow so that wouldn't have worked. Those bullet taillights came out of my spares box. Anyway, I'm mostly happy with the way it came out and now that I've done a custom I don't have to do another one for a long time. (only kidding of course) So, let me have it, comments, critiques, and whatever you have to say is welcome and encouraged!

I believe in Jay Leno's philosophy; He likes to get the them restored to a ten, then drive 'em down to 7 or 6!

Nice work, I love those "East Coast Style" rods too! You did a great job on yours.

I'm with James on this, internet banking rocks. When we eat out and pay with the debit card, the withdrawal shows on our account by the time we're home from the restaurant. Write a check and it's days, if not weeks, before it hits the account. You can see your account status anytime, 24/7 and it's always in real time. If there's a problem you can see it and get it fixed right away. We can move money between checking and savings anytime without going to the bank and standing in line, etc., etc. I love what technology has done for our lives!

I'm with ya on this. Since just about every little mom & pop, convenience store, restaurant, hobby shop, and snack bar takes debit cards now I almost never have any cash on me. We do electronic transfer for 90% of our bills and all of our regular payments too (mortgage, etc. ) so the check book sits in a drawer at home. I bet I don't write 5 checks in a year!

You should also check out the November 2011 issue of Model Cars for some more simple photo tips.

The purpose of the poster board isn't to be the main background necessarily. But you use small pieces of it to bounce light on to the sides or the front to light up the grille, etc. Here's what I use: Those are foam core but you don't need pieces that big. I also have some smaller ones for bouncing light up to rocker panels, the inside of funny car bodies, etc. Here's what they do for you. Look closely at these two photos. The grille on the top one is a little brighter, a little better defined. Also notice the pan below the bumper is brighter on the upper photo. That's what that bounce card does. I used a main light coming down from above, a large card on the left, and a small one on the right. For the lower photo all I did was remove the card on the right. You don't need expensive foam core to do this. Like I said above the inside of a twelve pack will do. Literally anything that is white and will stand up. So Glenn, you could continue to use your blanket, and that drop light above, you just need some white cardboard to bounce some of that light on to the sides of the model. Experiment and practice, practice, practice!

Nothing wrong with your basic setup, Glenn. Get yourself some white foam core or posterboard and use it to bounce a little of that single light source around to the sides, front, etc. Cut 'em down to different sizes and move 'em around and play with the results a little. In keeping with your redneck theme however, the insides of a Budwieser twelve pack would work too!

Thanks, I appreciate that.

Worse than that is the little old lady who waits until the checker is completely done and THEN she starts to dig around in her purse for her checkbook! Then she writes in the register first, finally writes the check, and THEN starts digging around for her I.D. Yes, self check out is a blessing!

There are a bunch of Fred Cady decals on eBay right now, some are from r_gravley. Y'all need to be careful out there! C'mon Darin, you need to out the guy you bought yours from so we can all benefit.

For what it's worth, here's a couple of photos of the car as it sits in the NHRA museum in Pomona, CA.

Some of you guys need to get off the couch, away from TV racing, and get out to a local short track. That's where real racing happens every week!