GrandpaMcGurk

I'm with Harry...if that Stang was 1/8th, oh well, such is life.

It sure doesn't hurt much Harry. It's kinda funny at times......over time you tend to forget little things......for instance, although these cars go like stink, turning & stopping them is a whole 'nuther ball game. Took a an earlier 60s Vette out to have tires put on it ....remember G.M. peanut butter drive? The PowerGlide was 2 speeds.....slow and slower.

Nick....I drove that Road Runner to Big Daddy's show (2 day affair).....it averaged 4 to 5 miles to a gallon. She's running headers and a 4:10 rear. Believe me it's scary fast! About the only thing I couldn't pass on my way to the show was gas stations....think I hit every one from the shop to the event. BTW that car sold for "huge bucks"!

The Madd Fabricator sent me a resin casting for this character......... Look kinda' familiar? It's the wild mad man portrayed in his Avatar!

I roughed out the basic form in clay, baked it and attached the form to the Fiat grille shell. Now I'll slap on some filler, add a cloak and smooth it all out.

Yep...it's developing into quite a kit Gregg. If you think you have bitten by the "Gotta Have One Bug", just wait 'til you see her with the sheet metal interior and fiberglass body in place.

Here we go......gathered up my sculpting tools and rolled out a piece of Sculpey (stuff is expensive considering it's clay), but I like it. I'm going to try to show in this thread how I do it, it may not be the best or even politically correct but it works for me. I'll be doing some plastic welding, fabricating and setting this goofy build up as if I was going to cast some of it. Perhaps you'll see something you'd like to try. I have 4 of my own kids (adults) and a half dozen Grand-babies, they all would like to have one of my toys for whatever reason. I'm too darn old too build that many so I'm going to do one and make copies for them......besides, that way they have to push back from the video games, build & paint it themselves.

Here's a quick sketch of what I have in mind....sort of, I think maybe. I'll start cutting up some plastic and see what feels good.

Lee...I'll give M.F. a yell to see if he can help you out.

Starting with a pile of parts....if you're wondering about the steam roller rears, they are from my bud M.F. Let's have some fun and toss the rules out the window.

Here's a couple pics of the yet to be finalized Cuda 4-speed trans. The parts in white and gray primer are currently available through TDR. The red primer parts are the bell housing, trans and tail-shaft with both shifter locations. Shift linkage, mounting pad and speed-o cable locations are provided on the master. I have more work to do on the bell housing but these parts will be cast in resin and available through TDR as options.

Hey Steve, I haven't been taking many pics of the mold in progress.....not much to look at really, just big chunks of fiberglass that bolt together (to form a one piece mold) when separated from the master. I will however post a few pics of the mold when I start laying up the bodies. I've this mentioned before.....the plan is this: I'll cast the bodies needed for the investors and get them shipped. At that point the Cuda goes back on the TDR table for development of additional support parts depending on what you guys want. We already have the 426 engine in the catalog. I have masters (other than final fitting) done for a number of other 'Cuda specific parts.......when it gets a little closer to releasing it for sale to the public we'll sort out what will or will not be offered for sale. As soon as I get a chance I'll post a few pics of some of the "support" parts in this thread.

Dave, unfortunately my vocabulary is a bit lacking when it comes to responding to your builds. Terms like top shelf, incredible and so on just don't get the job done. When they were handing out talent and imagination......did you go through the line two or three times?

Thank you Tony, I hope to have it done around the end of Jan. If you like this one, wait 'til you see what I have coming up next. This one is 1/12th scale....guess I'm one of those large scale snobs as 1/12th is about as small as I'll work on. So what's next? I've ear marked a corner to corner shelf in my almost completed "new" hobby room for the the Big Mutha! It's to be a 1/6th scale Willys coupe, 426 Hemi with 2 four barrels on top of a puffer with giggle gas. Old school nose in the air style, straight axle street-able (barely) gasser. It will go on a 1/6th scratch built tandem trailer.......and as if that wasn't enough it'll be towed by a 1/6th Willys custom pickup or panel truck with big block Chevy (haven't decided yet). The whole thing will be somewhere between 5 to 6 ft. long! Now that's a big model my friend!

Merry Christmas guys........ I cut a section of the pleats from a Big T bench seat, shaped and bonded it to a wood base. I'll spray the plastic part with contact cement and cover it with fabric.

Michael, could you be a little more specific? Are you asking about a master for parts, engines etc. or perhaps bodies? I'm sure there is a wealth of info available here that members would be glad to share with you but your question is kinda like asking "how high is up". Are you just looking for the basics or a full blown how to?

Thanks guys...... First two pics are the drivers seat under construction, the seat will be upholstered and floor boards carpeted. Rear seat mocked up and some of the curved body panels in place. I'm going to lower this rear luggage rack floor a little just 'cause I think it'll be more pleasing to the eye. This side of the coach hasn't been sanded or trimmed out yet but I wanted to check the stance and fit.

Dave, like M.F. I'm aware of Renshape but have never tried it. You mentioned that you used 440...I assume that has to do with the density? I've also heard that it's quite pricey?

Here at TDR we feel that by showing all the parts as they go into production (they are numerous), the construction of the prototype, hearing your feedback -suggestions, building tips and solving build problems along the way will result in a production model that will give you a lot of bang for your buck. In other words, at the conclusion of this build, you will know exactly what you are getting for your hard earned money and there will be no feelings of disappointment when the packages arrive and are opened. You'll have all the info provided here to refer to during your assembly. This thread (at the moment) is being posted on MCM and SMC....you guys are seeing the final production model as it's built......first!

Yes Harry, we hear ya. Problem is, it's difficult to justify the cost of production. Sure we'd sell a few but TDR would have to at least break even on the deal to make it a worth while venture. I'm just not seeing the kind of feedback for the Charger or Super Bird to get the wheels turning and I'm fairly sure you don't want to take on the costs involved for a one off model. Yes...it could be done...in 1/12th or 1/8th, if you want one badly enough, it's up to you guys to rally enough support to make it happen.

Thanks Mike. Every now and then I have to do a mock up, push back from the bench to clear my head, step back and eyeball this thing from various angles....after all, if it doesn't have the look or the stance I'm after, it'll disappoint me and I'll wander off and sulk. Nuff talk, more pics......

Coach floor boards...... I'm going to have to put a small hump in the passenger floor boards to allow a little more clearance for the bell-housing. I don't need a drive shaft tunnel as this chassis has a stationary torque tube going to the fixed IRS differential.

Many thanks guys, I just hope I'm not boring everyone with all these pics. I know when I'm cruzin' and see a build that I like, I always wish there were more photos of what went into it......all the nuts & bolts stuff that's for the most part not visible in pics of finished models. How do you guys feel about it? Do you think lots of (good clear pics) are redundant and cause loss of interest or do they make you smile and perhaps gather tidbits for your own builds? Or perhaps you just enjoy looking at all the pretty colors?

Cradle mocked up on chassis.........

Managed to get a little more done on the support cradle......I'll let the pics do the talking. The cradle upside down...... and topside up.