CraigDaModeler

Congrats Mr. Raisin! Your trophy case must be filling up!

Thanks to all those Birmingham guys, they hosted anoter great show. Congrats to all the Top 15 winners and other award winners! The model show was only half the fun of being there!! Enjoy the photos! BIRMINGHAM CLASSIC 2009 PHOTOS

Yes they are MRC. I picked these and some Craggar 5 Spoke sets at a model contest a few years ago for cheap!

Hey I built one of those once! Great work yet again Mr. Rasin! Your show room must be getting crowded by now!

Thanks Steve, It has been so long ago I actually did the painting, I don't recall exactly the name of the color. I can tell you it is a HOC candy color shot over a gloss black base coat. After a few lacquer clear coats, I shot a couple more clear coats with blue/green pearl powder then top that with about 8 more clear coats. I am very pleased with the color & finish.

It has been about 3 years since I had spent any serious time building. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005 I completed two projects I had on the bench and started this ElCamino project. That was early 2006. I did the mock up and motivation started to slip. Every now and then I would sit at the bench but the more time passed the less interested I became. So over the past 3 years the hobby was nearly non-existent to for me, not just the building but not going to any model events either. The only contact was occasional visits here. The past few weeks were like the ‘old days’ for me, spending all free time at the bench. Some thanks must go out to Steve Boutte and the upcoming B’ham show. We both missed the trip last year for the first time in many years going together. While I did not expect to finish this project as I did not expect to maintain the motivation. One thing is for sure, the ‘use it or lose it’ mantra applies to model building skills. The little bit of skills I had been acquiring over the 8 years or so of serious build are definitely all rusted over and it shows in this project. There were many times I was ready to scrap this project but pressed on with the mindset this would be the one to brush up on those lost skills. It may take a couple more builds to re-hone those skills but this is a start. So here is my first completed model after the 3 year motivational slump, These are quick ‘snap shots’ as I just finished it and wanted to share (as part of the re-motivation process…LOL). I will get some better photos and post them at a later date. Looking at the photos I see a few things that need tweaking! Go here to see a few more images: A FEW MORE PHOTOS Thanks for Looking Craig

Yes...and pop it did!! Very nice! Super smooth paint! Exellent clean build, interior very nicely done as well!

Go Speed Racer, GO! Chim Chim would be proud!

This truck is painted with Testors Beret Green....…the most dead flat color I have ever seen. With a topcoat of Testors Clear I got exactly the color I was looking for. I built this just a couple years after I got into the hobby (started building in 1998 at the age of 38). For quite a while I thought it was a dang pretty good build. I look at it now and realize just how far I have come since then. When I was selecting these photos, the very first thing that caught my eye was those two HUGE mold marks under the hood. I may just have to do something about that! Certainly not my best work but this one has "the look" IMHO. I need to bring it out to my photo spot for some better in scale images one of these days. Thanks for looking 60 Chevy Build Up Photos Here

Don’t you hate it when just after finishing a nicely detailed build…say a 65 Impala Convertible……..and you are all excited you got it done for that contest the next day…….and you are just doing a little final polishing/cleaning before packing it to go to said contest……..then watching as if in slow motion fall from your hand……then back to real time speed as it slams on to the tile floor top side down busting into pieces….don’t you hate when that happens…..I sure did when it happened to me! I ended up having to get another kit to replace the windshield and frame. Then I decided I could do a better paint job so I did that too (the first paint job I did one of those gluing the finger to the body tricks). After it was all back together, it did turn out better than the original so I guess it happened for a reason.

Here’s one for ya. One of last builds (over two years ago) I was putting the finishing touches on the 53 Ford Crestline. After getting the V8 photo etch on one side and I applied the future to the other V8, picked up the model to position reached down to grab the tweezers with the V8 PE part and it was gone! After two hours of searching every inch of model table, floor, every piece of clothing I was wearing I gave up and took the installed V8 off. This model went to at least two model contests like that. Time past…..I was getting my model entries ready for the Birmingham show and there on my bench nearly in plain site appears the missing V8! All I could figure out was it had somehow fallen on a rag (old T shirt) and remained there even though at the time I inspected every rag for the thing. So this ended up all ok in the end as I managed to not loose or misplace the other one over those months. When it comes to these mysterious missing parts it only proves the existence of black holes! Here is a current situation I have. By now those who have read my “re-entry to building post†knows I have been away for over two years. Well I had a project underway and in those past two or so years I have done bits and pieces here and there. Cutting to the chase, I am currently in search of the two rear shocks I modified and worst than that, I can’t find the entire PE set I have for it. I found the packaging as I cut a couple things from it but cannot find the dang thing! I May have to start another project to these items decide to resurface. BTW-I have been doing at least something on this project nearly every night for the past week of so. IF this keeps up, I may find myself back in the modeling hobby after all!!

WoW!! Awesome work Tom. That color scheme just looks right! Have fun at the show and good luck.

So close you can taste it huh? Looking good, chassis & interior very nice.

Very Sharp!! Nice clean crisp build! I checked out for photobucket, the photo of the body tilted in the light.......man that paint looks mighty fine.

Very nice!!!!!! More pictures wanted for sure!

So let me get this straight, you are saying the quality of your builds would be no different given a two week, two month or two year time frame? Hmm this is very telling!

Man I been reading this thread laughing all way through! evilone, this quote above got to me the most. I went back and looked at a couple of your posts to get look at your skills. How can you expect anyone to offer any kind of detailed critique when every image so out of focus? One can barely identify the model subject much less any details. Taking digital photos is rocket science and with the ability to re-shoot until you get a clear image no one should ever be posting up fuzzy photos. I would be more than happy to give you and anyone else an honest critique on any technical issues of any build (not subject matter issues) but dang I have to be able to see clearly what is in the photos. I have stated in another post that I generally do this via email and not on the message board. BTW I am one of those “old farts†you referred to and like other have stated here, there is no way in just two months I could produce my best work especially for a “competition†quality model. Heck I need nearly two months just to complete a basic paint job doing it properly! Here is the only thing I got that would come close to a low rider. This was a “quick build†that took about 4 or 5 months to complete. (Sorry for the repeat to those who saw this in the Under Glass section as I just posted it a few days ago).

Ismael, Beautiful Work! I would never try and tackle a project like this! You are da corvette man!!

Nice clean build. How about getting some outdoor shots to light up that piant? Love that color scheme!

This is a very easy base to make. It is a peice of plywood with scale gravel glued on (model railroad stuff). This one is getting kinda shabby, the next one I make will be a litlle bigger for more forground when photographing. Here is a closer shot of the board.

This is one of my very few truly satisfying builds, my 66 Camino. Nothing really special it is a curbside…no engine installed or chassis detail. I just like how it looks and I am kind of partial to ElCamino’s as well. The paint is HOC (don’t recall the exact color). The splash is blue finger nail polish as is the slight color fade on the nose that tapers on the hood and front fenders. As usual about a dozen coats of clear with some pearl powder added in the early coats and lots of sanding & smoothing along the way till the finial polishing. It has some photo etch stuff like the grille, rear lettering & door locks. The bed cover was made from the back side of a holloween yard art decoration thingy made out of some kind of thin vinyl (nothing is safe if it can be used in model building ) It is as low as I could get it without cutting the tires! Here is my set up taking the photos Thanks for looking Link To 66 Camino Build Folder....More Photos

Great work! Paint scheme fits that finned beauty just right!

Nice Mr. Raisin! Great detailing in the engine compartment! Looks just right!!

Thanks for all the thought that went into that pep talk Tim. Yeah, I did not have any new builds for B'Ham this year but I did not have any new builds last year either. Last year I brought stuff that had been there before and what do you know, my 55 Chevy took a top 15 (2nd time at the show). I was unable to make it this year due to work load. And I to missed visiting with you guys, it was not an easy decision but work had to come first. Heck I even missed our local contest for the same reason. I agree with what you said about up and coming builders and sharing tips. That is where I got where I am (was) and still much more to learn. I think I enjoy the sharing more than the actual building! I plan to post a few more of my builds here as just after I joined the forum I lost interest so none of my builds have been shown here. I know there are lots of folks that may not visit the other forums my stuff will be new to some. I could go on forever but I think the point is made. So Tim, you did not comment on the in "progress" Camino.....trying to hijack this thread or something? ps. it's nice to know I have at least one friend!!

I tried the swift kick in the A** and it did not work! Actually I am hoping that doing this posting thing, making me go back and see what I have done already, along with all these positve comments will do the trick. I am already starting to feel the drive but I have had that many times and it has not lasted. Maybe tonight I'll give it a whirl at the bench and see where it goes.