Jairus

Okay... decided to spend all morning working on this project. Sooo... here is what I did last night. The fuel tank and spare tire positions are different between a sedan and a wagon. So... the fuel tank is cut out of a '57 Revell Ranchero/Country Squire floor pan. 1957 and 1957 Wagons and Ranchero share many stampings including the floor pan. Sharp eyes will note that I already removed the Edsel tank and tire well. They are saved for some other project and go into the scrap box. Incidentally, did some research this morning and found out that the wagon is a casting of "Product Miniature Co." (PMC) model. Still do not remember the caster tho.... I remember him as a standard at our local NNL here in Portland. He's a big gruff guy and most of his stuff is pretty good. He doesn't make any of his own masters, just casts other bodies such as old toys and or Promos. He's not a big name company, but simply travels up and down the west coast plying his wares at shows and NNL's. In the beginning I remember a lot of the modelers ragging on him for doing slush casts... but that was only in the beginning. This body came from a two piece mold and only has a couple of tiny air bubbles. It is a nice piece if a little thick. Maybe some of the members of this forum who are also SABA members can come up with his name...

Best surf board in a kit that I have found is Hasegawa Volkswagen Type 2 Delivery van. (#HC-105) The surf board is cast in resin and the decals that acompany the kit lay beautifully on top and bottom once you spray a base color. Then with a coating of clear on top of that the board is just beautiful! Best Surf decals are in the Revell 48 Woody. But... to look right you need to cut each decal out of the backing. If not the backing shows when placed on the glass. I goofed that with the '41 Woody "Driftwood" currently residing in your workshop. (Should have cut them out!) As an aside, there are many kits over the years that included surf boards. Some are better shaped than others... but I discovered something yesterday. The AMT recent release of the '69 Ford Galaxy has a decal sheet of nothing but stripes in a lot of different colors. Whoohoo, that will be very helpful in painting any surf board! Check it out if you got it!

An hour and fifteen and it is just another day to Harry! As for AARP, don't join buddy. They support Obama care!

Well, now how about that Harry. Someone willing to help out the poor and destitute photographer take better photos of their entry. Is this a great hobby or what!?!? Hey Jay... better get in line! Luke, you are a prince among thieves! Thanks.

Yeah.... some of us have to work for a living.... Besides, paint is the very last thing I will be putting on my project. Too many modifications needed still, so... yeah I am a little envious that you are painting already. Go V, go! (I am taking notes!)

I agree with Harry. If I don't like the rules, I don't play in the sand box! It's suppose to be fun and that is why it's called a "hobby".

Actually, I like the Peter Max artwork on the box best of all.... does that make me weird?

That's too cool for school!

hmmmmm, seems to be missing a couple of doors....

A one year freaking project comes to a close tonight! Yahoo!!!! A moment of silence please........ Received a Monogram Chaparral 2d body many moons ago with the wishes of the owner that I would - "find a chassis" and paint a body for this please. "Keep it as close to original as possible" were the only paramenters. Well, I am no Chris Clark (bosmek) but I think it turned out pretty well! There was a huge crack on the starboard fin. I am guessing it was from forcing the wing back into the holes. I had to glue it back into position, putty and paint. Not to mention clear coat to match the rest of the car! This is the chassis I started with.... And then with equipment installed.... Interior painted and installed.... And under the skirts.... Hope Ralph likes it.... More pictures here.

... and that much closer to the Senior dinner at Denny's! Don't forget that.....

Roland, yes! Short story is that engineering cost money so divisions in Ford, Mercury and Lincoln would share parts to avoid the repetitive costs of developing the same piece. That is why the 1967 Mustang has the same firewall and front window glass as a 1967 Fairlane. The 1958 Edsel is pretty much the same under the skin as a 1958 Ford! Well, the dinner dishes are put away so time to get busy before Survivor starts. LOL I cut out the hood with a dremel. It was cast in place and thus fulfilling the rules of this contest.... an engine has to be in place and fully detailed... (But Harry, what about those poor souls who do not have a dremel... OMG!) But... what are those ribs doing on the roof? 1959 Ford wagons had a ribbed roof that were recessed but not so the '58! '58 "long-roof's" were supposed to be smooth as the '57 so... off they go.... There, that is much better! Now the chassis pan is shortened and the frame cut to fit.... this is fun!

In this day and age of photoshop, digital photography and the ability to LEARN how to take pictures... and the fact that EVERY ENTRANT ALREADY POSTS ON A FORUM!!!!! There is no excuse for dark, out of focus or crappy photos! Google how to take pictures Jay. It is amazing how much information is at your fingertips just by looking. Gregg and others have posted here on this very forum how to take, store and post pictures.... yet the most often asked question is "how do I post on a forum". It is laziness pure and simple! This is the most lazy generation I have the misfortune to be a member of! I am a freaking fifty years old and I figured it out. My kids were nearly born with a digital camera in their hands and can find how to make an atomic bomb on Google in less than a minute! I doubt that YOU with your talents and judgment will pick a different winner looking at the real model, than will Ken Hamilton from the photos submitted! But we will never know because you already decided your bias... Maybe, maybe not.

Then you had better stay away from this one... because I think you are seriously disadvantaged Jay! I mean ... really!

Harry, (and Jay because you know better) I knew nothing about photography back in '88 when I entered the Hot Rod model car contest. NOTHING! It was the first contest I entered by submitting only pictures. Not digital, not computer submitted....but black and white prints sent to a magazine! I set up outside in the sunshine and purchased a macro lens from Shutterbug because the girl said it would help in the focusing. Took two rolls of film to find just 4 to send in and I ended up 2nd place for my efforts. I didn't use a professional photographer... but that is allowed here. I didn't have a digital camera back then because they were not invented yet, but that is allowed here. I didn't know the least thing about taking pictures but any modeler has a month and a half to learn. Now....are you suggesting that because someone has a little experience taking pictures they should NOT enter because they are disadvantaged? Are you saying that to win a poor slob who has not taken pictures ALL HIS (or her) LIFE ... ,been a member of a forum where taking pictures is the norm... ,is most likely the modeler who decides to enter but has never posted a picture in his life..... is disadvantaged? OMG!!!!! Then maybe Virgil should give every entrant an award so nobody has their little feelings hurt..... Give me a break!

Hmmmm, better get a new bread pan for the wife.

Yes I have! And the concensus is that the best builders are also some of the best photographers. It has to do with pride of craftsmanship Harry and striving to demonstrated ones talents in the best light possible.

With the widespread availability of digital photography I feel the problem and stigma of "poor pictures" is a weak argument. All it takes is a cheap digital camera set on "macro" mode with as much lighting as possible. How can anyone go wrong there?

And you are now on my ignore list.... George, never said I was going to do a Squire... but it is always in the back of my mind, however that would take another 4 or 5 days to sand and then replace the pretty-nice chrome trim with wood panels. As for opening up the hood, that is a requirement of this contest. That a detailed engine and underside be present. No curbside! So... I believe this baby will completely lose it's hood for a real "hot rod sans hood look"! The Country Sedan for the uninitiated is a stationwagon with NO wood decals on the side. The Country Squire did have the wood on the sides. I have not decided one way or another... but rest assured, this will have at least one mis-matched door from one or the other car!

I can only spend a couple of hours each evening on it. So I have to work smart and plan everything out carefully! Last night I assembled the front and rear suspension. Then determined where the chassis needs to be shortened. Wagons were on shorter wheelbases than the sedans in 1958. I have determined that 3/16" needs to come out of the center and 1/8" to 3/16" out of the rear for the Edsel donor chassis to fit correctly. Later I'll post some pictures. For now I gotta get to work!

Well, I suppose V is going to drag me back into modeling with this little project. Secretly, I have been wanting some reason - any reason, to do a Rat Rod and so... here I am. Joining you nuts building yet another dust catcher. The inspiration for this project is this image I pulled off the Internet many years ago and the source of the title: "Surf Rat Wagon". The car is of course a 1963 Ford Country Squire. A project that I started working on many years ago but languishes in a box like many other unfinished projects. However, because the cut off is 1962.... and the fact that it is not a new project makes this a verboten entry.... the search continued through the shelves here in the Watson studio. That was until I re-descovered something that I had been saving for just such an emergency! The resin 1958 Ford Country Sedan is.... rough to say the least. Will need lots of modification and fixing were I to try to make this a replica stock. A little modification if it were a Hot Rod... BUT, slap a little paint on it and we have a great SURF RAT ROD!! MUUUUAHAAHAHAHAHAH... (cough) ahhahahahaha.... A 1958 Edsel kit gives up it's frame, floor, suspension, inner fenderwells and lots of little bits too numerous to mention.... A proper hot rod needs a good engine that exudes testosterone through at least 8 zoomy pipes... right? So a nice mint Revell Parts Pak Ford big block becomes immortal.... So... that is it. Well, so far anyway. Think I need a good illustration to get me going. Right?

I was going to play too... but it seems like the premis is not totally understood as to what a "Farm Truck" actually is.

Welcome to the nut house David! We got all kinds here so I am sure you will fit in just fine.

Try google images. Just go to Google and enter "1959 Chevrolet Gasser" to start with. Then try different searches from there. I doubt many builders choose such a long and wide car to jack up and turn into a gasser. Instead picking a lighter weight body such as a '55 or '56 post sedan. But who knows..... stranger things have been known to happen.