David G.

Looks good!

Excellent work! Great color choice and the interior detail is fantastic!

Interesting, what do plan to do with it?

Looking good! Is that putty on the frame and splash guard going to be gunky dirt-rust?

The blue color, and smooth paint, show much better!

Excellent work! Are you sure you aren't a model railroader, or military modeler? Hey, guys- he builds trains and tanks! GET HIMMMM!!!!

Very cool! Excellent metallic finish.

Most of my cars were old and worn out when I got them. For many of the cars I've owned, my driveway was the last stop on the way to the scrap yard. The joys of being one of the working poor.

I've been looking for a '98 some time- all I've been able to find is a '93. I finally came to the conclusion that I'd have to convert the '93 to a '98. As others have said, It seems to mostly involve modifying the grille, headlights, interior and dashboard. If some photos of a '98 would help, I'd be happy to snap a few and send them to you or post them here.

Don't forget that Oprah has bailed on the city too. Where's Omni Consumer Products when you need them?

Ah, that makes more sense! I was trying to envision how they could be used to enhance traction or something like that!

I have a question about this kit. I know it's fairly common for model companies to reissue kits in configurations and make-ups, thus including parts that don't get used in all the versions. This kit has a few of those, most of which I recognize. There are, however, two parts that I don't recognize. I know a bit about cars and hot rods, etc, but these have me stumped. My best guess is that they have something to do with the rear axle and/or suspension. I don't plan on using them, so this isn't a maker-breaker, I'm just curious. Thanks, David G.

Very nice! Solid, clean and good paint work.

You don't see too many 4-door hot rods. Very cool, and very well done.

I agree, your interior detail is great. I'd love to see some body work when you get more done.

I think for most drivers who have been forced into such situations, it wasn't a matter of machismo or having brass, copper or even titanium "stones." Trust me, I hated having to drive a worn out, broken down, unreliable car. It was an embarrassment and had nothing to do with having clouded judgement or being macho. I knew what I was doing was risky and hated having to do it, but having no money to properly repair the car, let alone replace it, I had to do it. Also, I am in no way trying to promote the operation of unsafe vehicles on our roads and highways. However, almost everybody has had to drive a car that in less than optimal operating condition, or has had to affect temporary or sub-standard repairs on a car. For most of us, this is a shared experience, an example of "American persistence in the face of adversity." I was merely trying to tap into this cultural commonality solely for its amusement and entertainment value. Nothing more than that. Regards, David G.

Awesome work! A little tweek to the lighting would push these photos into the "can't tell it from the real thing" area. Don't get me wrong, as I said, these models and pics are awesome and well beyond my skill level to accomplish. However, I live in Phoenix and the one thing about sunlight in the American West and Southwest is it's harsh- hard, sharp and blazing. Sometimes it almost screams at your eyes. I'm afraid I don't know enough about photography to offer any technical tips short of actually taking your pics in the Phoenix sun next time you're out this way. But then you'd have to work quickly to avoid having your models melt. I always enjoy your pics and I hope you take this suggestion in the spirit in which it was offered. Thanks, David G.

Very cool! This reminds me of some of the locally built entries I used to see at the car shows back in the '70s. It looks very home made- in a good way.

Nice brass work! What kind of soldering gun do you use? Also, do you have a jig or just eyeball everything?

I think Rat Fink is causing all the cars to go wacky. It seems to have started at about the same time he showed up. Rat Fink has always caused cars to go all wacky, and it would seem that these cars don't want to get "wacky'd" so they're trying to flee in terror. Unfortunately, being trapped in those little boxes, all they can do is spin frantically around in a fruitless attempt to escape.

Wow! That looks just like the old Ventura I had- a '71. Mine had a straight-6 250 in it though. I doubt mine would have done a quarter mile in 13 minutes!

A bit of an update: I've got the undercarriage mostly done, complete with glass packs and lengthened driveshaft installed. Obviously, I have yet to blacken the fender wells. I've also got the gritty rusties about where I want them. As always, thanks for taking the time to look, and feel offer tips, comments and/or critiques. Thanks, David G.

I was talking with a co-worker the other day and was telling him the story of a 1971 Pontiac Ventura that I owned long ago. I was telling him about how I "fixed" the car when the metal around one of the rear upper shock absorber mounting points rusted away allowing the shock to push up into the trunk, causing the car to list to one side. What I did was lift the rear of the car with a jack allowing the shock absorber to drop outside the trunk. I then placed a circular saw blade over the hole then, from under the car, I positioned the shock mounting point as close as I could to its stock location. The next step was to pound a piece of 4 X 4 lumber that I had measured and cut to the proper length, in between the floor of the trunk and the rear package shelf. I crossed my fingers as I lowered the jack and let the car gradually begin to once again, bear its own weight. There were some tense moments and more than a few unnerving metallic creaks, groans, snaps and pings as the car settled back onto its own suspension. But it held! and I drove it that way nearly four more years. I figured there have got to be others out there who have had to drive unsafe vehicles from time to time who'd like to share their stories. feel free to add your story! Regards, David G.

Looks super smooth and minty (green) fresh!

Very cool. Too bad the deep blue doesn't show that well in the pics. I bet it looks real good in person.