David G.

Great looking paint and detail! David G.

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best. David G.

Good progress on this Jim. That dent is interesting. Dd the solvent in the goo cause the plastic on the fender to soften enough to deform? David G.

Thank you D.W. David G.

It came out good in spite of the troubles it gave you. David G.

Nicely done! Love the color and matching camper top. David G.

Seeing that makes my heart sink. Hopefully you can give it a new lease on life. David G.

Hello Everybody! Here's the next update on the AMT Surf Shark ambulance conversion. I got a break in the weather as it finally warmed up enough to do some painting in my outdoor studio. I was able to color sand the ambulance body and put another coat of paint on it. Unfortunately, the second coat was kind of pebbly when it went on, I think it may have still been a little too cold to paint outside. The paint did even out as it dried but it's not much better looking than before I color sanded it. It's time to do a mockup before I yank the tape to see if I can live with the paint the way it is. I think that once the foil is done and the decals are added, it will look good enough. I will do a bit of a polish on it though. That all for now. As always, thanks for taking the time to look and please feel free to comment. David G.

Yes, I'm intrigued with 3D printing and I agree with you that it will likely replace resin in the aftermarket parts and accessories market. I have been thinking about getting a 3D printer but I don't yet know enough about them or the associated tech to be competent in making a good, informed decision. There are several models that I'd like to buy the files for, print out and build. I'd really like to get the Batmobile from the 2022 movie The Batman. Gambody has an awesome looking file set for it, here's a link. It costs about as much as a full-on boxed kit just for the files so you can print your own kit. I'm really looking forward to seeing your WIP on that Studebaker truck, I'll keep an eye out for it. Thanks again, David G.

Nicely done! I really like the fuel lines you added. David G.

Yeah! That and placing the injection points on the tops of the bumpers! ? Arrrgh! David G.

That is awesome Gary! I love the beacons on the sleeper as well as all the other details you've added throughout the build. Watching this project come together has been a true pleasure. Thanks for taking the time to share it with all of us. David G.

Wow, thanks for the mention Jim, I appreciate that. I'm also glad that you found the WIP helpful. If I had to do that bead wire replacement today I think I might try some styrene rod. Evergreen makes it as thin as .5mm (.020"). Which should be just about the correct thickness and a little easier to work with than either bead wire or solder. It would seem that I've learned a few things since that I posted that WIP Your solution to that problem looks like it worked out very well. I admire you attention to detail, I didn't even notice that the headlight bezels were that out of scale. It looks like you're well under way for knocking those into shape as well. Keep up the great work on this Jim, I'm really enjoying following along. David G.

Hi D.W. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience. It sounds like things are kind of hit and miss with them. Which I guess is rather common with many resin vendors, I don't have a lot of experience with that segment of the hobby. Thanks, David G.

Hello Everybody! The work on the AMT Surf Shark ambulance conversion continues and here is the proof! I had to do a little work on the rear bumper. The chrome coating on it was rather rough in a number of places. In fact, most all of it was in pretty bad shape. The underlying lacquer coating didn't go on well and needed to be filed and sanded smooth. I brush-painted the resulting bare spots (there were many) with Molotow chrome paint. The results aren't perfect but I think I can live with it. As always, thanks for taking the time to look and feel free to comment if you wish. David G.

Thanks for the tip D.W. I got the gurney I used in this build from Three Inches Under and I was a bit disappointed with it. For the time I spent repairing, cleaning up and adjusting that one, I could have built my own. As I did for my Ecto-1 build. I thought it would be quicker and easier to buy one and assemble it but now I'm not so sure. I also ordered a casket and a prep table from Three Inches Under as well and those look to be in better shape. I'll know more once I start to work with them. Based on that, I hesitate to order from them again. Do you have any direct experience working with Three Inches Under that you'd like to share? Thanks again, David G.

Hi Jim. I certainly agree with you on the Plymouth's nose casting issue and I'm glad to see that you're working to correct it. Many builders, for whatever reason just don't. I built one of these a few years ago and this was probably the biggest challenge I had in doing so. The other was getting the body / interior assembly to fit properly on the chassis. I could get either the front or rear to fit all the way down but never both at the same time. It kind of see-sawed back and forth. I eventually just split the difference. If you're interested in all the gory details, here's a link to the WIP. In the end it came out pretty good. May you have the best of luck with yours. David G.

Thanks Alan, based on your advice I took a few minutes and watched the unboxing segment. AMT has made some excellent changes and additions to the kit. I can certainly see one or two of these in my future. David G.

It looks like your "silk purse" is coming along nicely Bob. David G.

Looking good. David G.

Thanks for your response Bart. It's a really cool looking kit and your rendition of it is excellent. I may have to see about getting and building one for myself. David G.

It does have more eye-appeal with the changes you've made. Subtlety is the key. David G.

Thanks for sharing the photos John. It is a recognizable rendition though rather blocky and toy-like. To bring it up to what I would consider acceptable would take more work than I'm capable of. Or at least willing to currently take on. I do like the mistranslation on the box, "Best oner car in the world." Did they mean "one", "owner" or "motor"? it seems like they hit on elements of all three words. Thanks, David G.

Thank you Randy. Yeah, the gurney was a bit of a challenge but I'm glad it's in there. Thank you for your kind comment Alan. In addition to making a newly tooled gurney, it looks like they retooled the interior to make room for it too. Add to that some new emergency light options and additional interior apparatus and I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on one or two when they hit the shelves. I do plan to watch that video but it runs about an hour and that's kind of a stiff time commitment for me right now. Thanks again for your kind words. David G.

Excellent build, great light effects and detail! I really like the open-panel details. Does the kit come with all those details or did you add them yourself? David G.