Dave Mikrut

Here a few update photo. I still need to do more chassis detailing.

I had a couple of badly warped 65 GTO convertible bodies and I figured what the hell, I'm going to cut them up and do some practice altering the wheelbase. In this photo you can see the white section is a piece from the other body, and even so the bottom edge does need to be restored. The backside is reinforced, with styrene strips and all seams filled with tiny strips of plastic where possible, a minimum of putty and "filler" type sandable primer. The glue on hardtop of the AMT kit is poor fitting and to test my skills i grafted in the hard top roof from the Revell 65 Chevelle. Here's the sanded body and a test fit of the body so far on a chassis I constructed from an altered 65 El Camino chassis and some suspension from my parts boxes. More to follow soon.

I've always loved the old Revell kit box art. Even the instructions in these kits are works of art.

Never thought of the videos! well done, nice models too!

Here's some progress photos. I'm thinking of either a blown or fuel injected (stacks) 409 for the engine. Or maybe even a hemi! hehe!

Beautiful work! Yer doin this kit up proud!

Here's the rear wheel. It's made from a painted inner mag, a chrome outer rim and a center cap from the L'il Coffin. Teamed up with the rare spongy AMT Pie Crust Firestones that were in the old 58 Impala kit and were actually used on slot cars by some. They look very authentic. I'll show an updated body shot soon. Everytime I think I'm ready to paint I find more blemishes to fix!

I'm not sure what happened but the photos I previously linked to in Photobucket are no longer there. Rather than reload all that, I'll just remind you it is a shortened 55 Chevy Handyman wagon,, made from the AMT 55 Nomad and 55 2dr Sedan kits. I showed it previously with an example chassis but here is the one I have been fabricating specifically for it. I'm really becoming a nut when it comes to having just the right parts for a project. I've literally spent 2 weeks gathering together the parts for this chassis and the wheels and tires. Later this evening or tomorrow I should be done with the rear tires. These are the painted 2-piece plastic tires found in the Rat Packer Nova, teamed up with some very old Straight axle is Revell 32 Ford, with home made hair pins. This is a stretched AWB Mustang chassis. Thanks to the ModelKing! I used 2 chassis, cut them offset, you can see the joint where I dowel pinned them together.

This is sooo cool! I would have never thought to attempt this even tho I love to alter model car bodies. You're doing a great job, and thanks to the reference foto supplier on the pillar! I'm going to follow this one!

I'm happy to see you doing this! I have the original kit and have been meaning to build it. Hopefully your restoration will inspire me!

An amazing twist on this car that, turns out I really like! This car looks more belieivable, built this way than any I've ever seen! Beautiful work Tom!

Amen on the tailight treatment...awesome!!!

It's awesomely beautiful what you did come up with in a short time Terry! We build when all is right with our world, and when it's not we set it aside and we rest.

The last photo I posted of 55 my shorty was Photoshopped to show you how I hoped it would come out after body work. It had to fill seams on the sides and a seam on the roof. Also the contours of the roofs from the two diff. cars did not match so I had to build it up and shape it to fit. As with all my models that require filling I use plastic and liquid cement to fill the gaps and then the final finishing only needs minimal putty. I also use scratch filling sandable duplicolor primer. Any votes for a color? I'm thinking gold, yellow, root beer or silver blue.

"So Dave what did you do with the 55 Chevy Nomad wheelwells you removed for the "Shorty" project" yer probably thinkin??? Well little Gregg, I put them on the 55 two door sedan, kinda like "2 Lane Blacktop" doncha think?

This engine is going to be incredible! Just a side thought for a future project for you. I used the top from this Poncho on one of mr 62 Chevys. Why not yank one of those bubble tops for your next Pontiac build?

Here's a little preview of what it's going to be like, today after brunch I'll proceed with the bodywork. This is a chassis for another project but I will make another of the same. (Nova AWB chassis)

A long time ago I made a 2dr Handyman wagon from a 55 Chevy Nomad. I used the rear wheelwells and partial sedan roof from the 55 Belair sedan. Iwas never really happy with the ay it came out so today after seeing a foto of a 57 shortehed, I decided to do a little body work. Glues and joints are hardening now and some filling and sanding and priming for tomorrow. And yes i am going to see if I like it as a sedan delivery! hehe!

For my other projects I've been working on, I'm still aquiring just the right parts, so I've been working on an old AMT Double Dragster I got off of Ebay (red one), kind of a "rescue" and model building one handed skills exercise. Here's the progress so far. Different engine, wheels and tires front and rear, front suspension, new seat, new steering wheel, repainted everything.

There's going to be a big sale and model car contest at my local favorite hobby store G & G Hobbies on Nov 3! I am honored to have been asked along with J.D. Booth to be the judges of the contest. You might remember J.D. from Fantastic Plastics and Scale Auto magazines with his highly detailed 1/16th cars that had a lot of machine work, in the late 80's early 90's. He also makes these amazing model car display bases with clear covers, that he'll probably be selling and custom orders too. Here's a link to their event webpage. Maybe I get to see you there! http://gghobbies.com/events/

I like lookin at the stuff on the primer tables at the NNL almost as much as the done stuff. It's ideas in the works. Here's a few of mine (of many).

Youre right about it making a great hot rod engine, it needs to be seen, nice work!

I am currently building a model of my 1:1 gasser, "Stormy Monday". I was hoping to have it done by the Toledo NNL this year but I will not be able to make it there this year. So here's some foto's of Stormy, and some of my model, which has a straight axle which I hope to maybe have some day on my real 55 hehe!

I'm sorry guys, I should have mentioned they ARE from the reissued Big Deuce set and I won't be using them.

I have a question for any of you guys that know about 1/8th scale models. What do you think I could get on Ebay for a set of the spun aluminum wheel covers?