Dave Mikrut

I've been tryin real hard to stay in the groove, it hasn't been easy. But enuff of that belly aching, here's how my chassis is looking. I still need to make shock supports for the front and to build some shocks for the back because I lost the ones from the kit. I re-did the trans cross member, the other one was too bulky and low. I haven't added the hubs yet that hold the wheels on, I do take them off when I'm working on the chassis. Thanks for all the encouraging words, they do help keep me goin!

The light an the Sharpy tip is terrific! I wish I had thought of that 40 years ago! Great work on your chassis mods.

Another slow day like yesterday, searching for just the right part and once again having to make what my mind's eye sees. I used three pairs of "Hairpins" to make this one set that I'll be using on my Twice as Crazy Bantam. These things happen when you never build right out of the box, hehe! They'll look better after clean up and paint.

Some days, like today, were spent searching for parts to modify to make the part I see in my minds sketch of what I'm building, watching baseball, then Nascar and then NHRA. I'm using the straight axle from the AMT 55 Nomad mated to the spring from the front axle of the Revell 32 kit. I've also located about 5 pairs of hairpins and haven't decided which pair to use on it, which is why no picture. When I drilled out the holes in the axle I realized the weren't equally spaced to begin with, but I'm not putting myself thru that again! HeHe!

I'm working on 5 different models right now but I'm rollin real good with this one. I've made motor mounts, transmission rear crossmember which will be further modified and added the transmission with dipstick to the engine. I've also added an oil dipstick to the engine. Floor is almost ready but will have to be modified after engine is permanately determined.

I've made a little progress on the chassis. I wanted to make this a unique hot rod so I'm using the front of a 32 ford chassis mated with the L'il Coffin chassis. I added a quick change unit to the rear axle to make it cooler and now I can use the dropped front axle on it too. Next I'll be working on new engine mounts and a floor.

Here's the old Monogram Sizzler kit I'm gleeped the Bantam body from,,,

Here's the photo that got me to thinking I'd like to make this hot rod. Mine will be chopped and have a wilder engine!

I've been working on a couple of engines for the Revell double kit. I'm going to make this different than on the box...it's what I do, hehe! The Hemi will be in Bantam Blast and the Buick Nailhead, which will have injector stacks, will go in the Scarlet Screamer Rail.

I'm starting a Bantam hot rod using an original Sizzler kit body and filling in the wheelwells. This is going to be a wild one and here's what I got so far today.

I like this picture of me because it shows I'm not BS ing when I been reading the rags and building the kits since the 60's! I have all my favotite magazines from 1952, the year I was born, till 1972. Dig my crazy Blues Brothers gasses!

I'd say the hardest thing about coming back to building models from having a stroke that has left me about 55% paralyzed on my left side is the inability to use my hand to hold things as strong and effectively as I used to. Dave Shuklis, in the 1960'S, (had muscular dystrophy), one of the most amazing pioneers of our hobby, has always been a hero of mine even more so now. than ever I am determined to get well and continue to do the things I love. During my recovery to this day, all the great friends I have met online and in person at the Toledo NNL have encouraged me with inspiring and complimentary words and for this I thank everyone, it helps keep my hope alive. Up until now, my vise grip pliers have been a strong extension to my lefy hand. There are just some things pertaining to small or delicate parts that they just can't do. I've used clamps, tape, two-sided tape, clothes pins and hemastats all to various amounts of success but still just not the answer. One night as I prepared to sleep I focused on this delima, as I have in the past for problems, and used my sub-concious mind to work out the answer... I woke up the next morning, thinking of "Fun Tack". Where was my little blob of of that sticky clay like substance, sold in the craft stores for hanging pictures and stuff. I've used it for years to test fit parts before gluing but never did it dawn on me that it would literally save my model building life. This stuff is strong and sticky, but not so sticky that it will not let go. For instance, it is extremely difficult for me to hold an engine block in my left hand and drill the spark plug holes in it with my pin vice. This Buik nailhead engine block is glued to my work table securely until I decide to remove it! The possibilities are limitless, this is an amazing break-thru for me!

Nope, not the Hippie Hemi, but another rail project I started a while back, a stretched Revell Tony Nancy chassis. Here's some progress fotos on that.

I've been waiting way too long, it's time to build these oldies and of course you know, I've never built anything straight out of the box, so expect some modifications. I spent the entire day sorting and painting a devising my plan of attack. I have so much of this stuff, I could build every one of these 3 times over, I might try a couple of the suggested variations on the assembly pages. I'm starting with the Scarlet Screamer. Tiny frame parts, much more realistic than the AMT Double Dragster. Try building this dragster frame with one hand tied behind your back and you'll know what I'm up against

You guys are great, thanks for all your encouraging words! And LOL Rebel!!!

My traveling car is a 2004 Hyundai Tiburon, my drive to work truck is a 2008 Dodge Ram 4x4, my cruiser and weekend racecar is a 55 Chevy Sedan

In case you noticed, or been wondering, I've been away for a while. Had another blood clot in my leg, had to have two surgeries and I'm starting over for the third time. I'm sad, mad, confused, hurting, adjusting to new drugs, crabby and depressed, unmotivaded, but as you know, I don't and will not give up. "I'll be back" ! Just for fun, here's a foto of my L'il dawg Butchy taking a break from the 85 degree heat a cupla days ago, when I supervised the installation of my ne Lakewood traction bars I bought before I had my stroke.

New Riggen 1/32 track sets are still available online and are compatible/the same track as Revell. A lot of used Revell track sets and track parts can still be found on craigslist and Ebay. I reacently sold a whole bunch of track because even tho I really wanted it I just have no room for a track in my place.

He's gonna be a cute little bugger! I'm diggin it

Now see, that's what I'm talkin about, you made that nicely detailed just with paint!

I have been showered with this same question. I originally steered away fom that idea because I actually scored the rarer promo 2dr. I can't actually bring myself to hacking this awesome body, even tho my favorite builds are AWB cars. I am now going to go on another quest to aquire a 4dr and actually attempt the inspiration car as well.

If you really don't plan on hacking it up so you can add more detailed suspension parts, front aframes and rear leafs or coils with a seperate rear axle (no easy tasks but they can be done) or grind away a single exhaust and fill it so you can add dual exhaust, try detailing with paint. Lotsa guys are choosing gray or flat black for the whole chassis but then detail painting with different color or shades or semi flats and then dry brushing with silver or grays to make the molded in details pop. Many fellows are shooting a bit of body color overspray down the sides after that to simulate when the car is painted in the factory. Here's just a quickie example of removing some single exhaust and some detail painting. All these added parts did not come from the kit.

Missed you guyz! I've been back to work and by the time I get home because of my stroke I'm really too tired to do much of anything. Big time slump, abilities are hindered, lack of inspiration and generally feeling kinda beaten. Well thank God I snapped out of that! Quite often all it will take is seeing a photo of a car that just really get's me goin, and such is the case of this insane Valiant gasser I saw online. So I got right on Ebay and in about 2 weeks found this 2dr Valiant promo, Not sure of the year because it is not on the chassis. So what you see is what I have come up with today. I'm using a modified Barracuda chassis right now and I'm gonna get the back up a little higher but not quite as radical as the reference photo. I have to open the hood and ofcourse it will have a hemi, not sure if it will be blown or injected. It felt real good to be crafting again today, I hoping this lasts again for a good long while!

It's really looking good so far. I've always loved that root beer color, and the two-tone is a great idea!

I just got out of the hospital again but while I was there I decided that this nice long frame now would look great wth another engine hehe! They are only sitting in there nothing glued yet, just couldn't wait to show ya! Real classy, toast crumbs on my slicks haha!