Dave Mikrut

This is going together very nice! I really like how it sits on the frame rails. Your red paintjob is slick!

Now let's put it back together and see what we got...I'm diggin it so far, hehe!

I tried to use the method I prefer, to join these two halves together, which is drilling holes in the end of each rail and inserting a short piece if guitar sting to strengthen the joint but the rails were just too tiny to drill. I strengthened the joint with a strip of plastic half rouind that is barely noticable and also some additional frame stiffeners, I diggin it so far, hehe!

This is turning into a real project but I'm havin fun and as you know I a bit of a nut when it comes to fabricating stuff. So I started out thinking I would stretch the existing frame so it looks more like the rail job in my reference foto, then I noticed a piece missing from it from the fall and I'm just not happy with it cuz I built it like 30 years ago so I'm starting the chassis over again. No worries I got about 7 of these kits to work with hehe! Stay tuned!

I found a picture today, that even tho my car doesn't have a flathead, this is the "genre" look I am going for, and check out those real wheels, hehe. I wasn't too far off afterall huh...

Sorry I been gone for a while, I had another setback to my setback, but I'm tired of talkin bout me so let's talk about models, hehe. I know it doesn't look like much, but these old revell chassis parts require a lot of cleaning. I need to touch up some of the paint on this old build. I also didn't want them shiny chrome so the parts are sprayed with silver. I chose a little bit smaller of a front wheel and I am considering a smaller slick for the rear. I am also going to attempt making my own aluminum body, sheesh could I raise the bar any higher?

Terry first he jumped around on his hind legs in circles and jumped in my lap and shook like he was so glad to see me and wouldnt get down for a half an hour. ight now he is asleep under my wheel chair. Here's the links again to "wanna go outside?" http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/t9/soooperdave/?action=view&current=gooutside.mp4 http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/t9/soooperdave/misc/?action=view&current=abc645.mp4

I'm home finally, had a blood clot in my stroke leg. Almost lost my foot but thru the wonders of modern medicine they were able to replace my unrepairable artery in my leg with a synthestic bypass. Thanks to my family for visting me and bringing me their love and stuff that I needed. I'm especially grateful to daughter Aimee and grandson Derrick for cleaning my house and I've come home to my very happy pup Butchy. I can't wait to dive into those recent projects I started but I'm gonna do it if it kills me, hey wait, maybe I better not say that! Once again life is good...for now.

I'm repairing the model that I was carrying when I crash landed, thus deviating my course of progress on my "Physical Therapy" Mustang. I had to repair the front of the rail where the shocks mount that the front axle mounts to. It started out as the Tony Nancy rail but I have set aside the engine for another project and made a new fuel injected 327. The AMT Double Dragster supplied the block and valve covers and my parts box provide the manifold and injectors. I also changed the rear wheels with these nice hefty slots. I'll be spending the rest of the day putting kits and as much slot cars and parts as I can get on there today.

While I am going to therapy for my stroke,and working hard for better grip in my left hand, (grip has gone from left hand 0 to 20 psi, right hand 160psi) I came up with this tempory substitute to help hold a small part while razor sawing it. This is really a good idea even if you do have a good grip because this is also a way I usually end up bleeding for the styrene gods amusement. This will keep your fingers away from the razor saw. I'm still looking for one of those nice hobbyist friend thingies that's a small vise and some movable arms tha have alligator clips on them. Physical therapy Mustang is on hold whilst I repair this Tony Nancy dragster I broke when I fell the other day remember? Now I got an idea to make some changes to it that you will see in the In Progress Projects soon.

Those photos are great! Someday I WILL build a few more versions of this famed showcar. I never did like the version where the roof looked as tho it were teetering in air so I built mr version of the L'iL Coffin. Little did I know that it does slightly resemble some of it earler incarnations.

Everyone gets in a slump once in a while. Baseball players, golfers and writers. I've learned over the years there is not much you can do but to ride it out. If I try to force myself to build something that lacks that inspired motivation I get, I might as well throw it against the wall and call it a diorama. What I do is resolve myself to the fact that I'm not in the groove and be patient, for it will return. Instead I pull out stacks of 60's Car Model & Model Car Science magazines and browse them for ideas. My favorite builder back then and even still today is Don Emmons. It takes no time at all and the rush hits me again and I ride the wave! Here's a madel I built from a Don Emmons article.

I modified the headers that came with the kit to make them more interesting by adding the flange and a collector tube. Added the hairpins to the front axle to strengthen that up, and mounted the engine. I would normally wire and plumb the engine but that would be a little too much for me rigt now hehe. Feelin sleepy so it's time to end for tonite.

Thanks very much to all the people who have shared their stories and given encouraging words. The most encouraging thing of all, is that as long as I don't give up and keep working hard every day, there's always something new everyday, that I couldn't do yesterday. So I'll call a friend or a family member and say, "Hey guess what? I was holding my toast with my left (weak) hand and putting the peanut butter on with my right hand today!" And they will say, "Dave, I am so happy for you!" I have had many people before my stroke tell me that they enjoy my work and that I inspire them to try new things and that makes me very happy. Lot's of times you are watching me try new things for the very first time so we are learning together. The same holds true with my stroke, I never had one before, but we're learning together and if anything, I hope you will understand, why the word can't does not exist to me anymore. We can do this...

While working on restoring the old Mustang junk box awb "Physical Therapy" I thought I would challange myself a little and work on this idea I had to alter thewheelbase of the recently re-re-re-released, Mercury Caliente kit. Thanks ModelKing!!! When they first started altering the wheelbases in 1964 they just hogged out the wheelwell and didn't do the nice fancy body work until later...like 1965 hehe. My model will be either Sach's brothers, Dyno Don, even Arnie Beswick had one of these. I'm goin to do a little hunting for decals or I may have to make my own. I'm working with the Daddy Warbucks kit and simply stated I had alter the wheelwell forward of the rear axle and lenghten the chassis and the fotos show so far what I have. More on "Physical Therapy" later tonite or tomorrow.

When will the results of the 2010 MCM-Kustom Kemp Photo Contest be published?

First of all some more things I have learned since my stroke...toasted English muffins with peanut butter always land on the floor face down, objects I am trying to reach are always 2 inches further away and I finally get situated to relax and watch a little tv and realize my cell phone is in the kitchen...DOH!!! I spent today grokking some kits to see if I could use the body on this chassis and since alot of fabricating would totally defeat the real purpose of this project, I decided to go ahead and build the mustang with a few modifications. I added spoked front wheels with pro-trac tires and to be different I am using the Revell blown 427 Ford parts pack engine. Try building one of these oldies wth one hand tied behind yer back haha! I'm also taking the suggestion of one of my online pals to name this Mustang "Phyisical Therapy'. See the foto for a possible decal I may use.

Felt real good today to be building again. The therapist agreed anything that would get my left hand involved would be good therapy. I learned a lot today. It took almost 20 minutes to get the bit out of my dremel tool. I just could not hold the button down with my thumb to lock it so I could use the wrench on it. Ended up using channel locks held with my teeth to hold the button down and the I could wrench it with my right hand...jeez I learned that since I could not hold the part I wanted to sand with my left hand, but could hold the sanding board, I brought the piece with my right hand to the board instead. I started to practice on the AMT awb mustang chassis that was in my junk box, just for something to sand on, The wheels were broken off and the crossmember loop was gone, so I started to do a little crafting, to see if I could restore it. I also learned that if I used my hemostats on smaller parts, I could hold it with my left hand and do brush painting. I'm not sure what body I will use on this, something different, my mind is pondering... Remember I said I was going to build this with a no stress attitude for the purpose of physical therapy and I was not going to worry much on how it looks, and to just have fun. When you are laying in a hospital bed and you can't move your entire left side, a lot of things go thru your head. One of the many things that made me feel intense sorrow but at the same time made me want to fight back, was the realization that I may never enjoy my hobby again. Well I'd just like to say, this day will go down as one of the many very happy days of my life.

I am being evaluated weekly as to my therapy progress. I have made some big improvements in a short time. I'm able to dress myself and shower with assistance getting dried off. My transfers to and from my wheelchair are real good. I am walking with a combination walker with a built on elbow rest with assistence. I can move my thumb and index finger but cannot grip yet. I am able to sit upright and also pull myself up to a sitting position in bed.My arm and lg motions have improved from zero to maybe 30 percent. I am always doing the best I can. When they say give me 10, I give them 13.. I want the best recovery I possibly can. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers, they mean so very much to me. I am still un sure of what future results or continued therapy is in store but I will do my best to keep you informed.

I will be unable to attend the Toledo NNL this year. I have had a stroke. I am still in the hospital and not certain of how much worse this will get but i have lost feeling and mobility of the whole leftside of my body. So far this is the toughest hurtle I have yet to face but I am going to fight until I can no longer fight.

I used the rear bumper from the Willys Mazmanian kit and added a slow-down chute, I may add a rip cord later. The tiny front grille is from a 1/32 scale kit.

It's beautiful. It's like looking back in time. I actually remember riding in cars like that. Very nice work.

Thanks everyone for your encouraging words. I just wanted to add a couple of photos, the engine, a parts box assemblage and the Thunderbird interior which fits in like it was made for it.

I was unhappy with how the wheelwells turned out on the first go round. It took me a couple of years to ponder this and I took a crack at re-doing them by grafting in some stock wheelwells and re-radiusing them. I am pleased with the results this time.

I have gotten numerous comment in addition to this forum that it would be good to see the wheel wells as originally planned from the Don Emmons instruction article. I just wasn't happy with the way I had done them before. I took my time and they came out a lot better this time, I hope you'll agree. Yes I am going to repaint it the same color because it is very similar to the color foto in the magazine and it matches my Thunderbird interior. So here's my latest fotos and I'll probably repaint it and assemble it this weekend.