CarModDave

You say you've been "away" from the hobby for 30 years? Maybe so, but you've been studying, haven't you? Very, VERY cool suede rod! Those large scale kits look fantastic when detailed and yours is no exception. Especially those scratchbuilt details. I wish I had room to display some of the bigger stuff, but............. Looking forward to seeing the next "big" thing!

So, what are you saying? That I should change my name to "BikeModDave"? Thanks, Dave.....I appreciate it! By the way, I should have an answer to your Melbourne question in a week or so............

This is the 2006 "Team LCR" ride of Casey Stoner, detailed using the super detail-up set from Top Studio. It's my first super detailed bike kit and I enjoyed it SO much that I am awaiting the release of the newest super detail set from Top Studio for the Tamiya Kawasaki ZX-RR Ninja kit I got from Santa! Base kit was the usually amazing 1/12 offering from Tamiya and I used the Tamiya fork detail-up set as well. Also picked up the Top Studio race stand set for the '06 Honda, too. I know, there's a loose cable! I didn't catch it until the pics were uploaded. It's re-attached now!

Thanks again, everyone. This was a fun build and I actually learned a few things along the way! Anyway, just for some reference, here's a few pics of the 1:1 that I replicated. The scale version is the "updated" truck, as the 1:1 has had a few mods done since the pics were taken: cowl hood; new, black paint with NO red body pinstripe; lowered 3 " front, 2" rear; new "blackwall" tires and new all-chrome 454SS wheels. Here's the "real" thing:

Great stuff, Lyle. And quite a variety. With 10 completed this year, are you planning on a one-model-completed-per-month 2008? C'mon.....It's ONLY 2 more than this year. Keep 'em coming............

Here's the latest to come off of the bench, built using the AMT kit: 1991 Chevrolet C1500 454SS pickup. Besides cutting open and hinging the doors, there's lots of scratchbuilt items as well: bed cover, bed cover hinges, vent visors, battery brackets, cowl hood, exhaust, under hood cannisters/fluid containers/pumps, seat risers and seat adjustment hardware, etc., plus plenty of Pro Tech braided lines/fittings and on and on........ The overall ride height was lowered to better match the 1:1 replica as well. The model is now at it's new home and the owner is quite proud of the new 1:24 replica of his 1:1 !

I use the plug boots offered by Pro Tech. Here's what I do to make them into "90 degree" boots: Here they are on a motor I'm working on for a 1990 Chevy 454 SS pickup:

Very nice, Jim. I'm looking forward to seeing those on-the-bench pics. I have this kit in the to do pile and I'm sure your reference pics will be a great help!

Miguel, It was a great pleasure to meet you this past weekend. I wish we had more time at the end of the show to talk but I was happy to have put a face to the name! What a great show and I hope to meet you again.

Well, I just returned home from the MAGS-hosted show at the NSRA Southeast Street Rod Nats in Tampa where David debuted this build. It was great hanging out with some of the most humble and talented model car builders ANYWHERE - and these guys ALL live here in central Florida: Wayne Stevens, Jr., Dirk Joseph, David Thidodeau....the list goes on! Overall, a great weekend and although entries were down by a couple dozen from last year the stunning increase in QUALITY was amazing. The cars entered in the drag class alone had me drooling. Oh, by the way, David's '03 "Pirates..." Pontiac pictured here was chosen "Best Of Show". yadda-yadda-yadda.........!! It marks his 3rd consecutive BOS award at this show. Hopefully David will snap a pic of the gorgeous etched CRYSTAL award!! These awards have been donated for the last 3 years and are the best awards I've ever seen. So c'mon, Dave..........show a pic of that BOS crystal! Maybe a "group" shot of all 3........ Great job and congratulations once again.

Well, I wasn't sure I would finish this one in time for the upcoming contest in Tampa this weekend, hosted by Florida's MAGS model group at the NSRA Southeast Street Rod Nationals. But perseverance finally paid off and I got 'er done! WHEW! I'll have to admit, I did A LOT of practicing before finally getting the hang of it, and I am actually quite pleased with the way the "true fire" style flames turned out. I tink having the large, flat panels of the milk truck body was also a big help!! The kit is the Testors/Flintstone "Dairyland Express" '48 Divco milk truck. Wheels and tires are Pegasus and the vale stems are old Pro Tech parts. I also added some "dual exhausts" using solder and aluminum tubing cut at a 45 degree angle for the tips and all paint is House Of Kolor. All "chrome" (except the Pegasus wheels) are kit supplied white metal pieces that were sanded, polished and buffed to a shine: headlight buckets, rear bumper and hood ornament. The base color is Tangelo Pearl and I laid the basic flame "background" with Candy Red. I made some small curve templates from sheet styrene and laid the basic "licks" with these as a guide using Chrome Yellow. That was followed with an overcoat of Candy Tangerine. Then more Chrome Yellow "licks" with the templates followed by Candy Yellow. Then highlights were added with White and the entire flame areas overcoated with the Candy Yellow. Some "highlight" areas were left lighter than others, and some darker for depth. When you view each side of the Divco you'll see that the flames are different on each side. I loved not having to duplicate the pattern on each side! Now that I got the hang of it I may try some blue and green flames! A close up of the roof flames:

Hi Miguel, Yep, I'll be there! I have yet to miss a model contest at the Street Rod Nats! The MAGS guys are a tremendous group of modelers who do a great job every year. They are not really a "club" as there are NO dues, NO "officers" and NO political "agendas"! Just a bunch of folks that love model building. M.A.G.S. - Modeling Associates of the Gulf State "If It Ain't Fun, It Ain't A Hobby!!!". I know the 1:1 show is Fri/Sat/Sun but I believe the model contest is only open for registration on Saturday with awards on Sunday (no registration on Sunday). I could be wrong though. Check with Pat to make sure. Also, the theme is "TV & Movie Cars". I'll have a couple of Mad Max cars and maybe even dust off the replica of the "Titus" '56 Wagon as well! However my "Grindhouse: Death Proof" Chevy Nova just won't be done in time......... I believe that David Thibodeau and maybe Wayne Stevens, Jr. will also be in attendance. I did see two you guys raise your hands earlier, didn't I? I'll make sure to look you up and talk some plastic! See you this weekend!!

I'll be looking for it on the tables this weekend, Dave! Fantastic build. Dare I say "Three In A Row" ( you know what I mean!! ) Can't wait.

Thanks Wayne. Yep, I'll be there. Haven't missed an NSRA show in over 10 years! Looking forward to seeing you there! I appreciate it, Neal. As I said to Wayne, I always make the trip to the NSRA SE Street Rod Nats every year. I'm actually about 50 miles south of Tampa (Bradenton) but I'm there to help out the MAGS model group. So make sure to look me up. I'll be hanging 'round the model car tables all weekend!

Wow. It's been some time since I posted anything new so I thought I'd share the latest to come off the bench: It's my version of the resin & white metal Testors/Jimmy Flintstone '33 Ford "Fire Roadstered" kit. Color is HoK Limetime Pearl and all of the "chrome" is actually the metal parts from the kit that were painfully sanded smooth and polished - with the exception of the wheels which are Pegasus (same for the tires). I also swapped out the kit gauges for MCG white faced gauges and grabbed a shifter from the parts box along with some Ken's flocking. Everything was attached using 5 minute epoxy in order to add some strength to those PITA metal parts! Enjoy the pics:

Dave! Amazing work, as usual. I can't wait to see this one in Tampa in October. Looking forward to hanging out at the Street Rod show with you & the MAGS guys!

Welcome Louis, from one Floridian to another (although I'm on the other side of the state!). There's TONS of talented builders here on the forum that are eager and willing to help with any questions you may have. Add to that the info you'll be gathering from the magazine itself and you'll be all set!

Hey there, Charlie! I checked the MCW site http://ourworld-top.cs.com/mcwautofinishes...nt/catalog.html and they list the following airbrush colors in their line of racing colors. The # in parentheses is the corresponding spray paint color #'s: Sox & Martin: '64-'67 - 6452 white(2612), 6436 blue(2635), 6238 red(2723) '68 & up - 6452 white(2612), 6853 blue(2634), 6861 red(2721). HTH!

Thanks, Ken. PM has been sent your way!

That's a good-lookin' Henry J, Ken. I really like the red window treatment, especially with the black body color. Nice!

Thanks alot for all the kind words, guys. And I appreciate the constant inspiration, Jairus! Just how many ideas do you have thump-thump-thumping away in that skull of yours anyway?? :wink: I've been around, Mike. Haven't posted a whole lot of anything, anywhere lately. Gives me more time at the bench. As for this year's Southern Nats, there's always hope. I probably won't know for sure until the last minute....er...second! If I'm there, I'll make sure to look you up!

Finished this one a few days ago and I was hoping to have taken some newer, better pics to post here. Didn't happen. :cry: Anyway, I figured I'd jump right back in anyway and share it with the artist who inspired the project in the first place. So, Jairus.......I hope you approve! 8) I still need to locate a couple of "302" badges in decal or PE form for the cowl hood and do some minor touching up. By the way, the stripes were all airbrushed - I destroyed a couple sets of decals so I went with painting them on instead! **EDIT** Added new pic links to eliminate dead pics

Hey there, Len! I haven't been here for awhile myself. I guess I need to jump back in, huh? See you at the Street Rods show/contest in Tampa in October?

Welcome, Mal. Good to see you made it here. I have a good friend who is relocating to Melbourne for the next couple of years. Actually, she's the breeder of my 2 Canaan Dogs and will be introducing the breed to Australia! She's really looking forward to it.

Wow! Sweet builds, guys! Nothing like street rods to get the juices flowing. Here's a couple of mine that I'm SURE a lot of you have seen before: Revellogram '37 Coupe Monogram "Early Genuine Iron" '36 Convertible