mrmike

John, I Googled "1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS396 instrument panel and found many pics of the dash. Here's one I found to be consistent for the SS396.

Thank you David, Christopher, Jim, and Carl! With the exception of the white stripe, the decals went on smoothly. I found the white stripe a bear to deal with, getting them to line up correctly. There are a couple of wrinkles that I am still trying to get out.

Thank you Carl! I have finished my Starsky & Hutch Ford Torino and it is posted in Under Glass. I would like to thank all those who have taken the time to view and to comment on my WIP.

This is my Revell Starsky & Hutch Ford Torino painted with Tamiya TS-49 Bright Red with a Tamiya TS-29 Semi Gloss Black interior. Embossing powder for carpet, wheels from my parts box since I liked the offset on them better, and a coiled cord for the Federal Signal Fireball emergency roof light. I replace the suspension stubs with coiled springs for better realism.

Thanks Jeremy!

My latest project with a McNally, Boston PI story. The story is called Death Over There and is only to show what is driving this project. The names described in it are not related to anyone living or deceased. The Build This project will include the Tamiya Jaguar Mk. II Saloon Kit #24151-2000. This is a fabulous kit! I can't find any flash or mold lines on the body or parts which is molded in white black, and grey. My paint will be Model Master GTS Blue Pearl. I wanted a medium to dark blue for this kit and the stock dark blue is a solid not a metallic or pearl. I happen to love metallics and pearls, so this is the color I'm using with a grey colored interior. These wire wheels have to be the absolute finest molded one piece wire wheels I have ever seen! They are just gorgeous!!! Even the plating is just right! The Story A silver car drives down an alley in London, England and stops part way down the alley. The rear passenger door opens and a body of a man is pushed out onto the wet pavement and the car quickly drives away. An early morning jogger finds the body on his run and calls the Metropolitian Police Service to report the body. DCI Philip Ashenbell instructs his people who go about gathering any and all evidence that they can find. A wallet is found on the body and the drivers license confirms who it is-Jonathan G. Crumbalt, a local businessman. Inside the wallet, DCI Ashenbell finds a card from an American lawyer by the name of Charlotte Rothmann, Esq. He will call her later when the States wake up. McNally will return...

The Story McNally swings by Mrs. Mathias' home with the hope of getting a few answers about her son, David. "Why did David leave home," he asks? She says, "Things between David, Peter, and myself haven't been going at all well. We all have been arguing over everything for the last 6 months or so. Then David announces that he bought a house in Brighton and that he is moving out. I haven't seen him since then." He asks, "Does he have any interest in the old Chevy?" Carol says, "No, he doesn't. Peter bought the truck 4 years ago as a father/son project and a year later, David lost all interest in it. David said he doesn't want anything to do with it." The Build I finished detailing the interior and I am really proud of the clean job I did. The chassis has been detailed and is awaiting the engine and driveshaft. McNally will return...

The Story McNally drags his prisoner outside the bar and throws him across the hood of a car. "I'm looking for a stolen and restored '65 Chevy Pickup. Talk!" "We don't boost no trucks, man! We only do high-end luxury and sport cars! There's more money in it!" "And, if you did know of someone who wants a restored Chevy truck, would you tell me?" "Yeah! I heard of some guy named Davey in Brighton. He was looking for one last week!" "Ok," says McNally. "If I have to come back here to find you, there's no place anywhere to hide from me! Beat it," and the guy runs back inside the pool hall. The Build Been working on the interior today. The dash needs to be detailed. The chassis has been detailed. I broke off two of the bumper mount brackets by accident. A mockup with the engine, chassis, and interior. McNally will return...

I got some of the chrome attached and the Striped Tomato is up on four wheels. Next up are the decals which some say are problematic. The rear panel doesn't fit perfectly as it needs a slight bend. I'm hoping to avoid having to bend it, but that may happen. More to come...

Thank you Shawn! More progress on the Striped Tomato. I got the glass, interior, and the chassis all joined together. The rear panel and the mirrors have been assembled are ready for installation. I removed the clips and the rear seems a tad too high after I set the model down on all fours. So much for careful measuring! I'll leave it as is. More to come...

Thank you Anders, Dennis, and Carl!

The Story McNally walks over to the table and says Hello to the Throttles. "What do you want?" "Just a little conversation," he says as he puts a Fifty Dollar bill on the table. "Talk is cheap and it'll cost you double that to talk to us, but," says the ring leader who then breaks the pool cue in half on the table and raises it to hit the Boston PI. McNally pulls his .45 caliber SIG P227 from his shoulder holster and aims it inches away from the ringleader's face. "Everybody stays here while you and I talk outside," says McNally as he grabs the ringleader's jacket and pulls him away from the table. The Build I got some painting done this morning. The engine is in process. I need to add plug boots, wire the engine, find an aftermarket air cleaner, and paint the transmission. I want to lower the front suspension by cutting off the spindles and raising them about 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch. More to come...

I got another coat of Tamiya TS-49 Bright Red on the Starsky & Hutch Ford Torino. The paintbooth lights are washing out the color so it is brighter and much more red than what you see here. More to come...

I finished adding the seatbelts to the back seat and I think I could have done better. To late now so I'll live with it! More to come...

I bought a set of seat belt buckles from Model Car Garage a few weeks ago and I decided to add them to the Striped Tomato. So far, I've lost one buckle after spending a total of 3/4 hour putting two sets together and installing them on the front seat. I need to add them to the back seat and hopefully, I'll get better with them. More to come...

Thank you David! I'm trying to use up this plug wire and I may have enough left over for another engine.. It's stiffer than the wire I usually use which can be good and bad. Good because I can shape it, bad if I can't shape it like I want it.

I would like to see a '72 Torino Sports Roof as a kit. 460/auto or 351/4-speed or both! No vinyl roofs! I hate them! I wet sanded the body and hood to get rid of the trash and dog hair that found it's way into the paint. I started with a 2400 grit sanding cloth and stopped at 6000 grit sanding cloth. I'm not looking to regain any gloss, but to get a smooth surface so I can repaint the body and hood, add decals and clear coat. I had a small disaster three nights ago. I was rearranging the bench top and I knocked the Torino chassis onto the floor. I had to re-glue the radiator core support and fine a new upper radiator hose to replace the broken hose. More to come...

The Story McNally parks his Challenger SRT8 near the front door of Sticks-n-Cues, a pool hall and bar. He walks inside and goes over to the bar and orders a draft beer and pays for it. He turns towards the middle table out of three in the hall and observes a small group of people shooting pool. There is a small stack of money under a caulk cube on the edge of the table and the players are all talking smack to each other. One fellow wearing a leather jacket appears to be the leader of the group judging by his actions and he seems to be the only one with a gun which is tucked in his belt. The Build I started working on the engine with painting and detailing along with adding some parts like the carb and the belt assembly. I have been widening the wheel tubs in the bed and these are getting a coat of putty to smooth everything over. McNally will return...

Pat, none of your pictures are showing up. You can't post pictures with Photobucket unless you have their top of the line, $400 a year account.

In the TV series, Hutch had referred to the Ford Torino as the Striped Tomato in one episode. I have not watched every episode, but my research has showed that it was mentioned in one episode, maybe the pilot.

Thank you Ron and Ted! As I look at the picture of the steering wheel, I see that the decal is slightly off-centered to the right. I wasn't a bear to put on, but now it's not centered and that'll bother me a bit. This sounds like a long and labored project, Ron. I look forward to this project to see just how you go about creating a '72 Torino from a '74-'76 Torino.

Thanks Dave! Still a ways to go and I see the need for some touch ups. Thanks!

I have completed the chassis of my Starsky and Hutch Ford Torino. The engine was completed and installed into the chassis. More to come...

I get my drill bits from Harbor Freight mainly because of the cost. I don't do a lot of drilling, but when I do, they work just fine for me. I bought two sets of their micro drill bits and two mini drill bit sets and they have lasted me for a years, even if they are cheap bits. I'm retired and I don't have a lot of extra cash to spend on expensive drill bits and pieces for my model building hobby. I would rather spend as little as possible and take care of my equipment to get the maximum usage out of my gear. I am aware that cheap cost doesn't always mean high quality-you get what you pay for. The amount of drilling I do with what I have is fine with me. If bit goes dull or breaks on me, then that is the price I pay.

Thank you Carl!