Darin Bastedo

Awesome bike! That looks really sharp! Welcome to the forum!

Thanks, I'm enjoying the build. I have the next two days off. I hope to have it finished soon.

Welcome to the forum, I love your avatar, Beeker Rules!

Not knowing what was said or in what context, I can't really comment on your situation but, when I judge a contest I always make sure that all discussins during judging are made out of earshot of the contestants. Too often things must be said in the course of judging that are not the most diplomatic things a modeler could hear. People put a lot of them selves into the models they build. If you said something that offended one of the contestants, my suggestion would be to sincerly apologise, and explain to him, that you didn't intend to offend. IMHO It's better to take the blame than to have a modeler have ill feelings toward the event.

Here is one of three scratchbuilt dash vents I made. I used aluminium tubing and evergreen rod stock. I chose Tubing that was the same size as the vent hole after I drilled out the molded in detail. I selected Evergreen rod stock that fi snugly into the tubing. To make the vanes in the vent I; 1. Made a cut across the end of the plastic rod. 2. Used a file to file down the top and the bottom to meet the edges of the cut. 3 inserted the reshaped rod into the tubing. What do you guys think?

This is one of the easiest coversions I've done in a a long time, even if you include creating the master. The 1:1 Car is not very different from the normal Ford GT, but the chages dramaticly alter the car's personality. Here are a few of the images and videos that inspired this build and the Resin Transkit; Ford GTX1 On Top Gear Ford GTX1Overview by the guy who builds them Here's my model in progress. The SEMA Car is easy to reproduce, as the color is standard Ford Grabber Orange. The engine mods are all internal so there is nothing that needs to be done to replicate this in scale. To create the master I carefully removed the roof leaving the sides and windshield frame standing. I took carefull measurements and scratchbuildt the new rear deck. I then Sent the master off to Don @ Reliable resin to have it cast. Don took it to the finish line, and had the resin copy back to me in three weeks. (that's faster than I've gotten some stuff that molds aready exist for. I think part of the speed had something to do with the fact that Don is as excited about this project as I am.) I soaked the body for a few hours in Westley's tire bleach and rinsed it completely. On this body in particular I suggest using a tothbrush during the rince as there are a lot of nooks and crannies for the bleach to hide. if you brush the body under warm (not hot) water until the brush stops making foam on the body it is clean. I have some color on it, and am letting it cure a day or so before I polish it out. I've designed some decals in photoshop, and will be appliing them before I clear the body. I lowered the suspension 3mm in the front and 1mm in the rear. I detail painted the wheel backing plates to bring out the disk brake details. I painted the calipers to match the body color just like they did on the example below; If you chose to detail out the backing plates as I have, be sure to glue the wheels to the suspension, other wise your calipers wil be at odd angles on the disks depending on how the wheels are positioned when it gets set down. Also be sure at that point to position the calipers to there correct angle before the glue dries. I'll have more progress on this as it goes. Because this is an open car I'm going further than I normally would on detailing out the interior. Luckily the base kit's interior is awesome to begin with, so taking it to the next level is even easier. Interior details will inclue photo realistic gauges, and AC vents with individual vent fins. (yes I will show you guys how to do that. It's quite easy once you know how.)

Funny My first thought was, "why isn't that a project of mine?" That is way too cool and deserves to be finished. I'll be following it closely.

Those are great photos Dave, that was my second choice for a paint scheme.

I'm Designing the wheels as we speak. for this first one though I'm going to use the stock wheels in the second photo

I've always had a thing for mean Mopars with steel wheels. That is too hot! The 29 roadster....by any chance was that inspired by "Project Sppedster" from street rodder about ten years ago? I've always wanted to build a model of that car.

Unfortunately Milestone miniatures is long gone. I haven't seen that anyone is doing '40s Buicks at all these days. I don't know how you scratchbuilding skills are but That would be your best bet.

Thanks Leon, I can't wait to get it done either. I always loved the Ford GT, and when I saw the GTX1 Roadster, I just about fainted!

As I posted a while back I've been working on some resin masters for Reliable Resin. Here is the first one I got back in the mail. It's the Ford GTX1 Roadster conversion for the Polar Lights / Johnny Lightning Ford GT Kit I'll let the pictuires do the talking, but you will be able to see this get built up over the next three days in the "on the bench" section as I will be building mine to match the SEMA Show Car...

Strada Sports has Ferrari Stradale Wheels, that would be close.

Some people frown on video games, but when i get a little blocked I fire up the playstation, and play some Gran Turismo 4. Not only is it fun, but a lot of the cars featured are available as Models. There is nothing like the sound of revving engines, and sqealing tires to get the Testors glue running in your veins. This game is so realistic that you can almost smell the gas and burning rubber. The real cool thing is you can save screen shots, and print them out for a little inspiration at the bench.

I PM'ed Leon a while back, and he said that it isn't likely Cobra Colors will be coming back anytime soon. I'm just as addicted to his paint, it was great stuff. who knows maybe someday...

Jairus mentioned in the bridge collapse thread that he really doesn't want the board clogged up with OT posts such as prayer requests. I have to agree to a point with this sentiment, as this is one of the reasons I post more here than I do the hobby heaven board. But on th the flip side, as we grow to be close friends here we are going to want to share more of our selves here. There is often more in common between us than just this hobby. Unlike The hobby heaven board we have the ability here to take these off topic threads and conversations to our own Model Cars Forum Blog I plan on using mine to discuss things I'm doing that affect my hobby and life, that might not be of interest to the forum in general. I predict that as more of us use the blog feature we will find ourselves surfing the blogs as often as we do the forum. This added comunication tool is something that really makes this forum special

Here's an album full of Restoration Photos. I think this might help... Ferrari 512bb Restoration Photos

I don't know hom much 'Cuda is left in this one but here ya go... Is that what you were looking for?

As one of those guys, I'll say for my part it was the truth. I started buying from Tom when Auto World went under, and haven't shopped anywhere else until I found out Hobby Heaven was going under. As a matter of fact The friend I was talking to last night when I found out said I was like a drug addict whose dealer got pinched. I spent most of last night checking out who had the best shipping rates and selection. I'm sure there were a lot of others like me, but not enough to keep his doors open. What I find amusing is the number of people who accused Tom Carter of using "scare tactics" to drum up business, by saying "Buy from me or I might not be here for you". looks like it wasn't scare tactics afterall.

I don't think that the closing of Hobby Heaven is a sign that the hobby is in danger. As important as Tom Carter's business has been to us, he is simply one retailer. There are many other factors that went into his descision to close than just the state of the hobby. Tom has openly admitted that his "Miserable Ex-Wife" demanding cash for her half of the business put him in dire straights a few years ago, and that more than anything probably made it harder to weather the current storm. I don't know how many of you remember the last "Death of the Hobby" in the 1970's, But I do. we aere all lamenting that all the model companies were doing was Vans and pick-ups, pintos and vegas...etc.. a few years later Auto World shut their doors, and we all shouted "the sky is falling" But what we all forget is we are the hobby. as long as we keep building, and teach our kids, nieghbors kids, nieces and nephews to build, there will be a hobby. so long as I have sheet plastic, glue, and paint, I will build, whether there are kits or not. The great thing about capitalism is as long as there is someone to buy a product, someone will produce that product. we might have to pay more, the fewer of us there is, but it will be available.

I got some more done on the engine.... I also sratchbuilt a new footwell out of evergreen sheet plastic. I still have a long way to go but it is starting to look like a Formula one Ferrari

I haven't heard about them. where did you hear about them? What do they make?

test

I've made some progress on this one. the mult piece body is being saned and adjusted so all the body joints are flush and true. Also because the kit engine was so toy-like I'm in the process of scratchbuilding a replacement... You can see by how small the engine is as it is dwarfed by a Cobra.