Mooneyzs

John... what can I say but... this is Bad A$$. You are a true craftsman. I love how this body is turning out. I am still amazed that this started out as an R/C airplane canopy....lol

John... I am itching for a fix on this build. Cant wait to see what you have instore in the next update. Proud of you on this one brother.

Henry... thank you. Yep I cant rush it even if i want to. I am so anxious to finish it but I can see that finishline but it is still a ways away bit visable. Ray... thank you sir. I guess I keep trying to find extra details for each part I am doing to push my limits a send this over the top if I can.

Jim... Thank you sir. My goal has been to have it done for the Desert Scale Classic but I have to be honest I am not sure if I will have it 100% complete by then but it will be at the show for sure. I had told myself when I started this build that I wasn't going to rush this build at all because I want it to turn out with the vision I had when I first started this build. Guess I feel I need to stay true to taking my time on this one. John... Thanks Brother.... Hey no worries you are late just glad you showed up... Lol . I figured you would get a kick out of the video since you suggested I do something like that.

Johnny Boy... You are the Master my brother!!! I love what you have done with the body so far. Man does this look really good so far. Nice work!!

Joe... thank you. I actially shot one of the springs across the room and tweaked on by grabbing it to hard...lol Brad... thank you my friend. I am stoked at how it turned out but think it could of been a tad better but i was able to use most of what I had done previously so I didnt have to redo everything. Danno... Thank you sir. Mike... thank you my friend. I am glad I am making you all proud of this build. I have no doubt that you could do this kind of detailing. Scott... thank you. i appreciate the kind words. Henry.... thank you Clint... thank you and i appreciate the nice words. Dont get rid of your stuff Dave... thank you sir. I will do my best at firing it up at the DSC...lol Joe... thank you... pretty cool pic Rom... thanks buddy. What i saw in a video that Prudhomme had in you tube is where I saw the detail of the latch. Now I dont think they all are like this one but i believe the newer styles have a quick release so they can open it up and get out fast. I am just stoked i was able to acomplish making the hatch and latch work.

Ok so I had to take a few videos to show you guys the hatch and latch in action.... This first video is showing you the latch working with out the top off so you can see the spring in place and that it keeps the latch i position: This next video is basically the same as the first but with the cover on the latch glued in place: Ok... I think this video is my favorite of the 3. This one is showing you with the hatch mounted back into the body and showing the function of the latch and movement of the hatch. I think it turned out ok:

Here is the spring set into place and the latch portion for you to see. I also glued in a new bridge piece at the opening of the latch: Here is part of it assembled with a new top piece being made. I took Brads advice and cut down a brass hex bolt so that it wouldn't stick so far out. you will see in a following pic: Here is the hatch installed back into the body after the fix, I am really happy that it only took a couple of hours this evening: Stay tuned I have a special post following this one, showing the latching in action..... ...Yep I took a video to show you all how it works....

Well Fellas... I got to the bench tonight and used tonight to fix the latch in the hatch. I have to say that I am pretty happy that I took the time to redo the latch and I ended up adding a spring to make it function. I feel that it works better now. Now I can put the hatch aside and work on some other parts of the body and the engine. I think that I am going to start on the Air Dams tomorrow for a change of pace on this build. Any let me show you what I accomplished tonight.... So over the weekend I hit up a local Train shop in Mesa, AZ looking for different springs from trains to used in the latch and I think I picked up just about every size I could find since I didn't know how big or strong they would be...lol. Here they are: Here is an up close shot of the springs next to a penny to give you an idea on their size: Here is the latch after I disassembled it. I had cut off the top piece and then not sure if you can see it but I filed that latch itself so that it would have a lip that would fit inside the I.D. of the spring. and the top piece with the slot is the one that was removed and a new one will be made for it: I then decided to drill a small hole that the spring could set in on the inside:

Henry... Thanks...lol I will probably save the cold one for this weekend. a well deserved beer or two... Danno... I some how get the feeling you are telling me times flying and I don't know if I will have this build done in time for the Desert Scale Classic. Gonna do my best at getting it done but It will be ok if it takes a couple extra months so that it turns out they way I want it with out rushing anything. Rom... It will be great if you could make it out so we all could see you. I was going to say don't feel bad that you have nothing new to show but I am sure you have some in progress builds you could bring . Heck I don't even know if i will make the dead line with the funny car since we are 2 months away and I know that those two months will fly by. I am sorry to hear that 2013 was a little ruff for you, This year will definitely be a better one for you. I am just glad to see you back here and remember your modeling family is here for ya. Danno... LOL at making them share the cost. That would make the gas bill a lot cheaper...

Rom... It is so great to see you back on this build. It is looking great. I am looking forward to more to come from you on this.

Anthony.... Thank you for the very kind words. Mike... Thanks Brother!! Michael... Thank you. It is getting closer to the finish line but I still have a little ways to go ...lol Bob... Thank you. You are welcome for the step by step process, its the way I enjoy sharing my builds with everyone so you can see how I did it. And if just one person has taken away something from it just as I have from many other builds on this forum it will make me happy. Joe... Thank you sir. Its been a fun build and at times I feel a little burnt being on the same build for almost 3 years now. I know I am ready for another build but before I start it I will finish this one...lol John... Thanks Brother. I appreciate all of your support. Dave... Thank you Mark... Thank you. This is the best work I feel I have done so far with any model. Just hope the rest of it turns out ok. Dave... Thank you my friend. I am much happier that I took the time to fix the firewall clearance issue now. I am hoping to basically finish up all of the body work stuff so I can get the body in primer but I won't actually paint it until I get the engine fuel lines installed so that I can verify that I don't have any clearance issues with it. I would like to say that I am close but will be a few more weeks only I hope to be able to start some more details on the engine. Alan... Thank you Sir. Rom.... Hey Brother!! Its great to see you back here man. Sure have missed you around here and your awesome builds. Thank you for taking the time to catch up on this build. Are you going to be coming out for the Desert Scale Classic this year?? Would be great to see you again. I am super stoked to see that you are back on your 1/16th pro mod build. I have been itching for an update for a while now. Steve... Thank you Art... Thanks Brother! Charlie.... Thank you. I have to agree that there is the beginning of light at this point although I would like to see a bigger flame at the moment or for it to be brighter. I can't wait because I am really close to putting some of your great parts to work on this build real soon. I know that I have been away from the workbench for a few days seems like I haven't gotten a chance to work on it since last thursday but I will be at the bench tonight when I get off work and hoping to have a little update later this evening for everyone. thank you all for continuing to follow along on this long journey...

John.... you are off to a great start Brother!! I love your creativity for this body. I never would have thought of using an airplane canopy. I can't wait to see the next update!!

Danno.... Hey They have some of these at Hobby Depot in Tempe.

Paul and Mike.... Thank you for sharing the pics. There were some nice builds there. I was really immediately I couldn't make it this year. But with starting a new job recently, I couldn't take time off and my dog had to have surgery again a week before. I really missed being able to chat with other builders here

John... Awesome score on the airplane canopy. How funny you guys went to Gilroy hobbies. I always try to go there when I am home. Gilroy hobbies used to be a skating rink and I use dot go there during high school....lol it's great to see you back on this project. Nice work brother!

Dirk... Nice looking builds. Its great to see you bringing these back out to work on. I digging them both but that Vette is just wicked looking. Looking forward to more updates.

Alan... Nice work. This turned our great!! Whats going to be your next build you are gonna work on?

Man I really wish I could make it there this year but I can't. I know I will miss seeing a bunch of great builds and seeing friends there.

Dave.... Beautiful work on steering set up. I just love this build. I have to say you have way more talent than me, you are making everything from scratch. Wish I had your Machining skills...lol Henry... it looks like Dave used Silicone O-Rings for the Joints on the shaft and on the steering rack it self for the rubber boots looks like Viton (aka Fluorocarbon).

Very Cool... It looks great. The middle wheel looks best to me. I like how the centers are painted black. Nice build

Do you happen to have any pictures??

John... Stunning work Brother!! That chassis is looking Sharp...

Art... beautiful work brother!! Man is it gorgrous. Were the rod ends from RB Motion? I cant wait to see the next update.

Jimmy .. John is building this in 1/16th scale.