Mooneyzs

Leonard..... its been a while since I have checked in on this build and I have to tell you that you are doing a fantastic job on this. I love the extend of the detail you are going to on every component. Your skills show forsure. Brad you need to jump ship and go for a 1/16th scale build. You will live building them...promise .

Here is the Crotch Belt Installed: Here is the tie down bracket to hold it in place: Another view of the bracket and you can see the material used around the seat belt material to act as the fire retardant material. I forgot to mention that the brass tube that you can see I covered with with Bare Metal Foil so I didn't have to paint it...lol:

Ok Fellas... I have a little update to share with you. The past few days I have been planning how I was going to do the restraint system. I pretty much had all of the materials and a few of the things I had to be creative with. I was debating for a little bit on how I was going to have the belts attach to the chassis and after talking with Mike Garland, I was basing it off the chassis from the Redici & Wise car from Aurora since they were in the same era of car and I had seen some good pics on the Straight Line Modelers website. Now I don't have the restraint system complete but I am making progress. Here is the progress... Here are a couple of the materials I am starting out with. I am using Replica's and Minatures Seat belt hardware, I will be using a Pro Tech 1/16th throttle linkage set to make the restraint tie downs to the chassis. and the Tape is Johnson & Johnson medical tape for the belt material: Here are the actual pieces that I am using from the Pro Tech Throttle linkage set: Here are the pieces making up the tie down portion to mount the lap belt. I have used 1/32" Dia tubing and 3/64" Dia tubing. The 1/32 will slide into the 3/64. Then along with two of the Pro Tech parts and 4 of the Scale hardware bolts: You all are gonna laugh on this one. I need to find a material for the fire retardant material that is wrapped around the webbing of the restraint. well I had a few ideas and from metal cupcake wrapper, silver material from gum, the silver paper material from a cigarette box (Since I don't smoke I didn't have any) then it hit me eating Chick-fil-a earlier this week. The material that is used for their chicken sandwiches is lined with the perfect material. So I went there for lunch again today and asked them for a couple of brand new bags to use on this progect.....LOL:

Greg.... Thanks Mate!! Its great to see you back here. You are right I have been sneaking around in the workshop again . Thanks for all of the the kind comments. Bill... Thanks bud.... I am super excited to have this build at this point. I want to get more of it done so I can see it more together...lol Mike.... Thanks bud. Thanks for not minding when I call and pick your brain. Dave... Thank you sir. I am like you and can't wait to see the engine in it but before I get there I am working on the 5 point harness and want to get the overflow tank mounted. Then I will jump back to the engine. Steve... Thank you! The Alclad Chrome took some practice with some trial and error that I did on some test pieces. I also have to give some credit to John Teresi and thank him because he has helped me with his technique with it since he is the Alclad Master. Scott... Thanks bud!! I am assuming leaving you guys speechless is a good thing?? You are right about the pains to make things correct. I am very happy with the progress and have more motivation seeing it come together now. Edgar... Thank you for the kind comments. I can't tell you on how many parts I have redone a couple of times because I wasn't happy with them

Tony.... Nice work and looking great. I will shoot you a PM on the parts to let you know what my plans are for my next build as to why I was asking about the parts.

I bet that tony with model one in his 3D CAD program and print it just like he has with all of these parts he is showing here.

I thought the same thing.

Greg.... How you doing Mate? its great to see you back here. I sure have missed seeing your updates and talent put to work. I am super excited for you with getting this new body in 1/12 scale. I can't wait to see what you do with it. I am sure it was a hard decision to pretty much start this build all over but I can tell you from my experience with my 1/16th scale funny car build. you will be happy with your decision. i wish I would of just scratch build my chassis by the time I was done modifying the kit one. Looking forward to new updates. Cheers!

Derrick.... Hey buddy... I love the direction you are going with the paint on this. i think it looks killer my friend. I am so glad to see you back on this project. I can't wait to see more of what you do. Nothing wrong with putting this one aside for a bit but glad you are getting that motivation to get back to it. Looking forward to more.

I would think every modeler has experienced a builders block to some degree before. I know I have in the midst of my Extreme detail of my current 1/16 scale Funny Car I am currently working on. I have been working on this for the past 2-1/2 years and haven't completed another model since starting this one. I have started a curbside build to build something quick and easy that I will take brakes from the F/C and work on the pick up. But now that I finally have gotten the rolling chassis done, I am motivated more that ever to get a lot more done on this build and finish it so I can move to my next 1/16th scale build. My biggest piece of advice is put this project to the side and find yourself a fun kit and build it straight out of the box to get the modeling juices flowing again. You will get back to this other build in time.

Danno.... I know you think "Not another General Lee"...... .... you know I am kidding with ya

Tony... when will have so.e of these parts for sale?

Paul.... I am only trying to stay up with you guys. I will promise and not post any more pics of the reference car...lol Joe.... Thank you so much bud. I feel great about having this as. A roller. Now I can't wait to have more added to the chassis. Michael.... Thank you for the kind comments and for following along on this long journey.

Bill.... You have me speechless.... WOW!!! This work is incredible. You have set the bar at a whole new level. Love your work.

Ray..... Very nice work on this build. It looks great.

Lee.... Thank you for the kind words. I was hoping to have even more done by now but during the time the forum was down I had gone on vacation for a week as well. The glue that I used to glue the Dzus fastener spring clips in was Microscales Kristial Klear. It's the only white glue I know that drys completely clear.

I have personally been using automotive base coat/clear coat paints on my models for a number of years. I mostly use PPG and House of Kolor. I have always have great results with them and wouldn't use anything other than them for painting my bodies. To me it's totally worth using them. I spray them out of my airbrush and My jam gun which is a mini devilbiss HPLV touch up gun. I always use a 3M respirator when spraying but I only get respirators from and auto body paint supply store. I wouldn't use the one that you can get at Home Depot because those ones aren't rated for automotive paint. Another reason I love automotive paint is how fast they dry. I would say you would have a little cost in investing in reducer, hardener and clear but it will last you a long time. I have had a quart of clear that has been with me for many years.

Well guys as I mentioned I was gonna get a few shots in the sunlight. I got a few, wasn't really happy because it was the wrong time of the day with where the sun was plus the fact i didn't spend much time because it was dang hot out there and I didn't want the model to melt on me....LOL Heres a few shots for you: Side View: This wasn't the best shot since the sun was sorta on top and behind the model: Front Axle again; Another view: View from Behind: The seat again: Here is the reference pic I used for the seat pad:

Steve... Thank you!! i appreciate the kind words. Mark.... Thank you for the compliments on this. I know its been a long progress following along and I can't wait to have it done so I can move onto my next few projects. I have 2 other 1/16th scale builds in mind next that I am debating on starting at the same time. One will be another Highly detailed build and the other will have lots of detail but not to the extent here.

Tony.... all of this stuff looks great man!!! I am hoping all of these parts are on TDRs site to be able to purchase. I have a build coming up that I could use some of these parts on.

Danno.... Thanks buddy... It will be done for next years DSC Alyn.... Thanks for the kind words bud. I know I have taken some of the little details sorta to the extreme. I wanted to see if I could make those spring clips to add that extra little detail. Niko.... Thanks Buddy!! I am sure it could get better than this but I am happy with how it is turning out so far. Brett.... Thanks Bud! I have been challenging myself to take things to the next level to see if I can do it. Larry.... Thank you! Ray... Thanks man. Ray... Thank you. The brake line fittings are from RB Motion. They are just one part of his A/N Fittings that I used for that piece. Aaron... Thanks bud!! Dave.... Thanks so much my friend. It feels great to have it at this stage. Brad.... Thanks buddy.....I am glad this update wasn't a disappointment I am so much more motivated now to get more accomplished on this build. You know I think I forgot to mention what I used for the seat padding. It is actually some Suede Leather that I picked up at Michaels. It was the best stuff I could find to match my reference pic that I had. I will show a comparison pic when I take some pics outside in a little bit. John.... Thanks my Brother. You know I am very proud of this build so far and it means a lot with you saying that this build should be displayed at the NHRA Museum. Would be pretty cool. Ira.... thank you bud!! Well Fellas.... I am debating what I should work on next. I want to get back on to the engine and get some of that together but I am thinking that I am going also get the 5 point harness build and installed. And once I get that done I can install the over flow tank and get the lines hooked up to that. Thank you all again for following along and all of the kind comments. Stay Tuned for more .... I want to get some pics of the rolling chassis sitting out in the sunlight and will post a few more pics in a little bit.

James... Thanks man. I appreciate it. I enjoy adding those small little details in my builds. Tom.... Thanks I am really happy with how the seat turned out in this, much better than I expected. That interior of the camper looks great so far. Hey would you mind taking a pic of those fabric bolts you mentioned and post them. Would love to see what they look like. I happened to be at walmart today and look for them but didn't see any but then again really didn't know what I was looking for...lol

Here is the Master Cylinder with the Brake line and "B" nut attached: Another Shot of the seat pad installed with the seat snaps: Here are some up-close shots of the Dzus Fastener Spring Clips installed:

Here I glued the seat pad onto the seat: Now the real fun begins..... I have completed the Rolling Chassis today. I did quite a bit of work on this today. I started out by polishing the radius rods and steering rod. While I was polishing those I thought... Hmmm let me try and polish a bolt, well after I saw how good they came out. I polished all of the Bolts, Nuts and Photo-Etch washers for ever nut and bolt used on the front Axle assembly, bolting the Axle to the chassis as well as the bolts for the radius rods. I am super happy with the outcome.... I am not quite happy with how the pics turned out and am planning on shooting some more tomorrow out in the daylight to see if I can get some better pics of how bright the chrome on the Axle is: Here is the Front Axle Assembled on the chassis, All put together with Scale Hardware nuts, bolts & wasthers: Not the best picture of the radius rods but you get the idea: I also go the brake line hooked up and here is the brake line connecting to the "T" Fitting:

Hello Fellas.... I know I have kept you all waiting long enough today for this update I mentioned to you yesterday. Since the forum has been down I would say that I was pretty productive in getting a few things done on this build and have made some great progress. I will be making about 4 post of pictures I have about 15 to show you...lol well I won't bore you anymore with words...let me show you.... I started by getting the front Axle painted Alclad Chrome: Along with the front spindles as well: I then started to work on a seat pad for the seat. The one on the left was my first one and I didn't like how I made the hole for the shoulder straps to big. So I cut another template and made the hole smaller along with adding heads from push pins for the snaps: Here is a shot of it sitting in the seat before gluing it in place, Also the seat has been glued in place prior to the seat pad: Next on the list was to bend all of the Dzus Fastener Spring Clips. As you can see I bent a bunch the ones left of the red wire were my first run and I wasn't happy with them. So I kept trying different ways to bend them and after I found a pretty good technique using two of my stainless needle pliers I managed a way that I was happy with them. The wire I used was from 30ga wire that I stripped the insulation off of: