highway

EVERYTHING!?!?!? Seriously, though, it looks nice to me. The only thing I might even see is it kinda looked like the front tires still had a mold seem from the pic. By the way, Mike, it looks to me like the fuel cell might be right in front of the blower belts.

It always seems those voices in my head say "DO NOT BUILD BOX STOCK!", maybe that explains some of my wild ideas!

Thanks for the input, Michelle. The chrome frame idea is nice, and a few others suggested that as well, but since I'm going for a working show truck look, it would take a lot of polishing at the shows! I used to drive a rig that I always wanted to look like a working show truck, so I know some of the work that would be involved. Anyway, you really got me thinking now, and the charcoal pearl idea would be very cool. I went back through your pics of your Riv and really like how the Blazing Black looks on it, and how it's black, but not really black. Thanks for the help, I think I see a trip to Michael's (since that's the only place I've seen those paints in my area so far) in my very near future!

Those are awesome, Dave, thank you so much for sharing them. Please tell me that the air deflector will stay as it is as a separate piece. The mid roof pic looks just as great as the pic with the deflector in place. I also hope the extra running lights along the cab and side steps stay a feature of the kit as well.

Very nice site, Michelle. Thanks for sharing it.

Here's a couple of mine that I have pics of right now. Cat D11 Dozer 1/50 scale My collection of Orange County Choppers diecast kits, 1/18 scale I think. New Ray Freightliner Classic XL diecast/plastic 1/32 scale. A few of my 1/64 scale Dale Earnhardt race transporters. My big and little "Monster Garage" Wedding Chapel Action Racing Collectables "Dale:The Movie" 1987 raced (and winning) version of "The Winston" "Pass In The Grass" Monte Carlo Action Racing 2009 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevy Impala and Transformers Optimus Prime (funny pic I took for another thread ) Testors Franklin Mint 69 Dodge Charger Revell "Vanishing Point" 70 Dodge Challenger I'll have to find some time to take some more pictures, I have a bunch more! If you couldn't tell, I like collecting diecasts as much as I like plastic kits.

Thanks, Michelle, and my truck I'm building was going to be painted in DupliColor Mirage, but no place in my area stocks it anymore. I ended up finding a similar paint at Lowes, which was what I painted the truck itself, I just want something different for the frame. Since it seems like you have a nice eye for color, check it out and give me an idea! Here's a link to it: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=28849 By the way, the idea I have in my mind is to both compliment and contrast the cab's color at the same time, and something more interesting than just plain old black.

Now that it's "Under Glass", I'm suffering withdrawls already!!

You know, you are really making it hard for me not to post my favorite line from that commercial, but I don't want banned for crossing the line, either!!

I looked through and didn't see what the color was you used for this one, Michelle. What is it? I have a big rig I'm painting with color shifting paint and that would be a perfect frame color for it!

Jamie and Brian, I checked the Drastic Plasitcs instruction site out, but unfortunately, they don't have them posted there, either.

Steve, you aren't the only one to do this differently. My technique has always been either put the hood in the up position and use a small piece of sprue just large enough to hold the hood open tightly or use a coat hanger and tape for hoods that won't stay in the up position. The first technique may sound like a disaster waiting to happen, and a few times it has been, but for hoods that have tight fitting hinges, it works quite well. I cut the sprue "prop rod" just a hair longer than the opening, that way it stays in place while I'm painting. I will also position the "prop rod" so that where it contacts the hood will be a place that would be underhood insulation. This way both the top and bottom of the hood is painted at the same time. After the paint dries, I will then take the hood off and put it on a coat hanger and clear coat the top of the hood. Finally, I brush paint the areas where the hood insulation would be, and touch up any areas that possibly did not get painted, but usually the only unpainted surfaces are the tips of the hinges themselves. The second technique is much simplier to explain, and also works nicely painting the top and bottom of the hood at the same time. I take my painting coat hanger and place the hood to where I will be taping the hood to it, and tape the hood down. This works the best on hoods that are mostly covered with insulation on the bottom, but will work on hoods with body colored structure as well. You just have to be careful where your tape is placed with the structures, I usually find the rearmost area of insulation to be the best to tape to, because it's sometime the largest area. These have both worked for me, and both get the top and bottom of the hood painted at the same time.

SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL!! I can't wait for your next build.

Trumpeter supplied a stiff foam with their American LaFrance fire truck to help the tires maintain their shape. The foam is just pliable enough to fit in the tire, and are shaped like a donut to fit around the wheels. If you would like me to post a pic of these so you can see exactly what I'm talking about, just let me know.

Well, I know yours was gold! I can't help this was molded in pumpkin truck orange, because that's what it was supposed to be. Oh, I'm actually surprized you didn't ask where I found such a thing, believe it or not, that is a resin and metal HO scale kit for train layouts.

I think Christian hit the nail right on the head! A few of the ideas I have for builds are really "off the wall" and might even make some wonder what type of good meds I'm taking! They would probably fit best in all three of the categories, but I've thought they're cool ideas and may even make you think "What if..?"!

Thanks for posting those pics, Blake. I've been throwing around the idea of getting on even though it didn't have an engine, now I know my answer! I'll be interested to see finished, it looks like you have a good start already.

Bulk up? Heck, I'd have to join a gym to fit in a 2X!! Now, if it was a 3X, I might have a chance!

I assume by the stereo unit and speaker packaging you are meaning the boxes they come in? I know that a friend of mine once made some scale pizza boxes that he found on a website, I think this was it. http://www.printmini.com/printables/ph.shtml I didn't see any stereo boxes there, but another way is either find or take pictures of the boxes you want. This also works for license plates, just put whatever you want to scale down about 25 feet away from you and take a picture. That way, when you print the pic, you can cut the box lid or whatever out of the pic, and it should at least be very close to 1/25 scale. As for the oil cans, the MRC kit I pictured earlier has oil cans in the kit, and I think the Fujimi kit may have some, too.

Don't worry about Harry, Michelle, there are some of his comments that may come across as harsh, but after you get to see some of his other posts, you'll see he seems to be a big teddy bear at heart! He even jokes around from time to time! I've also seen him give the guys, including me, some comments like that, too. Welcome to the forum, and have fun!

Thanks for the backup, James! Chris' site is the second link I posted, and Scale Equipment LTD. is the first one.

Well, it's no wonder you needed a hip replaced!!! Was your CSRT one like this?

You have to be careful with the Fujimi Gararge sets, if the "Tools" on the box art is not highlighted, it is just the garage base. I last seen them in a hobby shop in my region about 2 or 3 years ago. Here's a couple pics of mine to show you what I mean, that's how I found out! This is an older issue box, but this shows what I'm trying to explain, and this was how I found out! See the way "Tools" is written in outlined letters and all the tool shapes are outlined? That means only the garage walls and floor is included, there are no tools in the kit. This is the latest issue I got a couple years ago, and with this, all the outlines are solid printing, which means this is the complete "Garage and Tools" set. The nice thing is if you would accidently goof like I did, the floors are made to attach to each other, and depending on how large of a garage you want, the kit says you can attach up to four floor pieces together. Also, it doesn't show it on the top box art, but the tools also includes a very nice modern multi position two post lift. You can just barely see it on the side of my second pic. Another nice kit for a shop diorama is this MRC kit, which I believe was also issued as a Texaco station at one time. As you can see in the second pic, the service station has mostly service station related items, and an older style one post lift. Also, here is whay you would find in the NASCAR kits, again more pit stop orientated, but it does have a nice toolbox, nice floor jack, and two nice impact guns and air tank. If you would like to go the aftermarket tool and accessory route. here are a couple links for you to check out. http://www.seltd.net/index.html http://www.scalemodelingbychris.com/index.htm If you can't have a completely well stocked shop (including the bathroom!) from those two sites, you didn't look hard enough!! Oh, by the way, if you would be interested in the tools from one of the old NASCAR kits, let me know, I think I have one or two more I could help you out with.

I don't know if it would work on resin, I've not been brave enough to try it, but Dawn Power Dissolver works great for chrome removal. The parts in this pics was after only about three or four hours in the stuff! The best part, since it's actually for removing gunk off of pots and pans, NO FUMES!!!!!

Me neither, and not to mention, Gregg mentioned cookies, so now I'm hungry! I don't even see what baking cookies has to do with the forum or threads. Of course, if you're baking some, Gregg, I'll take a dozen chocolate chip!