highway

That's because I think 10 pics (which was what you posted ) is the limit per post. Just post them in a separate post!

Brian, I think that is the best use I've seen for one of those MPC/AMT pieces of junk! What better thing to do with a piece of junk than to, well, turn it in to a piece of junk! If you couldn't tell, I really don't care for MPC/AMT F-Body kits! I'll be watching, this should be interesting.

Michael is absolutely right! I check out one of my AMT frames with my new Nova body, and I think something like this is definitely what you need. I even took a couple of mock up pics, and it looks like you may have to do some trimming here and there, but I was able to get it in the body, even though it spreads it out some the way it is unmodified. One place you would have to trim is the rear wheel arches on the frame to make it fit properly in the Nova's body. Here is an idea of the difference in the frame width compared to the body, and the difference in the thinner of my Revell frames. The difference between the newer white frame I pictured earlier, which is probably the one you have, compared to the AMT frame here is almost 1 inch! I also mocked up one side of the rollcage, and it looks to me like it would be a perfect fit. I also put the two bodies together, and wheel openings are very close to a dead on match. I hope this helps get your idea from the idea stage to the workbench, and if you need an AMT kit to build it, PM me, we'll work something out! The kit in the pictures is complete, and the parts inside were factory sealed until tonight to take the pictures!

Doc, I just wanted to give you a little update, I now have the 69 Nova! I've been wanting it anyway, and I used my 40% off Michaels coupon to pick it up. I figured if the frame you want to use doesn't work, it would make life much simpler for me to help you possibly find one that does.

Jamie, what is the black General Lee supposed to be? If I remember correctly, the General was black in the "Birth of the General Lee" episode, but that was before the General was the General, and was just a plain black Charger with no flag.

I checked out these two kits, and the Kevin Harvick car should probably be very close, if not exact, to the 06 Budweiser car. The height from the chassis to the top of the rollcage=1 7/8 inches. The wheelbase=4 1/2 inches. Front track=3 inches. Rear track=3 1/8 inches. I also compared the newer chassis to the older car's chassis, the older chassis is the same except for the width. The white frame is from the Harvick kit, and even though the rollcage width is the same, there is added chassis sides on the newer frame. I hope this helps you, and if not, give me the dimensions from the Nova (because I don't have one yet ) and I'll check some of my other NASCAR kits out and see if I can point you in the right direction. I have some older Monogram and AMT kits, and the AMT kits may work better for you, anyway, because, if I remember, the Nova is 1/25 scale, isn't it? The Monogram and Revell kits are all 1/24 scale, where the AMT kits are 1/25 scale, and the difference in scale may or may not cause a problem for you.

If you think this would help, I have some 01-02 Revell Monte Carlos. There should be little or no difference between them and the Bud car you have, so if those would work, I would be more than happy to help. You're on your own measuring your Nova, though!

That is one unusual subject! You are capturing the look very well, and that will sure stand out in a crowd. Of course, I don't think the real one would be good to drive when it's raining!

WOW, Chuck, you got some work ahead of you! I've just always wanted to do him in truck form like this. Here are a couple inspirational for you, though, Chuck. I figured since Dale Jr.'s car will be in the new movie as a Decepticon, it was only fitting to pose Optimus with one of my Dale Jr. diecasts! By the way, this Optimus is the one from the first movie, I haven't been able to buy the second movie's version yet.

Thanks, Danno, not only did you help me out, but that is a perfect example of a nice, constructive post as well, even though I did edit the reply a bit! Not only did it give me a simple solution to the problem, much easier than my original plan of decanting the original spray paint then retouching it, but it also was something that would have probably taken a million years to figure the fix could be so easy!! I guess I see a trip to the Sharpie aisle in my near future! Thanks again, Dan, that will help a lot!

Mark, I know, because you even said, you are being slightly sarcastic with the items you listed, but I must say that is not always the case. In some cases, you are right, but I have used almost all of those in my current WIP thread of this build, and I'm open to any suggestions and criticism I receive, because, even if I'm past the point where an idea may not be possible on this build because it is beyond the "point of no return", I can use that idea to improve future builds. First, along with the "comments and criticism", I have also used "I need help and opinions!", especially when I was looking for a new paint color because the intended color, I found, was no longer available at my local auto parts store. I received many helpful ideas until I found this paint at Lowe's, of all places, and found it was even better than the original planned color. I also asked for opinions for the frame color, which I have also received much help with, I'm only having a problem now figuring which idea to use! Second, I have used the "Sorry for the bad pics." line not to hide flaws, but because a few pics have been bad! Of course, that was before I learned how to use the macro feature on my camera! Third, I have not really used the "I'm happy with the way it turned out." much, but there have been a few cases in this build where I may have not thought things through as much as I should have and have received some helpful ideas that will be used for future builds. The help came just too late for me to use on this particluar build without having to buy another kit to donate to this build. One case in particular was the front bumper, which even I admit I did not plan very well. I wanted the big Aussie style roo bar, but also wanted the stock trucks four driving in the stock bumper. Not thinking, I Zap-A-Gapped the heck out of it, using Zap-A-Gap not only to attach the roo bar to the bumper, but to build the bumpers shape up as well, but still retaining the four driving lights as well. A fine idea was given to me for making the roo bar move separate of the bumper, but it was passed the "No turning back" point on this build! The only time I have used example four is with this build: It is not a major problem with the kit, but I found the hood (at least on mine) has a tight fit even without paint, and I closed the hood thinking the paint was fully cured, when it wasn't quite ready yet. I have even posted I know about the goof up, and when I resume this project, I have every intention of fixing it. Last, back to the Ford tractor trailer, "This is the first time..." has been used quite a bit in that thread, because it's the truth! This is the first big rig I have ever tried lengthening the frame, and it is also the first large custom sleeper I have built. It is also the first time I ever used Bondo automotive putty on a model, and the first time using colorshifting paint on a build. It will also end up being the first time I've ever used Alclad to rechrome parts and it will also be my first time ever even using my airbrush when I get to that point! I also have to agree with your statement about having a perfectionist complex, because, especially with the Ford big rig, I have been my worst critic!! I took two weeks of putting Bondo on the roof of the sleeper, sanding, reapplying Bondo, sanding, and repeating before I got the shape of the roof to my liking!

Harry, in my opinion, is 100% right, and especially that part that I highlighted and resized. I feel that has been some of the biggest issues where a war starts. I have been following this since Terry first posted this topic last night, and have read though all my email notifications on it, and have seen a few others state the helpful and harmful ways to give criticism. I, myself, have grown as a modeler due to good constructive criticism. I joined my local model club, the Ohio Valley Scale Modelers, which unfortunatly disbanded around 5 years ago, around 1990 when I was about 15 years old. I had went to one of their shows, which was when I joined, thinking my models were great and simply amamzing. BOY, WAS I EVER WRONG!! When I sat my model on the table and seen the great work sitting around it, I was so embarrassed I almost ran away never to build again! Thankfully, instead, I chose to stay and look around and also join OVSM that day. At my first meeting, I asked the senior (not age wise) members what I could do to improve, and received many helpful critical remarks. I learned about seams, orange peel, etc. and learned how to take care of such things. Yes, the face to face comments are easier to understand the helpful tone than here on the internet, I have even been guilty of trying to help and taken the wrong way. Anyway, I guess my bottom line is the "You know, I see some orange peel in your paint, you may want to polish it before going on, (in the case of a WIP thread) I would suggest maybe going over it with a 1200 grit polishing cloth. " goes much farther than "MAN, THAT PAINT JOB STINKS!!".

OH, I REALLY WANT THOSE WHEELS!!!! Those are those nice machined aluminum wheels, aren't they?

Maybe! Of course, those are just my stalled truck builds, too. I have a 34 Ford I first started before the turn of the century!

That's OK, I may or may not be that far with the build I was talking about, so I'll let you check out the build and see what you think. http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=28849 I know it may not look like a typical race truck, but only I know the secret that's going to be under the hood! It would definitely give Bonneville a run for it's money!

I'll definitely be watching this one, I love a good sleeper conversion! By the way, Jim, I think I have you beat in the "Longest Project" department! I have a Western Star that I bought for a friend to work on while he was recovering from knee surgery in 2000. He worked on it some, then it sat in the box in his basement until about 3 years ago, I finally begged him long enough to let me finish it for him. The cab has been in Lake Brake stripping for most of those 3 years! I also have a Can Do wrecker I've been working on for almost ten years now!

I just wonder why Harry didn't break this news, since he's in Chicago!! I didn't even know there was another movie in the works, but glad to see there is. It kinda stinks the NASCARS are Decepticons, but I'm happy to see Optimus Prime is FINALLY getting a trailer again!

Rich, you might be able to use some cotton like in some pill bottles to replicate the exhaust smoke. I've seen that done for replicating tire smoke on dragsters and hot rods before. I'm not 100% sure, because I have never tried the technique before, but I think you add some white glue to the cotton to help it hold the shape you want for the cloud. If you have an airbrush, after the glue has stiffened the cotton, you should even be able to shade it with the appropriate colors to darken it to the smoke shade you want. I hope the helps you out.

I guess that's one good thing with my big dually, it's even lucky to have a tape deck, remember those?!?

You sure about that, George!?!? There may be a couple who do!!

Now that you mentioned it, I think I did hear about that as well.

Looking good, Romell! I'm surprised though, no working U joints!?!? By the way, why does the one muffler look like it has a white discoloration on it?

Welcome back to modeling and welcome to the forum, Anthony.

You did a fine job on it.

I'm happy I could help give you a few ideas, and I forgot to mention, if you notice the pics, I have multicolored dots on the jar lids. They are just small round labels you can get in the office supply section of Walmart, I simply write the paint color on the label and stick it to the jar lid. That way, I don't have to search for whatever paint I'm looking for! Also, the box only takes up a very small amount of floor space, it's about the same as two model boxes sitting side by side. Don't feel bad about not being in a club, Drew. The club I was a member of disbanded about 5 years ago, but this forum has become my new model club!