highway

Thanks, Jim, I thought maybe I was seeing things again! Thanks for pointing out the exhaust tips, too, I missed that when I first looked at it. That's a cool idea!

Nice work. It's been a year or two since I was in Maryland last, but the newer paint scheme is black and brown, isn't it?

First off, welcome to the forum and back to the hobby!! I would suggest reading Mark Taylor's tutorial "Back to the Basics" in the tips section. I've been building for almost 25 years, and even I've been learning from it. Here is a link to it for you. http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=30842 There are many useful threads in the tips section, just take some time and read through them, but Mark is covering the basic techniques from start to finish. There are many threads focusing on more advanced building techniques like opening doors and such, but check them out, too. They will be useful to advance your skills. Also, you may want to check builds out in the "On the Workbench" section, you may get some pointers from watching those builds take shape. Here is a link to one I have been following: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=31030 It is a highly customized build, but it is wonderful craftsmanship! If you see a build you would like to follow, but not really comment on, just click the "Watch This Topic" tab at the top, then select your email notification choice, then click the "Proceed" button. That will let you know when new replies have been made without you actually replying to the thread until you want to reply.

Nice job, Jim. Those taillights look fantasic! They're much better than the little tiny ones in the kit. Is the firewall painted a different color? It was looking like it wasn't the same color as the rest of the cab in one of the pics.

I hope to see you get things worked out soon, too, Jerry. You do some great work.

Nice job, I've always loved that kit. It was my first Italeri kit way back when, and can't wait for the reissue later this year.

I guess since it says on the box that Jimmie Doolittle flew it to a record in 1932, I guess not. Doolittle did, though, does that count? I guess my search continues.

And that is exactly the reason I stay on terra firma!!! If I was meant to fly, I'd have wings!!! Oh, and the fear of being the fifth face on Mt. Rushmore doesn't help, either!!!

Would that make that Jeep "Trail Rated"? Or is it just a Jeep thing that I wouldn't understand?

Question: Does this qualify?

My choice would be #2 as well.

This is most welcome news, Art. Thanks for the update! By the way, what exactly are test shots for? Are they testers to build to discover any assembly problems, and if so, how does one go about building one of the test shots? I would be very interested in doing so.

I just got back from my LHS, no new issue yet there in Ohio.

I never knew they made a Charger in 1958!

Bradley, what do you use for the light bulbs? I like that a lot! By the way, I've not forgotten about this, I just haven't been working on much of anything here lately.

I agree with both, especially the "SCRAPE" license plate! I seen the starting point, you saved it nicely. What did you make the HID headlights from? They are the most convincing ones I think I've seen yet. I do have one suggestion though, maybe think about some window tint on the back windows. I think some tint would really set the larger side windows off nicely.

Aw PHOOEY!! Now I'm 8 wins and 2 losses!!

The only window etching I've ever seen in Revell kits is DECORATIVE etchings, not ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT safety glass info!

I'm not sure what shows you are calling "silly 'reality' shows", but I will tell you at least two of them, "Wrecked" and "Dangerous Drives" are as REAL as you can get! I drove trucks for 12 years, and still have my CDL (Commercial Drivers License for those who may not know), and 2 of those years was driving the heavy duty wreckers like the one in my avatar, which just so happens to be one from "Wrecked". Yeah, some of the shop footage may be a little overdone for TV sake, but the footage of recoveries and even normal run of the mill towing is as REAL AS REALITY GETS!! Believe me, I know the danger of the job, I've been on the side of the interstate hooking up to a broken down tractor trailer, with traffic wizzing passed at 70 MPH inches from my head! I've been under the trucks chaining them to the tow truck praying another tractor trailer doesn't hit the tow truck or the truck being towed and crushing me underneath. "Dangerous Drives", at least the ones having to do with trucking, also does a nice job showing the dangers of driving a truck. These shows highlight two of the most thankless jobs in the nation, and shows what it's really like to do those jobs. I could write pages of experieneces I alone have had on the road, both driving 18 wheelers and towing them, but I won't. I do ask you this, though, the next time you see a tow truck, or even a police car with a traffic stop or just a car with a flat tire, on the side of the interstate, please change lanes so there is at least one lane between you and the vehicle stopped on the side of the road. This lessens the danger and increases the chance that driver will get home to their family, and is the LAW in many states! Also, the next time you get a loaf of bread, remember that loaf of bread was delivered by a truck driver, and you have no idea what dangers that driver may have faced to make sure you had that loaf of bread to feed your family. WITHOUT TRUCKS, AMERICA STOPS! Anyway, back to the topic, I personally like watching the Barrett-Jackson auctions, not to see how much the cars will sell for, but I have gotten many nice ideas for future builds from the cars there. I've downloaded quite a few pics from their site because I seen a certain car I want to build someday.

First off, nice color choices, they go together like ham and eggs! Now for my suggestions for your questions. This is honestly how I would paint the rest of it if you handed me what is already done. Since you have the black on the top of the car, I would carry that straight into the engine bay. I would paint the firewall, inner fenders, and radiator support the same Tamiya black as the body. Then do just as your thinking and paint the chassis Tangelo with the entire front subframe black, I usually use semi gloss on my frames, but since this is a resto rod style, gloss black would be fine, too. I would also paint the rear frame rails the same black as the front subframe. I also think, even though I usually always paint engines manufacture color, this one I would dare to be different. The Tangelo would look great on the engine, and since everything surrounding it would be black, it would carry the nice two tone of the body under the hood as well.

No problem! After looking at the pics of the stripped body, it still looks like the AMT kit. I had the last reissue of it in the early 90s, and most everything looks identical. I think you may have an earlier issue than that, because I don't really remember any black molded parts in mine, but of course that was 20 years ago, and many brain cells have went on vacation since then!

You lucky dog!!!! I've seen that Coronado, and being a Freightliner man, I'd give my...well, let's just say I wouldn't have kids for one!

Actually, Mark, both of us do no hauling or towing with either truck, both trucks live an easy live of being just normal back and forth daily drivers. As for driving style, I would say they are driving equally as well, the neighbor is in his upper 60s and does not beat on his, and, even though I'm 34, I've been accused by the better half as driving like an old man. I do, now and then, get into it and send the black smoke out the exhaust, but 95% of the time I drive it like a sane person would. Also, capacity is actually much higher on my truck than the neighbor's, my truck is, by WV DMV standards, actually a low end commerical vehicle because the gross vehicle weight (GVW) of my truck is 12,500 pounds. The neighbor's new truck is rated at only 8,000 GVW, and even though I would never load it that heavy, the gross rear axle weight rating on mine is almost 8,500 pounds. I could put his fully loaded truck (by the legal weights of course) on the back of my truck. Also, I guess one other thing I should have mentioned, my truck is stock as it came from the Ford factory in 1990, execpt for the bed. My truck was built as a chassis cab, and was a tow truck in its former life, the stock Ford dually bed was added by the owner of the towing company I bought it from. By the way, if I was putting the fuel in the neighbor's truck I'd be doing the long division just like I do on mine and not trusting the pesky computer!

Thanks, Gregg. There are some times I wish Mr. Murphy would not have written that law. If I could just ever find him....

Super glue or 5 min epoxy would hold it with no problem. You can use a toothpick as an applicator so you don't mess up the paint job. You could also use the super glue from the inside if the paperclip fits through the mounting holes for the original mirror, if any, or drill mounting holes with a pin vise drill.