Wagoneer81

Ehh, what's up, Doc??? Sorry, I've wanted to channel Bugs' for years... Welcome to the funny farm! Those are some very nice builds. The beautiful thing about the '32 is that it's a versatile body form that lends itself to customization better than almost any other vehicle design. I have a friend who has built over two dozen, everyone different, everyone a work of art in its own right... I look forward to seeing more.

Very nice, all of them. I especially like the Pre-war saltflat racer and the Lo-boy sedan.

I love my parents, have the utmost respect for them and with them both in their 70's, I know how lucky I am to still have them both, but... they both stepped off the technology train about 20 years ago.. I mean Mom and Dad with a cell phone is like watching a monkey contemplate a math problem... G, Love the list, gonna steal many of those!

My camera is DOA right now but... I will make an observation as to size of the work area. When I lived on my own (before I got sick, had to walk away from my RTO mobile home and move in with my sister) I had an entire 12x12 spare bedroom as a workshop. I had 20 linear feet of 24" deep workbench and a 42" spraybooth. I now have a work area that is 30" deep by 5' long with shelves along the back wall for parts bins and such. Do you know that I've gotten more accomplished at the little desk in four months than I did in two years at the old place? To me, the big workshop was like firing up the tour bus just to go get a gallon of milk at the corner store... Almost more trouble than it was worth. You guys with the large work areas, I envy and appreciate your ability to control the beast and accomplish great things. I had grand plans for mine but it became unattenable after six months of 'I'll put that away later'... I've seen great things come from small work areas...

I'm not really a scale snob... Although I do prefer to do my car building in 1/24-25... If I have to scratchbuild a trailer or flatbed or something of that nature, I build it in 1/24 because the conversion 1/2"=1' is easier to figure than the conversion for 1/25...

...And you helped out two of us, Jim B. , Thank you for posting that. I have added this to my to-do pile...

Extending it to July 1 would be great! I had an issue with the Thunderbirds paint and need to strip the body and start over... . The rolling chassis and engine are finished and the interior is on its way. I need to finish the six-point cage and repaint the seats... The engine and chassis went together great, I just wish the rest of the car had followed their example.

I'm thinking like you, Ed... '60's era pieces are definitely needed. More examples from the '60's survived into the '70's and early '80's than did from the '50's, those pumps in your picture, for example... I remember my Dad pulling up beside similar pumps back about '78 or so. I think this would cover a broader timeline than older accessories.

Hang in there, Buddy! Things will get better. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family in your time of trial.

Ok, I'm officially blown away by the working convertible top. This is top shelf stuff, Peter!!! This gives me some wild ideas for mine... I have a one-off blown, OHC V12 that I made from two Small Block Chevys that would go just fine with a C5 chassis under one of these bodies, or maybe a Viper V10, you know, something nasty! Since I have three of the Lombardo dual cowl bodies (and ideas for all three), I think I need a couple roadster bodies as well. If you decide to produce them, I want to reserve two, at least. I see a 'Lombardo Motor Works' dealership diorama in somebodys future...

Adam, that's a sharp looking interior. You make vinyl look easy!

Looking good, I'm excited to see this one finished! I especially like the forward bulkhead and MG mount. Glad you joined us here, Roger. I can look forward to seeing this at the January Muncie Modelers meeting? I promise I won't miss this one...

I bought one body, liked it so much, I asked for two more... Three weeks after they arrived, I remembered that I had forgot to send the payment (whoops! I felt bad about that...) so I immediatly borrowed my sisters computer and sent the money via Paypal. Where am I going with this? I felt bad about spacing the payment to Peter so, I can't understand how someone can feel good about intentionally not paying and ripping another person off. I'm sorry but my word and reputation are too dear to me to be labeled a thief over ANY amount much less ten or twenty dollars. I thought it was very generous to offer these bodys the way he did, it made me feel good that someone trusted his fellow hobbyists that far. Peter, I hope you get the rest of your money. I just hope this doesn't discourage you offering something like this again with a future project... (though maybe payment up front wouldn't be a bad idea, sorry to say... ) To those who stepped up and made it right, well done! To those with no intentions of paying, Karma will catch up with you. It's called Living With Intent; What you put out there, you WILL get back, tenfold.

What a bad way to start the holiday season... My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, their families and friends and to the responders whose have to 'manage the aftermath' so to speak. I spent several years in Fire/EMS back in the '90's, in a small community and I know things like this aren't easy on anybody. You will all be in my prayers.

This is looking sweet! So many subtle and not so subtle changes and mods that simply just... belong... It is 'what should have been'. I'm really looking forward to seeing this one in 'Under Glass'.

And one more for the record just in case... AMT American LaFrance fire engine kits also have a Detroit 8v71's.

Well done! I always was fond of the Diamond Reo and yours is one of the nicer ones I've seen, a good looking old workhorse!

Ron, That is absolutelty BEAUTIFUL!!! I've had ideas rumbling around in my head for a while now about building an expedited freight truck on either a W900 or an older cabover chassis... Or maybe one of each... You inspire me! That Aeromax is one fine looking truck, well done.

And what, sacrifice a couple hundred horsepower??? Highway, will your driveline tolerate that kind of horsepower for that long or do you anticipate puking a rear end somewhere this side of the Wasatch??? This is quickly becoming one of my favorite builds simply because it's the last thing one would expect to see when someone mentions the words "Race Truck"!!! I can hear this beast now, roaring, all spooled up and running against the governor... passing my snail-like carapice at something approaching the speed of ouch! LUDICROUS SPEED, HIGHWAY, NOW!!!! "My God... They've gone plaid!!!" Hope to heaven your transporting beeves... If they're dairy cattle, you'll arrive at your destination with a trailer load of furry milkshakes...

Yeah, you caught me... I used the sleeper from the Revell 359 kit. I didn't know there was a difference in the sleeper doors. That little detail got past me... To late to change it now.

Well, considering that the finish date is Dec., 2011 I think I can do this AND complete the Fox-body build AND the JWAC... (The T-Bird is almost finished and I've got the parts collected for the '29 Phaeton...) This would be a good excuse to build the T600A that I picked up at a swap meet last month. I could build an AMT tanker trailer to go with it. I haven't seen a built T-600 in a while, I think it would be a neat combo. I could leave the high fairing off of the sleeper since it's not pulling a 13'6" van. Maybe dress it down by removing or shortening the tank fairings. They had a tendency to get beat-up after a while... As soon as I can replace my lost digital camera, I'll post pics of both kits... ---Old-Hermit, I love the Hot-Shot your building! That's gonna be real sharp. I was messing around with some mockups about two weeks ago and came up with the idea of using a spare W900 Aerodyne sleeper with that same F-350 kit. This was before I saw yours. I'll say it again, "Great minds DO think alike!" I'm looking forward to seeing yours finished.

I'm Baaaack!!!... Finally! Ok, I moved back at the end of July, got settled in to my new digs fairly quickly and got a modeling desk and my spraybooth set back up... I've worked on a number of projects and finished a few more, mainly a '67 dodge L-700 stakebed and a '37 Ford P.U. and did get Snowmans rig decaled. I finally got internet service out here, just this week... I was mildly shocked and pleased tonight when I saw the American LaFrance car hauler as I started a similar build back in September but have been out of touch since July. (I guess great minds do think alike! ) I'm converting an ALF Pumper into a single drive tractor for the AMT Haulaway Car Trailer... As soon as I can REPLACE my missing digital camera, I'll post pictures. Part of December will be taken up building a Minicraft 1/350 RMS Titanic for a friend but I should be back on this project around the first of the year. Update on my 15 July, 2010 post; The sad news is that we lost Grandma the first week in August...It was expected but still difficult. The good news, however, is that my good friend who was in ICU when I went MIA from this site, left the nursing home two weeks ago and is doing great! So, I'll post more when I get it... It's good to be back!

Ok this is kinda lengthy but well worth the read.. What was crazy was reading 13 pages of your jokes to make sure this hadn't been posted already... Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you, "Chili Judge #3". If you can read this whole story without laughing then there's no hope for you. I was crying by the end. Note: Please take time to read this slowly. If you pay attention to the first two judges, the reaction of the third judge is even better. For those of you who have lived in Texas, you know how true this is. They actually have a Chili Cook-off about the time Halloween comes around. It takes up a major portion of a parking lot at the San Antonio city park. The notes are from an inexperienced Chili taster named Frank, who was visiting from New York. Frank: "Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at a chili cook-off. The original person called in sick at the last moment and I happened to be standing there at the judge's table asking for directions to the Coors Light truck, when the call came in. I was assured by the other two judges (Native Texans) that the chili wouldn't be all that spicy and, besides, they told me I could have free beer during the tasting, so I accepted". Here are the scorecards from the event: (Frank is Judge #3) Chili # 1 Eddie's Maniac Monster Chili... Judge # 1 -- A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick. Judge # 2 -- Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild. Judge # 3 -- (Frank) Holy ######, what in blazes is this stuff? You could remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers to put the flames out. I hope that's the worst one. These Texans are crazy. Chili # 2 Austin's Afterburner Chili... Judge # 1 -- Smoky, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang. Judge # 2 -- Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be taken seriously. Judge # 3 -- Keep this out of the reach of children. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver. They had to rush in more beer when they saw the look on my face. Chili # 3 Ronny's Famous Burn Down the Barn Chili.. . Judge # 1 -- Excellent firehouse chili. Great kick. Needs more beans. Judge # 2 -- A bean less chili, a bit salty, good use of peppers . Judge # 3 -- Call the EPA. I've located a uranium spill. My nose feels like I have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the routine by now. Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me on the back, now my backbone is in the front part of my chest. I'm getting pie- faced from all of the beer... Chili # 4 Dave's Black Magic... Judge # 1 -- Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing . Judge # 2 -- Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish or other mild foods, not much of a chili. . Judge # 3 -- I felt something scraping across my tongue, but was unable to taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Sally, the barmaid, was standing behind me with fresh refills. That 300-lb woman is starting to look HOT...just like this nuclear waste I'm eating! Is chili an aphrodisiac? Chili # 5 Lisa's Legal Lip Remover... Judge # 1 -- Meaty, strong chili. Cayenne peppers freshly ground, adding considerable kick. Very impressive. Judge # 2 -- Chili using shredded beef, could use more tomato. Must admit the cayenne peppers make a strong statement. Judge # 3 -- My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead and I can no longer focus my eyes. I think I broke wind-four people behind me needed paramedics. The contestant seemed offended when I told her that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher. I wonder if I'm burning my lips off. It really pisses me off that the other judges asked me to stop screaming. Screw those rednecks. Chili # 6 Pam's Very Vegetarian Variety... Judge # 1 -- Thin yet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of spices and peppers. Judge # 2 -- The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions, and garlic. Superb. Judge # 3 -- My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with gaseous sulphuric flames. I greased my shorts when I farted and I'm worried it will eat through the chair. No one seems inclined to stand behind me except Sally and that dumb golden retriever. Can't feel my lips anymore. I need to wipe my butt with a snow cone. Oh no, the dog ate some of that stuff. Chili # 7 Carla's Screaming Sensation Chili... Judge # 1 -- A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned peppers. Judge # 2 -- Ho hum, tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of chili peppers at the last moment. **I should take note that I am worried about Judge # 3. He appears to be in a bit of distress as he is cursing uncontrollably. Judge # 3 -- You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and I wouldn't feel a thing. I've lost sight in one eye, and the world sounds like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with chili which slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of a smoldering substance that matches the color of my shirt and my belly button is sticking out so far it looks like it's trying to escape. At least during the autopsy, they'll know what killed me. I've decided to stop breathing-it's too painful. Screw it; I'm not getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air, I'll just suck it in through the 4-inch hole in my stomach. Oh great!! Now the dog is doing butt-scoots across the grass he's in so much pain. Chili # 8 Karen's Toenail Curling Chili... Judge # 1 -- The perfect ending, this is a nice blend chili. Not too bold but spicy enough to declare its existence. Judge # 2 -- This final entry is a good, balanced chili. Neither mild nor hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge #3 farted, passed out, fell over and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself. Not sure if he's going to make it. Poor fella, wonder how he'd have reacted to really hot chili? Would someone use the fire extinguisher on the dog?!?!

Thank you for the compliment, Kostas. I will be taking my time on this move. It's only four miles away (roughly 6.5Km) and I don't have to be out of here completely until the end of August. I can pack the fragile stuff lightly in boxes and make several trips so that things aren't stacked on top of one another and getting squashed and broken. We're moving me and the items I can take with me (i.e. model supplies, clothes, bed, dresser, etc...) tommorrow. Then I'll have a month to get the rest of my things into a storage unit and get the place ready to turn back over. I think my next project after this truck is going to be a series of vintage front-engined dragsters. I have the parts to build six or seven, Revell and AMT Parts Pack frames, bodies, engines and such... I'll be needing a bit of a break from the big rigs, although the goblin truck is an idea for a future build. Pretty much the same type of conversion I've done with this one. The face would be the real challenge.

Yeah, I feel your pain... I have two of those beasts in my closet as we speak... Yours is looking pretty good. It is a finicky kit but the end result is worth it.