Wagoneer81

Very nice!

That's what happens when one gets old, Ron! And no, you didn't miss a thing. We're still here! As for me, for the first time in years, I had someone worthy of spending it with!

Kostas, you're not alone, Friend! We lost my Mom in August of '11, very suddenly. She had Parkinsons as well but died of a sudden, massive heart attack. It's still tough some days... I do offer my condolences and if not sympathy, then empathy. I am physically disabled and am having trouble getting the powers that be to believe that... It seems they go out of their way to say, "no"... so, no money or job here, either... But, you do have a reason to celebrate... something I don't... you mentioned your daughter. There is your reason to celebrate! A New Year with a New Life! Count the blessings you do have and keep moving, because a moving target is hard to hit! And so, with a fresh cup of coffee fortified with a shot of Bailey's Irish Creme, I wish you a God Bless and Happy New Year!!!

Thanks, Guys! Ron, thank you! Your Dad probably served on the USS Runner, SS-476, a Tench Class sub that was similar in design features to the Gato. The first Runner was SS-275, a Gato class from WWII that has been on Eternal Patrol since July of 1943...

That is a big boat... 54" long, overall. He has a LARGE display cabinet that has room for several large projects. We're working on filling it...

More... Good profile shot. And one more of the hitch. Looks like it, alone, will be most of the fabricating work on this model. I eventually plan on building one of these AND a 1/24 scale 16'x80' Mobile Home to go with it. I live in a '93 Dutch that I want to model. Just think, 40" long by 8" wide, in scale... I hope someone gets some good out of these.

I pass by this one in Muncie on occasion and had my camera with me one day so.... Here we go. I figure someone might want to build a tugger so I got some good pics of the bed and hitch assembly...

That's crazy! 1/75th you say? I never would have guessed. Excellent craftsmanship! Nice, unique subject!

Considering the numerous medical problems I fought with, this year was not a great one for model building. Thankfully, I'm still here to gripe about it. That's something, let me tell you! I started dozens and finished a few. The good side of this is that if I can finish everything I started in '12 by the end of '13, I'll have a really healthy model collection! Anyhow, here's where I stand as of now.... This was a quick build. Started with an AMT SnapFast Vette that was missing its wheels and tires. I found a good set of wheels/tires and brakes at the LHS. The finish is Future (applied with a 1" foam brush) over the kits yellow plastic. Monogram '53 'Vette. Not the best pic but this was done for a "What were you thinking" model club theme. Pontiac SOHC I-6 with a side mounted 4-71 supercharger in a short rail frame. I finished a stock, '25 Model T pickup as well but don't seem to have any pics of it yet. I'll remedy that and post one of it as well. Not a Car or truck but, this did take up a good amount of my time so I'll include it here... Kinda makes me feel better about not getting more done, automotive wise.... Revell 1/72 USS Cobia, Gato class WWII era submarine. Built for a friend.

One beautiful summer evening, several years back, I took a June Bug strike just above the bridge of my safety glasses ... I was running about 80 mph and thought it was going to take me off the back of the bike. It broke the skin, I had to pull a piece of its armored carapace out of my forehead with tweezers... I carried a half-dollar sized, bloody welt for a week... right between the eyes! I wouldn't want to hit anything larger than a bug...

Nice! Don't worry about a 'lack of skills'... You're doing just fine! Your weathering looks good, very realistic. You paid good attention to the basics and followed through with a good finish. (Painters will say, "Your top coat is only as good as your base coat...") Now, if you want a little constructive critique, (if someone pointed this out before, I apologize...) and I only point it out because I've done it before... The only thing I see that you might have missed is the seam on the tranmission. It isn't noticable when on its wheels but it is there. Like I said, this isn't a dig on the truck or your skills, just an FYI. Cheers!

I think the stock 12v71 had twin 6v71 blowers... This guy, I'm not sure, either. This is a VERY interesting build! I have to admit that, like Kostas, I was a bit confused at first. My original reaction was, "Where is the engine?" It took a bit of looking to see that you had placed it behind the cab...

I'll play along! 1. 1989 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. Loaded, 403/727, low mileage, Dk. blue Metallic, wood trim package. Daily Driver, Great winter driver. 2. 1945 Jeep CJ2. Flat fender, bone stock. Off-Road, vintage military-collector, show toy. 3. 1966 Ford F-100 Longbed. 428, 5-speed. White over Red. Light duty hauling, weekend playtoy. 4. 1963 Shelby Cobra, 289 4-sp. Lots of fun! 5. 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Wagon, Stock. Vacation Wagon.

"Wolf in sheeps clothing"... That sounds about right!

In the immortal words of Capt. Malcom Reynolds, "SHINY!" I like it a lot!!! I'm right there with you, Chuck! It is possible! Personally, and no reflection on this build, Dan; I think the LS1000 was one ugly truck... But, they certainly had a distinct, no-nonsense, brutish cool factor. This is the second one I've seen built up recently and I can say that I wouldn't mind adding one to my collection.

That's INSANE!!!!!!! I love it! Well done!!! It looks like it'd be a backbreaker to ride but man... what a graceful, flowing, sleek looking ride! I'd be proud to own it! I do love the outdoor, natural sunlight shots, especially the reflection shot.

Looks really nice. Good save!

The bed and sides on this L700 were scratchbuilt using Evergreen sheet and strip and Basswood from the wood display at Hobby Lobby. There's roughly 10 hour of work in this.

OK, update time! Some more progress has been made... The first pic is an experiment using the GMM PE pieces for the 20mm guns.... there are several dozen of these little beasties to build, 5 pieces each... In place... A little more progress made... I should be finishing this one up this month because the guy I'm building it for has another for me to start when this is done... a 1/200 Trumpeter USS Arizona with Wooden deck, brass gunbarrel and PE upgrades... Stay tuned for more!

Sergey, please take this in the good way that I mean it... You, Sir, are a MANIAC!!! You have more talent nin your little finger than I have in my entire body... Every time I look at this build, it blows me away. It challenges me to push the envelope of my own skill sets and reach to that next level! I have a K123 COE that I've started that I'm going to try plumbing and wiring the engine and chassis. This will be a first for me... Thanks for the inspiration!

Like your moniker, your builds are always unique and always very interesting to me. You can even take a fairly mundane kit like the 352, add your own special touches and viola!, you produce something unique and different! I love watching your builds come together. As for this one; Being a former over the road driver and having driven some real doozies (Read: underpowered boat anchors) in my day, I was pondering the ramifications of a 425hp beast in an era of 250 and 318 hp machines. Having driven a few older trucks, this Pacemaker would have been a real Contender... A real Money Maker! It's what a truck should be; modest, unassuming, but with a heart the size of a mountain. Something an Owner-Operator would have been proud to own and drive. I look forward to seeing you finish this one.

Well, one of the MANY things I think I'd do... after coming out of hiding several months from now, would be to buy each and every member on this site a model. Not just any model, mind you. I'd buy you all your Grail Kit. You know, that one kit that remains out of reach, whether for financial reasons or just that it can't be found? That one kit that leaves you soft between the ears at its mere mention? Yeah, that one... After that, I think I'll start having real fun... 'Nuff said!

125hp from a 1 LITER motor... To put this into perspective, for all of us Imperial Measurement kind of guys, that's 61 cubic inches... Look at the 1 liter drink bottle... That is the SAME DISPLACEMENT!!! Frankly, I'm impressed!

I thought the exact same thing! I'd buy a dozen or so... I could even pay in Australian currency, (I somehow aquired several dollars worth in a trade...) that is if it would go through the post from the USA without difficulty... Fascinating work, all of this! I am amazed at your level of workmanship and dedication!

Yeah, Frank, makes me wish I had bought a few of these when Squadron had them on special a year or so back... They had the LWB and SWB for $45.00 each, US... Live and learn, I guess...