Jim Gibbons

Geez, it's been so long since I had to do this. I was a lighting applications engineer, and we used to have curved track lighting, with huge radii. Unfortunately, all my old geometry books are in storage, and I forget the method we used to QC it. You could make a jig something like this quick sketch: However, Harry's idea is probably the way to go. Edit: the internet is wonderful. He's the math if you what to calculate it: http://www.mathopenref.com/arcradius.html Edit again: you can get flexible french curves at a drafting supply store. They're a soft plastic with a "lead" core that allows you to form a curve to a needed shape. I used to have one of my own when I had to do road or contour map drawings when I was an Army Enginner.

Love the color scheme and interior. I have an AMT '57 Chevy BelAir that I've been fighting with. Separate motor mounts are a neat idea in theory... I hope you can resolve the issues; I'm looking forward to seeing this done in a stock version. A good friend of mine restored a '56 BelAir 4 dr. sedan (black and white) in the late '80s that I'd go to car shows in with him.

A bit of an update; I was going through my back issues of Hemmings Classic Car, and found this article with some great photographs of Jack Benny's personal '37 Formal Sedan. The website photos don't show the color as well as the printed ones. I've decided that I will build mine the same way. I built Al Jolson's '33 Cadillac many years ago, and have the Franklin Mint diecast of Greta Garbo's Duesenberg, so I might as well keep up a Hollywood theme. I find it interesting that Jack Benny's doesn't have the front fender "parking" lights. I didn't know they were optional. http://www.hemmings.com/hcc/stories/2010/02/01/hmn_feature9.html

This is an amazing model done with superb craftsmanship. I can't help but think that building a 1:1 would be a far easier job!

I missed this when it was first posted, and have to follow your build. I'd love to build this kit, but I have two 1/16 '37 Packards and a 1/12 Cord to finish first. I did recently win a 1/32 Mercedes SSK that I've started. I love these '20s and '30s vintage Mercedes cars!

Very cool; I have a couple of ancient Monogram 1/32 kits to restore; a Porsche 904 and my all time favorite, a Ferrari P275.

Very nice; what color or brand paint did you use for the engine assembly? It looks like the 1:1. I built a couple of versions of this kit and mixed colors to come close. Edit: I just saw it was Vauxhall leaf green acrylic.

Remarkable. If I tried to tackle something like this...

I rarely get out to the movies, but this one I will make a point to see!

C.H.U.C.K. Parts (Chuck's Heap of Unused Car Kit Parts.)

I also build paper models, and just read the email from Fiddler's Green about their release of a Ford Light Tank model. It looks fairly simple, and could be scaled to 1/32. Here's the link: http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/models/Vehicles/Ford-M1918-WWI-Tank.html

Tony, thanks for the Alcad tip. I will give it a whirl. The bumper on the Triumph looks really good. I have a partially completed Pyro '52 Chevy wagon that stalled as I wasn't satisfied with the results of using BMF on the bumpers, grille, etc. I also have a few 1/43 Heller kits that your method might work on. I don't have an airbrush, so this will be worth trying.

Will do. Many of my older builds I've given away and haven't any photos. I hope to get the SSK finished soon. That is one of Pyro's nicest models. Excellent engine engraving, etc. The '32 Chrysler will take a while, as the plating is really poor and the brown plastic shows through. I will have to strip it and send out for replating. I think the Pyro 1/32 vintage and classic series are far underrated; they do build into very nice models.

Very nice work! I built this kit to replicate my brother's 1:1. His was silver with red seats and door panel inserts with the rest being black. I was best man at his wedding, and he and I drove to it with the top down on a beautiful September morning in our tuxedoes. I felt like James Bond for a day!

Love it! The paint job is beautiful. I love this era of Ferrari.

These are great! I also saw your motorhome, which is awesome. I especially like the Renault truck conversion. I also build in 1/32. I have a 1928 Mercedes Benz SSK I'm working on, and a 1932 Chrysler in the pile. Add some AMT/Revell and Gunze Sangyo cars from the '50s in 1/32 that will keep me busy for a while. Excellent work, and looking forward to seeing more from you.

I'm sorry, James, that I can't contribute an answer to your question. However, I couldn't help but think of FIX SQL as a veterinarian's abbreviation for making sure your pet squirrel couldn't reproduce. Forgive me, but I couldn't resist!

I considered converting my Starliner, but it would need a fair amount of modification to the door panels and seats. The Sunliner had 3 tone vinyl with a different pattern on the doors. I've started mine, and think I'll leave it as a Starliner, but just paint it as close to mine as possible. I've already ordered the full wheelcovers from Modelhaus for it.

Love it, and a great tribute!

Love it! I'm a huge fan of the '60 Ford; I had a 1:1 Sunliner in red like my avatar. I got my car in '78 for the sum total of $350. Try to find one for that today. Yeah, it needed work, but ran fairly well. When I got it, it hadn't been on the road since '72, and the red paint was faded to a dull salmon color. A lot of rubbing compound and a buffing wheel bought it back fairly well, but even after waxing, it didn't have a really deep glossy shine. I had fun in that car, though; nothing like an evening back-roads drive in the Catskills with the top down! On the negative side, it was the worst built car I ever owned. Panel alignment, gaps, and trim alignment were really poor. That was typical of Ford that year. The ridiculously narrow trunk lid was a pain; you needed to be Elasticman or climb in the trunk to reach anything that migrated to the back seat or under the fins. Not one of Ford's Better Ideas. The car was so bloody wide; if I recall 81.5", the widest production car ever built. You had to be careful on narrow back-roads with it. Sorry to babble, but every time I see a '60 Ford built on this forum, I end up with an ear to ear grin! Very nice job!

Awesome! Love it!

Simply beautiful. Wonderful job on it.

Beautiful work; I like both models, but the XK-SS blew me out of my shoes. Superb!

I had another of my pain related insomniac nights yesterday, and found Mr. Bean on Netflix. One of my favorite episodes is the New Year's Party one, which also features him driving his Mini with the easy chair on the roof. Had a good laugh over it.

I have a book on vintage car wrecks, and the 4 door pillarless hardtops did not fair well in side collisions, especially the GM X frame era cars. I had a '58 Cadillac 4dr hardtop, and often thought the same thing.