Exotics_Builder

Went to a couple of events this past weekend. One was an all Camaro show and the other a charity car show. The Camaro show was at the Volo Auto museum which I posted pics from last year, but they did have a Duesenberg Display that I took a few shots. We all complain about no sidewall detail on model tires, but what is this? Some interesting cars all around, such as: Here is the link to the album with all 297 pix…

You could go over to Scale Equipment Limited and see if any of their wheels would be close: http://www.seltd.net/awlist.html

Earlier versions of HD wheels needed a lot of cleanup and some were poorly cast, as the wheels I got for the Ferrari California. They have cleaned up their act and the wheels are much better. Some of their earlier wheels came with tires, but lately not. HD does sell tires separately, but are low aspect ratio and wide. Very few are big and little, if that is the effect you are looking for. This is one set that fits the Novitec Rosso wheels for the Ferrari F12: Good tread detail, but no sidewall detail (like Revell tires). Of course, with low aspect ratio, sidewall detail would be tough to pick out anyway. Here is a set of 19inch Bridgestone Potenza RE050 (305/40R19) tires they also sell: Additionally, Aoshima and Fujimi have reissued several of their tire/wheel sets. Getting them is hit or miss as modelers usually jump at them when reissued. And, they are usually only on Japanese sites. An example is: Another tire option is Pegasus Hobbies. They do sell tires, both higher aspect ratio and rubber band type. You can do some mix and match in sizes. They do stretch, so a sixteen inch can fit an 18 inch wheel and an 18 can fit a 19-20 inch wheel: If you are looking for a specific brand or tread pattern that is tougher. Many of the Fujimi/Aoshima older reissues are still shod with older Pirelli P-Zero treads. HD sells specific tire and treads, but limited size, especially if you are looking for big and little. Other than Ebay, try Mediamix Hobby: http://www.mediamixhobby.com.sg/shop/index.php Hobby Link Japan: http://www.hlj.com/top/Aut Hobbysearch Japan: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/car/ HobbyEasy Japan: http://www.hobbyeasy.com/en/page/advance_search_result.html Regardless of what you choose in wheels, you will need to consider how to adapt them to the hub/brake option you have. There are adapters marketed, but strictly oriented to Tamiya or Fujimi/Aoshima. If adapting to Revell, Revell of Germany, AMT, MPC or Polar Lights, there will be work. You will also need to allow for kit or aftermarket brake sets. HTH. Gerry

Most of it is the relection of the silver flake in the paint. I reshot with the better camera and no flash:

Talk about one that fought me all the way. I had won a door prize of the original 41 Chevy P/U and had started to modify it to mimic a real 41 seen in the area. So, I took the suspension components from an AMT 39 Wagon Rod and began fitting to the chassis. The real prototype had a 350 Chevy Small Block and aftermarket frame. The P/U chassis in the kit would have been too anemic to handle such. Then this year’s Revell contest was announced and I bought the current 41 kit. Given the contest time frame, I decided to drop the frame modification and start fresh. The front hood of the 41 is not exactly prototypical in opening, and hinging it correctly would also have taken a long time. So I decided to do a custom hood treatment and also open up the grill: I also decided to use the included straight six with the aftermarket parts. I still had the decals from the original issue 66 El Camino and thought this would be great to create a shop truck with custom touches and paint. The result is: Testor’s Diamond Dust and Purple-Liscious One Shot Lacquers from the can were used, and then cleared with their Wet-Look Clear. One disadvantage is that is not dust on the model pictures, but the silver flake being reflected by the flash. The grill was airbrushed with Alclad Chrome over Testor’s Gloss Black enamel and then covered with Alclad Aqua Gloss clear to protect the chrome finish. As others have discovered, I think the gloss black makes the chrome too dark and will experiment with a dark gray or dark blue to see if that improves the effect: For the chassis, I just detailed areas with paint and added Microscale wood decal to the underside of the pickup bed and added Testor’s chrome silver to pick out the bed bolts. I wired and plumbed the engine bay and added a bee hive oil filter: The interior of the truck was spruced up with adding tuck and roll to the seat upholstery and finishing as leather. I also added seat belts: I used the Revell supplied wood decal for the truck bed, but decided to use the bed from the original 41 P/U because I did not think the stakes would add anything. I am still trying to decide what to add to the pickup bed. I did install a GMP 1/24 tool chest and then placed in a Ford hot rodded flathead engine. But I will likely replace the engine with some other paint shop related load. I just haven’t decided what that is. As far as being done during the contest period? Well the contest last submission date was May 15 and I just finished this yesterday. Something called work intervened, especially since my retirement date was set and a project needed to be done.

On the neighbors. Most communities have laws regulating run-off and also, eaves can overhang a property setback but not property. You may want to take that up with your local government. Also, you could alos check to see if the work done was permitted. In my town, even sheds need a permit as well as any hardscping.

This event was held as before on the grounds of Makray golf course in Barrington Illinois. Only about 150 vehicles, but an interesting cross section of types. Coming in there was an Audi R8 that was in a really nice color combination. I think when I build the Revell kit, I will get the color from Scale Finishes and do this: I really liked this 57 TBird: and this Corvette: Here is Fred Cady with his Jaguar XK120 Fixed Head Coupe (he says he still has inventory of some decals so drop him a snail mail note to see if he still has what you need): And how is this for a rare race car: Here is the link to the album with all 241 pix…

MOOSEHEART is a residential childcare facility, located between Aurora and Batavia Illinois. It is a home for children and teens in need, from infancy through high school. The car show is a charitable event on the facility grounds. The date for this seems to float widely as a couple of years ago it was late August. Anyway, the show was not huge, but there were some interesting vehicles: This way to the Photo Album for all 185 pix…

This is a first Saturday of the month event during spring and summer. The location alternates between far north and far southwest Chicago area suburbs. A lot of supercars were represented, such as: But there are also some older iron, muscle and pony cars: Plus modern muscle cars: And Euro cars as well: And here’s the link to the 200+ pix…

Great day for the event. A little breezy, but in the mid-70’s and sunny. Great turnout of cars of various types. Some examples are: And here’s the link to 260 more pix…

Your right, I grabbed the wrong picture for the Edelbrock EForce. Try this:

I've been researching this for a model build. LSA engine: and LS9: and Edelbrock supercharger option:

The ZR-1 LS9 manifold/supercharger in layout is unique to the ZR-1. The crate engine available is the LSA (ZL-1 or CTS-V) and a variation is the Edelbrock supercharger. The LSA is slightly different than the LS9. Those would be more prototypical for real car use and pro-touring models.

Some more pix:

In Seattle, besides looking at moving back, I got together with my very good friend Jim Greene and, amongst other things, went to the recently opened Lemay Auto Museum in Tacoma. Besides bits of Harold’s original collection, there are vehicles from other collections and special exhibits, the current being NASCAR. It is an eclectic array as evidenced from some pix: Here, my friend Jim stuck his head into the frame as I was shooting a pic of a copy of a Smokey Yunick 55 Chevy Racer: My wife, who came along also, said the look of incredulity on my face on this Ridler winner was unbelievable: Yes, there is a 360 Ferrari Modena engine in this 60 Rambler Wagon. And yes, I was appalled by the sacrilege. Anyway, here is the link to the album for the remaining pix: http://s150.photobucket.com/user/exotics_builder/library/2013%20Harold%20Lemay%20Museum%20Visit

I just got back from our trip out west. On our way out, we stayed in Bozeman Montana and wound eating at a Restaurant called The Garage Soup Shack & Mesquite Grill. Great food and interesting décor. Obviously an automotive theme, but they did some innovative decorations such as vehicle grills turned into wall sconces. Here are a couple of photos:

The high water mark in my opinion. Although expensive, it is an outstanding kit. The Scale Motorsport Daytona is curbside, nearly as expensive as HRM's with less detail and is sold out

So I did some more research, measurements, and took close up shots of the AMT 2013 ZL1, AMT 2011 Camaro SS Convertible and Revell 2010 Camaro SS. The AMT ZL1 comes with the same radio dash wide screen as the 2011 SS Convertible. This is incorrect for a ZL1 as it comes standard with the Chevrolet MyLink with 7” diagonal screen. It looks close, but will need to be corrected by a modeler wanting to be more prototypical. AMT 2013 ZL1 From real car: AMT 2011 Camaro Convertible From real car: Revell 2010 Camaro SS From real car: In this case, the AMT kit is a little "soft" on detail versus the Revell. The convertible would be the most obvious since the dash is so visible.

It has alarger display screen, but no decal provided for detail. See below for update Let's hope Revell will do one. I don't relish doing the conversion to full detail versus time on another model (like a Fujimi F12 Berlinetta sitting on the shelf). I WILL do the AMT convertible combined with the Revell detail.

And 3 more:

I used the old camera as the newer one is recharging.

If you mean the ZL1 wheels, yes. I will take some pics and post tomorrow AM.

Picked the kit up yesterday. Looks good. If Revell doesn't do one, the LSA is the Cadillac CTS/V version of the LS9 and the Revell ZR/1 could donate that. But the intake and shroud would need some mods. Also would need to add a cross brace on the shock towers. See my photos from the Palaitne Cruise In ZL1 engine bay close ups. Revell's 2010 Camaro can contribute detail including seats. I am not overly wild about the AMT vinyl seats (the rest of the interior is styrene).

Well I got to another car show at Sweet Baby Rays restaurant in Elk Grove Village Illinois. The show was small, but a bunch of interesting cars, including a Ferrari 458 Italia that I wish would have followed me home (I was wearing a Ferrari jacket and several people asked if it was mine). Anyway, lighting was better than the Friday Cruise-In that I posted the other day. Here are some photos followed by the Album Link: http://s150.photobucket.com/user/exotics_builder/library/2013%20May%20Sweet%20Baby%20Rays%20Cruise%20In

The weather is starting to break enough that some cars are migrating out of their winter hibernation to the cruise nights. This is the 3rd week for the cruise-in in downtown Palatine, but the cars were still a tad sparse. But among those that showed up were some Mustangs, including a couple of Fox body versions, a new ZL1 Camaro, and some interesting Mopars. Even though I am a GM man, particularly Chevies, I took photos of all that were there. Lighting was terrible due to the angle of the sun and the layout of the lot. I worked the photos as best as I could. As usual I have the Hi-Res versions on my Hard Drive if anyone wants more detail. Here are some photos and then a link to the album: http://s150.photobucket.com/user/exotics_builder/library/2013%20May%20Palatine%20Cruise%20In