Steven Zimmerman

There are more out there than you think; The 'SS" was a trim option in 63,available with any engine combo. The reason you don't see many is because most of the 6 cylinder cars have had V-8 transplants over the years.............Steve Zimmerman

I don't care if this frame is right,or that frame is wrong,I just want this poor fella to cast the body so I can purchase one......If I have to,I will scratchbuild/kitbash a frame for it. I'll probably modify it into a 2 door wagon anyway,then whatever frame I use WILL be correct-'cause it will be a phantom!.....(GRIN)....Steve Zimmerman aka the'Z'man.......

SHARP!.........I like the scoop,simple and effective.........Steve Zimmerman aka the'Z'man

The BEST way to do these is to (ahem.....) ....send em to Harry !.........(grin).....Steve Zimmerman aka the'Z'man.....

(muttermutter....) ...MORE slant; I gotta learn to proof read........Steve Zimmerman aka the'Z'man.....

Chop it. Lay the front glass back at more of an angle.Lay the back glass forward,put mor slant in the B pillars,or lose them altogether.......Steve Zimmerman aka the'Z'man..........LOVED the old Plastic Fanatic,BTW.....

........Uh,I think Jairus was attempting a wee bit of HUMOR ther,guys..........'Z'

That black sedan delivery is SOOOOoooooSWEET ! .....great build. Steve Zimmerman aka the'Z'man...............

IMHO,I think Art is right on this one. My best friend graduated from high school in 69,and flew out to Denver to visit his sister. When he came back,he brought me the MPC 69 Camaro; this would be June 1969. I remember being very dissappointed at the incorrect body proportions.....this would be the same body issued in the last AMT 69 Camaro kit,a few years back (Fast & Furious #38032) . The R/M 'Rampage' kit was even worse,proportionally,than the MPC kit........Steve Zimmerman aka the'Z'man........

Evilone....so far all I've heard is a lotta talk. Put up or shut up. Steven Zimmerman

I've done this many times.....Remember those old 'Gatorback' tires AMT came out in (I think) the early 80's?....great looking tread.....small wheel diameter. I've taken MANY sets of those and converted them to a larger wheel dia. (up to about 18") by using a dremel tool with the sanding drum. I just eyeball em when I do em,but then I've done 20 or 30 sets of these,so I'm gettin purty good at it. One thing I've found,tho......only do one side at a time and just go in half way with the sanding drum (tryin to hog out the whole thing at once will bog down your Dremel) and be prepared to have a lot of semi-melted black plastic all over the place-SAFETY GLASSES are a MUST....Also,as the hole in the tire gets larger,the tire becomes more flexible.;watch your fingers. Another tip;never hold the dremel drum in one place while grinding,keep it in constant circular movement around the inside circumferance of the tire,or it will 'bite' into the tire taking out a big chunk-and ya gotta throw it out and start over. Don't try to remove all the melted junk on the inside of the tire with the sanding drum-get the diameter of the hole where you want it to be, then proceed to clean up the inside of the tire with a NEW Xacto blade......As far as I can tell,this will only work with the 'PVC'type tires, I havent figured out how to do those'soft rubber'type tires yet (like Pegasus,etc)........Steven Zimmerman aka the'Z'man (BTW,superglue works GREAT on these tires; I'm workin on slicing them apart to widen them,but thats another story......)

I would definitely build these models;anybody who knows me knows this is the 'style' I build in. Chip Foose and Troy Trepanier are two of my biggest influences; I believe Chip designed the 'Hemisphear" while in college. While I won't say I like ALL their creations,I think they both have a wealth of 'hands on'talent. I say the same for Boyd coddington (who was an a**hole or an angel,depending on whose point of view you follow) and 'Lil John Buttera..........Steve Zimmerman aka the'Z'man

........I understand what you're saying,but that chambered exhaust system WAS a factory correct option,although not that common.......'Z'

All in all,I think you carried it off well !.....that's a hard car to replicate.................'Z'

I had a sheet of BMF that wouldn't stick(sound familiar ? )...I sent them a polite letter about it,got a reply back telling me in so many words,that (1) there was nothing wrong with their product (2) in every instance where they field tested so called'bad' product,there was nothing wrong with it, (3) they haven't changed their manufacturing process or their glue formula in 20 years because there was nothing wrong with it (4) it was not made to stick to automotive paint(still scratching my head over that one) (5) if it wouldn't stick,it was MY fault ,I was applying it incorrectly (6) if they replaced every sheet they got a customer complaint about,they would be out of business....... I wrote them another letter,telling them(politely,again) that I would be taking my business elswhere. Steve Zimmerman,aka the'Z'man

For realistic bolt heads and nuts,try the Grandt line(hope I spelled that correctly) plastic injection molded stuff......most of it comes on a 'post' you trim and drop right into your drilled hole..............'Z'

You know,scratchbuilding is GREAT,and anyone who knows me also knows I do a lot of it.....BUT.....why make tiny bolt heads out of plastic when a photo etched set is cheap(what,200 or so bolt heads and washers for about 8 bucks?) and the photo etch looks so much more real than any you can make,unless you are going to paint or weather them. I feel the same way about seat belt buckles,you can get a photo etch fret of those for under ten smackers,and they have maybe 20 sets on them? Remember the old adage,Nothing looks like metal-like metal? I make my own dash gage trim from aluminium tubing,but again those 'wizard of O's photo etch stuff is cheap and easy to work with. Did you ever try to make 8 injector stacks with flared bell ends from aluminium tubing,and get them all exactly alike?(shut up, Dudek...GRIN)....Without a lathe,its pretty near impossible,or you're a better man than I am......I guess I'm startin to ramble,so I'll shut up...........the'Z'man........

.....Leaving here in about an hour myself,packing 's done,nuther cuppa COFFEE,waitin fer my ride........see yez there,whoever's goin........'Z'

I would have notched,moved,or lowered the crossmember,but that's just me....the'Z'man...

Wow; nice chop!.............the'Z'man

HMMmmmm....looser,as opposed to-uh,tighter? I don't get it.....It IS nice to know they have a SPECIAL DAY just for you,though.....the'Z'man

This isn't even funny,and IMHO has no place on this board. Flame me if you want,I'm a big boy and can take it. Steven Zimmerman aka the'Z'man

I don't use the aftermarket braided hose at all,although I've been thinking of trying the Pro tech stuff. I go to a fabric store such as Jo Annes ,etc. and buy their round braided elastic cord. Looks more realistic,flexes without kinking,CHEAPER(several yards fer 'bout a buck.) comes in black or white) easier to thread through the fittings.... I color mine with a silver magic marker-real braided line is not shiny. One trick,put a small drop of superglue on the cord where you want to cut it and let it dry,prevents unravelling and fuzzy ends. Cut it at an angle with a SHARP X acto knife for easier threading through the fittings.....Also for cheap fittings,go to your local craft store and check out various sizes of crimp beads in the jewelry section.Get the more expensive ones,they look better(not THAT expensive,either) they're not completely 'accurate' but still look pretty good,IMHO....perfectly duplicates those slide-over decorative hose clamp covers we've all seen at local car shows.When using magic markers to color your hose fittings,do this last,or even after attachment if possible,the color wears off VERY easily,and re-touching them up just doesn't look as good(you can take my word for it on this un)............Steve Zimmerman aka the'Z'man..................................

Bobby,you will have a great time !.....Look for me at the RMR table,or out spending money I don't have on things I don't need!..........Steve Zimmerman aka the'Z'man

I take it you're not working in a union shop,or don't have a contract with this company. If you ARE in a union,have you contacted your union grievance person- if not,contact the dept. of labor and industry to see what your rights are. You also may be eligable for Unemployment compensation due to circumstances beyond your control. I've been a grievance person for over 20 years,these kinds of things happen every day in the work force. Thats why we need unions,and why we need contractual language in place to protect us from this kind of thing.............Steven Zimmerman,proud member of USWA local 1917-03 Channellock Inc.