LDO

Lots of information here. Before I posted, I wondered if there was some missile with an elliptical cross-section, or maybe a fuel tank. Tubular space frame sounds more plausible. It must have been a heck of a thing to see so much innovation, so many different ideas about how to build a race car back then.

That's a real bummer. I like having a local hobby shop. It's great to go check out a kit kit before buying it, or to pick up something today. Lots of reasons why it's better than mail order. For me, anyway. I only mail order if the LHS can't get it. I'm not wealthy. I just don't buy as much as I could. I suppose those of us who feel this way are old fashioned.

I'm with you on the high price of the weathering products. I do like the idea of a lot of these new techniques, but the price is outrageous. Especially anything by Mig. It could discourage people from getting into armor modeling. I found a source for pigments in 100gram sizes for about 4 bucks. I went to Mig's website to compare prices. Not only are people paying a ridiculous markup to have it put in a tiny container, some of his illustrations are lifted from the Earth Pigments website. 100 grams is the smallest size offered. He darn sure buys in bigger quantities to pay less per kg. I'm a member at an armor modeling website. I thought about starting a thread about weathering for less money, but Mig is an advertiser and plenty of posters have no problem with the prices, even when they know about the crazy markup. Some believe Mig products are "made for the hobby". I didn't start the thread because I figured it might get deleted or start a flame war. Oh yeah- a local art supply store has Winsor & Newton oil paints for less than Abteilung 502 paints and a lot less than Michael's/ Hobby Lobby. As much as 75% less than those 2 stores.

Great job on the weathering. What techniques/materials are you using? I'm halfway through only the second armor model I have ever built. I have to say, weathering techniques have taken a quantum leap in the last 15-20 years.

Nice work. Is that by Amusing Hobby?

In another thread, Biscuitbuilder mentioned this car. I did a Google search and the car has an elliptical cross-section. Was the titanium tube under the elliptical bodywork? Was there another car that had a round cross-section? Fascinating stuff, but I don't know Indy Car history. Thanks. Lee

The sketches I was thinking of were in the August 1970 Rod & Custom, as Casey suggested. I mail ordered a copy. It's a pretty wild looking car. It would make a great model project, or even a real car. Rick Dobbertin (Yes, the Pontiac J2000 guy) is making parts to mate a Corvette transaxle to a Chevy LS engine, along with suspension. It could be done with mail order parts in real life, without having to spend big bucks on a Hewland transaxle or engineering and building new suspension.

You have my condolences. I lost my buddy, my female Black Lab, a few months ago. She was the best dog ever. They are indeed like family members.

I'm a plumber and that thing gives me the dry heaves.

No. Normally I don't leave off major parts, like the fire truck parts from a fire truck kit.

You might think these parts would be cool for something...but what? I got a 1/24 Opel Blitz fire truck. I will not be using the fire truck parts, so I'm wondering what to use that water tank for. I know, kind of a weird train of thought. The thread about show cars has me thinking of some early '70s oddball rod, but the idea is just not coming together. Maybe a weird post. Sort of a "thinking out loud" kind of thing.

Looks good. What did you use for the weathering/dust?

Thanks for the link. I had not seen this thread before. It all looks really wild. I can not wait to see what goes in the trailer.

Whoa. Do you a thread about this? I would love to read more about it. Did that tow vehicle start out as a Ferrari Daytona?

A couple of kits I can think of for nice wire wheels are Fujimi's Ferrari Daytonas. These have Borrani wheels made up of several pieces. Injection molded, so no flat spokes like photoetch wheels. Tamiya's Jaguar Mk.II Saloon has very nice one-piece wheels.

I've been using Fotki for 16 years with no problems.

Nice job on an unusual vehicle. The Leupold K5 is a big kit. Squadron has an "In Action" book on it that should be easy to find and not too expensive.

I like your choices...except for the Dart.

Very sad. He contributed a lot to our hobby.

It's 1/35. The numbers and Balkan cross are hand painted. One pic has a test piece for Zimmerit and painting on the markings. I cheated a little bit. I used wide Tamiya tape to make a rectangle mask the had lines representing the borders for the numbers. I continued the lines onto the Zimmerit with a sharp pencil, then filled in the lines...mostly. The 3 and the diagonal line in the 4 were freehand, but having the vertical lines done plus limits marked out really helped. The faded 3-color camo under the numbers was done with dry brushing oil paint. I'm really liking the oils. That's new to me. The idea came from a book by Tony Greenland. That dude is a tank model guru. The carbon stain around the coax machinegun muzzle is also dry brushed oil. It's a cool technique. It looks like airbrushing. Thanks. Lee

This is Dragon's kit #6312. The Zimmerit anti-magnetic coating was done with Milliput Superfine White epoxy putty. The pattern was made by rolling a lid from a Tamiya paint jar onto the putty. I didn't want it to be stark white. The weathering would be representative of the snow first starting to melt. Most of these techniques are new to me. The last time I built a model tank was about 20 years ago. Here are a few pics from start to where I am now.

Thank you all for your help. I ordered that August 1970 R&C. The sketch I was thinking about is in there, not quite the same as I remember, but still pretty wild. Thanks also for other info like the link to a real world version of that car.

Nice work. I have no doubt it will inspire some future builds. The wire wheels look great.

No, no, no. I'm not talking about the Ice Truck. I am a huge fan of it, but...(clicks on link)...WHOA! Somebody built that F-1/Model T in real life!?! I had no idea! Will definitely check it out on the home computer. That. Is. Wild. I'm glad I posted this. LOTS of great info in this thread. Thank you, gentlemen.

That is awesome.