TimKustom

I absolutely second this. I've used this stuff for years and love it. This and litho plates (I have several unopened packs from my days at the print shops) are my go to for really nice thin aluminum. Back on topic: Bob, absolutely love how this project is coming along. Totally referencing much of this to thread to build my own version. Stay tuned...

Wanted to share a project I've just started. WIP's have always been a challenge for me because of how I progress (or often digress). But I'll give it a try with this one. A new challenge for me is to illustrate it in video. I hope you will check it out because this one should get interesting. Let me know what you think!

Solid effort happening here, love the seat! Certainly watching 'cause I want to try out one of these Roadrunners when they come back out.

Looks like another well planned project from the ADL workbench. Will be watching!

Congrats to her! Hope this is the start of many more!

Nice pix! I had somewhere to be in the afternoon and couldn't enter. Did get some great deals from the vendors and I shot a little video when I was there. Hope you enjoy.

You sir, are a wizard. Enough said.

Wanted to share one of my recent models. This began as a Revell 1/24th scale 1970 Roadrunner. That kit has a somewhat simplified chassis and the body proportions look a little weird to me as well. I thought a good way to fix that was to combine it with one of the best 1/24 scale kits ever made, a Monogram (now Salvino) ’80s Nascar. The idea would be to build a car that used a race car chassis and could also be registered and insured to drive on the street, much like the Roadkill NasCarlo. It was finished as sort of a barn/field find project. A small hurdle of this conversion is that the Roadrunner has a 116” wheelbase and the Nascar chassis is 110”. There are two ways to fix that, you should be able to see which one I chose. I had a lot of fun time building this one and put together a couple of videos showing how it was built if you wish to see what went into creating this model in more detail. Thanks for checking it out!

Simple beautiful.

I can sort of agree with this subject title. I think too many people watch videos of others using hardware/big box store paint. I say stay with hobby paints because it is formulated for plastic models. If I use other or automotive products for a higher quality finish because with proper prep, they simply can provide a finer/longer lasting finish and those are typically airbrushed in a very controlled environment. I don't have time or the desire to strip paint. I don't find that fun at all. I rather spend a little more money and use a product that provides proven results. Anytime the products I use have done me wrong is when I know I did something wrong, typically from applying them too thick. The following models were built during last weekend's 24hr build and started/finished within the allotted time frame. The Firebird and the E-tron used Tamiya aerosol paint. Both models had three paint "processes" that also included masking over previously applied paint. A dehydrator was used to speed the paint process. No primer was used. My brother used Testors (produced by Rustoleum) "Purplicious" Extreme Lacquer which was purchased from Hobby Lobby on the following build. Sprayed in the back yard (62° low humidity) over bare modern AMT blue plastic. It actually looks much better in person. The following Mustang was completed in 4 days and is painted with Tamiya TS-49 aerosol over bare Revell white plastic (same as Firebird above). Sprayed in the backyard (65° low humidity). The can was heated in a dehydrator. Two light coats, two wet coats. All about 20 minutes apart. Roof masked and painted the next day TS-14 black. No polishing other than a quick rubdown with Novus #2. None of these would ever win any "best paint" awards, but they should illustrate decent results can be achieved while using products designed for plastic models with no primers involved. I also suggest the plastic you are painting be is a smooth as possible (finished to at least 2000 grit) or sand marks will show. My Bottom Line: Leave the hardware store paint for lawn furniture (and put a towel down if you decide to sit on it).

Great creativity and execution! The Studebaker Boat is very impressive.

Super fun subject matter and excellent photos! Great job!

Thanks so much for nice comments! I hope I can get half as many built in 2023, but you never know... With proper planning, quality supplies and proven techniques you'd be surprised how quickly a nice model can be built. Maybe that is a future article? Glad you all liked them.

Like everything about this build, especially the grille and the engine. Job well done.

Looks like a lot of work there. Great job!

Looks great! Digging the tow truck.

Whoa! Super productive year and creative builds to boot.

This year was probably the most prolific year I’ve had building models since my youth. I have a hard time believing I finished a dozen models in 2022, but I'm looking at them. Some of these were more serious than others, but all were fun. First up is this AMT 1965 Impala Convertible Advanced Custom. Started in September of 2021, it got wrapped up in early 2022. Quite a challenging “box stock - box art” build. The only kit I know of that instructs the builder to cut off the front clip and replace it with the included custom parts. This was my first fogged paint job, candy ink from Green Stuff World and Splash 2k clear made it somewhat less stressful. After the Impala, I needed something a little less stressful. I had ordered some “Viola SE 30th” paint from Splash and decided it would look good on an Aoshima Miura that had been in my stash for years. Built in 3 weeks, what a great kit, but I feel a bit late to the Miura party. Next up are some builds you might have seen in the pages of Model Cars Magazine. Hope you enjoyed reading about them as much as I did building them. I had been waiting for the Salvino JR Models Gen 7 Nascar since their announcement. Building that kit alongside replicating my first “glue kit” was pretty special. This pair got put together in a bit over a week, but having the modern car’s decals designed before the kit arrived did help a bit, watching Chastain's 2022 on track antics made it even better. Next was Revell’s new VW camper. Another superb kit. My original plan was to build this at a campground over a long weekend, but all the local spots were booked during that time. It was still built over a long weekend, proving a nice model doesn’t always take months (or years) to complete with a little planning. Tamiya Paint also helps make that happen. My first use of panty-hose on a model car as well. The next pair was my first 3D-printed kit. I didn’t print them, but converting the Atom into a somewhat reasonable Nomad was a fun challenge. Again, planning and Tamiya paints allowed this pair to be finished in about a week of evenings. A lot of people scream 3D is the future of the hobby, could be, but I still have too many kits to build, we shall see. You should be reading about this Salvino JR Models late model modified shortly. Built from a test shot, the story will be in issue 217. Don’t want to give anything away, just please don’t call him Cole. While slugging along on the above models, I was also bashing on this Pro-Street 1985 Ford EXP. I wanted something “rad” to display at the ACME show. Seemed a blown, injected fairgrounds cruiser with checkerboard seats would be appropriate. This one has an interesting story to be told another day. These last three didn’t go on my shelf but were some of my personal favorites of the year. This purple Pro-Mod was built by my good friend Tommy May in 1990. Despite being detailed to the max, it had a serious flaw – the acrylic clear on the body never dried leaving the finish comparable to fly paper. He gave it to me about 15 years ago, I told him I’d try to fix it. Well, it finally got fixed after being stripped, requiring all the body work to be redone, then repainted with the same X-6 Tamiya paint with Revell Beretta decals. This time it got Splash 2K clear, that dried solid as a rock. When he got to see it in person, he wanted it back, which is cool by me. This Green Gremlin was started by a fellow I’ve known for more than 40 years. We built model cars all through elementary school and I remember his Coors T-Bird being way better than my original UNO Buick. We reconnected recently and he said he had this Gremlin he started and due to his health he didn’t think he was up to dealing with all the “little bits.” He had sprayed a decent lime green paint job, and I knew he was a fan of Roadkill’s Hemi Gremmie, so I threw in the little bits needed to turn it into this. When I gave it to him a couple of weeks later, he teared up a bit, which was even cooler by me. My latest one is a replica of my brother’s 2006 Mustang GT. I’ve wanted to build him a replica for a while, and now was the time, it would make a great Christmas present too. The main challenge was I didn’t get the kit until December 20th. Tamiya paints to rescue. He said I nailed it, except for the center caps, because he lost a decal on one so he took the rest off. I replied, I should have gotten you some new center caps then. Here’s to hoping all of you can have a great modeling year in 2023.

Great stuff there. Looks like a fun time! Thanks for sharing.

I had the utmost confidence you would come through with a great article and you didn't disappoint! Well done. Hope it inspires many others to "Shoehorn a SOHC"! Standing by for the next one...

I’ll give you my take since we did hang out a bit at ACME. 😉 As many mentioned “life” depends on what you are going to do today maybe tomorrow. Simply put, some choose to build a super-detailed model, while others choose to do something different. In my case, I’ve built models most of my life. “Life” has dictated what I feel like building (or not) at any given moment. I’ve seen the hobby change quite a bit over the last 30+ years, happens with everything, new tech replaces old tech. What I haven’t seen change is the overall enthusiasm for creating a unique miniature. In my opinion, the amount of detail or other “tech” a builder wishes to include typically isn’t what “makes” a great model. The emotional connection the viewer feels decides what makes a great model. More often than not, the viewer is also the builder, which is why it is important to build something that you like. I try to focus on creating something that will make the viewer smile. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Perfection is not obtainable, but excellence is. I try to strive for excellence and sometimes it happens, sometimes not. You don’t really need lathes/mills/aftermarket parts to achieve excellence if you have a plan and follow through with it. I built this model in 3 days using a partially started kit, a junk Hemi engine, and a straight axle. Does it make you smile? Maybe. Does it make me smile? Absolutely. Even better is that it will sit on someone else's shelf and make them smile. That’s all that really matters.

Wow, we were building almost the same things! I fondly remember my yellow Lindberg Grand Prix (same series as the Century). Also made a serious mess out of that Midnight Cowboy. Had a full convoy of the 1/32nd scale Monogram Big Rigs too. Been looking to replace many of these, but auction prices on those rigs are nuts. Remember when you couldn't give those away. Speaking of mess, I still have my first glue kit, this UNO Buick is it. Somehow it's still around after surviving an Autoworld Auto Cutter and I vaguely remember it making through a firecracker blast...

Very awesome build of an iconic car. I loved seeing it the Guinness Book of World records and was fascinated with it's demise. Even more amazing that it has been "restored". Your model is incredible and seems it would be a centerpiece for your Cadillac collection.

Don't want anyone to bite off more than they can chew. As they say, there's more than one way to skin a cat (or a seat). Unless you need it to "smell" like leather, I'd keep it in in scale and use Uschi von der Rosten's decals. Then only problem I had with them is getting them to be the exact color I wanted (a very "cool" gray, they tend to be more "warm"). But if you want this look, I'd seriously consider it. https://www.uschivdr.com/shopping-categories/shop-leather-decals/

That is a nice surprise. For those waiting by the mailbox, here's what to expect. Hope you enjoy!