monkeyclaw

Thx to all for looking....got the car finished up and delivered...the customer was very pleased with the car! I can't seem to get pix uploaded to this board; but you can view the finished car at my site www.monkeyclawmodels.com look on the "hotrod" page. This was a fun project; and I think I may have to build one of the 32 fords for my own collection when I get time... (after Tamiya-Con). Again; Thanx for looking and all the comments........good luck on all your 08 projects..........matt

I have to agree with steve .....Very BASIC; and somewhat over-simplified....but with a bit of effort they can turn out nice...I think IMEX did the sporty in 1/9 scale as well; those were much better kits , and they do show up on ebay quite a bit...good luck with your project......matt

Hermit; I like that tracknose!......Is that a big block with TPI stuffed in there??? I have to say for such an old kit; the big 32's go together pretty well....this one has actually been a "fun" project.....I might actually take time out over the winter to build one of my own. The 3 in 1 kits are great; because of the surplus of parts left over for other builds..........matt

Thanks! I did to speak to a contact at Tamiya-usa; They insist That the T-Con will go this spring; in their new facility in Irvine.....I understand the big difficulty for those guys now is the "split" facility...apparently their warehouse space is up in reseda; but not at the facility in Irvine...so if you call for parts or orders; it often takes a couple days for them to find out if they even have what you are looking for....keep me posted if you hear anything...........matt

Just wondering if any "insiders" have heard speculation on dates for Tamiya-con 08....still no word on their site...as for me; I am planninmg for mid-April as it was always held...and look forward to seeing their new facility...any help would be great...it's a big trip to plan for.................thanx in advance............matt

Great model of a great car! Like the mini's...what they lacked in power ; they made up in handling....I have the nichimo 12th scale car to build over the winter....I hope it builds up as nice as that..................great work.........matt

Hey guys; just a couple shots of my current project....doing this car for one of my customers...he wanted a "classic" hotrod for his collection...big deuce kit; opening doors, truck and cowl vent; as well as the flip up one piece front end (for a modern touch) ... this car is all about subtle...smooth side panels; working lites, and boxed frame and 1-1/2 inch front end drop are a few features...will also use the MCM P/E grille on this car; as well as a sterling skull for the shift knob....it's carpeted using black suede...paint work is done...just need to polish it out; and get my display builder HOT!!! check it out

Raul; Thanks....this one is just "falling" together! I was determined to make the hood on the big deuce open; rather then lift off..I couldn't find any decent piano style hinges to use; so I decided to just do the "flip" ....Not something that you see everyday on 32, that's for sure....which brought about another issue....seeing "through" the grille when the hood is up....so I am using the Modelcargarage P/E grille on this car as well....I'll post some new pix when it's completed (next week) ............matt

Hey guys; just a couple shots of my current W.I.P. Doing this one for one of my customers....He wanted a "classic" hotrod....so this is what i came up with....model features working headlites, LED tail lites....opening hood , doors, trunk, and cowl vent.....and a flat head. Decided to do a 1 piece "flip" front end to add a modern touch to the car. Car is finished in Black lacquer, and still needs polishing...but it's almost PAU.........matt burnett

nice little mini! one of my favorite Tamiya small kits...along with the Fiats.....If you like the small ones; you should definitely build the 12th scale Tamiya mini...it just "falls" together very nicely.......matt Burnett

Eveybody will give you a different answer here....I use BONDO for all of my sculpting...it is quick and easy; sculpts very easily using cheese grater files and, dremel or sanding....works in warm or cold weather...as it generates it's own cure reaction....just my 2 cents.......matt burnett

Firstly; What you guys have been doing for years seems to be working well; so KUDOS there! The content of the magazine cannot possibly satisfy every segment of the "model car" hobby every month...just too many "niche" modelers. I do enjoy the ask G&J segments; with offbeat humor and wit. I do agree with damncranky about more features on modelers and their body of work. Of course there are segments which get less coverage than others, and in MY opinion; The other mag does Nascar to death all of the time....nothing against the nascar guys...just not my thing (and I live in Alabama). It occurs to me that the format here on this group is quite concise....It allows modelers to go right to their own niche; and not have to read about all the stuff they Don't do, and talk with other modelers of similar interest....but that also excludes them from LOTS of good info....so it's a double edge sword. I like to see new kits and such reviewed; and what's being re-popped; but I (personally) don't need to see build up featues of the same kits that have been around forever.... NO offense intended guys. MY wishlist is pretty easy 1. More coverage of larger scale subjects 2. More coverage of trucks 3. More features about "Modelers at large" As the hobby continues to grow, more and more segments get defined, coverage of every segment monthly is just not possible....so perhaps "theming" issues would be an idea to help cover everything that is going on out here in model car land? As for me; I generally peruse the mags at the LHS...but rarely purchase them; as most of the info just isn't relevant to MY modeling interests.... Matt Burnett

Simon; Thanks...I wish we would have bumped into each other....next time for sure! Just being up close to the "hippie car" and "pink pig" wa sawesome for me. I currently have several 1/12 porsches in the works.... doing molds right now for the parts to do the Hawaiian tropic cars form the Martini kit; also woking on two other full conversions....a 930 slant (street car) for the 934 kit; and a Kremer K-3 (#70 Barbour car) for the 935 kit. My plan is to debut them at Tamiya con in April 08. I'll keep you posted on progress....feel free to email ANYTIME............monkeyclaw62@aol.com......matt burnett

Simon; like you, I had a great weekend as well! Nice to see so many great models, and so many of the 1:1 history makers....I filled up 2 camera chips myself. I thought the model car exhibit was great...just not happy with the placement of the big scale cars...which is all I took...the first three in this thread are mine...no one could really see them up in the sky decks (LOL) kudos to henry and his gang for a great event (as usual) and kudos to all who took the time to bring out there models and show them off....and to those who took home the hardware...I know the 1;1 scale guys were impressed. I did get to see many of my favorite 1:1 cars...even the "hawaiian tropic" 935 that my 1/12 car replicates....COOOOL! and all of the other Dick Barbour cars (that I still have to build).All in all, well worth the trip. I am glad I went....Now I just have to get building!!! Matt Burnett AKA Monkeyclaw

William; Thanx for the comments; I finished up the "BETA" build in time to take the truck out to a smaller show in Ga yesterday; did get some good feedback from show attendees...I did all the work up front on this one; to make sure it all fit together and "worked" . I am now gonna break down the body set; give it yet another polishing; and get hot making the molds...I will be debuting the body set @ the NNL SOUTH in Smyrna, Ga. next month! (FINALLY) ; and it will be available on my site as well after the debut.....Transkit will include the following parts; Cab, visor, floor, interior panels, seat, bed, rear fenders....cast in white resin, I was able to readily install windows made from clear sheet stock. I intend to cast only 75 of these to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the 32 fords....I hope this info helps............Matt Burnett (monkeyclaw)

WOW!!! Great work....show us more..............matt Burnett

Thanx for looking...just got it "beta" built....prior to casting the body set....just glad to have this one done...well the masters any way...once the parts are all cast up; I will go through and add the usual detailing............matt burnett

Hey guys here's a shot of the deuce pickup I have been working on... I had to really shrink the image to get it to upload........matt burnett

Simon; nice to hear from you! I will be there for the entire event....make sure you stop in....at this point it looks like I will have a booth (tent) in the infield area; and should be among the "objetcts De Art" vendors , so please stop by for some chit chat...I also plan to particip[ate in the model show event as well...so either way i will see you there.....matt burnett

I will see you guys there as well; I will be there for the entire event; and plan to attend the model show as well....looking forward to it! See you guys there.......Matt burnett monkeyclaw

Chuck; nice to hear from you....I hope to see you at the Southern NNL in November! Thanks for the nice words; and I do plan to bring some more new resin out for the model truckers; and may well send more of my masters to brad; so that the parts will be available as well in the future..............matt burnett

Ray and other truck modelers; just wanted to let you all know that i am indeed still around....Brad Lawson has indeed acquired a good chunk of my line up; which allowed me to take the summer off! The long & short of it is: Brad will be continuing on with these parts available to modelers, rather than just letting the molds "die" ...I am certain that Brad will take care of the truckers out there; and his site is looking good! As for me; I will be doing some more new truck stuff over the fall / winter months; but the condition of my hands has slowed me down quite a bit, which was also a big factor in the molds going to Brad. I will be shifting my focus to other segments of the hobby for a while; but will continue to keep tabs on what is happening in the truck world...In the near future I will be investing in new equipment which will allow me to continue working in the hobby...even with hands as "gimpy" as mine; Thanks to all...........Matt Burnett

Jim; I can still do both single or tandem drives........just let me know.........matt

Jim; No problem; I just thought I would ring in to try to help....I understand your frustration on some of the other boards....not always easy to get an answer.............matt

Jim; you may be able to find some photo etch emblems from KFS; or check out ebay...there is a guy from Australia that always has p/e accessories for sale there...the other solution would be to check out modelcargarage site; look in the street rod stuff; he always has p/e there as well. I don't remember what the logos look like on that hood; I haven't built one of those kits for probably 20 years. You could always just print a small decal to fit the area as well. You are not the first to suffer the fate of the dissappering emblems....alot of the old amt tooling was that way.....once painted....it all just went away...if you are painting with an airbrush; the problem is not so bad...but when using spray cans, you just don't have the volume control to hit lightly over the emblems....I hope this info helps............matt