Lunajammer

Yes, an oldie but an oldie. I dug it out of the archives. Back then, this was my test of some new technics in engine wiring and use of future floor wax. Both with marginal success. Today it was a test of photo lighting. Regardless of build quality, I always thought this was a photogenic car.

Wow, that's a beauty. Really nice work and careful craftsmanship.

Jammer, because that's what we were called when I drove the 30's vintage red buses in Glacier National Park. Luna for moon (a girlfriend thing) then combined them. Avatar from a photo I took of my best friend's '54 Chevy. I redrew it in Illustrator for a t-shirt, then just tweaked it to use here too.

I like what I'm seeing Niko, that engine looks like it means business and your formula for wheel success made me chuckle. Zen, I'm not too concerned about the custom window. I'm quite certain custom plexi (or lexan?) windows were available by 1962. Side note: My best friend actually has one of those bomber bubble windows, I believe it was from the B-36, but it was the same as the B-29 window. It's not huge but it probably was 2' dia. or better. Jim that's quite a pedigree of aviation history in your family. I can't image how proud you must be to carry that family name.

Your Great Great Grandmother?! Jason, you're KILLIN' me.

Different primers for different needs. I always keep a can of cheap, thin primer when I want to lay a foundation coat without the risk of blurring detail. Others, as mentioned, for color (black, medium, white), fill, surfacing, etc. I'm also fond of thinning Bondo glazing putty thinned with lacquer thinner for a heavy brush-on primer (for spot surfacing) that bridges the gap between body putty and sprays.

These came from parts I've inherited so the experts could elaborate on what kits. Did someone mention the baby alligator? Pretty sure this particular sample didn't come from the Coddington series. The AMT brand tube radio. Must stand for Amplitude Modulation Technology. The White House party crashers from the Revell '57 Cadillac Eldorado. The first aid kit, which apparently was recovered from a plane crash.

I'd like to see the off-the-wall knickknacks that used to come with kits. Telephones, reel-to-reel tape machines, TVs, box radios come to mind but I know there are many more. Custom made bits would be interesting too, but mostly the kit supplied oddballs. Prefer not body parts like skirts, pans, continentals unless it's something too weird to pass up.

In fact, if you look at it right you can see a part of the 3-D image at the bottom of that swatch. Now THAT would bring a new element to modeling... subliminal 3D stylings. As if the bodywork alone wasn't already blowing my mind.

Nicely put Harry! As many times as I've read the story of those events, this is probably as concisely as I've seen it laid out.

Seems to me there were piles of how-tos and tutorials on YouTube when I went looking some months ago. As mentioned previously, results were mixed, according to the user and complexity of the piece, but my questions were answered about what to expect.

Building for competition sometimes take the fun out of the build. For that reason, every few years I build a model box stock. Usually because it's a subject matter I like but not so much that I have the patience to give a pile of time to it. Quick & pretty & out of my system. Sometimes, I'll put it on the contest table with no aspirations of winning but it supports the show's model count and sometimes attendees just want to see how the thing looks built.

Light powerful cars: - Accelerate faster over a heavier car with the same power - Need less distance to stop with same brake system - Better gas mileage with same engine over a heavier car - Easier to handle and more nimble in handling. - Less mass, more speed crossing Allegheny/Appalachian Mtns., vast Rocky Mountains, Sierra Mtns. Heavy powerful cars: - Comfy.

That's an excellent piece, not matter how many days it took to build. I'm glad to see it. I have that kit but didn't think it would look very good. Your photos show it can be built to look just fine. Nice work, thanks for sharing.

Great to see you here Jonno, hope you hang out. This really is a great piece. It's a nice departure from the usual fare.

Yeah, great work. There's a lot to be said for factory stock. Nice, clean, attractive conversion.

Au contraire. It's scrapple. Nothing goes to waste.

Jon, if you can fit it in between now and, oh... November 30th, then I'd say you're good to go. Nice progress Andy. Looks like your fit issue is nothing a little sandpaper couldn't solve. Zen, as things were coming together and its shape was becoming realized, "Batmobile" had crossed my mind a time or two also. Honestly it looks like a couple wrap-around wind screens would seal the deal. So I guess it's up to the paint department to make the disassociation from the caped crusader.

As shown on stationwagonforum.com. You just never know what's gonna wash up. Wait... what does that say? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5R_pS0h5Qk

Wow, your posting is quite a touching testament to her. Your time of loss may be an odd time to say you're a lucky man, but her light will never leave you. My condolences to you and your family.

Wow. I think it's sucking the life force out of me. Are those reflections of people in that mile deep black shine or just lost souls? The engine is fantastic.

The primer always tells the tale and tonight it says the body work turned out pretty decent. Just a couple very minor touch ups and I can move on to the more routine assemblies. In retrospect, the side trim is a little heavy but I'm moving on.

Yes, yes to all of the above and I'd like to add that I love the overall retro feel, even the colors. Fantastic nostalgia piece.

It's a given Jairus is the king and I've admired his (your) drawings for years. But I've equally admired Brad's marker drawings, again for years, and wondered where he went after the other magazine lost site of the value of the Sketchpad. I guess if I bought your goll dang magazine I'd know what's going on. I guess I better step up. I hope you illustrators continue for years to come. You do inspire.