mrm

Since the convertible Mondials don't have full door window frames and the little windows are different shape than the coupes, they had to be scratch built too and so were sun visors

All the newly tailored pieces were then stretched over the "folded roof" and little pins were used to hold down the corners. When their heads are painted black, they look just like the buttons that hold the boot on the real car

Next I had to reproduce the cover/boot that dresses the folded roof. I have found out that the vinyl self adhesive patches that are sold in any Walmart for repairing umbrellas and backpacks, are perfect for replicating the texture of convertible tops. So templates were made from paper and then transferred on black vinyl pieces, which then had wire glued to their edges. This provided me with the perfect preliminary boot, with wire outline to keep it staying in any position I liked. later it was dressed in second layer of self adhesive vinyl, which was painted same color as the interior.

The engine bay may have been enough for some people, but I hated it, so I decided to redo it Some more accurate material in some more accurate locations were placed The main eyesore for me was the injection distributor, which on the original mode was represented by bunch of black wires coming out of a hole. So I rebuilt it and used brass for all the tubes that go to the plenum and used some braided wire for the fuel lines and some photoetched boltheads painted brass to detail it Then the lines were run through 1:24 scale ignition wire looms, to keep things organized. and this is what I ended up with, which is definitely a big improvement over the original model

The rear seats, or what was left from the original part, were massaged to look like the real convertible ones They were also painted and test fit Next everything received three coats of rosso corsa and three coats of clear, after which all the black parts were done At this point the bumpers were reassembled too and the front grille received a nice little cavallino

Meanwhile the "folded roof" and its frame were made from styrene skeleton and miliput and the dash was also repainted and detailed. It also received a steering wheel from a Ferrari 308GTS after that all the body panels were sanded down and primed for paint.

The car that the model was made after has some custom carpets, so after the interior was painted new mats were cut from thin sheet styrene After the new mats were painted and flocked they received red wire for piping and some 1:8 scale photoetched emblems painted red to imitate the embroidery on the originals The front seats received backs and we slightly rescraped and their hardware was detailed with bare metal foil a new "armrest" was also made from styrene to go in between the rear seats and the door panels were also painted and detailed

Next the rear of the console was modified to look like the one in the rag top Then everything was sanded, painted and detailed, to be ready for instalation

Like all this was not enough, the center console on cabrios is different too. And while I was on it, why not spice it up. After scratching my head for a while I figured a way to make a little box with a ball joint inside to make the shifter( a pin) move through the gate, just like the real thing. It even got packed with grease

Now I had to build the new interior walls that house the folded roof

Next wonderful surprise for me was that the interior were quite different between the coupes and convertibles too. This is ratter unusual car with four seats and mid engine. This means that in order to have room for the folded roof and its mechanism, the interior was narrowed in the rear and I had to do the same on the model.

At the front end, the only difference for the US bound Mondials were the two "horns/fangs" in the bumper. they were made from styrene pieces too But the bigger issue I had with it, was the grille itself. Mattel made a poor effort replicating it as a single photoetched piece, which looks very one dimensional and unrealistic. So I made a new "egg crate" grille from six pieces of aluminum sheet. here they are next to the original grille and this is what my new part looks like

Then, armed with few packs of half-round styrene stock, a bottle CA and patience I started rebuilding the hood blade by blade And when that was done, I had to make the US spec third brake light Now it was turn for the grille in the rear bumper to be made the same way And now we had a perfect US Market rear end on the Mondial

Then I found out that the hoods on the cabriolets and coupes are very different. So I started cutting away what I did not need, until eventually all that was left from the rear hood was a little frame

So, earlier this year I walk into a hobby shop and I see the GEARS TV / Testors internet contest. Long story short, it sparks the old plastic model kit flame in me and I end up driving almost 800 miles by myself to the Heartland Nationals. I read the classes, the rules and everything and decided to bring about a dozen models with me, the majority of them done some time quite ago. What I noticed different from the last time I have been to a model contest (almost 10 years ago), was a "modified diecast" class. Not only that, but more than one of them. I was in heaven. I have two passions in life when it comes to anything automotive - Ferraris and Street Rods. It is funny, as it is kind of die cast and plastic model kits - two totally different crowds. And now they were under one roof! Amazing! Here I believe is the time to mention, that a little injustice was done by me toward all the great guys that organized the show. After I came back I made some comments that I was irked about some things. And this is what this story is about. I believe I was misunderstood and left some people with the impression that I was unhappy with the placing of my models. Actually I was very happy with my trophies and the main car that was build for that show placed better than I expected. The part that got me really hot under the skin was a comment made at the end of the show by a couple of people: ANYONE CAN POLISH A DIECAST - it was addressed squarely at my model, because......well,I commented that I believe it deserved better. Either way, I was not mad at the placing of the model, but the comment. So, here is the model and the work that went into it, I am not posting it to stir the pond, or just to bitch and moan. I am posting it, because I believe that a lot of modelers out there do not realize the potential there is in diecast models. It is a Ferrari Mondial 3.2 that was converted from a coupe into a cabriolet. A Mattel model in 1:18 scale was used as a donor and the first thing done to it was to cut the roof off Since the model I was making was a car of someone I know the original rear of the car was different from what I needed, so it had to be "cleaned up"

+1 I also think you did the right thing leaving the model with the louvered hood. I think it gives it character and it looks very period correct. Congrats on a great model.

I am sorry. My bad about the Sportstar/Roadstar. You are right - The Sportstar is the car I need, which was made by Foose/Boyd for Buz di Vosta. The roadstar is another Foose/Boyd creation whic is Cadillac Northstar powered, rear engine mounted '36 Ford Highboy. It is a true piece of automotive art. I mistake them both quite often. Unfortunately J don't believe the Roadstar was ever made in scale.

Hello guys. I have had another not so long this time break, but I am itchy for some street rods. I have quite few that are in various stages, but would like to find out about some bodies that I remember from the past being available. I would like to locate them and interested in purchasing them. *First I don't remember who made them, but in the late nineties there were some '32 ford bodies in resin that were replicating Zipper Deuces. The best way to describe them is the Boydster '32 roadster. Very modern looking and if I remember correctly they came with the side hoods and the grille molded attached to the body and vacuformed window, which was a very curved frameless job. I know they were available in "regular" roadster and a phantom vicky roadster configurations. The Vicky came with a modern interior too, which I know because I had one back then, but I am not sure about the roadster. * second, I know someone made a chopped '32 Ford Tudor Delivery body. It may have been RMcoOM, but I am not sure. Also, I believe RMcoOM made a chopped '32 Tudor Sedan that had the doors pre-cut open, but I am not able to find someone who carries it. *Third are a couple of Jimmy Flintstone creations that were produced and packaged under the Testors label and used to come in a brownish cardboard looking box. They were complete kits with no engine detail with white metal parts for suspension and wheels. there were quite few of them including the Frankenstude, Mercster, a Chevy minivan, a milk truck and others. I believe most of them were Chip Foose's actual designs. The two I am in search of are his for sure and are actual existing cars. One is a full fendered, Lexus powered futuristic looking roadster, borrowing design clues from both the '32 and '34 Fords and was called the Roadstar. This is what it looks like The other model I am interested in finding from the same series was called the Fire roadster (If I remember correctly) and it was the '34 Ford created for Michael Anthony from Van Hallen. It came with really cool IRS some of which was photoetched parts This is what it looks like and I believe this is one of the pictures that were on the box Any information on any of these resin goodies is greatly appreciated. An advice on who may carry some of them or someone who has them and is willing to sell them...ANYTHING. Thank you

I wish I could see it, but I have to be a member.........and I just ............can you upload the pictures, so we can see them without jumping through hoops?

Looks really good so far. I really love highboys and you are doing a great job so far. I have a little thing to say tho that I kind of find weird on your model. Why so channeled over the frame? I mean , I may be a little out of line here if I misunderstood something and if the case - my apologies. But if I understood correctly you want a very modern looking rod, like the one on the picture. And if that is the case, then you should have kept the frame showing and modifying it on the front and the back to sit low. I mean it is the modern way. Again, it is just my personal opinion and I am sorry if I am totally off.

Lead sleds are not really my cup of tea, but this one looks just too cool. I'm loving it.

Wow, I have not been on here in something like 6 months. was messing with diecast during that time. I have missed so much cool stuff. I have to finish a couple of diecast project that were commissioned by other people and then I will have some material for these pages.

I mean REALLY?!?! I know people on here have used the product. No one knows anything?

Hi guys, Does anyone know what is going on with JPS Wheels? I talked to them about 3 weeks ago and I got "Let me check and I'll call you back tomorrow" and ever since I have not heard from them. They don't return e-mails, don't answer their phone. ...Nothing!!!!! Anyone has an idea what is going on. Also if someone could recommend me a shop that has a CNC lathe and can turn some parts for me in great quantity with good quality, please let me know Thank you

Hi guys, Does anyone know what is going on with JPS Wheels? I talked to them about 3 weeks ago and I got "Let me check and I'll call you back tomorrow" and ever since I have not heard from them. They don't return e-mails, don't answer their phone. ...Nothing!!!!! Anyone has an idea what is going on. Also if someone could recommend me a shop that has a CNC lathe and can turn some parts for me in great quantity with good quality, please let me know Thank you