mrm

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

Nice. The wheels suit it well.

One hell of a Hot Rod.I love it.

Yeah....where's mine?

Great looking model. Altho I feel almost cheated, as I was planning to build a '32 Vicky in the exact same color combo which I saw in a Magazine. The resin body just came in. LOL

For the longest time I did not subscribe to ANY of the magazines I like. I thought that paying a couple dollars more was my way of supporting local business. Besides it is kind of cool to go to the bookstore (in my case) and look through all the magazines to see if the new ???? has arrived. My wife however has different view on things and this fathers day my gift was subscriptions to the two model car magazines. I checked the mail today and....nothing. I wonder if my subscription is so fresh, will I receive this issue or it will start with the next one? I live in a part of Colorado where "snail mail" is given a whole new meaning. So, should I go and pick one up, or should I wait for mine to arrive at home?

I would like to say - what a great thread. I believe that all of us have made pretty much all of these mistakes at some point. It may have been when we first started in the hobby, but we have. The inexcusable part is when you see people claiming they have been building models for 10 years non stop to have mold lines on their models. Although I would agree with everything written so far, I would like to point out, that some issues have "grey areas". I am talking about building "show cars". Anyone can open the first Hot Rod or Street Rodder or Mini Trucking (?) magazines and see that at the shows these vehicles seem to have brand new tires, that are shinier than the ones that come in the model kits. There is no excuse about the mold lines in their centers tho. Also we see that most "trailer queens" at the shows DO have shiny black engine compartments and color detailed undercarriages. But I want to turn the tables for a moment and question some of the judging at the shows. I have seen models that have TPI on a Corvette sourced engine backwards, that receive trophies. Engines that are described as twin turbo that are naturally aspirated win their class on prestigious contests etc. Meanwhile a model is dismissed as a contender because of slick tires in the pro street class. The two biggest pet peeves I have about some of the models that are "winners" are the overall design and realism in 1:1 and the bias towards given brand. We have seen all scratchbuild models that are "national champions" and "best of show winners" that display an unbelievable attention to detail. Unprecedented craftsmanship and flawless finish and execution. Yet if you saw that thing in real life it would not only be unpractical, bordering with undoable, but it would be on the worlds top ten ugliest cars of all time. Wow, your body is all scratch built, with everything hinged, but in real life the A pillars would be a foot wide and your doors would be 2 feet wide. There are 300 hours spent on the engine alone, but there isn't a single flowing line in the whole car. The front looks futuristic, the rear is distinctly '70s, the interior is totally '80s, we have '90s horsepower and the whole thing is riding on Boranis. C'mon.............. The other thing is where one model wins over another only because it is a Ford or a Chevy or....the judges are just more familiar with it. That is just not right. Anyway, I think I ranted enough...

I think I just need a roadster pick-up and the pick-up options for the '32 are exhausted.

This is one of the Deuces I am working on. For me personally the Bob Kolmos Phaeton is one of the best looking street rods ever made. I am not going to attempt even to hide that it is the inspiration for this build, but with a little Italian flare. It will have a Ferrari heart. So far I am here. It is an AMT Phaeton with the sides filled and new door lines cut to make it from a four door into a two door. The cowl was cut out and one from a Phantom Vicky was grafted to accept a Duval windshield sitting flush. The frame is the front section from the Vicky and the rear of a Plymouth Prowler, both modified to look like one and to accept modern Ferrari V12 and rear transaxle. The rear A-arms are not made yet, as the entire rear suspension will have to be scratch build.