Old Sprinter

Thank you Chris. I've got a little less than $100 invested in the whole car. That's one of the perks of scratch building. We don't live very far from each other. I'm new to modeling; I've been at it a little over a year now so I didn't know there was a show for model cars here in Arizona. I go up your way for the NASCAR races and to visit my granddaughter, in Mesa, who goes to ASU. I wouldn't mind trying a show. When and where is it and I'll enter. That could be fun and I would love to see, in person, what other guys do. I'm not sure if I'm "ready for prime time" or not but I will give it a shot..

Thank you Dave. Here's a sketch I made of the decals to send to my guy in your neck of the woods, Pennsylvania. He'll clean them up and make water transfers and make them the correct size. Crazy huh?

Now it's begining to look like one of those late models. :D One

TDR is THE place to buy parts or the whole car. I believe the prices are based solely on how much material is used so that's why an 1/8 scale body is so much more than a 1/16. They can make anything you might want and it's good quality. I'm going to be working with Tim at TDR to develop some dirt racing tires in the near future and there will be more chassis parts coming soon for the 4 bar midget frame. If you give these guys a plan and maybe some pictures of what you want, they'll build it. I don't work for them and really don't know them, personally, just through phone conversations and e-mail, but I've seen their stuff first hand and wow!

Thanks Bill. I modified the front fenders some by cutting 11" (scale) off in length which lowered them 2". Looks better, but it still not exactly right,but close enough. I made the first tire and rim. The tire is 3" ABS covered with poster board and the tread pattern cut out with an Exacto knife. The side walls are sheet styrene and Bondo. I made a screed to give the shape as I applied the Bondo. The rim is a PVC coupler and I made the wide five center and bead lock out of sheet styrene.

Jonathan, just buy some styrene sheet and tube of CA glue and you're living. Create anything you can think of, with a little practice. Best part is that it's fun. I hope you enjoy what ever you build. Ken

Bill; I scratch build but nothing to the level you can do. You're down right amazing. We both use styrene, glue and some other stuff so that's not any secret. Maybe your diet, What you eat or the music you listen to must be it; please tell us.LOL. Seriously, though I am very impressed with your knowledge of the subject and the skills you have in building these cars. Ken

Thanks Joe, Greg,James and Glen; very encouraging words and I really appreciate it

I can build almost anything but paint it, I'm horrible at it. Masking is the biggest challenge. How do you prevent or get the adhesive off that the tape leaves? I always get a little over spray somewhere so is there a tape that's better than another or what's the key? Last thing is how many coats and do you use clear (what kind) at the end? I rattle can the big stuff and brush the small stuff so I don't own an airbrush yet. I have been doing this scratch building model thing for a little over a year now and haven't learned how to paint correctly. Thanks Ken

I've seen this before and I think it's a masterpiece.

Yes sir some decals and dirt would help. This one is going to my wife's work place, when I'm done, where she's the director. I'm having decals made with everyone's name that works there. An example would be there's a guy named Anthony there, so there will be a decal for Anthony's Custom Upholstery as a sponsor. So each person will have a decal that has their name with some made up logo and company There are 18 employees and it will be number 15 for the years that the company has been in existence. I drew a picture like that of a NASCAR stock car, a several years ago and they all loved that their names were on it. She just recently brought that home as some of those folks don't work there anymore. It helps keeps everyone motivated as a team, plus I get to have fun building another race car.

Very unique and down right cool. That nose and flamed hood make it. How long is this bus?

Thank you Bart, I'm honored. Styrene will bend one way fairly easily and stay that way if you keep over bending it. You know like if you need 30 degrees bend you go to 90 degrees several times until it stays at 30. Then I add pieces to get the compound curves on the sides. An example would be the top of the fenders; that's a piece of 3/8" tube in half the long ways. Then other pieces of sheet are added. The only body filler I use is at the joints to smooth out the transition between two pieces. There's maybe a 1/8 of a cup of Bondo, if that, on the whole car. You can work styrene and make almost anything. I use the .040 thickness on the bodies. Here's a midget tail and hood I did that's all styrene sheet. I just kept bending it and adding pieces until it looked right.

I've got to fix the front fenders, today. They're too high; looks like some of my wife's outfits with the push up shoulders. Also the roof is stupid. A little paint helped some but it needs tweaking.

Bart; I think you have got the perfect stance and shape, now. Great work.

I wish more guys did this type of crazy modeling. Here's another type that I just love and thought you would enjoy also. I didn't build this, but the guy who did has some of your talent.

I agree with these guys, great job on cutting the doors and the whole car for that matter. I'm getting an education watching your build. Ken

I wish I had the imagination and the courage to build something like that. It's going to be a great looking project.

Dave and Joe, Thanks; Wows are good. I've still got the roof to build and tweak a few things, like the hood. I believe I at least caught the flavor of a dirt late model body. This is big. After building sprints and midgets for the last year I feel like I'm working on the Exxon Valdez.

Topless body building, all styrene ( and a little Bondo).)

You built the body and frame from scratch! Wow, it must be like 1/10 or maybe 1/8 scale? Have you got any other pictures, those don't show enough detail? Nice work; what did you use to build this from, fiberglass, styrene?

Holy cow Joe, I just looked at this for the first time. This is a great project. Your scratch building skills are perfect. I have no idea how anyone can get such great detail, like you're doing, in anything smaller than 1/8 scale. I can't, but you that can must have eyes like an eagle and hands like a surgeon. I will follow more closely for sure.

Oh yea, well if I had all the cool tools, I still couldn't do what Dave does. Looks so real, I'm so glad that it's fun for you, Dave because It's a blast just watching your projects progress. Ken

Like these guys said, you're doing an amazing job on the whole car and those are especially well done headers. Inspiring work, boss!

Stephen, I buy most everything from Hobbylinc.com . They have tons of supplies, paint, tools, whatever and their prices are within reason. They are a little slow shipping but I usually get my stuff within a week so you just plan ahead.