Tom Geiger

Into frying pan

Off on a new adventure! I took this photo back in 2007 on St John while vacationing in the US Virgin Islands. Unfortunately I took one quick shot, not a side or rear view, which would aid me immensely building this as a model. With Google as my friend, I searched “St John, Jeep” and look what popped up?! Same exact Jeep.. see the plate number! A few years older with more wear on it. So I can reasonably expect it’s still tooling around the island! As I’ve been accused of “ruining perfectly models” in the past, you may ask “why?”. I was immediately drawn to this battered Jeep with its locally welded rear section because it fits my theme of unique old survivors. I’m not alone since I found another picture. Secondly, I want to undertake the challenge of scratch building it and seeing just how close a replica I can create! First thing I noticed is that the Jeep has a longer than standard wheelbase. The CJ6 wheelbase is 20” longer than a standard CJ5, so I extended the flat bottom with Evergreen strips. Note that I strengthened it with pins as I always do. I cleaned up the really poor MPC axles and got it up on wheels. Here’s how bad the axles actually are! Missing parts and near zero mating surfaces to join the two halves! On my Junker Jeep, the axles were broken off so I had replaced the shafts with round plastic stock. Probably should have done that here too! My favorite magic trick of sawing the lady in half. We aren’t going to need anything behind the seat so off with it. And that back half has become a trailer. Here I start getting familiar with the relationship the parts will have to deal with. Important as I scratch build the box. And here we are figuring out the dimensions and fit. I’m having to approximate since I’m working with a single front angle photo. If I had a side view, I’d scale the photo to the wheel base and simply measure it all off. Note that I’m working with cardboard, and old packaging scraps of it. It’s best to do your trial work in a throw away medium before committing precious sheet plastic to the project. Working on approximating the body requires a lot of sitting back and staring it it! And I like to review it in photos since they accentuate errors. It’s also important for me to walk away and come back the next day because getting too close to the model blurs my objectivity. Sometimes I come back and immediately see something in one of those “What was I thinking?” moments! And as far as the vehicle, I have no idea why it has a crudely welded local body. Maybe it was damaged. Maybe the owner wanted a longer and wider box.. maybe the chassis was stretched too... we may never know! It’s just going to be fun for a project!

And most small hobby shops get their models from distributors who sell them broken cases.. as small shops may order 2-6 of a new kit. I know if one that had standing order with Stevens for 2 of each new kit. So these were also “double shipped”. Volume sellers like Model King, sellers at shows and Internet, have direct ship accounts with model companies so they may get a few days jump, as well as a price advantage, eliminating the distributors markup and shipping cost. I was once at Dave’s house when UPS showed up and dumped 60 cases of a new release in his driveway!

Super! And just how many models did you get done in those 9 days without adult supervision? ?

Thanks! And you’ve earned two more progress photos! ? Decided to go festive with this one! Had the Tamiya green from my Chevette build.. not enough in the can to paint a typical model, but perfect for what I needed here! And a peak of what’s up next..

Agreed. I did love Plasticote, but that ship sailed a long time ago for me.. probably 10 years. I have been near exclusively using Duplicolor since.. same as Ray. Not as foolproof as Plasticote was, but no real issues. The other primer I use is Tamiya but only under their painted.

Jim, one of my club officers is a wiz on the lathe, and a super guy. If you have questions or want instruction I’m sure he’d help. And he’s Zoom equipped! Drop me a PM or email

Or a catapult

You have a definite style! When seeing a model anywhere one would know it was yours! I’ve enjoyed looking at them!

Thanks! Funny thing... some guy on Facebook was accusing me of photoshopping in the extra two!

pigs fly better

Hey Ray- I don't know what they have it listed for on eBay, but go directly to their website... The unpainted kit is $199 with free shipping. And they'll give you $10 off your first order to join their mailing list. There are also painted versions for $239. https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Search?query=pedal+car

I think it's more a matter that USPS is so behind and has so many people out with Covid that they're using the resources they have. Anchorage probably has low Covid and full staff. It doesn't matter where they sort the mail, it's all just a plane ride away. During normal times I notice mail I send from Exton, PA will be postmarked Philadelphia, Trenton, NJ or Delaware. I confirmed at my PO that the trucks pick up at their office and take the mail to the processing center with the most availability.

I do like that '32! In my favorite colors too!

And I call “Double Squirrel” ! ? Still digging in the Jeep junk box! I saw a CJ6 had a 20” longer wheelbase and wanted to see what that looked like.. That led to sawing a Jeep body in half with intent on scratch building a rear half... then I looked at the wasted back half... And the next thing ya know the squirrel bit me again!

Wrapped in bacon ?

A sad week for our hobby! We lost three modelers. Greg Nichols, Ken Walkley and Steve Hinson all passed away recently.

Here’s the last version of the open GT.. yes, it is a Saturn Sky badged as an Opel. First Opel ever made in the USA! We’ll never see a kit, so it’s nice to have some very nice diecast!

Some great models there Bil and Dan! I love the four door.. I fell in love with a 1:1 34 that someone at work brought in one day! Just different and cool!

You made something from a poor kit, to be commended! It looks good!

I agree! I have an old exacto brand battery power drill. I cannot imagine working without it. I drill and pin nearly everything!

Ear to ear

Grinding and moaning

Very nice models! I’ve got photos of these all over Saigon as taxis in the Viet Nam War era.

I saw this very nice VW convertible at Home Depot today.