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When I have had problems with decals my go to product has been Solvaset. This is not that it is any better than any other product, it's just that is what I first used and the bottle I have was purchased over 20 years ago and it still works perfect for my needs. I don't use it on every decal, but when you have a door seem or compound body curve it is a must. Think of the Z-28 style stripes on a Cowl Induction Camaro Hood. I suggest experimentation with an old unwanted decal on a spoon where the handle blends into the spoon portion. This will give you an idea of how the solution, no matter who you use, will react. One note to watch for is how the decal reacts. The way these products work is that the decal film will start to lay down and lose its shape and it will become very possible to tear the decal. Some of the tools that I use to help are a very soft fine paint brush and a flat tooth pick. You can use the wetted paint brush to get under the decal to move it around. The tooth pick being flat and not sharp minimizes the possibility of tearing the decal. One other tip that has worked for me when doing say a body graphic that crosses a door seem. I wait until the decal has setup but not 100 % dry yet, I'll then lightly cut the decal at the door seem and just the smallest drop of solution in the area and this lits the decal settle into the seem and will not leave the air bubble look when it dries.

I have been building for a few years and we used to just accept the minimum chassis detailing since that was all we had. I remember well using my then new X-Acto knife to outline different features of the chassis and hand paint the exhaust and suspension. After a few years AMT started offering open hoods with little metal clips to hold them shut and what now seems ridiculous looking "engines". The point is you made do with what you had to work with and I for one was thankful for what we got. As more modelers started building cars the model companies started to put more effort into details beyond the body. I believe this had to also increase their production costs but I don't recall being put off by any price increases. Now we are at a point where the chassis and interior is almost the focal point in a build. Now when we want to build one of the reissues of a past subject and we get to the chassis why are we so disappointed ? You know that's what it is going to be. Why not use our new found tools and abilities and see just what we can do with what we have in the box. Think of it as a challenge. I have wimped out more than once and gutted a new model for the chassis for one of these kits, but maybe the next time I'll just look at the chassis and see just what I can do with it. My feeling is if you like the basic subject as a modeler the kit gives you the basics and it is up to me to make something of it.

I like the Turbo Inline 6 idea, very creative.

I wonder what the life expectancy of this soldier would be in an actual battle ?

Both are beautifully well built models. I like the one of your fathers and was wondering about the source of the loom for the spark plug wires?

As mentioned by TarheelRick, I would do any sanding as far away from your building space as possible. Resin dust from sanding can be a real problem when it gets on the styrene. I always use Duplicolor automotive primer on the resin parts. Most model paint including the primers just don't stick as well as the automotive primers. After the resin is sealed with a good covering of primer then you can go about your painting as usual.

Great save. Shows how much building styles have changed thru the years.

You have a great start here and very accurate looking. Just a word of warning, you may find it moved the NASCAR section of the Forum.

The red windows would have to be your call. I like the Mercury grill and front roll pan on the light blue El Camino. The Fuel Injection small block looks good in the white one. I little known fact on the Fuel Injection was that Chevrolet did in fact offer that engine as an option in both '58 and '59. The cost of the option was greater than the top of the line 3x2 348 cu in engine so the record of how many were built is very few. Were any ever put in an El Camino ? I don't think so but it would have been possible, so maybe this could be a showroom F.I. El Camino ?

I really like the theme of your build. You mention the "tread" on the Good Year tires, and I think that at that time the SCCA racers were required to have some sort of "tread" on their tires but nothing like what a street car would have had. I noticed what looks like some Minilight wheels in the back ground and they were also somewhat common in that era. The five spoke Americans like the ones you are using and appear in the picture of the Kaplan car were the most common. In the late '60's I worked for the Union Oil Company in southern California and one of my duties was to help at the fuel station at the old Riverside Raceway. This put me up close to many of these cars. The thing that always struck me was the purely low dollar racers that were racing their personal cars with the added safety equipment. I remember guys showing up with showroom fresh '68 and '69 Z28 Camaros with full interiors and listening to the radio. They didn't stand a chance with the big teams but they were enjoying themselves. Nice to see you paying tribute to the SCCA style of racing.

I was just getting to like the gritty look of the red oxide primer, and then you come along with a timely tutone color combo. Nice colors, are you going to have exhaust stains on the exterior or stay with the clean look ?

Going the new direction on the front suspension is a far better idea. Great job on the inner fenders and bed.

I'd be putting a Ford small block in it just like they did years ago when they were just inexpensive used cars.

Amazing save . If you didn't know much about the details of the early Corvair you might not even notice the nonstock parts. The rear bumper actually looks better than the original to my eye. I see what you mean about the headlights being slightly out of proportion, but with the suggested black wash I think you would hardly notice. The paint work looks great also.

This really turned out great. I like the color, what is that anyway ? Too bad there is no way to display an engine in the back. The wheels also look perfect on this.

Very sinister looking, and I like that. The 3x2 carb swap was fairly common in the late '60's and early '70's. In 1970 I bought a used 3x2 carb. setup to replace the ailing 4 barrel on my '67 396 El Camino. The local speed shop had 4 setups to choose from. Paid less for the intake to air cleaner incl. linkage than what a new 4 barrel would of cost. The Corvette guys were all going to one very large Holly 4 barrel and these setups were everywhere cheap. As an aside if it should matter to you, think about swapping your license plates front to back. California put the renewal stickers only on the rear license plate. Great looking build.

I used to live in Sacramento Ca. There is a very interesting Rail Road Museum in the Old Sac. portion of the city. They have an indoor display with many different engines and passenger cars plus an old Postal Car that you can walk thru. If anyone has any interest in trains and is in the area it would be well worth the visit. The area also has some great restaurants and is along the Sacramento River. There are many aspects of living in California that I miss, but I'm still glad we moved years ago.

Very clean looking build.

Looks perfect. I was going to mention the optional wheels as you pointed out. I remember when these were a common sight on the road and I think the color was called Firethorn or something like that. Take real good care of your 1:1 as these were good cars.

Beautiful looking Caddy. If you hadn't pointed out this was a coupe to begin with you would never know it. All of the trim and the interior looks just like the 1:1.

You're off to a good start on this build. A thought on the front suspension challenges. Look at how the 1:1 Ford trucks with the twin I beams where lowered.. The ends of the spindles were extended in much the same manor as the early I beam front axels.

I think your conversion looks great. I like the bucket seat interior. Sorry, I'm allergic to cats so no photo here.

Very clean looking build and I like the theme. I don't remember anyone using the Canadian grill for a long time. The '56 always looked good with the Mercury tail lights. Great job on the engine, I wouldn't worry about the headers. As for the column shift, Fords didn't have the linkage issues that Chevrolet experienced at that time and they could be "power shifted" with no problems.

I like the 6 cylinder engine. Are you thinking of using the side draft carbs. from the early Corvette kits or maybe even the cross flow head and injectors from the AMT '51 Chevy kit ?

I see your point about the value. I was looking at the pictures of the kit and thinking purely from a building aspect with no particular attachment to the subject. I can understand if the subject was something that had a great deal of meaning to someone.