deja-view

Just anohter example of high and deep the shine can get with rattle can paints. I have to remind all, though...this is 1/12 scale and I was able to lay a lot of paint and clear on before polishing it down. Hosted on Fotki

I like to work with loose parts and pizza boxes. The exception is when the parts are black and need to be semi or flat black...not much contrast there. And, painting aluminum engine parts when they are already the kit "aluminum" color since they won't be external or polished. The pizza box is for pinning and holding parts while spraying. A 12 to 18 box is perfect because you can either reverse tape or "pin" parts to the top, then you have enough strength in the box to turn or hold it any way you need. I use a turntable (one of those excercise kind with the bearings on the inside so it can be turned any way) to rest the box on so I stand in one place and turn it to all sides. When I use a painting box/filter I can often put the smaller pizza box inside it (keeps parts off the bottom and sides). I'd never be without several Domino's boxes on my shelf.

Oh. That explains the mirage. Coulda swore the desert wind had gotten to me. Just as an aside: about 10 years ago I acquired 5 or 6 of the Pocher Porsche 911 1/8 kits. I was appalled at the poor quality of everything except the colored (black) body and panels. I started fooling with the engine lump and came up with a pretty good detailing regimen for each, along with a way to turn the fugly red rubber seats into very real-looking textured and colored vinyl. But after doing one I decided I really didn't care much for the whole car, so I put out the word that I'd custom build the rest to suit for a pretty reasonable price. I had lots of takers, but I warned tham that it was a very slow process and to expect at least 3 months to get their cars. I picked the 5 that said they'd go by my standards and started the building process. It was a grind from the start. The body panels had to be sanded and all the edges needed far more attention because they rose up above the level of the skin (causing the primer/paint to be polished off along the edge immediately). These cars are large brutes and using the Porsche colors like Guard's Red and their own Yellow, and German Silver used a LOT of paint. My paint area was covered with overspray and took ridiculous time to clean up. Anyway, I forced myself to complete each one: red and silver coupes, and then a bright yellow cabriolet that required scratch building a top and reshaping the windshield. That one was at least a challenge of some intrigue, but the coupes were just plain drudgery. I think I only charged about $300-600 for the labor so I really didn't pay for my time, but they did turn out to be quite the showpieces considering their size and how they started. But the point is this: any thoughts I had of building any more kits of any kind for others was gone. I had done a few 1/25 scale and some 1/8 motorcycles, and a Pocher Mercedes for the BlackHawk Museum, but these Pochers really wore me down. Sometimes people think this is a good way to make a few bucks because they like to build for themselves. NOT! If you are hyper-anal about detail and quality (and your reputation) you'll drive yourself insane trying to get a car "right".....and then handing or shipping it off to never see it again. My mind doesn't work that way. Not all my projects live up to the standards that some builders can achieve, but I create "art" with each one that cannot be replicated (which is why I have some award-winning cars from many years ago that have come apart and I just cannot go back and re-do them again). There are a few builders who can make the hardest projects become museum pieces (Dennis Kobeler for one), and will pass them on. I found out I just can't do it....and that some people really shouldn't try.

Does anyone know if the body of this "kit" can be used on the chassis of the non-RC 1/12 Porsche 934? http://www.ebay.com/itm/190617414912?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

YES! And, "Ronal". Robert DiNiro? Or is that "The Italian Job"? Mad Mini chase. Crazy hot Audi(?). Or was that .....dang fzzy memory.

This turned out to be a great thread. Lots of exceptional work for sure!

Just somethin' to think about: after running through several of the micro-mesh polishing kits I went to the mfgr and bought the large sheets in grits from 1500 to 12000. I just cut the pads the size I need to fit my blocks or sticks and don't worry about running out. I think the sheets are about 12-14" square. Also, I have been experimenting with Future this year. I've coated several cars, one with decals applied, and I do like the deep shine when it dries. It's hard to keep it from running while it sets up as you have to keep rotating any surfaces that can't lay flat. I've only toyed with polishing it to get some thick places out, so I don't know what happens if you try to polish it like a paint clearcoat. It doesn't seem to yellow....so far. I use a make-up brush to lay it on (tried using an aerosol fine mist pump spray but the stuff is pretty thick for that). You need a very, very dust free surface and drying box. I use a box that I spray inside with Krylon clearcoat first to suck any dust to the walls.

Yeah...another "Alcatraz" fantasy, and another S.F. hilly car chase. Yawn. I guess it's targeted at the younger crowd who may not have seen all the dozens of other versions...or the new "illegals" who will be thrilled by it all. I think the old "Streets of San Francisco" series covered most of this tripe, let alone all the movies filmed in S.F. for the past 60 years. I love it when they show Lombard St. and then actually chase on another. I guess doing a 15 mph "chase" on Lombard isn't all that exciting after all (you could get out of the car, cut across the flowers, and probably beat any car to the bottom). Any Alcatraz show or movie is just plain boring and depressing anymore. After Clint (aka Dirty Harry) did his thing, it was all downhill from there. When my dad would fire up his '57 Chrysler 300 (some kind of weird pink) and take us for rides instead of taking the bus, he would really hit it up the hills, challenge the green-to-yellow lights, and then when we got to the tops it would seem like a screaming roller coaster ride.....blind peak and then flying down the other side. Of course, the side streets would bust the frame of any car that didn't slow down enough when crossing, but it was a thrill for sure.

Those are beautiful, Antonio. What kind of clearcoat do you use?

I am so glad to see that other builders feel like me about air brushes. I'd love to have the skill with one that I see exhibited here and other places but I just can't get to learning all the fiddly stuff and doing the cleanup. I feel like I have perfected my rattle can skills over the past 50+ years to where I get the results I want for most things. Thank God for polishing materials and a lot of patience (at least I used to have patience). That said, I wish I could do weathering and "raced" finishes. I think that takes air brush skills. I periodically set up my paint box and shoot several cars over a week or so. That probably comes more from laziness in not wanting to set up and take down my box and dust free prep area(s). I have managed to get color, and in some cases clearcoat, on at least 10 different projects....but I can't get around to laying the decals or doing the final polishing so I can get them done. I get 'em out, look at them with great intentions for a few days, then put them back. Sigh

Well, all my cars are "can painted". I have an airbrush but don't know how to use it. I belive this was Krylon Popsicle Orange with Testor's high gloss clear enamel: Hosted on Fotki This was Krylon or Duplicolor Gloss Black with Testor's high gloss enamel clear: Hosted on Fotki Some Testor's red with testor's high gloss clear enamel: Hosted on Fotki Chezoom Teal over Plasti-Kote metallic Black with Testor's high gloss clear enamel: Hosted on Fotki Chrysler factory Viper Red with Duplicolor clear: Hosted on Fotki Testor's (Boyd's) purple over Krylon Gloss black with Testor's high gloss clear enamel: Hosted on Fotki Krylon Rose Pink over some deeper rose I can't remember, with Testor's HG clear enamel: Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Testor's Italian Ferrari yellow with Testor's pearl clear and then HG clear enamel: Hosted on Fotki Testor's gloss pearl sprayed on Krylon white primer with added HG clear enamel: Hosted on Fotki

1- polishing the paint/clearcoat. 2- fixing the mfgr's mistakes.

That kit has to be one of the best bargains out there. I had given thought to it a number of times with consideration of making it into some kind of street rod, but I have soooo darn many in the que I just never could pull the trigger. After some of the really high quality builds of it as a racer I might grab one sometime just to keep on the shelf if I ever get the itch again. I love what you're doing with it Johann.

Hosted on Fotki Here's a pair that are rolled in...probably the ends of the tubing where it meets the smaller section going into it, but I have done it this way myself: Hosted on Fotki The second is a long tube with angle cut end like the '57, but you can see the quality of the chrome and it's realistic appearance. And here's a set that are flared and turned at a downward angle (1/16 '34 Ford coupe): Hosted on Fotki

This (and the others, too) is fantastic. Great use of complementary colors, Sam. I know it's unsolicited, but I'd like to make a suggestion to you and others about exhaust tips. The aluminum tubing that is used by so many builders is just too thick for the tips. Years ago I went on a "quest" to find something the right size...and chrome. I found that extendable TV/radio antennas for cars and portable radios was perfect. Radio shack or auto parts stores are good sources. Just remove the ends and the small clips that hold the sections together and you will have several diameters of thin-walled, chrome tubing sections from 3-6" each. You can cut or flare the tips easily because most of them are actually brass under the chrome plating. I think you can see the result in one of my '57 rear pics.

Good old Schieb...the king of orange peel.

Holy ######, Derrick. That is a project worth completing if only for the challenge. Lots of great work so far. Isn't it mostly body and paint left? Wow......didn't know c---r---a---p was a bad word.

Geez, Shucky (Mike); I don't know what you're getting so snippy about. I have friends who work at the raceway...which is a literal stone's throw away if you didn't know...and friends who are at his facility often. My #3 son races out there, and his best friend is a test driver for a magazine that rates new cars, so I'm privy to a lot of info about who's doing what on the car scene (or, used to be because I just don't have the time anymore). I used to go out there on Friday's before we'd use the dragstrip in the evening and latenight. When he first built the facility and got to work on the new Shelby II I called one of his assistants to talk about doing some signatures for charity because I was very active in the local community and education system. The response that I got was positive at the time, but I was stricken with health issues that have kept me homebound most of the time, so I never made it back out there to see him or her. I do have friends here who could probably just take a piece to him and get the sigs, but I don't do that...especially just for myself. They do enough for me and my family already, so I don't "over-ask". I don't need to fill the air with BS if that's what you're upset about. I was an elected State official for years, and was well ingrained in the political, business, and education communites for 30+ years. Las Vegas is a big "small town", and it's not hard to become acquainted with guys like Shelby or anyone else if you take the time. Anyway, the point is that the alleged signature is NOT Carroll Shelby's and people who make false claims like that for personal gain need to be exposed. I'm sure Mr. Shelby would agree.

Actually, Shucky, Mr. Shelby is here quite often. He was very interested in the development of his Shelby II and other projects. Wheelman; Actually, the seller misspelled his name TWICE. It's CaRRoll Shelby. But beyond the spelling the sig is nothing like the real Carroll Shelby's. I just don't like seeing stuff being sold with phony claims that cost ignorant buyers more than it should.

I'm gonna have to take some that are much more clear. I do have this one of the underside, though: Hosted on Fotki

Well, the '67 mustang in the pic is no Shelby, nor even a halfway decent representation. No offense to the builder, but Carrol Shelby would look at that and be as kind as possible by saying "Sorry, I'm not putting my name on that thing." I'm pretty sure that sig is waaaay off, too. His speed shop is not far from me. I've been tempted to take a few of my Shelby diecasts out to see if I could get them signed but I think he gets far too many requests. I'd love to have his sig on my Camee and Christee Edelbrock GT-350's....and maybe across the trunk of my 1/12 #98 Cobra racer. Or, maybe the top of each of the 1/12 Revell Gt-350's sitting on my shelf collecting dust. At least they are Shelby models. He gets around but I'm not so sure he does a lot of signing.

Michael; that's really cool. I don't think I've ever seen one done like yours. The chopped roof and dechromed sides are awesome.

Signed by who? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160742954260&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

Hosted on Fotki Jordan; If you look at the top front corner of the door you can see a white vinyl coated wire. That is the typical "U" shaped hinge, but it and the lower are inserted into box tubing that runs almost the length of the door and also on the inner body panel. It need the length to support the heavy door and if I need to remove the door for repairs or changes I can slide it off the hinge (or adjust it). Mike; Your #3 gives new meaning to "hot pink".

Here's my first and only attempt of the 1/12 '57 from about 15+ years ago. The colors made it a real pita, and I overdid some of the detailing for sure. I added disc brakes all around, and coil-overs for the rear, headers, etc., and tried to create a race injected 350 ZR-1 engine with limited success. The interior is cloth button-tuck using pin heads, and vinyl. Full trunk detail with tools, stereo amps, blah, blah. Insanity! Next time I'll opt for a simpler theme. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki