Zoom Zoom

I've finally started a model that I've been contemplating for a number of years; a replica of my uncle's '62 Jeep PU. Having recently gotten a good photo of it, I am now able to build it as I can remember it. It was a work truck, and as such it wasn't babied. So the model will depict it in all it's glory and well-worn patina, which thankfully shows pretty well in the photograph. I started with a Liberty Classics Jeep panel truck diecast kit that I found at Big Lots. I purchased a resin All American Models PU transkit at Auto Motif; it was marked down $20 because it was missing fenders, which didn't bother me since they're pretty simple shapes to scratchbuild. I also had to find appropriate wheels/tires, the ones in the basic kit aren't much good for a work truck. I eventually found a set of five resin Jeep wheels/tires (one spare) from Hendrix. With the photo & lots of internet reference, I'm ready to start this and try a few weathering techniques that I don't get to do very often building my normal "shiny" subject matter. I also have one of those instant rust kits that I'm dying to try out as well. This is going to be fun Here's what I stared with: And here it is now in it's first primer coat after making the fenders, removing some hood trim and adding chrome trim to the cab: So far it's been a lot of fun; different subject matter and a completely different approach to finishing. It shouldn't take me long to pull it all together and get it done; but then again there are a lot of little details I need to scrounge up and scratchbuild.

So we won't hate you so much for that steal; you must build them all within a year :shock:

I love the car; I was lucky enough to get an advanced sneak-peak at the photos several months back, and it was tough keeping quiet This is a full-scale wooden model of the car; it's going to end up probably as a wall hanging by the owner. The real car is still being built/tested, and apparently has many subtle detail changes from this, after advanced wind tunnel testing at Pininfarina. Smaller intake, rounder headlight openings, a small gap between the body and the roof. The glass isn't dark tinted like this model, so it will look more open/airy than this model. I can't wait to see the finished car, which should be on Pininfarina's website on the 29th. Some people say it looks too much like an '80's concept car. I don't have a problem with that at all; you morph a late 60's Ferrari race car with an early 2000's Enzo and you get...the 80's :wink: The owner sure seems happy with it; that's all that really matters. And it would look amazing in black 8) This certainly would be a great way for Tamiya to get some more miles out of their Enzo :wink:

Greetings! That '57 is fantastic.

Nice save there! The two look great together. Sure wish open wheel racing today had a bit of the character these had.

Hey Mark! Glad you could join the party.

Looks great Lyle 8)

Beautiful as always; the subtle rake, wheel choice and color really give it character.

I'm not sure whether it's the resin or the paint, but it definitely is happening because it's been sealed under the foil, it sounds like "solvent pop" in paint that gets waxed/sealed too soon and little bumps form where the solvents are still trying to escape. You might just have to remove the foil and let the paint cure a bit longer...unless it's something in the resin.

Peter, welcome! Great and inspiring work on the Monte Carlo 8) I saw the kit up-close and came to the same conclusions you have; I expect better if they want the market they aim for to take them seriously. Your work to improve the kit is inspiring; I didn't buy the Trumpeter Bonneville until I saw your writeup. Your interior/engine details look very realistic. Keep us posted with the progress!

Modeling is a bit like riding a bike, you never forget how but you might not be in the best shape if you haven't tried it lately! Easy tip for headlight covers like this, most have a black surround or "o" ring seal. Run the edge of a black Sharpie along the edge of the cover, and use a thick/strong white glue like Microscale Krystal Klear or Formula 560 canopy glue; a little excess dries clear and also wipes up w/water before it dries. Formula 560 is one of the best glues I've ever found, it's far stronger than Elmer's when dry. More like epoxy.

Hey Leon! Welcome aboard. Great job on the Lambo!!

Cool! Looks like you can have a Laurentian and keep the Bonneville to restore 8)

Edit: I posted this and Bill's new post was there after I was done. I like his idea a lot; it may work as-is, or work as described below. There are several ways to look at this project. There is more than one way to accomplish the task, I looked at it from a "big picture" aspect. Funny, I have a red brush painted '59 restorable glue bomb that looks a lot like your model! This Laurentian looks "Chevrolet" through the midsection because that's what it is, and looks "Pontiac" on the ends. I would look seriously at seeing just how much of a Chevrolet I could start with as the foundation of the conversion, and then utilize parts cut from the old Bonneville and fit to the Chevrolet. Measure/cut/fit the front/rear ends and graft to the Chevrolet body. It wouldn't be easy, but I don't see it being any harder than all the complicated cutting and grafting and reshaping required to work with the Bonneville as the foundation, and the resultant model would be stronger. I realize that Revell '59/'60 Chevrolets are HT's and the roofs are all wrong; but that Coolidge sedan (don't they make a '59 Chevy sedan?)might be the most logical place to start. It would have the roof, doors (you would have to fill/rescribe to a coupe), wheelbase all ready to go, you just hang Pontiac parts on the ends like GM did.

Interesting! Thanks for the link! There are going to be some happy slot racers and modelers with this news.

Do I hear a "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!"? Y'know John, this event could potentially end up w/some support from our hosts, perhaps a bit of MCM swag and a little blurb in the magazine to invite people to the event, maybe have a gallery from the event. New event, new ideas, never know where it can go.

Nice hijack Lyle! My buddy in HS drove a very similar white/red '64 Malibu HT, neat car and color combo and I've always liked this model of yours and 64/65 Malibus in general. His Malibu taught me firsthand the dynamics of oversteer :shock:

Lyle, great idea, your sentiments on keeping the original cruise as-is at it's home base mirror mine. The first Saturday in March welcomes one of the first shows of the season, the MCCM Birmingham Classic NNL. A lot of us show off our winter projects at that show. It's a good weekend with a good feeling, the spring thaw idea for that weekend sounds good to me. Since we all like long weekends, perhaps start it on Friday and run it through Monday, might help anyone who may have to travel for B'ham and also the people who cruise the boards weekdays at lunch.

Welcome Jeff! Glad you came out of lurker mode 8) Jairus will chime in about posting your name in your signature, and I'd like to show you something familiar that I got from you a while back: Still far from finished; it's fought me tooth and nail all the way and it was all my fault! My Testors lacquer had a bad nozzle and spat and splattered it into a mess, my Alclad work is pitiful, I sat the body in my dehydrator a bit crooked after I had repaired the paint flaws and it warped, thus creating several tedious hours over the stove and a pan of hot water getting it back. :oops: Needless to say it's one of those models that I had to put down and come back to later, but I will as I dig this AMX. I still have to figure out how I'm going to tackle the thin silver line that will separate the blue from the black shadow mask, but I still have another round of blue to go before that.

Welcome Craig. Cool model 8) Didn't take me long to learn (and LOVE) these style boards (and that was about 5 years ago already). You should quicky acclimate.

Dan, I'm not quite sure why either, unless it's because the car looks naked without stripes and AMT didn't bother to put them in the kit :roll: Aftermarket decals were never easy to come by either. I have 'em (from Last Detail, they're nice), but haven't had a chance to build my undecorated glue kit yet, nor it's Z28 brother that I bought a resin nose conversion kit for, and I really like both cars.

Nice build 8) ; I've built one of the predecorated red ones from the evil empire and enjoyed the build thoroughly, and it looks really cool.

To do soon: '62 Willys Jeep PU; replica of my uncle's Jeep as seen in the picture. Will be weathered to match 8) AAM resin that I picked up cheap as it was missing fenders which shouldn't be hard to scratchbuild. Ferrari F430 Challenge. Will be white and undecorated as a track day car. Gunze Alfa 1750 GTV. Just picked it up for 5 bucks from a scratch and dent sale, roof was badly crunched but I managed (I think) to repair it sufficiently. I thought it was a goner and only good for parts. Neat model of a neat car. This is how I want it to look:

We all have 'em. First up, Mustang Ghia conversion. Hasn't gone anywhere since the photo. The AMX has. AMX w/first coats of Big Bad Blue paint. It was a disaster at first, paint splattered badly in my first attempt at Testors new lacquers. A new nozzle solved the problem. Then it warped in my dehydrator as the resin is a bit soft and it was put in crooked :roll: 3 hours of hot water dewarping... :oops: Will get SG black "shadow mask", need to figure how to make the silver separation stripe. And get better results w/Alclad, or Spaz Stix, or Mirrachrome or Killer Chrome :roll: Hopefully finished for our pony car theme in November. Porsche Carrera GT coupe. Started w/an idea w/a friend, he started and then finished his racer first (had it at NNL East past 2 years), hope to finish this street version before November. As conversions go, this one's almost too easy w/Revell roof. Parts fit like magic. Nissan March, John Cooper Works Mini Cooper S. Got bored w/the March, and waited for some better rims for Cooper S. Got the rims from the RSX kit, so it may get done soon.

Check your PM's 8)