Shardik

Wow, you really take that shiny business seriously, don't you :) . I like the color combo' in the interior, and all the details, details, details. Very nice job. (I just realized, looking at yours, that I forgot the seat belts in my '48) Keep 'em coming !

I'm confused.....Where are the pictures of the model?

Excellent workmanship! That hula girl is unbelievable. I want the name of your eye doctor . Your technique for the bare metal is fantastic. I may be borrowing that for a build that I'm currently working on. I'm eagerly awaiting your next masterpiece!

Oh, by the way, I love the change in the thread title: Very appropriate !

Mike, this build is blowing me away! The seat and bed look like a 1:1. Amazing! Your advice was good; I just got back onto building mine and am just having fun with it. I still find myself "competing" with you, though (it's in my nature ). As for the dash pad, you could probably pull it off, but I wouldn't know where to terminate it. I'd save the leather for the door panels.

Very nice, clean build. The badges look exceptionally nice. My only criticism would be that the side mirror brackets look out of scale, but I'm not a van guy, so maybe not.

He was my first hero. He showed us what courage was. He demonstrated what the mind of Man is capable of. He personified self esteem in that he did not seek the esteem of others. He exemplified the joy of discovery. He was my first hero. Let him not be the last. Thank you Mr. Armstrong.

I've never seen plug wires like that before, but they look absolutely right! Just one of the many details that make this model a real stand out. Nice job, Jarred.

Very well thought out and extremely well executed. I could easily be persuaded that this was a production model. Now who's gonna do the tow truck version?

Oh sure, blame me... oh wait, it was me wasn't it? Does that mean I get to take credit for the outstanding execution too ?

Just a small update, as bench time has been minimal lately: First, rear brake lines installed Next, a little demonstration of my multi-layered weathering technique. After a coat of Allclad steel, I apply artists oils in various rust shades then seal it all with Tamiya flat clear. Over this will be applied a coat of hairspray followed by an acrylic top coat, which I will chip away with a wet paint brush, exposing both rust and bare steel to represent fresh chips and scratches. I hope to make more progress this week, since things are slowing down at work (O.T. is now limited to 8 hrs./week). Feel free to critique, cajole, condemn, or just chime in.

Very nice. Smooth, subtle body work. And that color combination is striking.

In the picture below, I've used three different approaches to simulating various materials: 1) The seat fabric is the stock styrene piece thinned down to scale thickness, from behind, then "torn" with an exacto blade. 2) The stuffing sticking out of the tear is ear bud cotton, aged with a weak tea mixture. 3) The carpeting is textured card stock which was scraped with a razor blade to give it some "fuzz". (FYI: this is a 1:35 scale Citroen 11CV, German staff car)

Thanks for the step-by-step, Mark. I didn't expect it to be that simple; pigments, alcohol, and find someone with a wee tiny finger. Got it.

I can usually squeeze in a couple of hours a week after work, but my weekends belong to my daughter; Best hiking partner in the world!

Due to my bulk and prolific "fur", I have gone through life with nicknames such as Bear and Grizzly. These just seemed too cliched and obvious. Then I hit upon Richard Adams novel, Shardik. The title character is an enormous bear, feared and revered as a demigod. Steven King also borrowed this character for his dark tower series for his giant robotic bear guardian. My avatar is a self portrait. 12-15-12: Since I am not, in fact, a '40 Ford Super Deluxe coupe I thought I should explain that I changed my avatar after my original post. It's a picture I took at the Hot Rods Forever show earlier this year. If I were a car though...

Workable U-Joints !?! Don't tease me like this! You gotta show us how this was done!

O.K., with the tandem axels, the fifth wheel is looking a little more practical. One question: How in the heck are you ever gonna get that hood open? Seriously, this is an awesome project youve got going. You've got me wanting to do a lot more scratch building.

I haven't seen any cloth interiors either. I think the limiting factor is finding a weave fine enough to be in scale. Even fine silk looks like burlap on 1:25 scale seats.

I love the subtle weathering; very realistic. Please explain how you did the writing in the dust on the windshield.

Thanks for the low down on the finned side cover. Obviously not what I expected, but very innovative.

I am inspired! You've motivated me to get back to work on my truck (but you've set the bar so high!)

I am ammazed by what you have mannaged to put together form spare parts. I, too, would like to see some W.I.P. pictures; in particular, the front fenders. It looks like there's more going on here than you let on. P.S.: I just got a can of testors "Wet look" and was wondering how you like it.

Mark: Sorry I missed you back there. I really apreciate your comment, since that is exactly the look I was going for. I like the idea of representing something that the average Joe could do 1:1 with hard work, ingenuity, and a five digit bank account. Glu': I thought a windlace was something in ship rigging . Steven: The problem with #5 is that it interferes with my "artistic spontaneity" . Roland: Since the whitewalls are pad printed, it was a simple matter of scuffing them with some fine sandpaper.

Roland: Actually, the scuff marks are intentional. I figured this is what it would look like if I were driving it . Patrick: That's an excelent idea. Thanks!