RATOUTOFHELL--Cranky's 2008 Holloween Build--R U Ready?

[chebbysteve]

Now I am really curious what Gustavson will say about this...

"... DamnCranky has taken a big risk here, but has done a commendable job combining really, really, really old and not-quite-so-old styling cues. But vision to the front, back, and sides does suffer a bit, and the wings and spikes do interrupt the flow of the body lines..."

Virgil

All of your builds are so great, but this one takes the cake! Very imaginative, very cool. I'm anxious to see how it turns out! Thanks.

(Excuse me Mark... )

Edited October 6, 2008 by chebbysteve

[Dr. Cranky]

Thanks, J . . . I hope to take some stuff up to Utah for the next GSL, which seems to be so far away but really isn't. I mean, in terms of dates . . .

Thank you, John, for the kind words. I am definitely having fun with this one, though it might just get the best of me and I'll never be able to push the envelope ever again!!!

[Dr. Cranky]

Thanks, everyone. I keep reminding myself that this one is going to be displayed flying . . . it's going to be sitting on a base, so I have to get the right look to the SWOOP and angle . . .

But I have in fact finished the sculpting and now I am moving on to getting some paint on this sucker to see how it is going to look . . .

Here are a couple of primer shots . . .

The weird stuff you see on the inside of the Allison is some led pellets I put in it to weight it down some . . . give the hole model some heft . . . so it doesn't just hang there flimpsy . . .

I raised the wings a little bit and it seems to allow for better pics of the body . . .

I'm not going to worry too much about the tail because it is rather poseable so until this beast is sitting on the base, I won't fiddle with it too much.

This things does feel and look like a rat with wings . . .

[GOTH KUSTOMS]

What can be said? this Is just way INSANE? AWESOME? AWESOMELLY INSANE...

[Custom Hearse]

Looking really good Virgil. I can't wait to see what you come up with next!

[Dr. Cranky]

Thanks, chaps . . . your feedback keeps me fueled . . . I really appreciate you tuning in to check out the new progress . . .

I've been practicing some of the paint possibilities with my Iwata airbrush . . . and some material (fabric) I have bought which I hope gives me the patterns I am looking for . . . .

It's going to be tough because the main colors I have chosen for the body are black, brown, and different shades of green . . . .

We'll see what happens . . . .

[Dr. Cranky]

While the primer on the body dries I've taken a little time to work on the interior bucket and the angle of the turbing that's going to hold up this beast up in the air . . .

Again, this thing is going to be posed SWOOPING downward . . . it's also set up like this so that the lights will be more easily seen . . .

They are going to be bright red LEDs in here so I painted everything black . . .

The wiring will run through the tube down to the base . . . .

[Raul_Perez]

WOW!!!

It just keeps getting better!!

[outlaw035]

hey cranky...think ur losing it....and i like it....one ques....is that rat gonna run or fly....lol....dont stop the clock is ticking.....neal

[Dr. Cranky]

Thanks for the comments, folks . . .

This RATOUTOFHELL will be able to be displayed in two ways . . . tabletop sitting on its wheels (more on that soon!) and also on its base . . . up in the air . . .

The base is going to depict some. . . ooh, wait I better not give so much away so darn early.

Stay tuned in for more progress.

[Dr. Cranky]

Hump daze's progress report . . .

RATOUTOFHELL keeps coming along . . . while I keep practicing the paint scheme, I also been working on the chassis . . .

The white thin rods coming out of each end of the chassis are there to help me thread the light wires when the time comes . . .

I had to really beef up the frame here to handle all that weight from the Allison . . .

[Dr. Cranky]

Here's a bit more progress, the chassis mocked up with the wheels and the Allision also in progress . . . I'm trying to get all the colors right . . . and also the balance . . .

[The Creative Explorer]

.

.

.

.

.

..

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

..

.

.

just speechless.....

dang, you must have one sick mind!

[Dr. Cranky]

Thanks for the compliment . . . yes, I like to exorcise my sick imagination . . . and it's best I do it with plastic models!!!!

[Custom Hearse]

Thanks for the compliment . . . yes, I like to exorcise my sick imagination . . . and it's best I do it with plastic models!!!!

Exercise it? You've stretched it into the twilight zone!

[Dr. Cranky]

Ha!!! I like that. Though I said: EXORCISE it!!! That's why I get kicked out of every gym/fitness center. I walk in and tell them I want to EXORCISE!!!

Exorcise my right to be fat and happy!!!

[juergen]

i can say only two words: crazy and amazing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i like it !!!

greets jürgen

[Dr. Cranky]

Thanks, stay tuned in for some more chassis and engine progress . . .

This Allison engine is turning out to be an extremely fun build, and something tells me it will not be the last one I build . . .

As a matter of fact (and maybe Jairus W. can jump in and help me out), I remember seeing one of JW's illustrations (I think it was a 58 Chrysler, a big boat of a car with an Allison engine and prop over the trunk of the car) and I knew that I wanted to build that sucker. Maybe J has a copy of his print somewhere . . .

[Custom Hearse]

I've got plans for the Allison engine myself.... I'm building a custom custom.... I'm building a custom AMT Silhouette with custom rear fenders covering pro street rear tires, and the Allison for motor-vation. I haven't started the engine yet, but it sounds like it'll be a fun build!

[Dr. Cranky]

You'll have a blast. It's a great monster of an engine, and really very easy to build . . . since the block is hollow you might put pettets in there to weight it down like I did, it gives the model a great feel and heft as if the thing is truly a heavy mother . . . which in real life it must be . . .

I lost a part in the process of washing and primering, so I had to recast a part, and that slowed me down a bit, but it's a great engine to build . . .

As a matter of fact, stay tuned I am about to post some pictures of it in a little bit . . ..

[Dr. Cranky]

All right, maties, here's a little more progress on this second Thursday of the month . . .

Here's the rolling chassis with big (the rear tires and rims come from the Dodge L-700!) shoes in the rear regular ones in the front just to give it the right forward inclination . . . the right stance.

This shot above truly gives you an idea how long the chassis is . . . .

Stay tuned in for lots more today . . .

Time is flying fast and next thing you know you'll be opening the door to trick or treaters and this sucker better be done by Holloween or I'll have to set it free . . .

Edited October 9, 2008 by DamnCranky

[Dr. Cranky]

Here are some beauty shots of the pretty little Allison engine . . . the engine that could, could fly if it wanted to!!! This engine has so many possibilities for future builds . . . unfortunately it comes as parts of a parts pack that costs 24.95, but all the goodies in that AMT kit are definitely worth it.

Of course I could not resist adding a few touches to personalize it like those organ pipes for air intake . . .

And of course it's proper name on the headers . . . .

I still have to add caps to the exhaust . . .

[Dr. Cranky]

Look, here's another idea of what can be done with this engine. Jairus Watson did this a while back and it just captured my imagination . . . and these kinds of possibilities with the Allison are totally endless . . . you can even use it too to build a boat or a swamp critter . . . anything.

Thanks, Jairus for the great illustration eye candy!

[John Goschke]

This thing continues to amaze! The lettering on the rocker covers is great and I really like that green you're using on the engine and wheels!

Jairus' idea for the '57 300C's pretty twisted, too! I do have the 300 kit and the Allison. Hmmm....

[Raul_Perez]

Virgil,

Did you use Press-Tight letters for the valve covers?

I tried to by some several months ago at Michaels...I knew that once I had to explain to their store manager what they were that they didn't carry them. Some hobby shops carry the different sizes and font types in their train section for lettering buildings, but these days it's hard to find a LHS, let alone one that carries a technology that old...

Keep up the great work and the posts!!