The Mattel Twins: "Snake" 1 and "Mongoose" 1 FED`S

[John Teresi]

  On 4/27/2013 at 4:52 AM, W-409 said:

Excellent Dragsters, as always John! They turned out fantastic, and I really enjoyed following the progress on them. It is really amazing that you build these 1:1 cars....Oh I mean fantastic models in this short time. The detailing and overall finishing is incredible. You always manage to get the perfect shade of metal in your parts, they don't look like plastic at all. And your engines, frames, wheels and tires etc, they look very realistic, maybe it's because of the very slight weathering or something? I have maybe asked it before, or someone else has, but can't remember where, so what do you use for that weathering?

Niko.......thank you for the question.......here in the states we have a arts and crafts store called "Michael`s".........they carry Acrylic bottles of paint called "Folk Art" and "Apple Barrel"........they cost around 89 cents a bottle........they will last you a long long time........I use Black and Dark Gray for weathering.......thanks

[Rob McKee]

John, your work always leaves me speechless.

I am just amazed that I am looking at a model and not the real thing.

Thanks for sharing your work and tips here.

Rob

[Dyno Davo]

What a pair John, and I bet not too many blokes have told you that, you lucky bugger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PARTSMARTY]

absolutely amazing detail !!!

[pandamonium2112]

John: I posted this at the end of the build thread, It's since been buried so I figured I'd repost it over here.

You have done an excellent job. I love the final back drop photos, hard to tell they aren't the real thing.

Which brings me to a question. I know you are working with the Alclad paints but did you do a wash on the engine, or does the paint come out naturally like that?

Looking at the front of the Snake's blower, it just has such realistic depth to it...Fantastic

Thanks Steve

[John Teresi]

  On 5/8/2013 at 3:22 PM, pandamonium2112 said:

John: I posted this at the end of the build thread, It's since been buried so I figured I'd repost it over here.

You have done an excellent job. I love the final back drop photos, hard to tell they aren't the real thing.

Which brings me to a question. I know you are working with the Alclad paints but did you do a wash on the engine, or does the paint come out naturally like that?

Looking at the front of the Snake's blower, it just has such realistic depth to it...Fantastic

Thanks Steve

Steve.........thank you for the kind comment........yes,I did give a slight wash on the engine with "Folk Art" black acrylic paint .......you can buy the 89 cent bottles at Michaels arts and crafts store.........thanks.

[Guest]

Excellent work as always John! Your builds always have an amazing realism to them and these two are no exception!

[Austin T]

Exceptional. Only the best from you.

[rickd13]

Those are ridiculous!

[Skip]

Wow, John those are proof positive a Turd can be polished! Those were pretty simple kits to start with if I remember right, they have the bones and you really added the cool to them. Went back and reread your original description, the kits you started with for the day were detailed compared to the Monogram kits. (Which didn't even have a frame did they?)

What did you wash onto the chrome to get the realistic polished aluminum and magnesium effect, I'm all ears?

Edited May 9, 2013 by Skip

[crazyrichard]

whow !!! i wanted to say , you tricked us with pics of real dragsters but seeing the take a pic pcs that jake does not fly

just amazing how real those look .. the engine close up really shows your build quality is almost alien

loved it

[vintagedragfan]

  On 4/26/2013 at 3:31 AM, John Teresi said:

Thanks Guys for the kind comments.......I was asked how I take my pictures........you can laugh if you want .

John, I have to say, after meeting you, you look much smaller in person! seriously though, seeing these and all of your builds in person and meeting you was one of the high lights of our trip, your detailing, painting and weathering are second to none, and then you do it all in record time! I don't know how you do it bro! you don't win all of those awards just by lookin pretty I can't wait to see your next project my friend

[3men2s]

That's a great tip John,...I starterd doing it and my photos improve a lot, but doing it in the middle of a field will take out the shadows

of any object around, taking advantage off all the rays.

We all know that those models are super detailed and impresive, but easilly with this technic, you can full people on thinking they are the real 1:1 cars.

[John Teresi]

  On 5/9/2013 at 2:30 AM, Skip said:

Wow, John those are proof positive a Turd can be polished! Those were pretty simple kits to start with if I remember right, they have the bones and you really added the cool to them. Went back and reread your original description, the kits you started with for the day were detailed compared to the Monogram kits. (Which didn't even have a frame did they?)

What did you wash onto the chrome to get the realistic polished aluminum and magnesium effect, I'm all ears?

Skip......no,the old Momogram kits did not have a frame.........the kit had about ten pieces to it.........It was fun to give them a little detail.......I use "Folk Art" acrylic black and dark gray paints ......you can buy them at Michaels arts and crafts store for around 89 cents a bottle........dilute the paint with water and give a light wash......thanks

[Davewilly]

John...They turned out beautiful! your work is amazing!