Dr. Cranky Posted October 28, 2007 Author Posted October 28, 2007 This is one of my favorite shots so far, and yes, I have to weather these wheels and I should have worn them down smooth . . . but Frankie likes his fairly new shoes . . . Also, this angle shows, I hope, that this baby is riding low, oh yeah!!! Low, and I always dig the way the tiki head is always peeking over the top of the dash . . . nice touch, J!!!
Dr. Cranky Posted October 28, 2007 Author Posted October 28, 2007 Since I have a feeling you might not take my word, I thought I'd show you . . . I brought out an old '50 Chevy junker I did many years ago for a side by side comparo . . . and though these are not the best pictures (I had using a gray sweep), they do show you some striking differences . . . I hope you enjoy . . . Here you see not only the height difference but the beautiful rake . . . Oh yeah, I definitely have to weather all that blue sea!!! This one is where you see the most difference in height . . . so though it could have gone slightly lower, it's pretty darn low . . .
Frank Steffens Posted October 28, 2007 Posted October 28, 2007 I gotta say Virgil, this is absolutely amazing! I was looking at the lines of the car, and I noticed that the rake of the body and bed match, but the height of the nose/grill is above the line created by the rake of the body/bed...but then I realized that I'm looking at it without the engine. I saw in previous posts that you're going to use a 409 with fab'd intake pipes....this will really reconcile the difference between the nose height and the body/bed. Its going to look awesome when its done. I can't wait to see it finished!
Dr. Cranky Posted October 28, 2007 Author Posted October 28, 2007 (edited) Frank, I am holding my breath because those exhaust tubes are going to be riding right on the frame rails, which is why I went ahead and weathered some streaks on the chassis . . . I am hoping it will look all right . . . The lesson to be learned here--as I'm sure most of you guys have learned it and Jairus shows in his WIP pictures of his rat rod--is to mockup, and mockup some more until you have not doubt it's going to look fine. Speaking of which, Jairus . . . do you use white glue to hold parts together while you are mocking them up . . .? Just curious how you hold everything together while you are fiddling with a build . . . Thanks everyone . . . I am finalizing bed cargo #3 while the engine componets dry . . . Edited October 28, 2007 by DamnCranky
Jairus Posted October 28, 2007 Posted October 28, 2007 No white glue... but I do use a lot of metal pins. The two sizes I like are .047 and .055 music wire which works best and strengthens the joints once the epoxy drys. I also glue a lot of the parts together prior to painting... which makes painting more of a challenge but at least everything lines up for me. Other things I do that increase the work load but give a much better look is very little brush painting. Nearly everything is painted with an airbrush unless it is a tiny item.
Dr. Cranky Posted October 28, 2007 Author Posted October 28, 2007 Hum . . .interesting method . . . the more I use pinning the more I realize it's a great, secure system . . . anything to avoid headaches, you know. But I agree with you. I like gluing parts together, like engines, and then breaking out the airbrush . . . I had an epiphany about the way I started to build when I build this earlier this year . . . there's a level of fogging and blending that's possible with the airbrush . . . but of course, I still like to apply my washes with a brush . . . Even the undercarriage is easy to work on . . . I have to say before I started building "Frankie," this was the most fun I've ever had building a model . . .
Dr. Cranky Posted October 28, 2007 Author Posted October 28, 2007 I don't know what you and the other guys use for airbrushes, but I can't do it without my Iwata Microns . . . you can get hairlines all the way to nice stippling and fogging . . . and, of course, part of what makes me less stressed is the subject matter I like to model . . . don't get me wrong, I have nothing against shiny vehicles . . . but is working on stuff like this that gets me totally enthused about building models, maybe this is carried over from when I started building, which was 25 years ago and it was mostly planes and military . . .
Jairus Posted October 28, 2007 Posted October 28, 2007 V, I think you like it is because it is real! A shiny car seen on the road is a rarity unless it is coming out of a carwash or a restored "only driven on the weekends" classic. Most of what we see on the road is flat, dirty and used. Heck, even a two year old car is going to have door dings, scrubbed tires and maybe even a star in the windshield. Stuff wears and gets dirty and that is the painful truth. Sure we like shiny and new because that is the dream but the reality is my 1990 Taurus with it's bug speckled front end, "going bad" paint and reddish brake dust coating the front wheels.
Dr. Cranky Posted October 28, 2007 Author Posted October 28, 2007 V, I think you like it is because it is real! A shiny car seen on the road is a rarity unless it is coming out of a carwash or a restored "only driven on the weekends" classic. Most of what we see on the road is flat, dirty and used. Heck, even a two year old car is going to have door dings, scrubbed tires and maybe even a star in the windshield. Stuff wears and gets dirty and that is the painful truth. Sure we like shiny and new because that is the dream but the reality is my 1990 Taurus with it's bug speckled front end, "going bad" paint and reddish brake dust coating the front wheels. Amen, that's the truth, but for someone who wants to flex their creativity and artistic instincts . . . nothing beats it . . . you know, my background is not art, but I sure as heck have an art tools and supply fetish . . . which is why I like my pastels, my graphites, colored pencils, etc . . . it makes me feel like I can put little scratches here and there without thinking I had to have special training . . . though I wish I'd had that . . . I don't know about you guys, but I remember being 13 or so and the first tip ever I used was the toothbrush loaded with paint to simulate mud and dirt on tires . . . and I knew I was hooked . . . Has anybody ever seen the work of Mig Jimenez--he's an amazing builder and he's got this compendium book (more like a catalogue) of amazing techniques . . . like how to get encrusted mud and dirt on fender wells . . . mind blowing stuff . . .
Dr. Cranky Posted October 29, 2007 Author Posted October 29, 2007 Is the silence an indication that you still don't think it is low enough? All right, my friends, I got all the interchangeable beds ready . . . next up is the engine, and then lots of weathering and detailing I have left . . . Why the interchangeable beds? Well, I don't know exactly, other than I always build with several elements in mind so that I don't get bored and also it allows me to play and take more photographs . . . afterall, it's the photographs I am after . . . the model well, it's just part of the fun . . . Okay, so you have seen the simple (this is what Jairus described sans the dirt, sand, etc . . . ) bed with the gas tank and not much else. I went with wood planks just to give it a certain texture to it . . . You've also already seen the "sensitive" Frankie cargo, i.e., on his way to the clubhouse to play his records and read his magazines, etc . . . (sometimes I am amazed by my own hot air!!! ) And lastly, Frankie, the naughty boy . . . this one, I must have been in a darker mood, reminds me of David Lynch's BLUE VELVET . . . gee, I think that axe and chains really put me over the edge . . . and what's the wine for? Oh, I have to get some rock salt to fill the bucket and keep the wine chilled . . . Here are the three beds . . . OH BOY!!!
Jairus Posted October 29, 2007 Posted October 29, 2007 The silence is because my daughter is using the computer and the bed you choose is the bed you gotta sleep in... haha! Oops, she is back....
Dr. Cranky Posted October 29, 2007 Author Posted October 29, 2007 Ah, daughters . . . I've got two of my own and they are getting to be too grown up and less funny!
James W Posted October 29, 2007 Posted October 29, 2007 I like the welding set up just because of the contrast of height. The record collection is cool too. The fuel tank set up matches my level of imagination.
mikelo Posted October 29, 2007 Posted October 29, 2007 Wow this is coming along great! And the progress just over the weekend. Looking great. I can't wait to see it all together.
Dr. Cranky Posted October 29, 2007 Author Posted October 29, 2007 Thanks, guys, I feel like it's been a long, fun journey though it's only been a couple of weeks . . . and there's still more to come. I've got all the engine parts painted and I've started to assemble it . . . and soon I will have it ready for some pictures . . . . so stay tuned in . . . More heading your way, all before the Monster Mash begins on Holloween!!!
Dr. Cranky Posted October 30, 2007 Author Posted October 30, 2007 Nothing about putting this engine together came easy and the wiring went wrong a couple of times, but patience paid off and so did waiting for the paint to dry but . . . here they are, pictures of Frankie's mill . . . I still have to tweak it and add a few details . . . . I gotta paint that brass black, otherwise it is going to drive me crazy . . . I will leave it brass between the two carbs . . . I still don't know why I painted the fan ultramarine blue, other than it must have been a good junkyard find! I can tell you right off the bat that lining up all four exhaust tubes on each side is not going to be fun.
Dr. Cranky Posted October 30, 2007 Author Posted October 30, 2007 Here's a side view . . . I figure a little pastels and a bit of grease here and there and this baby will be ready to be dropped in . . . The big if is going to definitely be exhaust! It came a long way . . . hope it will look good . . .
Dr. Cranky Posted October 30, 2007 Author Posted October 30, 2007 There should be some more progress pics soon . . . I spent the whole day working on real life work, and then I just got home . . . so stay tuned in for a progress report. I better book it if I still plan to unveil this sucker tomorrow for Holloween!!! Waiting for a good lightnin' storm, you know!!!
Dr. Cranky Posted October 31, 2007 Author Posted October 31, 2007 SIZE=7]NEWS FLASH!!!! FRANKIE IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO GETTING DONE . . . I THINK HE WILL COME ALIVE BY LIGHTNING STORM TOMORROW NIGHT--or so says Igor!!! Stay tuned in for latest pictures . . .
Dr. Cranky Posted October 31, 2007 Author Posted October 31, 2007 All right, here's the latest mockup . . . a few more hours (like 12 more) and I should have this baby going ARRGH!!! during the next lightning storm. Enjoy! This frontal shot looks very strange . . . it's the angle because in person it looks pretty cute, for a monster . . . . I like this angle . . . it shows all the different colors, though for the most part it is a baby blue sea!
Dr. Cranky Posted October 31, 2007 Author Posted October 31, 2007 Here are the bed mockups . . . remember it's not a choice, it's only a "mood" thing!!! This last one would worry me the most if this sucker appeared in my driveway!!!
Dr. Cranky Posted October 31, 2007 Author Posted October 31, 2007 Between what's left of today and tomorrow, I will have to get busy with the weathering, fixing up a few things, and then wrapping it all up . . . it's been one of the most fun builds I've ever done, and without you guys looking on it would not have been as much fun. And thanks for the spark, Jarius . . . I hope the glamour shots will be unveiled tomorrow under the "Under Glass" section . . . stay tuned!!!
Jairus Posted October 31, 2007 Posted October 31, 2007 Waaallllll I will be the first to admit that building a 3 dimensional version of a piece of artwork is NOT an easy task. But your "Frankie" build comes close, very close! The chin thing is a little strange but hey, I told you to make it your own and that is what you did. Very cool and a whole lot of fun to watch the progress of this build. Thanks a whole lot V! Oh, and I think I like the softer side of Frankie for the bed....
mikelo Posted October 31, 2007 Posted October 31, 2007 It is looking great. Kind of makes me want to start one of a similar style. I wish I could build this fast. Can't wait for tomorrow. It is hard to replicate a 2D drawing into a 3D piece, especially with only one view. You did a great job filling in those details. Great weathering. One question, I have always heard of using pastels, but how do you get them to stick?
Dr. Cranky Posted October 31, 2007 Author Posted October 31, 2007 Thanks, gents, I stayed up late last night and got up too late this morning, but I am still on schedule . . . last night I fitted an extended driveshaft and the whole thing lines up nicely . . . I really want to say thanks to everyone who stuck around and cheerlead . . . and the best part of this is that it sounds like it has inspired Jairus and a few of you into building a monster of your own. I can't wait to see what you guys build!!! Cheers.
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