Here is what my V12 34 Ford will look like,it will have parts from the 60s,70s and 90s versions of this kit.
I wish I had the talent and vision to build models like you do! I have thought of building a 65 Buick Skylark Gran Sport starting with an AMT 64 Olds Cutlass but there would be so much scratch building and body modifications, not to mention the rear and tail light area and front bumper/grille I don't think I could make it look anywhere close to correct. I comment you on your work, it is fantastic!!
Take heart @BuckeyeBuicks, the learning is in the doing. Fear is the mind killer, so just dive in and give it a go. I've become a decent scratch builder, but only by the doing. No one's born knowing how, and unlike the full size stuff, not a lot of money will be tied up in your efforts. I say go for it... And just have fun... No one's looking... Cheers, David
I have done it, screwed up more plastic than one man has a right to! I find that as I get older my patience, eyesight and 10 thumbs do not help in my efforts
I can´t say i got talent, over the years i trashed alot of kits, learn by doing that´s the only way. One more important thing, building a kustom is alot easier than doing a clone of an original car, body propotions on my Buick build or the Lincoln doesn´t come close to the originals, but i get away with it because it´s kustom. It´s a cheap way compared to the 1/1 scale, just cut glue use alot of filler and most important keep the spirit up and have fun!!!!
All lit up now... The on-off switch is located at the forward bulkhead of the (soon to be) bench seat pan on the passenger's side. Here's the video: Photos attached below... Next up is paint and interior. Cheers, David
Sad to see Scale Auto Enthusiast Magazine close, some great tips. I usually build one or two over the winter and working on a OT MoPar now.
Here’s an AMT “Electric Remote Control” ‘53 Pontiac. First one I ever saw, in fact I hadn’t even heard of them. I looked on the ‘net and there were Buick’s, Cadillac’s and some Ford’s too. Sorry about the crummy photos, it was in an antique shop display case.
Two steps forward and one step back. The 9v battery which powers my lights drains down very quickly to goose egg, even when the lights are switched off. Damn. I am no electronical engineer. Besides I don't trust anything that I can't see coming. In my book, electrons are not to be trusted. I've reasoned the best fix (that I can wrap my brain around) is to install a quick disconnect switch at the battery. I found on eBay some vintage radio blade switches which should fit under the hood, next to the battery. So just like the real thing, my race car will have a quick disconnect. That's the plan anyway. Wish me luck...
On a separate subject, for a while now I've wanted to talk about my model building work space. Or rather, the lack thereof. I haven't got much, but what I do have works great for me. I'm not meaning to brag about how skilled I've become with what many would call, not an ideal work space. On the contrary, I'd love to have a bonified work shop, with all the goodies. Our little MCM house, which my wife and I love otherwise, is just not set up well to add a work shop. We've thought about it a lot. She would benefit a great deal from a real studio (she's quite an accomplished and extremely talented painter), but we just enjoy being in our main house too much. Any workshop/studio we built would have to be in an outbuilding. So she sets up in the dining room, and I set up in the sunroom, and we both get into our respective zones for hours at a time, just a few feet apart from each other. I like that a lot. I think after 30 years, she's become fond of having me under foot too... Perhaps some that are currently spectators, might benefit from knowing what I get by with calling a work space. Maybe they'll conclude they could do something just as simple, maybe even more so. No more excuses fellas. You don't need much, so I encourage you to jump in 'cause the water's just fine... I've boiled down my (portable) work space to the essentials for me. Here's my list of modeling haves, and have nots. Haves: 1.) TV tray sized folding table with a disposable plywood top.: I like to work on plywood, as I can makes notes on it, drill on it cut on it, solder on it, whatever on it. When it becomes too jacked up, I toss it and cut myself a new one. I think I got my folding table at Walmart. I HATE Walmart, but I love my folding table. 2.) Dremel: I bought a corded one many years ago, and an acquaintance gave me a second one. I love having two. I keep one loaded with a barrel sander, and the other I switch back and forth between a cutting wheel, and a drill bit. I have a set of Dremel drill bits that I are on my list need to replace, but mine are OK for now. 3.) Pliers, Dikes and a pair of Needle Nose: No, this is not a has-been garage band, but rather what I find useful to have around. I even use the pliers as a clamp (with masking tape at the handle end) to hold stuff I'm soldering or painting. 4.) Exacto Knife, Files & Sandpaper: My favorite Exacto (I have two somehow) is a red handled one that just feels better in my hand than the all aluminum model that I also own. The #11 blade is all I ever use in my Exacto, and I keep plenty on hand. I find it's very important to keep a sharp blade installed. The aluminum handled one comes in handy, mostly when I can't find my red handled one. I recently bought a cheap set of "diamond" files, which are OK. Most of the time however, I end up using either 120 grit or 400 grit sandpaper. 5.) Cordless Drill: I love my Ryobi. I also find the step drill bits I own (I have 2 of them) to be very useful for drilling and then expanding hole diameters. 6.) Pens, Pencils, Spectacles, Testi....: I have a few disposable mechanical pencils. My go-to marking pen is a Pilot Razor Point. I do have an assortment of old school drawing templates, and I use the circle templates all the time. Being a millwork designer by trade, an architect's scale is my go-to measuring stick. 7.) Spray Paint: I've never owned or learned how to use an air brush, but I may try soon. For my style however, I've found the rattle cans usually do the trick. I love Krylon, and absolutely HATE Rustoleum, or any other Valspar spray paint product. Krylon goes on thin and dries fast, less than 15 minutes. On the other hand, Rustoleum goes on way too thick and might be totally dry by Christmas. Next Christmas. 8.) Work Light: I use an old Ott Light. It's small and easy to focus the light where I need it. As my eyes "mature" this has become pretty much necessity. 9.) Cabinet-O-Stuff: I try and keep everything not in use in a tall cabinet I picked up at the Habitat Store a few years ago. It fits perfectly in our sunroom and holds a bunch. It's a constant battle to keep only what I really "need", but I try anyway. Have Nots: Pretty much anything that's not on the list above. To be precise though, I have no milling equipment of any kind (except my Ryobi drill), and no paint booth, except my folding table and the great outdoors. I also have an old interior door slab, and a couple of saw horses that I use a spray painting surface. So there you have it fellas. Like I said, no more excuses. I hope this rant helps to push at least one bloke (or bloke-ette) off the fence, and into building models. Be they from kits, kit bashed, or scratch built, it's all just great fun. Cheers and Happy Modeling, David PS: A couple of pics of my modeling "empire" are attached.
Really cool models @Deuces! Thanks for posting... I'm especially fascinated by the speed boat being pulled by the Suburban. Do you know if it's from a kit, or scratch built. Keep 'em coming...
That quad light F-100 is legit. Awesome! Those are my favorite generation of the F-100, my favorite of all time truck. Been looking for a decent 1:1 scale I can afford for a while now. These turn up quite often in Oklahoma.