Model Building

[OneEyeJack]

<strong>Does anyone buy car, monster, military models anymore and assemble them . Iuse to get one a week and put them together with glue. In fact, I have my original Aurora monster models still. Dracula, the wolfman, creature from the black lagoon,all complete and in good condition.</strong>

[Team_Ramrod]

<p>I love models, used to do the cars and stuff. I want to get a gas powered RC car model and assemble that prick. </p><p>I have wanted to do model ships (boats) since I was 7 or 8. I want to do the ones in the glass bottles and the huge f'ers that take years to complete...I just need a hobby room and to have my kids grow a little more.</p>

[OneEyeJack]

<strong>One of my favorite custom car model to build was the RED BARON. IT came in a regular size, and if you had the dough ,a super size. It was a hotrod with a german helmet. So cool and it came with its own triple winged airplane.The small sized german helmet fit perfectly on GI JOE.</strong>

[A.J.]

<p>I used to love those when I was a kid -- both the kinds you'd snap together and the ones you&nbsp;glue.</p><p>Putting those decals on was a pain in the ass though.</p><p>(I'm going to move this to Old School.)</p>

[BoondockSaint]

I've built a ton of RC cars but none in about 5 years.&nbsp; Hmmm, maybe it's about time.

[OGC]

<p><font face="comic sans ms,sand" size="2">I used to build them when I was a kid. I learned about the &quot;monster models&quot; from my uncle who had a room full of themthat he had put together over the years. Some of his were built in the 1950's.</font></p><p><font face="comic sans ms,sand" size="2">I had always hoped that when he died, I would get all of them and put them on shelves in my playroom, but unfortunately, when he got older and had to move to an assisted living home, most of the models got broken.</font></p><p><font face="comic sans ms,sand" size="2">I have looked into getting some of the kits so that my kids could build them but they are really expensive, if you can find then at all. Is there a place on the web to get them at a reasonable price ?</font></p>

[OneEyeJack]

<strong>My older brother got me started in it. Ican remember putting to much glue on the pieces and watching them warp and desintigrate. Or be too much in a hurry to finish and have all these pieces left over.</strong>

[Team_Ramrod]

<p>The worst feeling was doing a great job on your model, you almost had that perfect one... Aside from the melting that occured on the door where you put too much glue and let it sit on there to burn away the plastic.</p><p>So close to a proud moment and it all was ruined.</p>

[furie]

I used to build model ships. Aircraft carriers mostly.

[OneEyeJack]

<strong>How about when everything is going together well, and you get glue from your finger on the WINDSHIELD. ITS RUINED.And no matter how you try to get it off, you end up making it worse.</strong>

[OGC]

<p><font face="comic sans ms,sand" size="2">I used to build them when I was a kid. I learned about the &quot;monster models&quot; from my uncle who had a room full of themthat he had put together over the years. Some of his were built in the 1950's.</font></p><p><font face="comic sans ms,sand" size="2">I had always hoped that when he died, I would get all of them and put them on shelves in my playroom, but unfortunately, when he got older and had to move to an assisted living home, most of the models got broken.</font></p><p><font face="comic sans ms,sand" size="2">I have looked into getting some of the kits so that my kids could build them but they are really expensive, if you can find then at all. Is there a place on the web to get them at a reasonable price ?</font></p>

[Team_Ramrod]

<strong>OneEyeJack</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>How about when everything is going together well, and you get glue from your finger on the WINDSHIELD. ITS RUINED.And no matter how you try to get it off, you end up making it worse.</strong> <p>I did that with my XM myfi....the rotator dial broke when I dropped it and I took it apart to see if I could fix it. I f'd it up when I took it apart and had to glue it back together. I got glue on the display cover and couldn't leave it alone....I took finger nail polish remover and tried to clean it off. Now I have a frosted display that can only be read in the night when the backlight is on.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Back to your point... </p><p>There are so many little things that can go wrong when doing the models that just ruin such a good thing. One of the worst things that seemed to happen is when you tried to hold a little piece in place until the glue set and all of a sudden you pull away and bring the car with you because you glued your index finger to the model.</p>

[OneEyeJack]

<strong>Late 60s and early 70s aurora put out the monster models again, this time under a logo called FRIGHTNING LIGHTNING WHICH meant some parts, like the heads and hands litup or glowed when you held them under a lite bulb. there are model&nbsp; building conventions all the time. One happens pretty regular at the Parsippany PAL auditorium, or go to a monster convention around halloween and I,m sure you can pick the reissues&nbsp; resonable priced. the originals in the box are astronomical expensive.But its only money.</strong>

[PapaBear]

I got way into building model cars again, for a few months, about five years ago. I built about 8 cars, had a lot of fun, then burnt out on it right after I bought an airbrush. Now I just used the airbrush compressor to blow dust off of photo negatives that I scan.

[OneEyeJack]

<strong>HEY Team, I once came up with the great idea of building t&nbsp;he BOOT HILL EXPRESS custom car model WITH CRAZY GLUE, you know to make it indestructable if it rolled off the shelf or if my little brother got a hold of it. That model had so much finger skin all over it ,that a thousand years from now, when its dug up from some ancient garbage dump, because my mom threw it out when Iwas at school, they will be able to clone me back again.</strong>

[cozzie]

every couple of months, i'll go to wal-mart and&nbsp; hobby shops, and will buy 8-10 models, and just start building away. Every now and again i'll find an old one, like 2 weeks ago , I found a&nbsp; B-29 superfortress still in the box.

[OneEyeJack]

<strong>Cozzie I have that same model, and I bought it 20 years ago, and still have not started on it yet.That is a wicked model plane with about 10000 parts. Well it looks like 10000 parts every time Ilook in the box.And i cant seem to see how the wings will stay glued together with the length of them and the weight.</strong>

[OneEyeJack]

<strong>Anyone out there ever build that see thur womanand man model ? THE one where you see the inside of the body, the stomach, intestines, etc. YUCH!</strong>

[Team_Ramrod]

I've seen those anatomy models, I've never been interested in them though. Probably becasue I'm not too interested in the biology of humans but I think it's a deep seeded fear of the model comming alive when I'm sleeping.

[JoeYaDeadHomey]

<p>my dads got probably about 300 cars displayed in our living room, and another 100 or so in boxes in the closet. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>im not really partial to them, but i really really like building the character models, batman, guyver, alucard, etc. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>its nuts, hes got hundreds of paints, brushes, glues, 2 compressors, and 5 or 6 different airbrushes.</p><p>his cars come out with paintjobs that are better than most real cars get from the factory. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>ill take a pic later and share the sickness.&nbsp;</p>

[cozzie]

<strong>OneEyeJack</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>Cozzie I have that same model, and I bought it 20 years ago, and still have not started on it yet.That is a wicked model plane with about 10000 parts. Well it looks like 10000 parts every time Ilook in the box.And i cant seem to see how the wings will stay glued together with the length of them and the weight.</strong> <p>gonna start looking for the paint next week, gotta find camo and some other stupid color. Will try to post some pics as I build it , and i agree about the wings , dont see how just glue will work ,but will try soon. Might need some ideas as to how to keep them straight.---- thought about putting a Viagra in each wing and hope for the best.&nbsp; btw I got mine from a guy who says it's at least 30 years old.</p>

[DJEvelEd]

<strong>cozzie</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>OneEyeJack</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>Cozzie I have that same model, and I bought it 20 years ago, and still have not started on it yet.That is a wicked model plane with about 10000 parts. Well it looks like 10000 parts every time Ilook in the box.And i cant seem to see how the wings will stay glued together with the length of them and the weight.</strong> <p>gonna start looking for the paint next week, gotta find camo and some other stupid color. Will try to post some pics as I build it , and i agree about the wings , dont see how just glue will work ,but will try soon. Might need some ideas as to how to keep them straight.---- thought about putting a Viagra in each wing and hope for the best.&nbsp; btw I got mine from a guy who says it's at least 30 years old.</p><p>If you were a real man, you wouldn't even know what Viagra was. Problems with E.D.? Try jacking to a model of a young boy. You know you think about it.</p>

[DJEvelEd]

<strong>cozzie</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>OneEyeJack</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>Cozzie I have that same model, and I bought it 20 years ago, and still have not started on it yet.That is a wicked model plane with about 10000 parts. Well it looks like 10000 parts every time Ilook in the box.And i cant seem to see how the wings will stay glued together with the length of them and the weight.</strong> <p>gonna start looking for the paint next week, gotta find camo and some other stupid color. Will try to post some pics as I build it , and i agree about the wings , dont see how just glue will work ,but will try soon. Might need some ideas as to how to keep them straight.---- thought about putting a Viagra in each wing and hope for the best.&nbsp; btw I got mine from a guy who says it's at least 30 years old.</p><p>If you were a real man, you wouldn't even know what Viagra was. Problems with E.D.? Try jacking to a model of a young boy. You know you think about it.</p>

[tele7]

<p>I used to build and fly RC airplanes.&nbsp; I built a trainer and joined a local flying club.&nbsp; To see something you built actally fly is&nbsp;pretty cool.&nbsp; I was hooked.&nbsp; After that I built a Sukhoi SU-26, F4U Corsair, Piper Cub and a Spitfire.&nbsp; </p><p>I plan to get back into the hobby this summer, but I will go the Park Flyer electric route.&nbsp; The pre built (arf)'s are getting cheaper and better in quality.&nbsp; </p>

[mdr55]

I used to like making model warplane's and other war vehicles and blowing them up on the 4th of July with fireworks. Cool stuff.<br />

[PapaBear]

<strong>mdr55</strong> wrote:<br />I used to like making model warplane's and other war vehicles and blowing them up on the 4th of July with fireworks. Cool stuff.<br /><p>I had blowing up cars down to an art. I'd use the baby crackers, so they didn't get completely destroyed, and I'd cover the car with lighter fluid. Light the fuse, roll the car, car goes boom, then burns. I think I wanted to be a special effects artist at one point in my childhood.</p>

[Ritalin]

<p>Alright, I'm on a message board reading about model airplanes. </p>&lt;&gt;I'm hip deep in the Loner Virgin River.<br />

[OneEyeJack]

<strong>I would put fresh glue on the model cars and lite. It took alittle while to get going but smoked like the real thing. Every once in a while I unearth one&nbsp; doing yard work and try to figure which one it was.</strong>

[Bellyfullasnot]

Some of the monster/super hero models are worth money.&nbsp; I saw the Capt. America vs. Red Skull model in Babylon last week. (next door to Looney Tunes)

[ThePointer]

<strong>mdr55</strong> wrote:<br />I used to like making model warplane's and other war vehicles and blowing them up on the 4th of July with fireworks. Cool stuff.<br /><p>I used to do the same with the planes and the ships.&nbsp;&nbsp; My frineds and I would go on the beach, dig a small hole and add water and recreate war battles.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; a few m-80's&nbsp; or cherry bombs would give&nbsp;a great effect.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When really daring, aim a few bottle rockets at the ships or tape them to the wing of a plane and let the plane dive bomb the ship.</p>

[Team_Ramrod]

I haven't done a model in 15 or so years but I did buy a kit online where you could make a rubber model of your Dick. You know, make a cast, mix the liquid rubber solution and let set...It sit's in my 'sex storage box' never to be used.

[Wallower]

<p>Am I late for the official shut in thread?</p><p>I think the only reason to buy a model is to not look so silly with all that glue. And could you put mine in a paper bag please. Thank you.</p>

[ralphbxny]

i have done the Model thing as a kid. I used to do one a summer as a kid.

[Furtherman]

I would build model airplanes then hang them from my ceiling.&nbsp; I think I got that idea from E.T. or Explorers.&nbsp; I'm pretty sure I saw it in a movie and thought &quot;I'm so doing that!&quot;

[OneEyeJack]

<strong>Ialso built alot of WW2 airplanes. P-40 warhawks, Navy COrsairs,B-17s and hung them from the ceiling with tacks. Every once in awhile, one would come lose and nose dive into the floor and you&nbsp; would gather up the pieces and glue it back together.But it never looked the same.</strong>

[Gvac]

<p>Man, I had all the snap-together model dinosaurs, and a bunch of the Star Trek ones when I was a kid.&nbsp; Tester's paint was a must.&nbsp; </p><p>I had the Pteranodon and the Enterprise hanging from my ceiling with fishing wire. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

<p>I remember putting together a model of the truck/van from The Mod Squad.</p><p>I also remember making a cast of Dr. Zaius and painting it.&nbsp;</p>

[A.J.]

<strong>Alice S. Fuzzybutt</strong> wrote:<br /><p>I also remember making a cast of Dr. Zaius and painting it.&nbsp; </p><p>&quot;I love you Dr. Zaius.&quot;</p><p><img src="http://www.film.org.pl/images2/planeta_malp/65.jpg" border="0" width="200" height="133" /></p>

[PapaBear]

I remember building a model of the Wherewolf when I was a little kid. It had a glow in the dark head and hands. I was affraid to sleep with it in my room, so I made my dad keep it in his room.

[feralBoy]

Every once in a while, I'll buy a model car and put it together.&nbsp; The coolest part is my friend has an airbrush, and he airbrushes it for me when i'm done, and it looks awesome.&nbsp;

[OneEyeJack]

<strong>In the mid 60,s monster model craze, Aurora model put out a comical version of frankenstein that stood about 16 inches high. His arms rotated and he had a ball and chain around his ankle.me and my older brother got one. He he put his together and I MADE A disaster of mine,but Iloved that model,and of course it disappeared one day when I WAS AT SCHOOL.20 years ago Iwas able to buy one from a collecter for a small fortune. It happens to be ultra scarce. do you know the box it came in and the directions are just as expensive, because you always throw them away after you finish the model.The first thing I did when it arrived in the mail waas show mom and say look what Ifound in the basement. Ithink she hated frankenstein.</strong>

[OneEyeJack]

<strong>One other thing about the big Frankie model. It was advertise in the back of all the comic books of that time.It showed a kid looking at the model wiyh its arms out sstretch.and the slogan above says build yourself a friend!I also once saw MARKY RAMONE from the RAMONES buying old monster models at an early CHILLER THEATRE convention.So who ever wants to make fun of model building can </strong>F&nbsp; themselves.

[high fly]

<p>&nbsp;</p><p><font size="2">The only cars I ever did was the Snake and the Mongoose.</font></p><p><font size="2">I had one of the Bride of Frankenstein.</font></p><p><font size="2">Mostly I stuck to the planes, ships and tanks.</font></p><p><font size="2">I had the planes hanging from the ceiling and in one case glued thread from each machine gun on a fighter plane across the room to impact on another fighter plane, where I had little pieces of cotton stained to look like smoke. The crowning touch was glueing little bits of cotton at regularly spaced intervals along the thread to make tracers.</font></p><p><font size="2">Always fun going up in the woods with my friends and burning our ship models...</font></p><p><font size="2"></font></p><p><font size="2">I had a model of the <em>Tirpitz</em> that musta been about 3 feet long.</font></p><p><font size="2"></font></p><p><font size="2">Then there were tho ones with the little motors you'd have to put together yourself, I just remember wrapping all that wire and the thin pieces of metal shaped like a capital &quot;I.&quot; I doubt I built more than one of those bastards.</font></p><p><font size="2">Then I remember when sniffing glue became popular, they came out with this crappy replacement shit that wouldn't really stick.</font></p><p><font size="2">Once I wasn't paying attention to the box and bought one of those wooden bastards of some WWII fighter plane. I think I was so impressed with the size of that bad boy that I didn't notice it was one-a them wooden things. The only good part about it was when I finally got the frame done and went to my parents and told them I needed to buy some dope.</font></p><p><font size="2"></font></p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by high fly on 2-1-07 @ 12:05 PM</span>

[Aqualad]

I keep meaning to buy some of those Polar Lights re-issues of the old Aurora kits.&nbsp;&nbsp; I really want a Creature and one of the Bat-vehicles.&nbsp;&nbsp; You can find them all over the Internet pretty cheap.

[bobrobot]

<p><strong><font color="#000080">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I love models, I buy absolutely everything I can find for cheap (cuz I'm poor) &amp; customize them or sculpt them together, so i end up w/ stuff like a flying saucer w/ tarantula legs, cadillac fins &amp; a caveman's head poking thru the roof. Then I sell them as atrwork!!! HA HA HA!!!</font></strong></p><p><strong><font color="#000080">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I did buy &amp; faithfully assemble &amp; paint&nbsp;the entire series of Rube Goldberg Animated Hobby Kits cuz he's a big influence on me, those models actually move, nice touch. BTW, LUV the Polar Lights reissues to death, especially the monster models!!! Big ups to Glencoe models who issued the&nbsp;U. F. O.&nbsp;model, from the original 1952 molds of the 1st flying saucer model ever made, that Ed Wood used in Plan 9 From Outer Space!&nbsp; Also ya gotta love the Big Daddy Roth, of Ratfink fame, reissues of custom Hotrods &amp; stuff from Revell.&nbsp; Testor's made the Weird Ohs character models &amp; the Roswell models of spaceships &amp; aliens. There's also cool stuff from Aurora &amp; Monogram. I like testor's Model paint the best &amp; they have a quick drying brush on glue that is good for assembling parts w/ access to the interior, like a head for example. I also use Crazy Glue cuz it's thin &amp; strong &amp; fast&nbsp;and I'll use hot glue from a glue gun to connect dissimilar plastics or vinyl, like if I cut a pair of bat wings from a milk jug or something... a rotary tool&nbsp;is also essential for trimming of seams &amp; other prep work!!!</font></strong></p><p><img src="http://www.amazingco.com/amazingco.com/ufo/items/ufo.jpg" border="0" width="360" height="166" /></p><p><strong><font color="#000080"></font></strong></p><p><strong><font color="#000080"></font></strong></p><p><strong><font color="#000080"></font></strong></p>

[high fly]

<p><font size="2">I had a pretty cool looking model of Batman back in the day.</font></p><p><font size="2">I also had that bigass <em>Cutty Sark</em> that must've been 2 feet long. It came with, like, a dozen little plastic crew members - not nearly enough.</font></p><p><font size="2"></font></p><p>&nbsp;</p>

[OneEyeJack]

Anyone ever have the models of the BEATLES?

[reeshy]

Does anyone build dioramas!???????

[hedges]

There were two models that I built as a kid that stand out in my mind. One was a Viking ship. Lots of oars, different decals for the surrounding shields, and string for the sail rigging. The other one I liked building was a Panzer Kampfwagen. Easier than the Viking ship, but a nice model. The B-17 I built was cool too.

[MrPink]

i loved the jet airplanes, but i always do a real shitty job with the paint and decals. i think i got parkinsons.

[OneEyeJack]

There were two models that I built as a kid that stand out in my mind. One was a Viking ship. Lots of oars, different decals for the surrounding shields, and string for the sail rigging. The other one I liked building was a Panzer Kampfwagen. Easier than the Viking ship, but a nice model. The B-17 I built was cool too.

I built those German tanks too, some came with motors like the big Tiger tank. I also built MONOGRAM Sherman tanks and built dioramas, like burnt out buildings,or tank hidding in the forest.Stillgot them too.

[tupper65]

<strong>Does anyone buy car, monster, military models anymore and assemble them . Iuse to get one a week and put them together with glue. In fact, I have my original Aurora monster models still. Dracula, the wolfman, creature from the black lagoon,all complete and in good condition.</strong>

I used to LOVE those Aurora models. I built Dracula and the wolfman too! Do you remember 'The Forgotton Prisoner'
http://www.tylisaari.com/models/fp/forgpris011.JPG

I wish I still had them, but I blew them up with firecrackers years ago.:wallbash:

[tupper65]

<strong>Does anyone buy car, monster, military models anymore and assemble them . Iuse to get one a week and put them together with glue. In fact, I have my original Aurora monster models still. Dracula, the wolfman, creature from the black lagoon,all complete and in good condition.</strong>

I used to LOVE those Aurora models. I built Dracula and the wolfman too! Do you remember 'The Forgotton Prisoner'
http://www.tylisaari.com/models/fp/forgpris011.JPG

I wish I still had them, but I blew them up with firecrackers years ago.:wallbash:

[tupper65]

sorry for the double post

[tupper65]

I built those German tanks too, some came with motors like the big Tiger tank. I also built MONOGRAM Sherman tanks and built dioramas, like burnt out buildings,or tank hidding in the forest.Stillgot them too.

I was into the WWII models too. Tamiya used to put out really detailed ones

[OneEyeJack]

I used to LOVE those Aurora models. I built Dracula and the wolfman too! Do you remember 'The Forgotton Prisoner'
http://www.tylisaari.com/models/fp/forgpris011.JPG

I wish I still had them, but I blew them up with firecrackers years ago.:wallbash:

the forgotten prisoner of castle mare was a great one ,I to destroyed it. (stupid) it has been reissued a few years back . At maybe the chiller theatre convention I can get another one. I did happen upon a President Kennedy model in the box,.Problem is you cant build it or it loses value.

[OneEyeJack]

the forgotten prisoner of castle mare was a great one ,I to destroyed it. (stupid) it has been reissued a few years back . At maybe the chiller theatre convention I can get another one. I did happen upon a President Kennedy model in the box,.Problem is you cant build it or it loses value.

Boy, that poor son of a bitch,forgotten prisoner, left in a dungeon to rot.And chained by the neck and ankle, how did he sleep when he was alive/?

[tupper65]

Yeah, the poor bastard

I remember that I built it with my older brother when I was I kid.

We built the skeleton part with the "glow-in-the-dark" pieces that came with it. That eerie green glow lulled me to sleep for weeks

[ralphbxny]

I did the model airplanes from time to time.

[ChoppedLiver]

I still build them. In my mid 40's and even go to contests and conventions.

[Sarge]

I havent built one in a long time. I do have a couple still in the box that I just havent gotten around to building yet.

[ChoppedLiver]

Just finished this one a week ago....

http://images21.fotki.com/v578/photos/4/40875/3617908/swcwillys002-vi.jpg

[Fat_Opie]

<p><strong><font color="#000080">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I love models, I buy absolutely everything I can find for cheap (cuz I'm poor) &amp; customize them or sculpt them together, so i end up w/ stuff like a flying saucer w/ tarantula legs, cadillac fins &amp; a caveman's head poking thru the roof. Then I sell them as atrwork!!! HA HA HA!!!</font></strong></p><p><strong><font color="#000080">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I did buy &amp; faithfully assemble &amp; paint&nbsp;the entire series of Rube Goldberg Animated Hobby Kits cuz he's a big influence on me, those models actually move, nice touch. BTW, LUV the Polar Lights reissues to death, especially the monster models!!! Big ups to Glencoe models who issued the&nbsp;U. F. O.&nbsp;model, from the original 1952 molds of the 1st flying saucer model ever made, that Ed Wood used in Plan 9 From Outer Space!&nbsp; Also ya gotta love the Big Daddy Roth, of Ratfink fame, reissues of custom Hotrods &amp; stuff from Revell.&nbsp; Testor's made the Weird Ohs character models &amp; the Roswell models of spaceships &amp; aliens. There's also cool stuff from Aurora &amp; Monogram. I like testor's Model paint the best &amp; they have a quick drying brush on glue that is good for assembling parts w/ access to the interior, like a head for example. I also use Crazy Glue cuz it's thin &amp; strong &amp; fast&nbsp;and I'll use hot glue from a glue gun to connect dissimilar plastics or vinyl, like if I cut a pair of bat wings from a milk jug or something... a rotary tool&nbsp;is also essential for trimming of seams &amp; other prep work!!!</font></strong></p><p><p><strong><font color="#000080"></font></strong></p><p><strong><font color="#000080"></font></strong></p><p><strong><font color="#000080"></font></strong></p>

I built that UFO as a kid in the '70s. It was a Lindberg kit at the time molded in glow-in the dark polystyrene. I still have it in the basement. As for Ed Roth, just look at my avatar.

I've built many, many car models though I haven't devoted as much time to it as I'd like in recent years. Here are some photos of my stuff.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/64Belvedere02.jpg
Kit was a Richard Petty stock car so I had to scratchbuild the taillights.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/63Corvette25.jpg
The kitchen canisters look like grain silos in the background.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2006-07-13046.jpg
This was my actual car. Kit was a Trans Am with T-tops but my Firebird was an Esprit so I had to modify it.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/62Chrysler300H01.jpg
The colors are totally '80s from when I built it but it's very "Pro Touring."

[Fat_Opie]

Just finished this one a week ago....

http://images21.fotki.com/v578/photos/4/40875/3617908/swcwillys002-vi.jpg

Very nice!

I always think of that Willys as candy blue but I just used the Google and saw that the early version was indeed black. Cool.

[ChoppedLiver]

Thanks! Blue one is another project. Decals for BOTH are inside the same kit.
Your stuff looks great as well !

[ChoppedLiver]

THIS one needs antennas and some detailing and it'll be done.

http://images22.fotki.com/v757/photos/4/40875/4548834/pug002-vi.jpg

Tamiya 307 Rally car.

[PapaBear]

It's been several years since I built any, and I'm not as good as some of you guy, but here are a few of my most recent models.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y229/snowmaninva66/DSCN0439a.jpg

The race cars are the two last cars that Dale Earnhardt ever won in (not Cup points races) and the middle one is a 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner.

[PapaBear]

Here's a few more...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y229/snowmaninva66/DSCN0453copy.jpg

2001 Kevin Harvick Chevy, 1966 Olds 442, unknown year Corvette, and consumer version of Petty's Dodge.

[ChoppedLiver]

Right on, Papa !!

[Fat_Opie]

It's been several years since I built any, and I'm not as good as some of you guy, but here are a few of my most recent models.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y229/snowmaninva66/DSCN0439a.jpg

The race cars are the two last cars that Dale Earnhardt ever won in (not Cup points races) and the middle one is a 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner.

My fave is that Roadrunner with the cop car wheels....but then I'm partial to Mopars. The Earnhardt Vette and the stock cars look like really good builds. Nice!

I was an Earnhardt fan, too. I haven't been into NASCAR much since he died. There were other factors at that time, too, like the rules changes and Dave Marcis' retirement in that same race. My model building was always more street and drag oriented anyway.

It looks like you paint the chrome trim silver. Have you ever used Bare Metal Foil? It's pretty easy to use and works great. http://www.bare-metal.com/

[Fat_Opie]

Here's a few more...

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2006-01-02012b.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2006-07-13037.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2006-07-13035.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2006-07-13028.jpg
More '80s graphics on this one. I swear they were cool when I built it 20 years ago.

[Fat_Opie]

THIS one needs antennas and some detailing and it'll be done.

http://images22.fotki.com/v757/photos/4/40875/4548834/pug002-vi.jpg

Tamiya 307 Rally car.

Looks really good! Rally cars need some dirt, too, even if it's just a light wash in the right places.

[ChoppedLiver]

Not for this one Patrick, but my next Subaru will be a small diorama with driver figures ans weathering.

Nice builds .... LOVE that Super Stock Dodge !

NASCARs? Yep, do those as well.

Ron Fellows' Busch Series Mexico race Monte Carlo.

http://images22.fotki.com/v723/photos/4/40875/1813983/nb-vi.jpg

[Fat_Opie]

Nice builds .... LOVE that Super Stock Dodge !

Thanks! That Dodge is an oldie and not really a Super Stock. The true A-990 Ramchargers were 2-door sedans (this one's a hardtop) and the scoop on it is the 426 Wedge style (with the dip in the middle) even though there's a Hemi in this one. They didn't have any accurate kits when I built it. I think of it as a Super Stock-inspired street machine.

That Busch Monte Carlo is nice. My favorite of yours is still the Stone, Woods & Cook Willys, though! That's the kind of stuff I like. Late model race cars just seem too sterile.

Got any vintage NASCAR? I always wanted to do one but I never committed to it. I've got a '64 Mercury Marauder to do that's gonna be a modern street machine inspired by the old Bill Stroppe/Darel Dieringer stock cars. It's really gonna be one of those old AMT bodies with a recent Ertl '60 Ford chassis and a lot of fabrication in the interior. It's not gonna be a NASCAR stock car but it'll have the feel of one.

Post more pics!

[ChoppedLiver]

http://public.fotki.com/predmond/model_cars/models_ive_built/nascar_builds/

Tons in here.:smile:

Especially proud THIS one is at Atlanta Speedway on display in 'Winners Walk'.

http://images110.fotki.com/v576/photos/4/40875/1813983/28modelatl-vi.jpg


I like that Stroppe inspired street machine 64 Merc idea. The 60 Ford has great stuff for you.

[Fat_Opie]

http://public.fotki.com/predmond/model_cars/models_ive_built/nascar_builds/

Tons in here.:smile:

Especially proud THIS one is at Atlanta Speedway on display in 'Winners Walk'.

http://images110.fotki.com/v576/photos/4/40875/1813983/28modelatl-vi.jpg


I like that Stroppe inspired street machine 64 Merc idea. The 60 Ford has great stuff for you.
Love that Freddie Lorenzen car! He's from Elmhurst, Il. I used to live near there and go to the Elmhurst cruise night every Wednesday. Last I heard, Fred was a realtor in that area. He may have retired since then. It's a huge honor to have your model on display like that.

The '60 Starliner has the same "cowbelly" frame as the Merc so it's a natural. I test-fitted it and it looks great. The only real trick will be making the interior work. Maybe I'll go for more of a custom but with a stripped-down NASCAR feel.

You've got TONS of cool stuff there! I like the early NASCAR stuff and the other things like the Corvair are awesome. I think I've seen your Deora Little Red Wagon somewhere before, too. I've got a Little Red Wagon kit to do with a resin van body for it. I think a retro TV repair van would be too cool.

I saw in your walls of to-do projects the kits that were re-labeled. I'm guessing you like doing chassis swaps, too. I also saw a lot of old Jo-Hans in there. I always loved those. The subjects were great and the body proportions were always dead-on. I've got these Jo-han (and one MPC) bodied chassis swaps in the works (if I ever get back to work on 'em). I have a bunch more old Jo-Han Mopars with more Revell chassis to go under them, too. I've gotta be insane the way I stack this stuff up without enough time to dive in and finish it all.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2006-07-13020a.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2006-07-13021.jpg

[ChoppedLiver]

I'm glad you like my builds! Larry Alexander, one of the Alexander Bros car customizers who built the REAL Deora is in my model club in Detroit. I gave him the LR Deora as a gift.


That Revell 69 Charger was a godsend to LOTS of conversions!

I have lots of resin bodies etc. for MANY conversions.


Pretty proud of this one as well.
AMT 29 Ford with Revell 31 Model A rat rod 4 cyl and wheels & tires.
Red primer then lots of chalks & powders for the oxidation

http://images6.fotki.com/v104/photos/4/40875/80509/MVC035S-vi.jpg

[Fat_Opie]

I'm glad you like my builds! Larry Alexander, one of the Alexander Bros car customizers who built the REAL Deora is in my model club in Detroit. I gave him the LR Deora as a gift.


That Revell 69 Charger was a godsend to LOTS of conversions!

I have lots of resin bodies etc. for MANY conversions.


Pretty proud of this one as well.
AMT 29 Ford with Revell 31 Model A rat rod 4 cyl and wheels & tires.
Red primer then lots of chalks & powders for the oxidation

I did see that one in your album. Nice!!! There were so many I couldn't point out all the ones that impressed me.

I love Detroit. People think I'm weird. I took Dawn to the Henry Ford and Greenfield Village in '05. She loved it! We did the Woodward Dream Cruise, too, but the weather was less than ideal.

So what did Larry think of your merging of the two most famous A100 pickups? The Wagon's Hemi would have been a small upgrade over the slant six in the Deora.

[PapaBear]

Thanks for the compliments, guys. Yeah... I did paint the chrome trim.

[ChoppedLiver]

I did see that one in your album. Nice!!! There were so many I couldn't point out all the ones that impressed me.

I love Detroit. People think I'm weird. I took Dawn to the Henry Ford and Greenfield Village in '05. She loved it! We did the Woodward Dream Cruise, too, but the weather was less than ideal.

So what did Larry think of your merging of the two most famous A100 pickups? The Wagon's Hemi would have been a small upgrade over the slant six in the Deora.

Thanks!

Larry asked me at a meeting that he had heard I built it and asked if I could bring it in to show him. He liked it so much when I brought it in and gave it to him.
He traded me for a hand made tool he used building the actual Deora.

I've been to a few Woodwards myself.

[Fat_Opie]

He traded me for a hand made tool he used building the actual Deora.

Nice!!! That was such an amazing era in so many ways. The cars, music, science, politics, movies, media, etc. It was the fastest growth the human race has ever seen. It's gotta be cool to own something that helped create that history.

[ChoppedLiver]

Indeed it is. You have a PM.:smile:

[high fly]

I built those German tanks too, some came with motors like the big Tiger tank. I also built MONOGRAM Sherman tanks and built dioramas, like burnt out buildings,or tank hidding in the forest.Stillgot them too.

My first model was a Walker Bulldog tank model. I didn't build it, my father did when I was about 4 and I was really careful with it and it lasted a pretty long time. Years later I remenber buying one to build and then bringing it down to show my dad and it was a nice father and son moment.
I went on to built the Tamiya German tanks and had just about all of them.
They had a remote control Tiger tank with trailing wires to a controller, but with new batteries that rascal was pretty cool and could climb up the hill in our back yard.
I really thought I'd arrived when I got the Kraut 88 mm gun.

I built a couple of the King Tigers. That was one where me and my friends got to making interiors fro them. I don't know where we got the parts, but with glue and using the blade attachment to woodburning tools, we did some pretty amazing stuff, now that I think about it.
Just trying to outdo each other.

[high fly]

Anyone ever build "The Visible Man" or "The Visible Woman"?

[OneEyeJack]

Anyone ever build "The Visible Man" or "The Visible Woman"?

I always found those models creepy and they reminded me of a school display. At the model store I went to that model never sold.To this day at swap meets I attend I see that model for sale .

[bobrobot]

I always found those models creepy and they reminded me of a school display. At the model store I went to that model never sold.To this day at swap meets I attend I see that model for sale .

Didja ever see the lung model that would smoke a cigarette???

[OneEyeJack]

Didja ever see the lung model that would smoke a cigarette???

No! never heard of that one or even seen one. and who would buy it? could you imagine the kid who gets the lung model for his birthday. did the cigarettes come with the model and what brand?

[high fly]

I always found those models creepy and they reminded me of a school display. At the model store I went to that model never sold.To this day at swap meets I attend I see that model for sale .

I knew a kid who had them both and he was a wierdo.
Still, long after noting there were no naughty bits to see, I can't resist looking anyways...

[BLZBUBBA]

If you can find a kit for the old FIREBALL ROBERTS black and gold STEPHENS PONTIAC it's way cool. Advertised on the fender is SMOKEY'S...Best damn garage in town. And if you ever need to see the actual cars...the TALLADEGA MUSEUM totally kicks ass. Lots of old cars (the Superbirds being my favorite) with the huge wings on the deck lid...and of course...The Fireball Roberts car I mentioned above (the last time I went).

[ChoppedLiver]

If you can find a kit for the old FIREBALL ROBERTS black and gold STEPHENS PONTIAC it's way cool. Advertised on the fender is SMOKEY'S...Best damn garage in town. And if you ever need to see the actual cars...the TALLADEGA MUSEUM totally kicks ass. Lots of old cars (the Superbirds being my favorite) with the huge wings on the deck lid...and of course...The Fireball Roberts car I mentioned above (the last time I went).

There's LOTS of decals available to do old NASCARS.

http://www.bsrrep.com

[reeshy]

Anybody build RC planes???.....I do!!!!

[ChoppedLiver]

Anybody build RC planes???.....I do!!!!

Never built nor flew one, but sold LOTS of replacement bits to the 'pilots' when I worked in the hobby shop.

[BLZBUBBA]

Once drove by a school where someone was flying an RC Corvair "gull wing" like used in the Pacific in WWII. He took it up and it came straight down smashing it to bits.
Said he'd spent 6 months on it.
Saw some scale RC jets on a show on TV. Unbelievable what going on in RC now. Way cool.

[PapaBear]

There are a lot of good videos on Youtube of RC planes. Some of them are actual jets.

[Fat_Opie]

If you can find a kit for the old FIREBALL ROBERTS black and gold STEPHENS PONTIAC it's way cool. Advertised on the fender is SMOKEY'S...Best damn garage in town. And if you ever need to see the actual cars...the TALLADEGA MUSEUM totally kicks ass. Lots of old cars (the Superbirds being my favorite) with the huge wings on the deck lid...and of course...The Fireball Roberts car I mentioned above (the last time I went).
I love those Superbirds and Daytona Chargers, too. That's when NASCAR was about stock-bodied cars and the manufacturers would do anything to win. Now it's like the manufacturers are making sporting goods, like football helmets. The make of car in NASCAR matters as little as the make of helmet a football player is wearing.

Smokey Yunick always painted his cars black & gold. I always think of his '66 Chevelle that never got to run a race because he's bent the rules too far.

[BLZBUBBA]

There are loads of great old NASCAR stories. They were interviewing Harry Hyde once and he was talking about how they'd get the cars to pass inspection for height. They had a guy stand there in steel toe work shoes and stick his toes underneath the tire as they wheeled the car up. The car (roofline) had to hit the bar overhead. And of course while running the car sat lower than all the rest.

I think the Chevelle deal with Smokey was where he basically scaled down everything on the car. Smaller car. Right? But within rules.

Money has ruined every sport.

[ChoppedLiver]

Also Jeff Gordon's Jurassic Park Monte Carlo .... Built to just within the letter of the law INCLUDING some parts that were not covered in the Rule Book.

After dominating the All Star race with it, NASCAR inspected it thoroughly. They said "Don't bring this car back, OK??"

[BLZBUBBA]

I used to go to the ALL STAR RACE (THE WINSTON when I went) and COCA-COLA 600 each year. Have family just outside Charlotte.
For a while Gordon (Evernham really) owned that track. Actually they owned about every track for a while. Anyway...
One year Gordon lost a wheel in the 600 and came back around and there were the oddest color sparks coming from underneath the hub. They were running TITANIUM HUBS. A no-no...unapproved.

I give a lot if not most of the credit for Gordon's early dominance to Evernham. Don't get me wrong. Gordon's a great driver. They had a great team. But they're all good at that level. But a relatively new team kicking Earnhardt and everyone else's butts right off? Something was up.
He (Evernham) helped prepare IROC series cars originally, and I gotta think that if he knew what made cars equal (for IROC), he knew what made them not equal.

[tele7]

There are a lot of good videos on Youtube of RC planes. Some of them are actual jets.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7550964747414840994&q=rc+jet&hl=en

[BLZBUBBA]

That jet Airbus vid rules.

[high fly]

That jet Airbus vid rules.


Sure does.
Big ups to all involved.

[reeshy]

1

[reeshy]

1

[reeshy]

1

[reeshy]

http://C:\Documents and Settings\Kevin Brosnan\My Documents

[reeshy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v351/reeshy/JOEBIGCUB.jpg

[reeshy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v351/reeshy/JOEBIGCUB.jpg

[Judge Smails]

Reeshy - have you been trying to post a pic for the last three hours?

Did you build that plane? It looks sweet. What took longer: building it, or posting a picture of it?

[reeshy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v351/reeshy/JOEBIGCUB.jpg

[reeshy]

Yea...I built it!!!!

[reeshy]

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:fUTvJ-9uZcsbxM:http://image.listen.com/img/356x237/9/7/7/3/623779_356x237.jpg

[cougarjake13]

so where do i go and get some models for my next model building project

paris ???

new york ???

[Fat_Opie]

I think the Chevelle deal with Smokey was where he basically scaled down everything on the car. Smaller car. Right? But within rules.

Money has ruined every sport.

Yeah, he scaled down the whole car but it never ran a lap. NASCAR banned it, and rightly so. It's a great story, though.

Junior Johnson had the "Yellow Banana" 1966 Galaxie that he did extensive body mods on. He narrowed the grille so the fenders angled inward and he angle-chopped the top. The changes were not subtle but they didn't have templates yet so it ran. That's where NASCAR got the idea for templates.

With all the rules NASCAR has in place now, the cars are like football helmets. It really doesn't matter what brand name is on them. Yawn. Check out the Australian V8 Supercar Series (http://www.v8supercar.com.au/) to see what NASCAR should have evolved into. They show the races on Speedchannel over the winter.

[Fat_Opie]

so where do i go and get some models for my next model building project

paris ???

new york ???

I like Al's Hobby Shop in Elmhurst, Il. I have to go there and drop tons of money every time I go to Chicago.

[Fat_Opie]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7550964747414840994&q=rc+jet&hl=en

WOW!!!

[Fat_Opie]

Yea...I built it!!!!

Nice!

[reeshy]

[

[ChoppedLiver]

I like Al's Hobby Shop in Elmhurst, Il. I have to go there and drop tons of money every time I go to Chicago.


Yep...Heard it's great.

modelexpress.net from Washington State is a GREAT mail-order shop with excellent pricing on cars & trucks.

[Fat_Opie]

modelexpress.net from Washington State is a GREAT mail-order shop with excellent pricing on cars & trucks.

Nice!!! They've got great prices on Ross Gibson resin engines.

Believe it or not, Al's has a better selection and there's no waiting. You just rummage through their bins, pay your money and take it home with no surprises. They sell resin and photoetched detail parts, wheels & tires, wiring and hoses, decals, paints -- everything you could want. They also have R/C, slot cars, trains and other hobby stuff, some of which can also be used for model cars, that you can browse and see what looks right. I love that place!

[ChoppedLiver]

Nice!!! They've got great prices on Ross Gibson resin engines.

Believe it or not, Al's has a better selection and there's no waiting. You just rummage through their bins, pay your money and take it home with no surprises. They sell resin and photoetched detail parts, wheels & tires, wiring and hoses, decals, paints -- everything you could want. They also have R/C, slot cars, trains and other hobby stuff, some of which can also be used for model cars, that you can browse and see what looks right. I love that place!


Cool.
Ross was in my club back in the early 90's in Toronto.
He's a good guy with great talents!

Here's my latest finished build.
Dale Earnhardt Jr's Fathers Day 2006 tribute car.

http://images24.fotki.com/v872/photos/4/40875/1813983/tradinjrs003-vi.jpg

[Fat_Opie]

Here's my latest finished build.
Dale Earnhardt Jr's Fathers Day 2006 tribute car.

Nice!!! I've been too busy to finish anything lately.

I'm tempted to do a thrash this week to complete a '56 Chevy 150 (converted from Revell's 210 Del Ray kit) for Sal (Dawn's step dad) for Father's Day. He had one back in the late '50s-early '60s that he used to drag race. It would be an easy build because it's a great kit but I can't find reference material for painting the dash. The exterior of his old car was India Ivory and all 150s had black/gold interiors. I'm guessing the dash should be India Ivory but it might have been black.

Can anyone say definitively how Chevy painted their 150 series dashboards in 1956?

[ChoppedLiver]

Nice!!! I've been too busy to finish anything lately.

I'm tempted to do a thrash this week to complete a '56 Chevy 150 (converted from Revell's 210 Del Ray kit) for Sal (Dawn's step dad) for Father's Day. He had one back in the late '50s-early '60s that he used to drag race. It would be an easy build because it's a great kit but I can't find reference material for painting the dash. The exterior of his old car was India Ivory and all 150s had black/gold interiors. I'm guessing the dash should be India Ivory but it might have been black.

Can anyone say definitively how Chevy painted their 150 series dashboards in 1956?

Hmmmm....... That was a real 'budget' car.
i'd guess at black, but i'll ask around.

[ChoppedLiver]

From my buddy who is pretty trustworthy on this stuff...

From what I can find it looks like the top of the dash would be gloss black, the front of the dash would be ivory with black speedometer face with white numbers and a black radio face. Steering wheel and column are also ivory.

[Fat_Opie]

From my buddy who is pretty trustworthy on this stuff...

From what I can find it looks like the top of the dash would be gloss black, the front of the dash would be ivory with black speedometer face with white numbers and a black radio face. Steering wheel and column are also ivory.

That sounds possible. I figured they probably wouldn't do an ivory dash top because of glare but many low-line '50s cars had body-colored dashs and window frames.

The car was the top 205hp 265 4bbl with a 3-on-the-tree and dog dish hubcaps. Sal refers to it as a cop car package. The Del Ray kit is really close except for the side trim and the upholstery pattern on the seats and door panels. I'll probably fix the seats but leave the Del Ray door panels because they're not that visible and Sal's memory isn't that good. :D

I was considering making it a slight street machine with modern radials to pass off the Del Ray side panels but I haven't made up my mind. I'm not sure if Sal had blackwall tires or white stripes. Original Chevy brochure images show wide whites but he had the car until 1962. I'm sure it didn't have wide whites by 1959, especially since he raced it.

Thanks for the info!!!

[ChoppedLiver]

That sounds possible. I figured they probably wouldn't do an ivory dash top because of glare but many low-line '50s cars had body-colored dashs and window frames.

The car was the top 205hp 265 4bbl with a 3-on-the-tree and dog dish hubcaps. Sal refers to it as a cop car package. The Del Ray kit is really close except for the side trim and the upholstery pattern on the seats and door panels. I'll probably fix the seats but leave the Del Ray door panels because they're not that visible and Sal's memory isn't that good. :D

I was considering making it a slight street machine with modern radials to pass off the Del Ray side panels but I haven't made up my mind. I'm not sure if Sal had blackwall tires or white stripes. Original Chevy brochure images show wide whites but he had the car until 1962. I'm sure it didn't have wide whites by 1959, especially since he raced it.

Thanks for the info!!!


I can see a young Sal being a racer. I've seen a few pics of him from past events or possibly Melinda's old website.
Some guys in those days ran blackwall 'recaps/retreads' for racing.
They were cheaper than new tires.

Fathers Day is THIS Sunday! Do you have time ??:help:

[Fat_Opie]

I can see a young Sal being a racer. I've seen a few pics of him from past events or possibly Melinda's old website.
Some guys in those days ran blackwall 'recaps/retreads' for racing.
They were cheaper than new tires.

Fathers Day is THIS Sunday! Do you have time ??:help:

It'll be a thrash. If Overhaulin' can do it to a real car I can to it in 1/25!

Yeah, I've got Satco white-stripes and blackwalls. I was thinking about doing it with the blackwalls but not gluing them so I could change them easily. I also hope the wheels were body color. That the way they were in most of the pics I can find.

Sal went from the '56 to a '62 Impala SS to a '65 Impala SS, both red. I forget about the '62 but the '65 had a 327/4-spd. Then he got a Toronado in '68. All of those are do-able in 1/25.

He used to have a Lincoln LS V8 (some tuner edition) but now he's got a Cadillac XLR. He still likes to go fast. :D

[ChoppedLiver]

It'll be a thrash. If Overhaulin' can do it to a real car I can to it in 1/25!

Yeah, I've got Satco white-stripes and blackwalls. I was thinking about doing it with the blackwalls but not gluing them so I could change them easily. I also hope the wheels were body color. That the way they were in most of the pics I can find.

Sal went from the '56 to a '62 Impala SS to a '65 Impala SS, both red. I forget about the '62 but the '65 had a 327/4-spd. Then he got a Toronado in '68. All of those are do-able in 1/25.

He used to have a Lincoln LS V8 (some tuner edition) but now he's got a Cadillac XLR. He still likes to go fast. :D

LOVE to see pics of his old cars if you can share them......, especially the 56!

[Fat_Opie]

LOVE to see pics of his old cars if you can share them......, especially the 56!

I don't think he has any. I've never seen any. I saw the Toronado once in an old home movie.

He has a shoebox of old photos and stuff, mostly from his Navy days, but not much else. That's why I think he'll like the model.

[Fat_Opie]

UPDATE:

Don't expect photos of the model just yet. I found out Eckler's has the correct India Ivory and Onyx Black paint but they can't ship it by air. They also have specific 1956 Chevrolet Engine Red which is apparently a different shade from all the other years. I've changed my project deadline to Sal's birthday in September for a little more breathing room to really do it right.

Now Dawn & I have to figure out what to get him for Fathers' Day! :wacko::help:

[ChoppedLiver]

A more reasonable due date, sir .... :dry: Keep me posted, will ya?


Take him and Ro out to brunch somewhere......

[reeshy]

http://www.ronfez.net/forums/images/skins/rf_blue/editor/insertimage.gif

[high fly]

I used to LOVE those Aurora models. I built Dracula and the wolfman too! Do you remember 'The Forgotton Prisoner'
http://www.tylisaari.com/models/fp/forgpris011.JPG

I wish I still had them, but I blew them up with firecrackers years ago.:wallbash:


I had the Bride of Frankenstein.
I also had one of Batman charging through a brick wall.


Remember when they came out with models with the electroplated chrome on them?
I had a B-29 Superfortress and a P-51 Mustang where the whole plane was chrome.

[ChoppedLiver]

A good number of the old Aurora and Hawk models have been re-released.

Aurora ones were released by Polar Lights, which is now part of Racing Champions 2.

[ppanda]

I have been lurking this thread for a while. I have to say everyones photos of their models are great. The detail is amazing. I commend you all.

Its funny that this thread was created because I was actually at the same time toying with the idea of getting back into model building.

My dad started me on it when I was 8 years old. Needless to say I started with the snap-tite models and even they looked like crap. My favorites as I got into my teens were the Testors model kits- I dont even know if they still exist.

I used to do cars and jet fighters but right now I want to get back into jet fight fighters, tanks and Navy ships.
My problem is I used to buy them at hobby stores or like Toy's are us...here is my problem- all the hobby shops in my area are now closed and toy stores dont carry a good selection.

Are there any sites out there that you can recommend to purchase models? And again Ive been out of it for a while so are there any good model companies that you can recommend?

[OneEyeJack]

I had the Bride of Frankenstein.
I also had one of Batman charging through a brick wall.


Remember when they came out with models with the electroplated chrome on them?
I had a B-29 Superfortress and a P-51 Mustang where the whole plane was chrome.

I think it was superman who was crashing thur the brick wall and batman was hanging from a tree??

[ChoppedLiver]

Squadron is the most trusted military mail order outlet.

http://www.squadron.com/hotdeals.htm

[Fat_Opie]

I have been lurking this thread for a while. I have to say everyones photos of their models are great. The detail is amazing. I commend you all.

Its funny that this thread was created because I was actually at the same time toying with the idea of getting back into model building.

My dad started me on it when I was 8 years old. Needless to say I started with the snap-tite models and even they looked like crap. My favorites as I got into my teens were the Testors model kits- I dont even know if they still exist.

I used to do cars and jet fighters but right now I want to get back into jet fight fighters, tanks and Navy ships.
My problem is I used to buy them at hobby stores or like Toy's are us...here is my problem- all the hobby shops in my area are now closed and toy stores dont carry a good selection.

Are there any sites out there that you can recommend to purchase models? And again Ive been out of it for a while so are there any good model companies that you can recommend?

Yes, Testors still does car models but they're not very good. I'm not sure about jet fighters.

There are many places online to get models and supplies. You're just getting back into it so how much detail are you willing to commit to? There's a lot of cool stuff available if you want to take it to a really high level but it's up to you to balance your satisfaction against your frustration. By that I mean, don't stress over tedious detail work if you could be satisfied by a relatively simple, yet clean build. The newly-tooled kits have a lot of detail in them already so, with careful building and painting, they can look pretty good without using anything besides glue and paint.

Just to get started, you probably have a "hobby shop" a lot closer than you think. Michael's Crafts (http://www.michaels.com/art/online/home) has a pretty good selection of kits. Unless you're familiar with kits that are currently available, it's better to hold the box in your hands, read it and see all the photos. The websites don't give as much info. Go here for a store locater: http://www.michaels.com/art/online/home

[Fat_Opie]

A more reasonable due date, sir .... :dry: Keep me posted, will ya?


Take him and Ro out to brunch somewhere......

We took them to the Traveling Virus and gave him a neon wall clock with the Cadillac emblem for their new bar.

I'll post photos of my progress as I get into it.

[ppanda]

Thanks for the advise F_O. Im currently just getting back into it so I dont want anything super complicated. Once I rebuild my skills I want to build up to the more challenging kits.

And I totally hear what you are saying about actually being able to read the box etc.

[ChoppedLiver]

We took them to the Traveling Virus and gave him a neon wall clock with the Cadillac emblem for their new bar.

I'll post photos of my progress as I get into it.


Nice! I saw Sal & mom in a few pics at the Virus Show.

The band sounded great at the Wedding, sir. It was a great show.



Ppanda ... as FO said, it depends on your committment to returning to building.
Michaels where I am are pretty poor for models, but i'm so close to Detroit I have a bunch of hobby shops to choose from. I also have one 3 blocks away.:tongue:

[Thebazile78]

<strong>Anyone out there ever build that see thur womanand man model ? THE one where you see the inside of the body, the stomach, intestines, etc. YUCH!</strong>

I got the Visible Woman for Christmas when I was 7 or 8. It was really easy to assemble, but I found it to be very cool because you could construct it normally or with a pregnant tummy, complete with a snap-together 8-month fetus to put inside.

I wish I had received better paints (and brushes) so I could have highlighted the veins and arteries properly. . .coolest thing EVER.

Right around the same time, I also built a model eyeball for a science project. This was after I'd taken a Saturday program course for "gifted" kids that included dissections of a cow's heart, eyeball and kidney. . .and the finale was a fetal pig. (Coolest course EVER!)

Once I'd finished that one, I also built a Messerschmidt ME-262 model, but didn't have the best paints so I was proud that I'd finished it but disappointed that it didn't look perfect.

The next year, I received a model kit for the SR-71 Blackbird (my favorite plane) but didn't have the space or paints to put it together, so it ended up getting thrown away. :down:

[Gvac]

This is what I'm talkin' bout yo!

http://www.auroraprehistoricscenes.com/images/BOXARTtarpit1.jpg (http://www.auroraprehistoricscenes.com/)

[Fat_Opie]

This is what I'm talkin' bout yo!

http://www.auroraprehistoricscenes.com/images/BOXARTtarpit1.jpg (http://www.auroraprehistoricscenes.com/)

That's the kind of stuff Polar Lights has been re-releasing.

I never really thought of those as models. They're more like miniature figures, at least in my head, because you can't really scale down parts precisely. I did a couple of them when I was a kid but I've always loved exorcising my gearhead urges in styrene.

[Fat_Opie]

Nice! I saw Sal & mom in a few pics at the Virus Show.

The band sounded great at the Wedding, sir. It was a great show.



Ppanda ... as FO said, it depends on your committment to returning to building.
Michaels where I am are pretty poor for models, but i'm so close to Detroit I have a bunch of hobby shops to choose from. I also have one 3 blocks away.:tongue:

I haven't checked out my local Michael's in a while - probably since Halloween - but they had a pretty full aisle of models. They also had Testors paints and all the detail brushes and X-acto tools you'd ever need.

Nothing beats a good hobby shop, though. I've got a pretty good one about 5 minutes away and there's an even better one about 30 minutes away. I still haven't found a Long Island equivalent to Al's though.

[ChoppedLiver]

Hey, Patrick (and others into cars)

Really great kit just released is the AMT 60 Corvette. LOTS of building options in it, including drag, rally, road race, stock, Bonneville style racer, etc.

[Fat_Opie]

Hey, Patrick (and others into cars)

Really great kit just released is the AMT 60 Corvette. LOTS of building options in it, including drag, rally, road race, stock, Bonneville style racer, etc.

Nice! I'll have to check it out.

I did a Revell '60 a while back that was pretty nice for its age. As long as you could blend the panel seam behind the door it looked good though the engine compartment and chassis weren't up to current standards.

[Fat_Opie]

I'm not sure if anyone wants to follow this but I've started doing Sal's (Anthony's step-dad) old 1956 Chevy 150 as a birthday gift for him. Most people know about the '55-'57 Bel Air. The Bel Air was Chevy's top of the line, the 210 was the middle level and the 150 was the cheapest, most basic model. There was also a 210 Del Ray Club Coupe which added a little style to the 210.

Sal's 150 was a 2-door sedan in India Ivory with the 205hp 265 V8, 3-on-the-tree and white walls on plain wheels with dog dish caps. He used to drag race it in Maryland around 1960. I'm using a Revell 1956 210 Del Ray kit as a starting point. It's pretty close but it needs the interior upholstery and exterior chrome trim modified from mid-level 210 down to base-level 150. Since it's the biggest part of the job, I'm starting with the interior.

At the bargain-basement 150 level, there was only one interior available. It was ivory/gold ribbed vinyl with charcoal-colored cloth with a gold pattern. There was no carpet; just a rubber mat. Here's a picture of a real 150's interior:
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/56Chevyint-1.jpg

Here's an old Chevy diagram of the upholstery pattern:
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/56150InteriorColor1.jpg

The Revell kit has the very different Del Ray upholstery pattern molded into the seats and door panels. It's too far off to fake it so surgery is required. The first step is to create panels from Evergreen sheet plastic to simulate the ribbed vinyl. This plastic is made to be used as the ribbed sides of O-gauge railroad boxcars. Then I cut out the portions of the seats that the ribbed panels will replace. The remaining Del Ray pattern will be filled with putty and sanded smooth. Here's the front seat:
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2007-08-25015.jpg

A similar process will be done on the door panels.

If anyone wants to see any more of this, let me know and I'll post more pics as I progress.

[AJDELAWARE]

This was a hobby that lasted me 2 weeks in the winter of 2006. It ended up with me having a lot of paint on stuff that shouldnt have paint on it. I think if I was better at the painting part, I would do more models.

[Fat_Opie]

This was a hobby that lasted me 2 weeks in the winter of 2006. It ended up with me having a lot of paint on stuff that shouldnt have paint on it. I think if I was better at the painting part, I would do more models.
Did you ever try one of those kits that comes with a pre-painted, pre-detailed body? They're a good way to get started building skills without being frustrated by boring, unpainted plastic. To make them look really good, you still have to do at least some painting but only on the engine, chassis and interior.

Key tips for painting:

Paint most parts before putting them together. Small parts can be painted while still attached to the tree, then a small touch-up can be done if necessary to fix the part where it was attached.

Put sub-assemblies together before painting them (i.e.: Put the basic parts of an engine together first, then paint it as a unit).

Create a basic spray booth out of a large cardboard box.

Use blue painter's tape for masking and make sure it's pressed down well.

Use Bare Metal Foil (normally used to make trim look like chrome) to mask intricate areas or where you need a really fine line.

When brush painting small parts, don't load your brush up with too much paint. Wipe it on a paper towel or newspaper if necessary to get rid of excess paint.

Small details can be highlighted by dry brushing. You dip the brush in paint, then wipe most of the paint off until there's hardly any left. Then, when you drag the brush across a raised detail on a model (a door handle, a script, white letters on tires, numbers on a dashboard, etc.), the nearly-dry paint only rubs off on the raised detail.

Get a selection of good brushes from an art store. They're not that expensive and the frustration saved is worth it.

Create stands for painting parts. A wire hanger can be bent to make a stand to hold a car body. A paper clip can be bent to make a stand for an engine (put the two halves together and stick one end of the paper clip into the end of the transmission). Clothespins can hold other parts. Some parts can be taped to a stick for painting.

Take your time and don't rush. Hobbies are supposed to be relaxing. Slow down and enjoy it. Also, slow down and think through your plans. Build each step in your head first so you can see what will need to be done and in what order. Test fit parts to see what should and shouldn't be assembled prior to painting.

If you mess up, you can easily strip the paint right off the plastic using Castrol Super Clean (the purple stuff for taking oil stains off driveways). It won't harm the plastic but it will remove chrome plating. Besides, model kits usually cost less than $20. If you wreck something on it beyond repair, then you've got a bunch of parts for the parts box and you can go buy another one. It's about the experience of building the model more than about the finished product. You may destroy your first few as you gain your experience and learn from your mistakes to get better. Most importantly you'll learn to have patience with yourself.

[buzzard]

My brother,Dad & I used to get the "metal-models" that came with a file so as to smooth down the sharp pieces the cars were classics;Packard,Duesenburg & such after you(or before If you were brave) you'd paint and wax them...Bob(my bro) and I would then sit across the room from each other and have demolition derbies..it was loads of fun:thumbup:

[Fat_Opie]

My brother,Dad & I used to get the "metal-models" that came with a file so as to smooth down the sharp pieces the cars were classics;Packard,Duesenburg & such after you(or before If you were brave) you'd paint and wax them...Bob(my bro) and I would then sit across the room from each other and have demolition derbies..it was loads of fun:thumbup:
I remember those! I never built one. Not my style. Weren't they a little expensive and time consuming to wind up in a demo derby? Did your dad get pissed?

[buzzard]

I remember those! I never built one. Not my style. Weren't they a little expensive and time consuming to wind up in a demo derby? Did your dad get pissed?

pissed?...ohhh yeah! not as bad as the night my bro and I refer to as "Crystal nacht"..or as the Germans called it the night of the breaking glass! On Thanksgiving Night one year Bobby & I were using the doors to the china closet as swings..the whole f-in' thing tipped over....and of course we ran like the little bitches that we were..I can still hear my Mom's depression-ware shattering some of the stuff in that china closet was like 100-150 years old.No Thanksgiving dinner for US that year!
I'm the youngest of 7 - 6 boys/1 girl so my Dad was pretty much used to our shenanigans!
as I recall those models were $40-$50 bucks apiece and yes,they did take a lot of work.You know when yer a kid you don't think of shit like that,I will say I don't have any kids for partially reasons like that!lastly,I can tell you that the ship models;Cutty Sark,Mayflower,the Constituition..they don't float:lol:-buzz

[Fat_Opie]

I'm the youngest of 7 - 6 boys/1 girl so my Dad was pretty much used to our shenanigans!

Yikes!!!

I was an only child so I never got away with anything. I had no one else to blame!

That's probably why I spent so much time building models and playing guitar. I had a lot of time by myself.

[ChoppedLiver]

You know i'll be following that 150 build.

[Fat_Opie]

You know i'll be following that 150 build.
Well, stay tuned then!

I just got a package from Eckler's today with the 1956-specific engine paint and a judging manual that serves as a guide for painting and detailing.

[ChoppedLiver]

Well, stay tuned then!

I just got a package from Eckler's today with the 1956-specific engine paint and a judging manual that serves as a guide for painting and detailing.


Good going!!

[Fat_Opie]

Update: 210 full-length side trim modified to 150 short spear.

Before:
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2007-08-31001a.jpg

After:
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2007-08-31002a.jpg

[ChoppedLiver]

:thumbup:

[ChoppedLiver]

New Revell 49 Merc custom has been out for a week or two.

Painted it in Duplicolor 'Shell Pink' automotive spray.

http://images27.fotki.com/v990/photos/4/40875/5341270/merc002-vi.jpg

[Fat_Opie]

New Revell 49 Merc custom has been out for a week or two.
Nice! How is that kit?

[ChoppedLiver]

:clap: Really nice. 2 hoods, 2 sets of bumpers, 3 grilles, wheel choices etc.... AND it's already chopped for you.

[Fat_Opie]

I've been busy. Look at the time of this post. I'm overdue for an update so here are a few pics.

Here's the completed engine (with a penny for size):
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2007-09-06008.jpg

and here's the chassis with airbrushed detail and the exhaust and rear suspension systems laying in place:
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2007-09-06010.jpg

The body is painted, chrome-foiled and clear-coated and the interior is a couple of steps away from finished. We're getting together for Sal's birthday on Sunday (a few days before his actual birthday) so I've only got a couple of days to finish. I think I'll make it.....I think.....

:help:

[Fat_Opie]

Well, Sunday has come and gone and I didn't make the deadline. Everything was looking good except the clear coat on the body didn't cure properly so it's gotta be re-done. Now I'm shooting for Sal's actual birthday on Thursday.

In the meantime, here are some shots of the finished interior. Scroll up and compare to the shot of the real car.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2007-09-09004.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2007-09-09010a.jpg

The window cranks and handles were scratchbuilt from Evergreen strips and rods and airbrushed with Alclad chrome.

The gold on charcoal upholstery pattern was done by scanning a page of scrapbook paper (black with white dots) I found at Michael's Arts & Crafts, resizing it in Photoshop, then printing it on clear decal film. The white dots remained clear so I painted that part of the seat gold and applied the decal over it. The real trick was shooting the clear decal film with flat clear before printing and also after printing to seal the ink between layers of clear. This process could be used to duplicate many different scale patterns as long as you can find something to scan.

[ChoppedLiver]

Looking like a great one !!

[Fat_Opie]

Well, after a little delay, it's finally FINISHED!!! I know I've got at least 300 hours in it. If my rate is $30/hour (I think I'm worth more :wink:), that's at least $9000 in labor, plus about $150-200 worth of materials, so I'll round and call it a $10,000 model.

Here's the dash right before final assembly:
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2007-09-18001.jpg

Here's the engine installed in the engine compartment:
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2007-09-18011a.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2007-09-18015a.jpg
Look closely at the hose clamps, air cleaner and horns. I made the hose clamps from wire and I carved out the solid ends of the horns and air cleaner with an X-acto knife.

And now....the whole car.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2007-09-18021.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2007-09-18030.jpg
The bumper ends were sanded to remove the mold separation lines and then painted with Alclad chrome lacquer. The "Chevrolet" scripts on the quarter panels are photoetched. The crests on the hood and decklid were hand painted (not decals) as were the black accents on the body side moldings and hubcaps. The license plate is a photo-reduced Maryland tag showing an expiration of 3/31/60 to match the time and place that Sal owned the car though the license number is not his actual number.

I paid special attention to the headlights and turn signals. The outer edges of the headlight lenses were painted black. That gives the look of the gap found around sealed beam headlights. Also, I drilled holes right in the center of the turn signal reflectors and inserted short pieces of wire. At the end of each piece of wire I added a glob of Testors turn signal amber paint. The globs look like amber light bulbs behind the clear lenses. You can see all of those tricks up close here:
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2007-09-18018a.jpg

I'm really happy with how it came out but my next one will have to be simpler. I need a break from the super-detailing! :wacko: I think this will be my next build:
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/ddmonkee.jpg

[topless_mike]

holy time consumption batman.
good work, dood

[Fat_Opie]

And the epilogue...

Sal first got miniature, photo-etched car keys taped inside a card (on a tiny keychain with a Chevy emblem).
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2007-09-19006.jpg

Then he got his car. "That's my car -- EXACTLY!"
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2007-09-19007.jpg
Well, almost exactly. His driver's seat was torn, it had glasspack bullet mufflers and those amber turn signal bulbs had been replaced with clear ones that he had painted blue, way ahead of the import tuner guys with their blue turn signals (I invented blue signals. Tell 'em, Fred. Hoo hoo.). It was cool to see the memories come flooding back as he told stories of drag racing with his buddies back in the days of a flag man instead of a Christmas tree at the starting line.

It's now displayed on a shelf behind Ro & Sal's bar next to a framed photo of Sal in his current car, a Caddy XLR.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/2007-09-19008.jpg

The end. :bye:

[Fat_Opie]

New Revell 49 Merc custom has been out for a week or two.

Painted it in Duplicolor 'Shell Pink' automotive spray.

http://images27.fotki.com/v990/photos/4/40875/5341270/merc002-vi.jpg

So how about an update on this Merc???

[OneEyeJack]

what station is the radio tuned to in the chevy?

[Fat_Opie]

what station is the radio tuned to in the chevy?

WPGC, 1580 AM.

[OneEyeJack]

that chevy you built is a master piece. I believe I saw a decal even on the generator. AWESOME OPIE!

[Fat_Opie]

that chevy you built is a master piece. I believe I saw a decal even on the generator. AWESOME OPIE!

Yep, there are decals on the generator, battery, washer fluid bottle, air cleaner and radiator cap. The scripts on the valve covers were hand-painted, though after I did that, I realized that the decal sheet had silver "Chevrolet" scripts intended for the quarter panels that would have worked perfectly on the valve covers if I'd sanded the raised letters off.

[fezzatorial voice]THANK YOU!!![/fezzatorial voice] :smile:

[JustJon]

Nice job on the model, Patrick.

[ChoppedLiver]

So how about an update on this Merc???

Here it is in the background at last night's meeting....

http://images29.fotki.com/v1007/photos/4/40875/5415443/dmccsept07089-vi.jpg

I went with a taildragger look.

Here's a link to the meeting pics...

http://public.fotki.com/predmond/downriver_model_car/september-2007----f/


End of year cruise/BBQ/model club meeting in Dearmorn, Mi.


Man, you REALLY NAILED Sal's Chevy !! Beautiful !! :thumbup::thumbup:

[Fat_Opie]

Here it is in the background at last night's meeting....

I went with a taildragger look.

Here's a link to the meeting pics...

http://public.fotki.com/predmond/downriver_model_car/september-2007----f/

Cool but there weren't any pics of your Merc there. You've gotta do a photo shoot! BTW, are those Parks wheel discs?

Thanks about the '56. I'm starting to do a little background research on the Monkeemobile. It's gonna be pretty much box-stock but I'm swapping to the Cibie headlights from the old Jo-Han '69 Roadrunner, the Goodyear Blue Streak Sports Car Special bigs 'n littles from the Revell '32 Ford for a little better accuracy and a bug catcher injector from an old Revell funny car. I'll also add the fake fuel lines that run from the fake engine cover to the fake injector hat that sits on top of the fake blower along with the fake throttle linkage that operates the fake throttle butterflies. (Sorry to burst everyone's bubble but the Monkeemobile was powered by a dead stock, base GTO 389 4bbl.)

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/Enginecar1.jpg

I read online that it was painted "40 coats of candy wine burgundy" but House of Kolor doesn't make a color by that name. It's not Kandy Brandywine and it's not Kandy Burgundy. I'm thinking several coats of Testors Kandy Scarlet over white oughtta nail it. What do you think?

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/hughbond/FrontwDean.jpg

BTW, I love Kiernan's in Dearborn. Great, old-school steak house!

[ChoppedLiver]

1) Merc isn't done yet. Pics when it is. Interior decaling and detailing. Not Parts by Parks discs, but similar.

2) HOK 'Kandy Scarlet' will probably nail it.

3) Looks like that March big model convention has to move from Parsippany, NJ. My buddy who runs it is looking for a new venue. I'll keep you updated on that. I'm going to try to get there in '08. http://www.tnmcc.com/nnleast.html

Here's my pics from New Jersey 2003 http://public.fotki.com/predmond/model_cars/nnls/nnl_east_2003/

4) Ahh, Keirnan's ....... :clap::clap:

[Fat_Opie]

Here's my pics from New Jersey 2003 http://public.fotki.com/predmond/model_cars/nnls/nnl_east_2003/

4) Ahh, Keirnan's ....... :clap::clap:

Great photos! Do you know anything about the mid-'70s LTD in the last two pics? Is that a resin transkit for the '70 cop car? I've never seen one before.

We also love Andiamo's. AMAZING Italian food.

[OneEyeJack]

I didnt know the Monkee Mobile had a split windshield?

[Fat_Opie]

I didnt know the Monkee Mobile had a split windshield?

It did/does and it's really subtle. I'd never noticed it before either.

What I've read said that Dean Jeffries and Dick Dean took the stock windshield and surrounding panel and angled it up more steeply to make it taller and added trim to simulate a split windshield. All three of them had it -- the two cars built for the show and the third one Dick Dean built for George Barris when Barris bought the #2 car and the rights to show it after the show was over from NBC. The #2 car is the one in the front view and the #3 car is the one in the engine close-up.

The #1 car has an interesting story. It was taken to Australia on the Monkees' 1968 tour but never returned. Dean Jeffries tried to get it back but it had disappeared. It turned up in Puerto Rico as part of the property of a hotel that went out of business. The current owner bought it at a government auction for $5000.

The cars had no rear suspension. The axles were U-bolted right to the frame. The one that wound up in Puerto Rico had a leaf spring suspension added during the time it was missing because the hotel apparently used it to shuttle guests around. Imagine being picked up at the airport in the Monkeemobile.

Barris still owns #2 and #3 and just had #2 restored and slightly updated by a shop in Sacramento. They returned the external look of it to 1966 but added a modern stereo system and gave it a fully detailed, show-car engine compartment for the first time in 40 years. It hadn't been original in years anyway - Barris modified it many times - so this is an improvement.

With all the variations on the real cars, my model will be more like my tribute to it than an exact replica. I'll just pick the best details from each of the three cars.