The model car thread! :-)

Ryan - Actually, the model building might be just the thing to help him "calm down". Although I am very tolerant and slow to anger with people (23 years in the classroom, I never raised a hand to a student), I am a different personality with inanimate objects. I have taken a large hammer to mechanical things that "won't cooperate", I have set fire to projects that frustrated me, I ruined a 5-iron because a golf ball hit a tree when I was trying to get out of the rough (and swore off golf forever), I frequently threaten to take a 12-gauge shotgun to this computer when it won't do what I want!:eek: Funny thing is, when I sit down at my model car bench, I seem to have all the patience of a saint. It's always been that way. Since I built my first model at the age of 7, I take my time and work on them until they are finished, and I almost never get frustrated to the point of anger. If I do, I just quit and walk away for a while or work on a different model for a while (I almost always have two or more under construction at any time).:rolleyes: Might be worth a try to see if it will help. Also, it's something you can do together if you want.:)

Jim, it sure is worth a try.

Hey, I can finally contribute to this thread. A very long while ago, I purchased an opened 1939/40 AMT 3in1 model kit. I then ordered a 392 with a blower off ebay and I had started the model. I had the frame and rear axle painted and engine and heads assembled and painted the block and heads. The other day my wife suggested we should have a model/lego day and we did just that. Is it dumb when you modify your model for an engine swap too? The flat head and SBC that came with the kit clearly weren't cool enough. :LOL:

I need to get the interior finished, It's hard to ride on a mini bucket on this one. :LOL:

Many moons ago that model came with a blown Olds, I built one while in Okinawa in 63-64.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NTFDAY

Many moons ago that model came with a blown Olds, I built one while in Okinawa in 63-64.

---

This kit didn't but I actually have the kit you speak of awaiting to be opened.

I like it. Sounds like a great family time activity!

Ken, the kit I used is the older one with the Aristocrat on it. The other does have an Olds engine and is a retro throw back kit. Pretty cool they brought it back a couple of years ago.

I got the interior all done. I even painted the trim and gauges on the dash. I also did the door handles and pedals. I painted the tail lights, turn signals, and carbs. I painted the trim on and that shows I'll never be a pin striper. :LOL: I even managed to get the windshield divider on without smearing all the glue on the glass. Now to put it up high so it isn't destroyed.

I'm not sure how guys have the patience to do these fine details. especially if you have little ones bumping you and hanging off of you. :LOL: Hopefully it's not 15yrs before I finish another model.

Makes me think about opening this one that one of the kids gave me several years ago.... but it's a Revell :(
-
Attachment 75041

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rspears

Makes me think about opening this one that one of the kids gave me several years ago.... but it's a Revell :(
-
Attachment 75041

---

Are you not wanting to open it due to it being a revell and being worth more, or?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

Are you not wanting to open it due to it being a revell and being worth more, or?

---

No, not at all! I always liked the AMC/MPC kits best, which were both bought by ERTL later. I bought & built some Revell and Monogram kits, but mostly AMC. I was at a busier time when this one was given to me, and it was just a hobby shop purchase, not NOS. I just need to buy a tube of glue (or use my "super glue") and a rattle can of model paint and break it out.

This model building thing has sort of swung into a weekly deal now. My boys wanted to go to a new to you store a while back because one of their friends told them the place had .25 cent pocket knives. I kept laughing trying to explain to them if they did have cheap knives like that, they wouldn't want them. Sometimes you just have to see and believe. :LOL:

They also wanted to go to the hobby lobby to look at models. While at the flea market sort of store, I found 2 older model kits. This seller had several cool old model kits un opened but they were priced according. They did have 2 previously opened kits marked at $5ea. 1 being a 1940 Ford sedan delivery, and a 1963 Corvette split window. Obviously I snatched them up. The boys bought a pocket knife, a double barrel lighter, and some hot wheels. I did score a 71 GTX, a 1940 Ford sedan, and a Gas Monkey 69 Corvette hot wheels. All in all I spent $18 on my stuff and I called that a win.

We then went to Hobby Lobby and holy inflation! Clint really wanted the 72 Chevy ramp truck model and he cringed at the price. I did as well but he really wanted it and he put it in the cart. This would kill the last of his Christmas money. He was broke so instead of me buying a ramp truck too, I bought paint for the bodies of the 40, the vette, and his truck. I also bought some small bottles of paint, and a metal plane model of a P-40. (I have started it but we shall see if I finish it. It is a real PITA)

When I got home I opened the parts models to find they were actually pretty complete. The 40 had already been started. The chassis was painted and engine and trans installed. The previous builder chose the nail head with 3 deuces. I left it alone and chose the copper metallic color for it. I used tan for the interior because it was the best option I had on hand. I sanded the seam out of the fenders, cleaned up the wheel openings since the previous builder opened them up as well. They also used 2 different types of wheels but I opted to leave it alone.

This 40 was pretty simple and I decided to not high light the deluxe trim on this one. The hood didn't fit very well and of course I didn't test fit it before spraying it, so it is what it is.

The Corvette was missing a few pieces. The tail light lenses were gone, and I thought the metal rods for the axles were gone too. I ended up buying some misc rods at Hobby Lobby and when I looked at the model kit later, I realized the axles were actually plastic rods. I opted to use the metal ones anyhow. I decided to use blue metallic on this one. This one was a bit harder to get the chassis to fit right to the body but I finally got it. This body took some trimming and sanding to get cleaned up. It had a lot of extra plastic over lap on it. The worst thing IMO on it, was when I was painting the chrome trim on. The paint marker oozed some paint out which ran back down the tip and dripped on the body. I immediately wiped it off but it discolored the blue and it is a bit cloudy there. That is another it is what it is area and I left it as is.

Since the tail lights were missing, I just painted the chrome surrounds a light coat of maroon/red to give the illusion the were there. I opted to go super charged big block because that is what I'd want. :LOL:

Our son Colt was feeling left out since he didn't have any Christmas money left to buy a model. He bought too much small stuff and coffee at the local coffee shop on town square. :LOL: My wife felt bad and we agreed she would buy him a P-51D Mustang as an award after he had done good behavior. He has something similar to ADHD and dyslexia so he learns differently and you definitely have to do things differently with him. His mood swings definitely are different than the other kids as well. These awards are usually things where he can go to the garage with me and have special work time with me. Since he was down on not being able to do a model we figured this would be better this time.

Well, when this model arrived I realized this wasn't going to work. It was a 1:72 scale and most everything was tiny. I let him paint some stuff and he glued 2 small pieces together. That didn't go well. He dropped one half of the part and got frantic. It was a good learning tool because he needs to learn to calm down and just go slow if he has to and not get all amped up. Once that piece was glued together he agreed I could put this one together and he could watch. This was a good call. I've always disliked small models because I was never very good at them. This one turned out alright. I ruined some of the decals but it looks like aWW2 fighter to me. :LOL: I'm proud to say the prob turns on this one too! Colt has been flying this thing daily and I'm surprised it hasn't been smashed by his siblings yet. The little Hitler like almost 2yr old bomb runs around trying to get that plane before Colt gets to it. Colt better keep it up high or Cody is going to reek havoc on it. :D

Are you tired of seeing these yet? :HMMM:

Here is the 72 Chevy C10 ramp truck. As a truck enthusiast, I think they dropped the ball on this model kit. The only engine option is a small block, and the wheel choice is only 5 bolt variety. Too weak for a hauler. But, you add a 2nd axle and there is a drive shaft coming from the front diff. That would be cool if there was a light duty power divider axle but I have never seen one. :LOL:

Clint recently did a 55 Ford Chip Foose pick up. He painted it all and struggled installing the glass and missed the firewall installation step. He was discouraged because his didn't turn out like mine. I tried explaining to him mine looked just like his, if not even worse and this is how you learn. Because this truck cost him a lot of money he wanted me to paint it. I tried telling him there was no guarantee I wouldn't ruin it too. :LOL:

I went ahead and assembled the ramp bed and sanded the cab. The doors on the ramp bed were a bear to get the small hinges glued on with out glueing the door shut. I had to trim the hinges so the doors would open without binding and trying to rip the hinge mount off the body. It was taxing even for me. :LOL:

Knowing the engine combo is no where near up to my standards, I got on ebay and did a simple search and was really surprised with the results. A gentleman on there 3d prints Cummins 12v engines. They are bus engines and he only offers 2 types. One is just the engine as 1 unit, or you can buy an engine and allison trans that is more of a piece it together and double the price. I wanted the piece together one so I could turn the oil pan but I didn't want the transmission because I knew it would be too long for this kit and I would have to cut up the floor to get it in. I got the 1 piece printed unit and it worked out pretty well.

Clint was stoked to run up to the post office on Monday and get them. I of course bought one for me to fix up my old Longhorn truck I made many moons ago. :rolleyes:

We did an initial test fit and the engine was almost too long to fit in there. I used a bench grinder and angle grinder with a death wheel to make some mods to get it to fit the chassis. I faced the bell housing, trimmed the oil pan and cut down the sump, and then sanded all the mods smooth and squarish with my electric DA sander and 80 grit. Luckily the little engine was a solid piece of plastic. Pretty cool. I then cut the TH400 from the original Th400, I had to trim the bell housing back some t get the combo to fit so it isn't exactly scale. I had to trim the "firewall" with the grinder too. I then modified the chassis where the original 350 would mount. I lowered it and re cut the notch in it so the cummins would set on the engine cross member like they originally had the 350. It fits pretty nice. Now to get some red paint to paint it, and I'll make some intercooler piping and exhaust from the parts hanger pieces I'm hoping. I'll have to drill a hole in the engine to allow the metal rod to pass through so the front axle can be complete. What Blasphemy! :whacked:

Once the engine is painted and installed, Clint can finish off the truck. I might have to confinskate it to put a 40 on the back. :o

I found this Olds model for a friend but he was about shocked out of his socks on the price. He said no way am I buying it. That's a tie rod for the real car I'm fixing up. :LOL:

Here's my old 72 Longhorn I put together when I was around 14 or 15. It was on a USA1 monster truck chassis model but one of my awesome brothers bombed the truck down the stairs and the tube chassis didn't live......

I'll probably try to find some 4x4 model truck parts on ebay and build this one like my orange truck. I have the original 2wd chassis I saved from the kit. It is crazy to think I bought 2 of those 72 C10 models back then to make this truck and that was cheaper than the 72 C10 kit today.

Crikey!
You've been busy!

Good on ya.

Yes, what JB said! You and the boys have been busy. P-51 planes are always a favorite! Just don't see how you can go wrong making one of those.. And the vette came out really nice as well - even with the missing rear lenses - by painting them you really cannot tell imo. I think the ramp truck will be a winner once finished and another car mounted on the rack, and your painting is very nice too. Congrats!

Thanks Mike!

Yeah, this model building thing can be addictive.:whacked::LOL: I don't remember if I've mentioned it before, but I started in this hobby when I was about 7 years old. I'll be 75 next month and I'm still at it!:rolleyes: I got away fromit a few times over the years, but it always draws me back. Oh well, there are worse things I could spend my time and money on...

Ryan, the paint on your '40 sedan looks super glossy. What brand of paint did you use? Is it silly to modify a model to make an engine fit? Absolutely not! The majority of my models are modified in some manner. Once in a blue moon I will build a model right out of the box just so I can have quick results, but the overwhelming majority of mine are modified in some way. The first pic below is the '49 Ford I built right out of the box. All I did was sand off the door handles and lower it a little extra before I painted and assembled it. The second pic is a radically modified '36 ford 5-window. I used the front half of the frame, the front axle, and the body. Everything else was robbed from other kits or old leftovers from my parts stash. It all depends on what you want the finished product to be.:cool:

Here's my '40 sedan with and without the hood. I lowered it and opened the wheel wells up. It's dark green metallic from Duplicolor. The engine is a Pontiac from a '36 Ford kit. The Olds that came in this kit is in my '40 Ford coupe gasser.:)

Who packaged the model spray paints back in the late '50's/early '60's? Was it AMT? I recall true candy colors that had the depth of a 23 coat hand rubbed lacquer finish! Little cans that were about 2" diameter & maybe 5" tall with the cap? Mamiya has some plastics lacquers, and there's Testor's sprays. Doesn't look the same as the old days....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by J. Robinson

Yeah, this model building thing can be addictive.:whacked::LOL: I don't remember if I've mentioned it before, but I started in this hobby when I was about 7 years old. I'll be 75 next month and I'm still at it!:rolleyes: I got away fromit a few times over the years, but it always draws me back. Oh well, there are worse things I could spend my time and money on...

Ryan, the paint on your '40 sedan looks super glossy. What brand of paint did you use? Is it silly to modify a model to make an engine fit? Absolutely not! The majority of my models are modified in some manner. Once in a blue moon I will build a model right out of the box just so I can have quick results, but the overwhelming majority of mine are modified in some way. The first pic below is the '49 Ford I built right out of the box. All I did was sand off the door handles and lower it a little extra before I painted and assembled it. The second pic is a radically modified '36 ford 5-window. I used the front half of the frame, the front axle, and the body. Everything else was robbed from other kits or old leftovers from my parts stash. It all depends on what you want the finished product to be.:cool:

---

Jim, it is rustoleum gloss black. More very well done models from you sir! Your 40 is very nice! I recently found out that a guy that parks near us at Goodguys every year has over 2k model kits. He has agreed to sell me one vintage 40 sedan, a 71 Charger, and 2 72 C10 kits. There will be more I'm sure. :LOL:

.

Roger - Testor's still makes candy colors that look pretty good. I remember using them back in the early '60s (when I, rarely, could afford them) and I still do occasionally. I think maybe since we've gotten older and have seen many wondrous custom paint jobs at car shows and cruise-ins, the old stuff just isn't as impressive. Or maybe we remember them better than they really were. I remember a Shelby Cobra that I did - it was a fade from dark blue to bright green over a gold base. I remember it as being absolutely stunning.., but was it? I don't know... I have attached a pic of a '40 coupe done with Testor's candy red over a gold base. The pic doesn't do it justice - it looks much deeper in person.

Ryan - I think you're addicted... like me! Anyway, the '39-'40 Sedan kit was reissued in the recent past and you might be able to find some on Ebay. It comes with all the same '39 and '40 parts as it did in 1962 plus an additional set of red windows for making a gasser style car. The main difference is the kit is cast in white. The originals were either black or gray, depending on when they were made.

Jim, I remember a little scratch built '23T that I painted candy purple. I dusted several light coats of purple over the gold, and then somehow managed to flow on a final coat that looked like glass. It was one of the bunch of finished models that I took down to our local hobby shop for the guy to display, and a week later the place burned to the ground with my modeling career going down in flames too....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rspears

Jim, I remember a little scratch built '23T that I painted candy purple. I dusted several light coats of purple over the gold, and then somehow managed to flow on a final coat that looked like glass. It was one of the bunch of finished models that I took down to our local hobby shop for the guy to display, and a week later the place burned to the ground with my modeling career going down in flames too....

---

Roger the paint job sounded sweet. The fire situation is always a bad deal.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by J. Robinson

Roger - Testor's still makes candy colors that look pretty good. I remember using them back in the early '60s (when I, rarely, could afford them) and I still do occasionally. I think maybe since we've gotten older and have seen many wondrous custom paint jobs at car shows and cruise-ins, the old stuff just isn't as impressive. Or maybe we remember them better than they really were. I remember a Shelby Cobra that I did - it was a fade from dark blue to bright green over a gold base. I remember it as being absolutely stunning.., but was it? I don't know... I have attached a pic of a '40 coupe done with Testor's candy red over a gold base. The pic doesn't do it justice - it looks much deeper in person.

Ryan - I think you're addicted... like me! Anyway, the '39-'40 Sedan kit was reissued in the recent past and you might be able to find some on Ebay. It comes with all the same '39 and '40 parts as it did in 1962 plus an additional set of red windows for making a gasser style car. The main difference is the kit is cast in white. The originals were either black or gray, depending on when they were made.

---

Jim, yes, it's another addiction. Cheaper than the real ones though. :LOL: I was able to get 3 models from the guy I mentioned in my last post. I got a 71 Challenger RT, and 2 72 C10s. He is going to sell me a rebuilder 40 Ford older kit as he calls them. At his prices I'll buy them. I got all 3 models for $40. The Charger model is bringing $40 by it's self currently. Do you have any you're looking for? He has over 2k kits.