It's been a long winter

[restoman]

Since closing the shop a little over a year ago, I've actually found myself with some spare time. Something that was non-existant in the past 7 years of my life.
I've renovated the basement into a spare bedroom, gutted and re-did the back porch, installed new basement windows, finished the laundry room and insulated my basement workshop.
Then I re-discovered my stash of plastic model kits.
Yay! Something to do after Christmas!
Some of these have been down there for 10+ years. A couple of them had been opened, some of the bodies painted. There are at least 15 more kits still waiting - I picked the ones I liked best to get them out of the way first. Still working on two Nascar racers - Richard Petty's 74 Charger and an Earnhardt Monte Carlo.

I think these turned out ok. I haven't built a scale model in over 10 years and the old eyes ain't what they used to be!

 

[dodgechargerfan]

Cool!

Lovin' that 300

I like your full scale stuff, too.

 

[BootHead]

Looks like we both took the same direction with the bel biv de vere errrr300. I plugged at it for awhile a couple years ago. It's not too far from finished.

My LRT was my first attempt with an air-brush so it sucks and is sitting in pieces in the box

 

[restoman]

The 300 is a nicely detailed kit, but some of the parts were warped and it took quite a few mock-ups to get things fitting nicely. First time I've ever used bare-metal foil for chrome trim.
The Little Red truck is ok, but some of the kit details suck - big block engine, four speed tranny, way too high rear suspension,etc.
I've used the airbrush for chassis and interiors, but no luck with getting a good job on exterior paint yet. I use my SATA mini HVLP with either acrylic enamel or urethane.

Looks like my cabinet is NOT dust free.

 

[Fishy]

Lookin pretty good Resto!

 

[beeper*71]

Neat stuff resto.

As a young lad I'd assembled countless model kits. About 10 years ago I found a 71 RR kit and started to put it together, I got as far as putting the engine together and painting the body and that's about it....:shifty:

 

[restoman]

They're pretty time consuming and only something I do for relaxation, or when the old mind needs a little creative time.
Some of these kits, and the others I've done in the past, I betcha I have 30 - 50+ hours in 'em.
I've got a '49 Merc and a VW convertible that are destined for the customizing blade, as well as a junk yard 64 Impala, but that will have to wait till next winter.
The Fairlane pictured above was a bit of a custom ride - lowered, shaved trim, two tone.

 

[dodgechargerfan]

I had a whole shelf full of models that I built when I was a kid.

My mom let my nephew at them... all shmucked - especially 1:18 scale General Lee.... That one was my best, I used real automotive paint on that one. Rattle can, but still, it was better than any model paint I'd have ever used.

I've only built the quickie metal bodied ones recently. No real talent required, just patience to deal with the poor build quality

I do have a couple boxes full of MOPAR models that I've picked up.
One day, some day, when I have a decent workbench to work on them, I'll start in to them.

 

[Dr.Jass]

The last model I build was a Monogram '71 'cuda, back when I was 20. It was not built for the display shelf, though--it was specifically built to be shot across a parking lot with an Estes C6-3 model-rocket motor. That 2-year hobby evolved out of boredom with building them and putting them on display. I took a Monogram '70 GTX I'd assembled when I was maybe 14 and modified it for a rocket. That was a learning experience that taught me about ballast, building custom axles to keep the wheels in place, what tires were the best, etc. The X died a hideous death against a mall curb, though I kept the mangled remains for several years, and many of the parts were transferred to later rocket-car projects. I never did get the 'cuda sorted out; it didn't want to go straight... but I used real auto paint (Deltron, Ford Grabber Green) and it was the prettiest paint I've ever had on a model.

For the record, the best rocket car ever was my Monogram '70 Superbird. It was charcoal grey with a simulated vinyl top (I used a piece of tissue on the wet primer, then painted it semi-gloss black--it worked!). It even had vinyl-top trim--sewing thread painted silver. The car was weighted perfectly and went absolutely straight as an arrow at over 100MPH (actual). It eventually suffered a mild wreck and was parted out for the 'cuda. A few of the other guys had some success, but they're harder to build than you'd think. The failures were pretty spectacular, though. One friend's '69 Charger went in a long, winding circle at triple-digit speeds into the concrete base of a light pole, at which point it essentially evaporated. Another friend built a 1:18 scale Miller funny car designed for a D-series rocket specifically to waste the Superbird in a drag race. It would have been a beast, but it hit a crack in the pavement that sent is straight up into the sky. When it struck the parking lot about 15 seconds later, it completely ceased to be. If you don't think 15 seconds is a long time waiting for something to fall on your head, count it off or stare at the second hand of an analog clock.

Those were an incredibly-fun couple of summers. I have a couple of model kits lying around, but haven't even considered building them in a long time.

 

[MOPAR MARV]

I really hate to compliment a Ford but that Fairlane looks awesome! And the rest of them are not too shabby either. Nice work there.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that enjoys working in small scale over the winter months[no heat in my garage].

I have a few hundred kits in various stages of progress. Some I've been working on ,off and on for Years. But my wife will not let me use spray paint in the house so I have to wait until its much warmer outside to paint bodies,chassis,etc.... out in the shop,but by that time I'm too busy playing with real autos or bashing the crap out of my Radio Control "toys" or out cruising on my motorcycle.

I've got to get off my butt and haul my not so mini paint booth down to the basement this summer. so I can actually finish one of my many model projects.