Message Index

• Just finished a 1966 Impala SS painted Aztec Bronze. This time, I tried to put a throttle return spring on the engine. It's kind of gnarly looking. I might remove it. .......... *PICS* .....
  • Very nice! (you need thinner wire, that's all) *NM*
• In case you needed more 3D printed content..... *PIC*
  • That is so cool.... I would finish it curbside, just to get it on the shelf. If you decide to do a more detailed build in the future, you could always print a second body. *NM*
    • Kinda my thoughts........ *PIC*
      • I am digging Marty’s idea. The beauty of printing is that you can make as many as you want. I presume the material cost is not much more than a couple of bucks. Really enjoying watching what you and Ken are doing with these things. *NM*
• I'm thinking of giving Micro Mesh sanding/polishing pads on my body paint jobs a try. The grits range from 1500 to 12000. Should I use them dry or wet, or can I use them both ways ? .......... *PIC* .....
  • Always wet. *NM*
    • Thank you David. When I'm finished using them, do I rinse them out with water or Dawn liquid and water ? *NM*
      • Water. Don't get anything on them that can potentially stay on them, you would then be polishing that stuff into the paint later *NM*
  • A few hints/cautions -
  • to add to Bob's tips, start with the least aggressive grit. Unless your paint is an absolute mess, start with 3600 or 4000. Remember that coarser grits basically leave deeper scratches, which will have to be removed
• Scott, which kit did you use to build that? *NM*
  • I used the MPC 1971 roadrunner. I bought a resin Satellite hood and a resin 1972 rear bumper and taillights. Harts Parts has the 1972 rear bumper and taillights. I forget who had the hood. Maybe Harts Parts again? *NM*
  • Harts Parts doesn't have the MPC 1971-72 Satellite hood. But he has a Satellite hood for the Revell/Monogram roadrunner/GTX. Maybe you could trim it down ? *NM*
    • Thanks Scott! Your Satellite looks great! I would like to see Round 2 reissue/clone the MPC '71 or '72 Roadrunner again. Years ago I made a Satellite hood by carefully trimming the Air Grabber bump from the center of the hood and replacing it with flat styrene, leaving
      • The stripe decals were offered from a decal company that I can't remember the name of. If I remember right, they have been out of business for a number of years. If I can think of the company, I'll let you know. *NM*
        • That’s fine, Scott! I was just curious. I don’t have the kits and parts necessary to do one of these now, anyway. Thanks again!! *NM*
• Here is a video taken of the show on Saturday in Crittenden, Ky. .......... *NM* *LINK*
• That there is a 1972 Satellite Sebring Plus. The moulding and silver paint on the lowers are dead giveaways. To my knowledge, the roof stripe…
• VERY nice build! Man- they drove the heck outta that car in that flick!!! *NM*
• Some beauties there! *NM*
• Not sure of the precise timeline, but in the early 80s, the Avanti 'revival' builds used the GM metric G-Body frame
• Great Show! Thanks for sharing your pics. A lot of nice work on display! *NM*
• What can you see at the LEFT COAST SCALE CLASSIC? Here is just part of the show....
• Thanks for the show pics, Scott... Frank and I have been talking about returning to the HMCA show in September... Hope to meet up with you there again. *NM*
• More 3D Studie parts....... *PIC*
  • And 2nd body with removeable hood...... *PIC*
    • Looks like someone is having WAY to much fun!! :) *NM*
      • I really am......
    • Those windshield frames and a few other areas are ROUGH. Do you have any idea why that's happening? *NM*
      • When printing areas that would print 'on air' there is a support that prints first....
      • Bill....here is what causes those dimples.... *PIC*
        • I am no expert, but you must be able to control where they are placed using the printer or CAD software. I've looked at lots of 3D printed parts, and honestly I don't think I've ever seen anything quite so bad. Just like sprues on injection molding, they need to be placed
          • Not Dave but I use the same printer and slicer that he's using. You are correct with my resin printer's slicer I can individually place the supports or use the auto function. However with the filament slicer I haven't been able to have the same level of control. *NM*
          • What Ken said....a limitation of filament printing.......
            • You guys are swaying me towards a filament printer some day. Can't wait to see your finished model. *NM*
  • That upholstery pattern...WOW! *NM*
• You have to go with what’s out there. I haven’t run across a traditional styrene kit that’s 100% correct yet. I’m sure the Studie will look great built up. *NM*
• Which reminds me of an UNBUILT AMT '64 Falcon CONVERTIBLE kit I passed up a few years ago at an old car swap meet. $50...but someone cut the doors and trunklid open!!
  • I probably would have bought it if nothing else was touched. Then keep an eye open for another body, or a rebuildable one *NM*
  • Woulda hopped on that, hope the kit butcher throws a body on fleabay *NM*
• Haven't seen one in decades, but EVERY '74 "Spirit of America" Nova I've seen was afflicted with rust!! *LINK* *PIC*
  • Not sure how '73-'74 Novas sold compared to the ones before and after, but you just don't see very many of them anymore *NM*
    • I think they sold pretty well - I washed plenty of them in the day
      • A lot of those Novas wound up on the local short tracks across the country. *LINK*
        • I'm recalling a 1:1 sportsman u-weld frame kit based around the Nova / Camaro sub
          • Around here we were starting to have an issue with field numbers due to rising costs to stay competitive with the latest trick chassis ($$). They solved the problem with the great equalizer - tires. Narrower harder compound street tires will add a little to lap times
      • I almost bought a '73 Nova SS when I was a teenager. Yellow with the fender top/trunk lid stripes. Can't remember why I didn't get it. I did have other Novas - drove a '76 through university - that was one tough car. *NM*
        • GM did a platform and component standardizing process for '71 - and a lot of the more inexpensive products got overbuilt
          • And later, they did the opposite. TH150 (Chevette) transmission in midsized cars, and dumping the Buick V6 into everything under the sun...
            • My brain says it was the TH200 (Chevette) transmission that GM brought up through the product line. Killed more than a few B-bodies before their time. *LINK*
              • My ‘76 Nova had the 250 six coupled to a TH200. It was absolutely fine in that application as I didn’t spare the abuse on that car and I’m sure its kickdown linkage got more use than most. Never had an issue and it went through another friend after I was finished with
• No big deal I just thought it was strange. Thanks again for all the great pics. *NM*
• Looks good Terry...... What kit is that? Those flares look like they would be perfect for a project that I have in mind. *NM*
  • It's a 1/20 scale Tamiya and the fkairs are molded in. *NM*
• Cool 131 Terry! Is that Tamiya's kit? I built the old Esci? kit for my friend Mike who used to have the street version of the Brava. This was probably done around 1990 or so.
  • Yes it's Tamiya. The decals were bad so l improvised. *NM*
• With thanks to Dave Van I present my first successful filament 3d print. *PIX*
  • Which reminds me--the new issue of Vintage Truck has a multi-page history of International's FOUR-door pickups It's more of a history of the '58 Travelette, but the history runs to the end of pickup production. *PIC*
  • Happy to help in any way......BTW looks good *NM*
  • That’s great! I am wondering what would be the pluses and minuses of each type of printer.
    • What I've noticed about 3d printers
      • Thank you for the rundown. It’s all like voodoo to me now. It sounds like the most work is learning how to manipulate the files with software, and learning how your printer functions best with each situation.
  • Re: With thanks to Dave Van I present my first successful filament 3d print. *PIX*
    • Yeah I just downloaded that one. At $11 dollars it's a steal. Haven't printed it yet. *NM*
      • Cool! Look forward to seeing it! *NM*
• It's 1/20 scale and it's still little. *NM*
• Thank you. *NM*
• Thanks! *NM*
• I really dig the first picture of the Buick's. *NM*
• Great stuff sir...... *NM*
• Nice job...... *NM*
• Agreed ... 100% *NM*
• Great show, and now I can see that this will be an anuual event, sweet! *NM*
• Nicely done and well worth the "frustration" I'd say! *NM*
  • I guess the frustration makes it more enjoyable when it's done. *NM*
• That looks fantastic, now you've gotta drill out those chrome headlights! *NM*
  • I will . *NM*
• That's very nice work. What are your plans for removing the push bar from the front bumper? *NM*
• Will you drill out the headlights for some clear lenses? *NM*
  • Yes, definitely. *NM*
• Wow!!! *NM*
• I have the "Last Railroad in America" book. Very cool. *NM*