If I told you guys I set aside the 1/144 stuff to build a 1/48 kit you’d probably think I had finally come to my senses….but just because the scale is bigger doesn’t mean the model is! The wife and I were at the Strasburg flea market after the meeting Saturday and I stumbled across this absolutely adorable kit. Id like to introduce you to the latest addition to my workbench, the Lotus Ford by Renwal:

The kit appears to be based on the Lotus 25 from the early 60s, but I’m not an F1 expert by any means. I think it has a lot of potential, but the way it assembles (and its small size) is going to make painting pretty complicated I’m afraid.

I started by removing all the chrome plating by using Draino. I then started dry fitting parts and noticed you’re supposed to put the suspension parts on before closing the body. However, this means I’ll have to mask off all the fragile exterior parts to sand and paint the body. That sort of stalled me a bit and made me take a step back.

I think, despite the instructions, I’m going to try to finish the body first, then attach the suspension last. I don’t know how well it will work because of the angles involved and how the pieces attach inside, but I think it’s my only chance at having a nice finish on the body.

I’ll be sure to bring it to the next meeting so you car guys can mock my sure-to-be lackluster paint job.

– Chad

Hey gents here is my first progress report on the female assassin vignette  that occupies the work bench.  The frame and engine is done and the rear wheel assembly is 70% complete.  It will be a 1/12 Yamaha YZF-R1 bike.  I have no idea what that is but I thought it was a cool enough bike for my killer babe that will go with it.  I feel like I can Ross a run for his money now!  ….well maybe not

I will do a custom paint scheme for the bike with the theme of having an assassin rider.  I ordered a spider decal for the area in front of the seat and will come up with some scheme to go with the spider. 

Stay tuned!   

– Chris

Hey Gents. I got these two reference books in the mail.  The F-14 book is amazing.   The book on Israeli armor is chock full of very good photographs which I will need for my upcoming Merkava Mk IV tank.  If anyone would like to borrow one or both let me know.  Tomcats forever!

– Chris

My latest project, a 68 Shelby GT500 pro-touring. The wheels are 20×8 in the front, 20×10 in the rear which required a complete re-imagining of the suspension. This took the form of a 66 Olds Cutlass front and rear independent suspension swap. With the rolling stock handled, we move to the power train…

The engine is a Ford Coyote V8 with Edelbrock supercharger and Tremec 6060 trans. I am currently addressing the issue of the Mustang being too small to house this engine LOL

And speaking of not enough room. It turns out 10inch wide rear wheels require some sacrifices in interior space. I scratchbuilt the interior panels to clear the tires that gobbled up a third of the rear seat. Don’t get me started on how much room that giant transmission is taking out of the interior.

– Ross

Gents; the rescue boat is done!  Sehr gut!  Just need to finish its base to mount it.  Now back to that motorcycle.  What’s a transmorgifier again and what color is it?? 

A short video of the boat.  Auf wiedersehen.

– Chris

My latest build in progress, this is the AMT Garwood trash truck. So far it has received a MASSIVE scale ride height adjustment (think between 5-8 inches!) a conversion to “super singles” and the conversion of the engine into a 428 SCJ with an 8-71 Cragar supercharger. For when the trash needs picked up RIGHT NOW. Lol. We will see what sort of tricks I will have to pull out of my hat to get the cab floor to clear the motor, and if the body will fit over the rear tires without further modification.

This is the cab height I am hoping to achieve. Which may be a struggle given the intake scoop is just below the bottom of the rear window! 

Here is the interior tub cut out to clear the ludicrous engine. These cuts were required to allow the cab to pivot on its hinges and sit level on the frame.  The following photo shows the drivers seat riser I made from styrene to cover the aforementioned cuts and allow the seats to fit over the engine.

Here are the seats mounted to their risers. And lastly the cab, now attached to the modified interior tub and mocked up to the frame. Looks like I have achieved the cab height and stance I was looking for!  The goofy wheel offset has been fixed by shortening the interior hub surface, I just forgot to take a photo, oops!

Paint work almost finished. The cab is pearl white and red metallic. The body is gloss white, with pearl white in the outer recess of the body and metallic red on the inside. Still have the “tailgate” portion to finish as well as the interior of the cab.

Here is the interior all finished. The seat height for the driver isn’t as crazy as I had feared it would be.  Detail work on the cab also nearly finished. The Ford lettering on the nose required a dose of Jamiesons to steady my hand a little :p

And here she is almost complete. Detail painting of the compactor, decals and if I can find a diagram online routing all the hydraulic and air hoses. Photos make the compactor appear unpainted, which it most definitely IS NOT. I’ll just have to bring it to the March meeting and show off a little…

– Ross

Okay gents. The Luftwaffe rescue boat is getting closer to its first rescue on the Channel!  The pilot house is in and just about all the wood tones are painted.  Left to go is the install of the windbreak glass panels and the real fun begins-the weathering to make it look like it has a tough go of it in the choppy waters of the North Sea and the Channel

– Chris