CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection [GO TO PAGE 16 for PICTURES]

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Drivinghermad
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Re: CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection (Updated fairly regularly)

Post by Drivinghermad » Sat Feb 22, 2020 6:26 pm

Loving the outdoor shots,they all look so nice in the open air. :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

CarcrazyinArkansas
Posts: 192
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Location: Arkansas, USA

Re: CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection (Updated fairly regularly)

Post by CarcrazyinArkansas » Sun Mar 01, 2020 2:16 pm

Thank you, Sir. It is really enjoyable taking pics of the models in their "natural" environment, that is, on the neighborhood street. LOL. Glad that you like them.

CarcrazyinArkansas
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:05 pm
Location: Arkansas, USA

Re: CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection (Updated fairly regularly)

Post by CarcrazyinArkansas » Sun Mar 01, 2020 2:17 pm

Solstice: "Either of two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest angular distance from the celestial equator. The summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere occurs about June 21, when the sun is at the zenith on the Tropic of Cancer; the winter solstice occurs about December 21, when the sun is at zenith on the Tropic of Capricorn."

This is a 1:24 scale, slightly modified, diecast Maisto model of a 2006 Pontiac Solstice. Since Pontiac is an orphan brand nowadays, it's really good to have any Pontiac represented in a model car collection. The model was bought a number of years ago before Pontiacs were orphans. The model was lowered, the wheels were painted black, the interior was detailed and carpeted, the engine and bay were detailed some, and a metal exhaust tip was added outback. And being a budget model, this somewhat excuses some of the body panel gaps being a little too wide. Overall, though, a favorable casting of a cool little sports car.

Thanks for looking ...

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Re: CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection (Updated fairly regularly)

Post by [KRAFTIG] » Sun Mar 01, 2020 2:17 pm

Looking good!

CarcrazyinArkansas
Posts: 192
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Location: Arkansas, USA

Ted's Tribute Truck

Post by CarcrazyinArkansas » Sun Apr 05, 2020 10:59 am

It took over 50 years, but....

In the early 60s my late and older brother Ted and I built some custom car and truck models. Ted was the creative genius behind the design and execution of these models. He gleaned many ideas and concepts from the emerging hot rod and custom car magazines that were being published at this time. I have always wanted to complete a radical Ford pickup truck that he had started building back then to pay tribute to his skills, creativity and imagination as this truck emphatically epitomizes his work. Originally, the top was vented and chopped, the bed was changed and shortened, the hood was altered, and completely new front and rear ends were molded (with plastic aluminum) onto the body. The rear portion of the truck had fins molded to the sculpted sides. The dashboard was carved from wood and covered with corduroy fabric to mimic tuck and roll upholstery. The seats were also done this way as well a tonneau cover.

To complete the model from its original inception required a chassis to be built, an engine to be added, a new steering wheel and new wheels as these parts had never been determined or selected back then.

Ted's radical truck creation is now complete and it is a testament to his remarkable vision of what a custom show truck in the 60s would look like. Here's to you, Ted!

Thanks for looking...



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Last edited by CarcrazyinArkansas on Sun Apr 26, 2020 6:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.

CarcrazyinArkansas
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:05 pm
Location: Arkansas, USA

Re: CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection (Updated fairly regularly)

Post by CarcrazyinArkansas » Sun Apr 05, 2020 11:39 am

[In 2014 I put the following post together. In the year 2020, the three models are pretty much in the same condition except that "Ugly" has deteriorated even more.]

Of all the various things that can totally ruin your diecasts, like dropping them, the one problem you definitely don't want your models to have is the dreaded diecast cancer! These two 1:18 Revell (#08753) 1965 Ford Mustang Convertibles in a teal color have had the disease since sometime before 2004. In 2004, I received the "Bad" and the "Ugly" as "gifts", in assorted pieces, and went to work on piecing them back together to try and actually salvage them. After about two weeks of work using jigs and braces and different adhesives, the models finally stayed together. Ever since then, the cancer has been growing steadily, with deep fissures in the body, swelling parts, and the cracking of joints. In 2013, a fellow collector graciously sent me an old "Good" version of the Mustang, missing the wipers and a rear wheel and tire. This copy had no cancer whatsoever, and with parts from "Ugly", is now complete, whole and healthy. "Ugly" , on the other hand, has deteriorated to the point wherein I had to relegate it to the beater junk yard. Current alterations to it were made in 2014. One headlight and turn signal light were removed and the front passenger seat deformed purposely to make it look the proper part. Debris and a spare tire in the back seat were added to the interior for extra emphasis. On "Bad", both doors are non-functional now as they were permanently glued with Gorilla glue to actually hold the entire model together. The hoods on both "Bad" and "Ugly" still work barely, but notice how wildly distorted they are. And on "Ugly", see how much the lower rear valiance protrudes from the rest of the car. "Ugly" currently suffers from a damaged front suspension and a non-stock, Dub-style rear wheel just to get it off the ground. Finally, both have lost big chunks of their rocker panels, making both models essentially two pieces- a front clip and a rear clip- held together by the chassis alone. Much has been written about this diecast cancer problem, and this particular teal Revell model is notorious for having it. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any remedy to completely stop the progression of the disease once the model is afflicted. Guess I'm "lucky" these two very sick ponies have survived for the last sixteen years. And that I have become an adopted parent of a "Good" healthy one. I knew a time would eventually come when one or both models reached their point of no return. It was quite a bit of fun with "Ugly" converting it to an almost complete wreck. "Bad's" fate is not so far in the future.

Thanks for looking.....

The "GOOD" in 2014
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The "BAD" in 2014

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The "UGLY" in 2014

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Condition of "UGLY" in 2009

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CarcrazyinArkansas
Posts: 192
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"Bad" and "Ugly"

Post by CarcrazyinArkansas » Sun Apr 05, 2020 4:37 pm

2020 : Here is what "Bad" and "Ugly" look like currently. The cracks you see are in the actual metal of the model, not in any body fillers. There are no opening panels on either car as all the hinges have given way to the cancer and the panels glued in place. Care has to be taken lest the models actually break in half. If it were not for the bodies glued to the chassis, they would. Engines in both are in excellent shape, however.

Thanks for looking

"Bad"

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"Ugly"

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Last edited by CarcrazyinArkansas on Sun Apr 26, 2020 6:46 pm, edited 2 times in total.

CarcrazyinArkansas
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:05 pm
Location: Arkansas, USA

1928 Lincoln

Post by CarcrazyinArkansas » Sun Apr 26, 2020 6:44 pm

This 1:32 scale model of a 1928 Lincoln Coupe Roadster is by Arko. The model was released in 2003. With a nice paint job, opening doors, rumble seat and a two-sided hood, the model photographs quite well. I really enjoy looking at these big old luxury cars from this era with all their additional trim and accessories, be they 1:1 or whatever scale.

Thanks for looking...

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Re: CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection (Updated fairly regularly)

Post by [KRAFTIG] » Sun Apr 26, 2020 7:04 pm

Interesting piece. Look sharp, second to last image.

CarcrazyinArkansas
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:05 pm
Location: Arkansas, USA

1954 Chevrolet lowrider

Post by CarcrazyinArkansas » Mon May 25, 2020 6:49 pm

This 1:24 scale diecast model of a 1954 Chevrolet lowrider is by Malibu International Ltd. "Long Beach Lowrider Repair". Malibu did a decent job with the interior, the straight six engine and the underside. Fairly well built and hefty, too. The hood won't close tightly for some reason. And the exhaust pipe was just a rectangular plastic glob which needed to be altered. It was colored silver and two holes drilled to improve the appearance. The scallops are water slide decals which you don't see often on diecast models.
Its most notable and unusual feature, however, is a fully poseable suspension which I found fairly difficult to quickly change from slammed to raised, but much easier vice versa. And in the slammed position the lines look so fine, hence it's pretty much left in that position all the time. Who knows how long the poseable mechanism will last anyway, so why overtax it. LOL
The shaved hood and truck lid, as well as the frenched in tail lights, provides some old school custom charm.

Thanks for looking....


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CarcrazyinArkansas
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:05 pm
Location: Arkansas, USA

Re: CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection (Updated fairly regularly)

Post by CarcrazyinArkansas » Mon Jun 01, 2020 6:53 pm

There are very few 1:12 scale diecast model cars that are in my collection. This Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren by MotorMax is one of the few. It is quite heavy in weight but lacks precision in that its doors and hood do not stay in place when opened. The little rear wing does, but reluctantly. Due to its weight and poseability, quick set ups on the elevated photo stand makes for limited and low numbers of photo snaps. The 1:12 scale Maisto 2015 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special was so much easier and presentable to do. Together, tho, they show rather well.

Thanks for looking...


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CarcrazyinArkansas
Posts: 192
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Location: Arkansas, USA

1910 Cadillac Limousine-saved

Post by CarcrazyinArkansas » Sun Jun 21, 2020 1:40 pm

A little background first....


Gowland & Gowland (England) was one of the early plastic scale modeling companies. Gowland & Gowland designed 30 kits which Revell issued as the Highway Pioneers series from 1951 thru 1953.

Highway Pioneers Series Two, 1/32 scale, featured these five cars molded in ( ):

1908 Buick "10" Rumble (red)

1914 Stutz Bearcat (yellow)

1915 Model "T" Ford Sedan (black)

1910 Studebaker Electric Coupe (green)

1910 Cadillac Limousine (light blue)- 2 copies


These models had been built in the late 50s and put away in the hot attic in 1961. They remained there until 2007. All those years(46!) in the attic had totally warped and disfigured the models. The Studebaker's smaller parts had literally crumbled into powder, and its mangled body shed countless slivers of decayed plastic. The Studebaker's so-called "body" might be a subject of a future diorama as it is absolute junk, with no possibility of ever restoring.

Okay, now there was another 1910 Cadillac Limousine in extremely rough and terrible shape, the worst of the lot besides the Studebaker. This is the model I chose to start on first of the group to "restore" and is shown below. The Cadillac did have its wheels fortunately, but like the rest of the models, was extremely warped, so much so, that the possibility of getting it to a point wherein the two body halves would actually align and join up somewhat seemed almost impossible as all joining edges were crooked, incompatible and uneven, Heating the larger misaligned plastic body parts wasn't viable as the thinner and/or projecting parts on it would get distorted. So all the models above were subjected to over two month's worth of jigs, braces, weights and clamps. Many types of clamps- bar clamps, 'C' clamps, hand clamps, alligator clips, clothes pins, etc. Mechanical methods and techniques were used to straighten and to get the parts back to a semblance of their original shape.

The Cadillac was missing a headlight lantern, a tail light lantern, license plate, rear valance, left front spring assembly, both axles incomplete, and a huge depression in the roof which required extensive filling and sanding to "repair". Upon its completion, I'm having a hard time believing it came out as it did, as I had initially thought it couldn't be done. My adhesive of choice and the saviour of the model was Gorilla Clear.

Now its on to the other 1910 Cadillac, the Buick, the Stutz or the Model "T", whichever is the most difficult to redo. LOL

Thanks for looking....

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CarcrazyinArkansas
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:05 pm
Location: Arkansas, USA

1915 Ford Model "T" Center Door Sedan

Post by CarcrazyinArkansas » Thu Jul 02, 2020 1:47 pm

A little background ....


Gowland & Gowland (England) was one of the early plastic scale modeling companies. Gowland & Gowland designed 30 kits which Revell issued as the Highway Pioneers series from 1951 thru 1953.

Highway Pioneers Series Two, 1/32 scale, featured these five cars molded in ( ):

1910 Cadillac Limousine (light blue)- 2 copies

1915 Model "T" Ford Center Door Sedan (black)

1908 Buick "10" Rumble (red)

1914 Stutz Bearcat (yellow)

1910 Studebaker Electric Coupe (green)

These models had been built in the late 50s and put away in the hot attic in 1961. They remained there until 2007. All those years(46!) in the attic had totally warped and deformed the models. The Studebaker's smaller parts had literally crumbled into powder, and its mangled body shed countless slivers of decayed plastic. The Studebaker's so-called "body" might be a subject of a future diorama as it is absolute junk, with no possibility of ever restoring.

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After completing the redo of one of the two 1910 Cadillac Limousines recently, I opted to finish working on this 1915 Model "T" Ford Center Door Sedan. Seven clamps were used for about two months to attempt to get the two main body parts aligned; seven clamps were also used for the same time period as well to possibly straighten up the chassis/fenders part. The two main body parts were Gorilla glued together requiring seven clamps.
Then the now single unit main body needed further straightening under heat to match up correctly with the chassis/fenders part in an assembly process. This work took six clamps and four or five heating sessions. To join the chassis/fenders to the main body was a royal pain as various clamps were needed to finally bring the parts snugly together utilizing Gorilla Glue Clear. ImageThe glue is quite strong, fills gaps and is paintable. But it takes 24 hours to reach its full strength. I wait at least 36 to 48 to be sure, as parts under stress possibly separating when the clamps are removed would necessitate starting the job all over again, which indeed, happened. The second attempt bore fruit as the glue held completely tight under the stress when the clamps were removed and the joint fit snugly.

Luckily, all the remaining smaller parts, two side lanterns, wheels, seats and the front radiator/axle unit were all intact and complete and only needed proper coloring. These parts were not deformed in any way.

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Finally, it all came together out of the "fog" looking like this:



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Re: CarCrazyinArkansas' Eclectic Diecast Collection (Updated fairly regularly)

Post by [KRAFTIG] » Thu Jul 02, 2020 3:44 pm

Well done!

CarcrazyinArkansas
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:05 pm
Location: Arkansas, USA

1914 Stutz Bearcat

Post by CarcrazyinArkansas » Thu Jul 02, 2020 5:36 pm

A little background first....


Gowland & Gowland (England) was one of the early plastic scale modeling companies. Gowland & Gowland designed 30 kits which Revell issued as the Highway Pioneers series from 1951 thru 1953.

Highway Pioneers Series Two, 1/32 scale, featured these five cars molded in ( ):

1910 Cadillac Limousine (light blue)- 2 copies

1915 Model "T" Ford Center Door Sedan (black)

1908 Buick "10" Rumble (red)

1914 Stutz Bearcat (yellow)

1910 Studebaker Electric Coupe (green)

These models had been built in the late 50s and put away in the hot attic in 1961. They remained there until 2007. All those years(46!) in the attic had totally warped and deformed the models. The Studebaker's smaller parts had literally crumbled into powder, and its mangled body shed countless slivers of decayed plastic. The Studebaker's so-called "body" might be a subject of a future diorama as it is absolute junk, with no possibility of ever restoring.

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After completing the redo of one of the two 1910 Cadillac Limousines and the 1915 Ford Model "T" Center Door Sedan recently, I began working on this 1914 Stutz Bearcat.This model wasn't quite as badly warped as the others, but still significanly so.

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My recollection is that when new years ago, the front suspension, especially, along with the main body were already warped and ill-fitting. The rear suspension's plastic axle had degraded so much that all that could be saved were the springs and the differential.

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A rear axle was made from plastic sprue. Up front, it was sort of worse in that the layout of the correct suspension wasn't at all obvious and terribly out of shape. A metal flat bar was fastened to the front axle to give it strength as the plastic was extremely crumbly. The springs here, too, were misaligned and crooked. The plastic was so decrepit that when bonding with Super glue, the two joining surfaces held together but the underlying plastic literally gave way. To gain increased integrity and to give joints extra strength, moldeling putty was thinly applied over these areas. From various photos of actual 1914 Stutz Bearcats, it appears some had a small circular windscreen mounted to the steering wheel stalk. Maybe I'll make one for this model in the future.

Thanks for looking...


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