Ok guys, I want you all to help me figure out a way to get people interested in customizing.
I'd like some feed-back on some ideas on how to go about this.
First of all, I think we or I should post some sort of a start-up program to light
the creative spark.
Post something like ~ "New customizers, what are you dying to make?"
Or maybe come up with a custom that's simple yet has a dramatic change to it and "sign up" one or however many people to follow along once they have acquired the casting and all the necessary parts.
Once a "program" of some sort has been written up, post it over on the Johnny Lightning page and others. This is a brand new idea for me and I haven't really thought it through much. So think about it, get back to me and
help me figure something out. We can all participate in it and it'll git people goin'!!! It'll be fun!
Thanks, Dave :wave:

Good idea Dave!

I'd like to get started in customizing.

I haven't done any in years, any they were just simple wheel swaps, minor detailing, and using RIT dye on painted white cars. I've drilled out the rivets on some cars and got some small screws from a fellow collector so I could make any changes that I didn't like after assembly.

Cool idea.
I'll help out any way I can.

One thing that would help is simple step by step instructions with pictures on how-to do simple things like "wheel swaps" without damaging the paint.

The other things that keep people from doing customs (myself included) is time and space. You can't help those, but showing how it can be done in a limited space is another good way to build confidence and "enable" others to enjoy Customizing.

Lummox, I like this idea I will be thinking while I work today of ways to help. I like the concept of a step by step pictorial as well 2manetoys, pick a topic and show through pics an easy 'follow the numbers" process.

We have AMAZING people here, most will seldom offer any insight ( most likely because they were never asked ). Some will quickly offer information, and some can overwhelm you with details.

Pat offers great, well written essays on various custom process and is always willing to share openly, but for a beginner, it is probably over their heads.

Maybe we can run with this tire swap idea. Show a step by step photo layout of a simple tire swap, then everyone pics a casting and makes the swap, posting the finished pic here. Just thinking out loud

Let me know how I can help out.

Ward

All I need is some free time, and I"m good to go. :drunk:

I'll play. I also like the step by step pictorial idea. Start with something simple and work up with it. Although that may take a lot of work for the instructor(s). Another thought would be to pick a new release peg warmer so we can use the same car to compare progress. Would help clean the pegs too.

All great ideas guys, thanks!
This was just the kind of thought process I was envisioning you all doing.
My goal is to get 1 new person a month average, I'd just love that!


Maybe we could set it up in 2 different versions.
1, we would pick the car and the custom idea to be applied to it and post that idea/proposal-
And 2,make a post for a new person to come up with there own idea and we or I or
whoever would also buy the same car to follow along. :wave:

i have done this how to before and there is alot of picture taking writeing and time.
last one i did took 12 hours. to do one here no one would be able to write anything in the thread in order to keep things straight. only one who would write and add pics would be the person doing the how to so in asence the thread would be locked to everyone till finished. if you get what i mean? you would have a pic then someone comment then the how to. then a comment
we would have to make sure no one writes in the how to.
great idea if we can figure this out.

I see what you mean. I wonder if it would really matter if there were comments all through it?
Or maybe the person giving the lesson could be in one thread, and whoever all wanted to particapate
could start thier own thread(s) and most of the questions could be asked/answered on THIER post. (?????) Wuddyathimk?

well it's better to keep all pics together. this way if a question is asked thay could say
( in pic #4 ) and so forth. thay wont have to flip threw 4 or 5 comments to find pic #4
we could possibly put in title area non posting thread and then in subject area #1 post let them know why. but ive always found people dont read first thay go to pics then comment...lol then read post....
example in my fist post with a pic i asked for everyone to wait on comments till thay see 5 pics. by the time i posted the 2nd pic i had 3 comments in between pics #1 and #2 ...lol it kinda takes away from the before pic and the after pic.
if we can get all the pics together then we could open the thread up for questions and answers this would also stop same questions being asked twice

also you need to point out safety hazzards along the way... we dont want any young person getting hurt buy grabbing dads drill and start drilling and he don't know that if the drill gets stuck the body of the car will spin or not use a vice and drill threw his or her leg. or fingers.
we have had pro's drill threw there fingers or hands before.. not a very pretty picture. safety first :thumbsup:

I'd be very interested in restoring ORIGINAL Redlines only.
There is so much available as far as parts, paint and decals, and I really believe that in the future RESTORED REDLINES will be very popular.

You can count me in.

This sounds super cool. I'd be more than happy to contribute a tutorial or two. But who's gonna do what? As gunn stated it is alot of work and I'd hate see us all stepping on each others toes by working on the same tutorials.

So who's gonna do what? Since it was your idea Lummox, you by right should have first dibs.

To answer Grayhouses question ~
In my optimism, I envision a possible scenario being several newbies wanting a tutor,
that could mean several of us will be needed for a 1 on 1.
Also, I don't need dibs because for instance McRooster sounds like he'd like to do a redline resto deal. That's awesome, I'm realy glad you spoke up. There's probably tons of people wanting to do that! He could make a post in the HWs page finding someone who wants that.
Then by all means those two people should be paired up. Yes?
Grayhouse, you like mostly somewhat modernized street/strip and pro-street cars, right? You and maybe '69Stang would do those etc.

We're making progress here today, this could be VERY cool!!!

camarors, I apologize, are you a customizer or are you new to it?
Keep those ideas coming, all! We're getting there!

I already have a few easy projects in mind, we just need a solid plan
some kind of proposal or su'n

This may be a lot of fun. I like the idea of having a tutorial thread, and a seperate question and answer thread. The ONLY thing I have done in this scale is popped the tires off a couple cars. Removed the wheels and put the tires on a tire rack. Thats it.
To start a project it would be a good idea from the very start to have a "required tools for this project". Example... I have no clue what size drill bit is needed to drill out rivets. Will a battery drill work that small or is a dremel required? As stated before about a vice to keep the car from spinning on a drill bit (we had a guy at work cut his fingers up real bad this way on a piece of sheet metal) it happens. We dont want it to happen here. This isnt a race. I dont have a small vice but I can pick one up and come back to where I was.
Just another thought.

Maybe if this works out we can start one about playing this upright grand piano behind me. :lol:
I got it for my kid.

Very cool Bob, we'll make it happen. glad your interested. :thumbsup:
Be thinking about what you'd like to do or if you'd like to go along with a project idea
that one of us thinks up.

And to you customizers out there that want to do this, if there's folks out there that
DO want us to come up with the initial idea, maybe you guys could start thinking of
simple but fun custom projects for the new recruits.

Good idea, I'd be glad to help in any way I can, besides I've seen some mighty fine customs on this board that have given me ideas and projects to work on for myself so the more the merrier...:thumbsup:

Like what bob8748 said... find a car that is a peg warmer so it's easy for everyone to participate. You could customize the car and post a new step each week. That way everyone has time not to fall behind. Lummox if you already have a car that you customized, you could post the steps on how you did it.

Bob8748 you dont work at unison do you? and lummox, i noticed your location said under a hail of welding sparks. Are you a welder? I just started at the career center here and im taking welding. We're doing oxy welding right now.

I'd participate in a build along, but we'd have to pick a casting that is easy to aquire and give people time to get said casting. It takes a week or 2 to receive items ordered online.
I'm not suggesting it necessarily but something like a 55 Chevy 2 door, there's plenty online and so many versions out there people shouldn't have a problem getting them if they don't have one already. This comes to mind from a thread I saw somewhere about 2 Lane Black Top the movie. Could be something to reproduce?
Anywho, I'm in for whatever.


Found the above mentioned thread It's the What's in the workshop? thread, I thought it was on a different board.

camarors, I apologize, are you a customizer or are you new to it?
Keep those ideas coming, all! We're getting there!

I'm fairly new to customizing. I've done 8 cars and trucks since the first of the year. My last 4 projects have been rollback haulers, tow trucks, and tow rigs. Some of my work is posted here in my gallery, and some other boards.

Ooooh, ok, I remember now. I checked out your gallery. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Nice work!

I would be glad to pitch in where I can. count me in.

Bob8748 you dont work at unison do you? and lummox, i noticed your location said under a hail of welding sparks. Are you a welder? I just started at the career center here and im taking welding. We're doing oxy welding right now.

I've been a Unison/Elano employee since 1978. Dont really know anything else. We are going to hire 21 welders so give them a try (tig welding). A good job in your own neighborhood.

Like what bob8748 said... find a car that is a peg warmer so it's easy for everyone to participate. You could customize the car and post a new step each week. That way everyone has time not to fall behind. Lummox if you already have a car that you customized, you could post the steps on how you did it.

and lummox, i noticed your location said under a hail of welding sparks. Are you a welder? I just started at the career center here and im taking welding. We're doing oxy welding right now.

Yeah, I think that might work out - even if it's one or two people.
Like I said, if we can get just a couple of newbs hooked on customizing
every month, I'd be rrrrreeeeaaaaallllly stoked!!!!

And yes, I've had my own shop for a couple a decadeds now. I do metal work
rust repair and the like. No painting, just fabicating sections of rotted areas.
About half the cars I do are '70s on back. How lucky am I?!?!?!

Holy crap guys!!!
So far we got 13 people!!! Most of them want to help and from what I can tell there
are 2 maybe 3 so far that want help!

Sssooooo ~ since there's already a couple a guy that want the help, the job of recruiting
SO FAR, is taken care of.
NOW, we just need to know from the new recruits what is is you'd like to do.
Do you want participate in a build that a customizer has come up with or one that
you've thought up yourself? And from there, anyone interested can jump aboard and tag along.
ANYBODY, just chime in and we'll get this party started!!!
THEN, we'll getcha paired up with the customizer best suited for the job!

Then we just gotta finger out ezakly how everything's gonna be posted.

I'll try an post a couple a easy customs I've got mocked up for this groovy scene today.

CUSTOMIZERS: ~ Don't forget to do the same if you can! :thumbsup: :wave:

And yes, I've had my own shop for a couple a decadeds now. I do metal work
rust repair and the like. No painting, just fabicating sections of rotted areas.
About half the cars I do are '70s on back. How lucky am I?!?!?!

Man I could use that kind of help. I wonder how much it would cost to mail a front bumper off the 77 Vista Cruiser? I'd have to ship the whole Corvair though!

Here is what I want.
My first car.
1968 Dodge Charger. Mine was "Duke" orange. Black vinyl top. It was perfect but had some primer paint on the back fenders. I would love to make two copies so I could give my dad one. He swore he would never buy me a car but he liked this one. I was 17. A little VW bug T-boned it and killed it. The bug walked away by the way, tough little cars. The new General Lee was perfect... wrong tail lights!
I need to ask dad if he has any pics of it.

Very cool Bob :thumbsup: Im going to try and get a job placement there my senior year. My aunt has worked at elano forever. Lummox i would love to participate in it. I think the best way to do it is if we all just do one of your ideas since your the custom master :wave:

ok cool, we got Bob who wants to do a Charger,
and L44 wants something someone else thinks up. I'll throw out a couple a ideas tonite.
Awesome ~
who here would like to work with Bob?
Bob ~ Go ahead and get the 2 copies you want and keep us posted with which release
you're choosing. You may have to be content with '69 taillights, but maybe not ~ that'll depend on YOU!!!

Wow, not even 2 days into it and we're MOVIN'!!!

Like I said before I like this idea of creating tutorials, but to be honest I don't think I have the time to take an individual and walk him (or her) through an individual project by means of a tutorial. I barely have time for my own projects. But I am more than willing to create individual tutorials persay IE. engine detailing, chassis detaling, axle replacement, how to add weelie bars. etc. etc. Just to name a few. I see this as being just as benifitial to the novice. Lets say a newbie wants to know how to make a functional hood scoop. They refrence the tutorial section and lo and behold there she is waiting for him :thumbsup:

Also I think it would be best to contact the moderators and see if they can create some kinda subsection within the cusomizing board for all tutorials. Just a thought.

i believe this falls under hanks call for a subsection.
kenny would know more than me.

Here are the 2 cars I picked for possible follow along builds.
Both are pretty simple and are dramatically different from origional.

The Vette is from the current Chv.Thndr rel. Sould be easy to get.
The body's ok but the roof...well let's just say it ain't right.
The main problem with it is the A posts are way to slant-y ~ all wrong.
The easiest way to fix it is to rip it off !!!
The mock-up is of a road-racer with a tonnaeu cover and a monacle windshield.
The car could have all kinza cool decals and junk (this one's gonna!)
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t32/Lummoxed/RDRCR2.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t32/Lummoxed/RDRACER1.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t32/Lummoxed/RDRCR3.jpg

The other one is the Coke '32 rdstr rel.

Before ~
http://www.jlcollector.com/2007/cobe2.jpg
After ~
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t32/Lummoxed/32RDSTR.jpg

Count me in for the '32 rat rod -- but now I need to find one, and to know what other donors I might need.....
I just picked up a '57 vette from WalGreen's closeout. I stripped it yesterday, but I might just follow along with it, too....

Soopah! ~ Let's do it!

The donors for that particular version: (casting #564)
Wheels are from the black '64 Dodge from the last classic Gold. Any steelies will work.
Big wide whites @ the rear are from the red Coke '57 Cameo p.u.
Fronts are on many JLs

Just so people know, the new Elvis 'Vette is the same casting ~ #149
The '57 will make a great looking rd. rcr. No donor cars are needed unless you want to
do an axle swap.
Lemme know when you're ready ~ We'll git this party started!

deleted

She did a good job bear!
I'll keep it easy and go for the rat rod also. I'll need to pick up the cars though.
32 hi-boy from Coca cola goes to the beach.
Red Coke '57 cameo pick up.
Classic Gold black '64 Dodge.
Correct?
I need 2 CG Dodges. Good looking car (thanks Wyatt).

she likes the wheels thats on it my point is if you havent done a cutom car
start with detampoing a car
do a wheell swap
then try something else
:wave:

That's great advice, very good place to start. (Say hi to the little lady for me!)

Also, some guys haven't even done a wheel swap yet and are maybe a little
intimidated by the whole thing.
We gotta make sure that even these basic needs are met.
I don't want ANYONE to feel left out.
The more we encourage the simple stuff that bear suggested the more new
customizers we're gonna create and for me, that's the goal.

I'm in on the '32 Rod. Looks like fun and I bought the Coke version with this kind of project in mind. I procrastinate a lot so this will get it done. Steelies I have but not the Cameo, but I'm pretty sure I have something with big white walls somewhere.

You have 3 apprentices already for the "Rat" Lummox. You may have to do this in a public thread rather than PMs. Anyone else gonna sign on to this one?

Let Lummox know when everyones got the necessary castings and we can chop, cut and rebuild!

So for dusrusg, bob748 and anyone else,your gonna need a few things.

Drill; any drill will work. variable speed is best. Cordless is good. They're cheap
but you can find an even cheaper one at a pawn shop or whatever.
Drill bits; just get one that's the same size as the head of the rivet.
Hot Wheels are a little bigger. The one in my drill right now is a 9/64th for JLs
Doesn't have to be exact.

Small jewelers screw-driver set; highly recommended tiny screw-drivers for prying, scraping and countless other tasks ~ even driving screws!!!

Mechanics picks: I CANNOT RECCOMEND THESE ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Should be able to find them at the auto parts store.
Short of wheel swapping and de-tampoing, there is not ONE custom where I didn't use them!!!!!!! GET SOME.

Here's a pic of the picks.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t32/Lummoxed/ALTRD-2.jpg

AWESOME!!! I'm really glad to have you in on this, my FreqE friend!!!!!!! :thumbsup: :wave:

As the man said, let us know when your ready and if anyone has extra donor cars for these folks if needed.
Let's do it!
STUTZ, what is it you'd like to build? Are you having a Johnny day? :) :wave:

Picked up the Coke 32 hi-boy and a Coke "57" cameo pick up today from the bay. No listing for a '55 but it looks like the tires posted here. I have a GTO with green steeleies I can paint black. Only thing I need is the picks. It will take a few days for the cars to arrive however.
I'm kinda stoked about this!
Whatever gave you this idea anyway?... :lol:

Actually, I'd rather use the steelies off the yellow MONC 69 Charger Daytona. It would look a lot better with Cragars anyway.
See what you went and did... got me thinking already. Are all the wheels the same size?

best deals on tools is harbor freight or www.micromark.com

you can order there book for free and thay have great deals on jewlers saw and blades
wanna rust your cars? thay have it. i also buy from big lots.
matter of fact i just reordered for a new micromark book. only took 1min to order

I'm going to be a spectator at this time, but I'm going to drop in from time to time. It's a little early in the year for me to get motivated on customs, other than detampoing, wheel and tire swaps, and RITE dying. Winter will be my calling on customs.

best deals on tools is harbor freight or www.micromark.com

you can order there book for free and thay have great deals on jewlers saw and blades
wanna rust your cars? thay have it. i also buy from big lots.
matter of fact i just reordered for a new micromark book. only took 1min to order
Thanks for the link gunn. I saved the site to pc. You never know, I may need it someday.

best deals on tools is harbor freight or www.micromark.com

you can order there book for free and thay have great deals on jewlers saw and blades
wanna rust your cars? thay have it. i also buy from big lots.
matter of fact i just reordered for a new micromark book. only took 1min to order
Micro-Mark is good. They have alot of great stuff and there site is easy to navigate, but I feel they are little steep on there shipping. A great alternative is Hobbylink.com (http://www.hobbylinc.com/index.htm) The're just as good for most needs and the're shipping (Priority mail) is cheaper.

Allright, good lics for tools.

Gunn, your a moderater and you said something about a sub-section for tutorials ~
could you get on that with Hank or whoever and see if that's something that should be done?
Maybe it's a good time to do that or maybe he wants to wait and see how all this turns out. I really would have no idea about that sort of thing.

Bob ~ good deal, your a man of action! Most all the rubber tired rims are all the same. Those dog-dishes from the new Daytona will look killer!!!

STUTZ ~ I got a new trick for de-tampoing - yer gonna LOVE it!!!

STUTZ ~ I got a new trick for de-tampoing - yer gonna LOVE it!!!

I'm all ears Lummox. Some cars are so easy to de-tampo, and some are a little stubborn, and some just won't let go of the tampo. :p