Finally feeling better and started working on my TLB-55 again. The chasis, frame rails and firewall are mostly completed. Even added some shocks and springs to the front end though there kinda hard to see in the pics. Completed the front clip. Bear in mind this coat of primer is only temporary so I could check for hood fit after I JB'd it and I still need to fix that horendous uneven gap between the front clip and door. Still need to do a little fine tuning to the hood scoop as well. Got the trunk lid cut out and added a wrap around lip so now there's ample room for the slicks and other necesary road racing paraphinalia. Yeah there is still a looonnng way to go. The one next big challenge I'm not looking forward to will be making the custom drop down headers. Still have no idea how I'm gonna do that at this scale. Gonna have to figure it out I guess. I also plan on giving the car including the chassis a weathered look just like the original.

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/7019/tlbp551hs1.jpg
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/1998/tlbp552yf1.jpg
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/5170/tlbp553fk2.jpg

1/64 scale!?! That is mind blowing. That is already killer. Cant wait to see the finished product. :thumbsup:

Very impressive! :thumbsup:

I can't wait to see the finished product!

I can only dream of work like that! You are one of my biggest insperations (sp?)!

Very, very sweet!!!!!









inspiration

Good god man. That's really comming together nice!
It'd be helpfull to see a run-down on parts and matierials.
Is the frame tube stock?
Steelies, mags and tires are perfect. Where'djya gitt'um?

That's as good as it gets! Dang.

Finally feeling better and started working on my TLB-55 again. The chasis, frame rails and firewall are mostly completed. Even added some shocks and springs to the front end though there kinda hard to see in the pics. Completed the front clip. Bear in mind this coat of primer is only temporary so I could check for hood fit after I JB'd it and I still need to fix that horendous uneven gap between the front clip and door. Still need to do a little fine tuning to the hood scoop as well. Got the trunk lid cut out and added a wrap around lip so now there's ample room for the slicks and other necesary road racing paraphinalia. Yeah there is still a looonnng way to go. The one next big challenge I'm not looking forward to will be making the custom drop down headers. Still have no idea how I'm gonna do that at this scale. Gonna have to figure it out I guess. I also plan on giving the car including the chassis a weathered look just like the original.

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/7019/tlbp551hs1.jpg
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/1998/tlbp552yf1.jpg
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/5170/tlbp553fk2.jpg
Are you friggin kidding me?!?! That is AWESOME! That frame work is out of control!!! I am moving soon and can't wat to get set up to do some customs! I won't be ANYWHERE near where you, Lummox and Stupidsquirrels are, but you guys make me want to be a better customizer(hear jack Nicholson). HAHHAHAHAHA. Seriously, truly impressive work!!

Thanks for the encouragement guys. It's a alot of work, but when I see some of the outstanding stuff being produced by Gunn, jlfphoto and Stupidsquirrels just to name a few it inspires me to do better with each custom.

Lummox: the front frame rails are made from 1/16 square brass tubing as well as the housing holding the front axle. It kinda gives it that "I-beam" look using the square tubing for the axle wich is what the original 55 from the movie was equiped with. The firewall and scoop are made from simple styrene sheeting. The wheels are Greenlight Tourqe Thrusts that have been Pine Soled to remove any plating and paint. The spokes still need to be darkened a shade or two to look a little more authentic. I'll take some better pics of the front clip hinge as well as the shocks, both very simple to cunstruct but them shocks are a pain in the you know what because there so damn tiny. Each shock spring is comprised of 4 seperate parts.

One more thing. I don't know what kinda metal HW's used on this car but is not your standard metal. This stuff is as hard as I don't know what. I've cut apart more than a few cars but this was unlike anything I have encountered. I went through 4 blades just cutting off the front clip. I wont even mention how many I went through with the trunk. Thank heaven for my new Craftsman roto tool for there is no way my old one would have made a dent excavating the engine bay.

Very nice indeed. :thumbsup: I've seen some tie-downs used on some die-casts that would be good for shaping the tube headers. In lue of that maybe a place like Radio-Shack would have some thin guage coated wire that would work for headers. :confused:

great job. try the zinger cars for your headers or hw gasser cars.

Looks good in the primer. Can't wait for the final version! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: rr

Wow! That's amazing! I've done one in 1/18 and 1/64 myself.
So what are you going to use for a motor? As far as the headers, just look around for some wire the right thickness and bend and paint them up yourself. I made my 1/18 out of plumber's solder. My 1/64 is a slot car and is just detailed on the outside.

Again..awesome work. I love your firewall....awesome...just awesome. But as far as your referance to the front axle being square...it's actually round on the real car......

Here's a link to my pics at the TLB site:

http://groups.msn.com/twolaneblacktophomepage/clickforwildtwolane55modelphotos.msnw

Black Sunshine that is exceptional! You've got me all fired up about finishing one of my own projects now! It's a Jl '32 Ford roadster that I started work on a couple of years ago. I made one frame rail for it, got side tracked and put it down. I've never gotten back to it. Like you, I used brass for the rails, however, I chose solid stock over tubing. I have to get that thing finished now. You've given me inspiration. Thanks!
Say, I can tell you one way to make headers for your piece. I did this on another '32 Ford. You can use 1/16 brass tubing, which you can bend without kinking if you insert a piece of spring wire into it beforehand. Once you bend your tube to the shape you want, you pull the wire out of it and you have a nice open pipe.

Wow! That's amazing! I've done one in 1/18 and 1/64 myself.
So what are you going to use for a motor? As far as the headers, just look around for some wire the right thickness and bend and paint them up yourself. I made my 1/18 out of plumber's solder. My 1/64 is a slot car and is just detailed on the outside.

Again..awesome work. I love your firewall....awesome...just awesome. But as far as your referance to the front axle being square...it's actually round on the real car......

Here's a link to my pics at the TLB site:

http://groups.msn.com/twolaneblacktophomepage/clickforwildtwolane55modelphotos.msnw
That is amazing 69 Hurst. I first saw your car over at the Diecast Pub and it is in fact beside the original car the inspiration for mine. The level of detail is mind boggling. And the weathering is just dead on. Not sure what I'll use for a motor yet. Probally an action Funny Car motor that I will have to modify; mainly the heads, cant use the mopar ones. and I'll have to fabricate some kinda highrise manifold. There is a manifold from a muscle machines nitro car I could use like I did for my Baracuda but it's realy not the correct type. I also still need to correct the offset for the rear rims as well. Ther'e way to narrow as they stand now. Probally add some outer bands of some sort. For headers I think some thin gauge wire for the individual tubes and some 1/16 round tubing where they all join together. I realize now the front axle isn't correct but I think I can live with it as it stands....maybe :rolleyes:

That is amazing 69 Hurst. I first saw your car over at the Diecast Pub and it is in fact beside the original car the inspiration for mine. The level of detail is mind boggling. And the weathering is just dead on. Not sure what I'll use for a motor yet. Probally an action Funny Car motor that I will have to modify; mainly the heads, cant use the mopar ones. and I'll have to fabricate some kinda highrise manifold. There is a manifold from a muscle machines nitro car I could use like I did for my Baracuda but it's realy not the correct type. I also still need to correct the offset for the rear rims as well. Ther'e way to narrow as they stand now. Probally add some outer bands of some sort. For headers I think some thin gauge wire for the individual tubes and some 1/16 round tubing where they all join together. I realize now the front axle isn't correct but I think I can live with it as it stands....maybe :rolleyes:

Thanks buddy! I'll have to post a couple of my slot car when I can take a few more pics. As far as the wheels, here's a link to the Hotwheels car I used the wheels off of for my 1/64. When you paint the centers aluminum, they look spot on. This car is pricey...you can find them cheaper. The tires are perfect for front and rear as well (When the car runs slicks, not street tires) Tell me what you think....

http://cgi.ebay.com/HOT-WHEELS-JEGS-1967-PRO-STREET-CORVETTE-DRAGSTER_W0QQitemZ280124852244QQihZ018QQcategoryZ4 5352QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem