Tuesday and Wednesday comments...... I hope.
Posted by Dr Diecast at 12/13/2007 6:56 AM and is filed under uncategorized 
So....... yesterday morning I wrote the blog and was uploading a picture when my computer froze. Needless to say I lost everything. So I went ahead and redid it again and again my computer froze. At that point I was too pissed to try for the third time and walked away. That being typed/said I will make this a combined post and a long one...... so grab the kids, popcorn, warm cocoa (if ya live somewhere cold, LOL) and relax while I ramble on about the world of........ whatever I want to type about, LOL.
So... first off I want to comment about the comments from Monday. I personally think the 66 Nova is a butt ugly car, LOL. But since I have nothing in the garage at this time I would take one......... though I would sell it and but something cool like a Amphicar, LOL. Take that Chevy boy lover DBII
Anyway... I love the 61-63 Tbird.... cool sleek lines and someday I will own a real one. I did at one time own a 65 Bird with its sequential tail lights, a 70 with its suicide doors and 72 coupe which was a styling machine, LOL. Hey I was like 24 at the time... it was styling, LOL. The thing I like best is even though Chrysler created the Turbine in that likeness it doesn't compare to the car then nor now. As a matter of fact those Tbirds are like nothing else ever made and I guess thats why I like them so.
Now for a comment about JP's post about his marveling at what I do. I have said it before and I will say it again.... I do nothing different and anyone one else can do. Mind you I do have long skinny fingers which help in this business but still its not rocket science. Ok, heres the story of how I got into this.
<take bathroom break now>
Back in the late 70's I decided to open a detail shop, yanno, washing, waxing, and cleaning cars for dealers. I was rolling along and was one day asked if I could repair and paint a door on a car for a dealer. I said YEAH.......though I had NO idea what I was doing. Well, that was a nightmare to say the least but in the end it all worked out as I self taught myself how to do bodywork. At one point I got good enough that I opened a bodyshop to go with my detail shop and became a favorite of the wholesale dealers at the auctions. I did good work and turned cars around quick which they liked.
The point is I had no idea..... I screwed up a couple cars which I in the end had to fix and figured it out.
Ok skip ahead a few years and I was just starting to get into the diecast industry as a collector and dealer. Since I have been fortunate enough to own a few real Jaguars in my life (74 XKE, 78 XJS, 89 XJ6, 94 XJ12) I was collecting them. Especially the Bburago 63 XKE's. But they only made them in a couple colors and well I felt the need to make some in colors not made. This was actually my first try at painting and marketing a diecast mod. Now for those who collect diecast you know Bburagos are some of the crappiest built diecast cars on the market. So much so you can pretty much shake them hard and half the trim pieces fall off, LOL..... it true honest. They use very little if any glue and its more of a snap fit then anything. So off I went to paint a couple cars in colors not made. So I decide the easiest ones to do are Old English White and Primrose Yellow plus both will go with the standard Beige interior on the Jag. Well I do that and they are ok....... just ok, but remember this is the first time. I of course have no way to replicate the emblems on the car buy hey its all good. I put them on Ebay and sell both for $50.00 each. Yep, $50.00 for a complete repaint, car included. Was it about the money.... nope, it was about doing/trying something I never did before. So........ just do it, as made famous in the Micheal Jordan Nike commercials. Heck who cares if ya ruin the car, its all a learning experience anyway.
This brings me to my first convertible conversion..... first as in INDUSTRY FIRST. Yep for those who follow the diecast industry "I" was the first to create a production retail version of a convertible conversion. As the other guy used to state on his website, they don't cut roofs off cars while sitting on the couch in front of a TV with a dremel tool. He was correct about that its exactly how I did the first one and boy did I get yelled at for getting metal shaving in the carpet, LOL. But hey...... I wanted to try it, lived in a condo and hell..... I can always vacuum right ?
Did I know what I was doing ? Hell no......... did I think it would work ?? Kinda..I guess. My point again JP is just try it......... whatever you want to try ..... whatever you look at and say I wish...... just try it. Thats how I got started. There is no manual for modding diecast cars and if you think the magazines on making plastic models will help I beg to differ Its a whole different world in diecast.
Ok, quickly, lol, back to the convertible conversion. See I had purchased at a nice discount some 300, 1970 Buick GS Nationals cars in Aqua Mist Green. I sold off all but about 30 and decided to make 25 convertibles. Man have things changed since then, LOL. I actually created the boot from Sculptee <sp> clay and then used toilet paper dipped in Elmer's glue over the top to give it the right texture. I have posted a picture of that first car.... I did 13 Aqua Mist and 12 repainted White. I have posted the White car and you can see the boot looks like its bloated from eating too much turkey, LOL.
.jpg)
I was the first at the time to offer for retail on Ebay and the Diecast Board a production run of convertible conversions. The other guy might have done 8000 conversions in the past 8 years but I was still the first. Cocky aren't I ?? Damn straight..... I started that industry, LOL, and I want credit for it, LOL. Oh and for the record I think the Aqua Mist ones were $75.00 and the White ones were $125.00 but they were all (25) sold out in 3 days with a list of backups in case someone bailed out.
I also did my first unrestored car back in 1999. The first run Pea Green Ertl 70 Camaro. I bought a case when I started in business and after a month and none being sold I had the itch... well did I know how to make an unrestored car, hell no I didnt. But I have seen many so I set about to make it look ..... well trashed. I did ... and others thought it was the coolest thing. I dont know if what I did was before the "other" guy started doing them as a business but still.... it was something I had no clue how to do but just DID IT. Sadly I don't have that car anymore...... but it had a cracked windshield, the drivers mirror was hanging off the door had rust holes and a primered hood, deep gouge down the passenger side and a dented front fender. I know I have a picture on paper somewhere and will try to find it.... it was done in 99.... and well most everything I can find done by the other guy was started in 2001. Maybe I was the first for that too. I never did offer the car/cars for sale that way but I did do my own little 25 car run of 1949 Merc's again using the same theory. Just do it...... hell ya cant screw up an urestored car anyway, LOL.
.jpg)
Ok...... so we have that out of the way...... lets move on to yesterday. Weird day.... didn't get alot done in the way of BIG stuff but then again my business isn't about big its about small, as in scale. I posted a couple pictures of the 65 Plymouth roll bar mock up and this is really really cool. Its a working side bar on a roll cage.... as seen in the picture's. The interior has been painted and the carpet flocked. the roll cage and dash are painted gloss and the rest have a satin finish as it should. Man I just love this... hope the owner does also when its finished. AGAIN... its a dry mock up and thats why there are no windows or tires on car.
To Doug..... who asked about the door lock..... thats the way the HWY61 cars tampo is, its almost real in detail. Cool little feature that they add that goes unnoticed alot.
This brings me to my rant of the day/days........
So RC2..... manufacturer of diecast cars for those who don't know....... has just released there 1971 Charger/Superbee line. This car has been in the works for a year.... much anticipated and with all due respect, modified a few times for authenticity at the manufacturing level since there were some things they missed in the tooling mock up.
OK...... I personally don't have one yet..... maybe today (praying) but as I scanned the diecast chat boards the car is getting raked over the coals..... this is wrong, that is wrong, this part is crooked, that part doesn't move right. Listen.... DUMBASSES!!!! there fricken diecast collectibles... NOT REAL CARS.... which by the way are NOT PROBLEM FREE. Ugh....... people who want the world for $5.00 should be sent to another planet so they can realize what they do have.
Mind you I would be pissed if I paid $70.00 for a car and it had paint defects or parts missing or working items NOT working but then return it. DONT FRICKEN WHINE ABOUT IT like its the damn end of the world. Geeze you guys are idiots sometimes..... really. Lets think for a minute..... they make 2000 cars in a factory with teenagers working at it in shitty conditions and have NO IDEA what a 71 Charger should look like. Now its simple to say, well there should be a QC manager...... yeah, its simple to say but in reality HE HAS NEVER SEEN A 71 CHARGER EITHER I would bet. Plus...... he can only look at so many things at once..... look I had that 71 Cuda here I looked at with the parts that fell off in shipping and thought it was ok..... I was ready to ship it back when I noticed the paint problem. I missed it, I thought it was fine.... I looked it over and I still missed it and I KNOW THESE CARS. Go figure, were all human right ?
So..... my point is if you want a perfect car, stop collecting NOW! If you want something better then step up and buy a CMC model........ beautiful cars at $220.00 each. If you want it made in the USA and perfect.... well call Marshal Buck and be ready to fork over $5000-15,000K...... yeah thats what I typed. Perfection costs..... and you Mr Rant and Bitch CANT AFFORD IT, so STFU and be happy you at least have a 71 Charger in 1/18 scale diecast. Ugh, some people...... hell I can't create perfection in what I do. Least im smart enough to know that and don't sell my services as such. This is a America.... we have so much to be thankful for than spending your time bitching about something you can fix by exchanging the item just goes to show how spoiled we truly are.
OK... im out
PS..... For my Nova lover....... are ya REDY ? Its almost done..... hehe
So... first off I want to comment about the comments from Monday. I personally think the 66 Nova is a butt ugly car, LOL. But since I have nothing in the garage at this time I would take one......... though I would sell it and but something cool like a Amphicar, LOL. Take that Chevy boy lover DBII
Anyway... I love the 61-63 Tbird.... cool sleek lines and someday I will own a real one. I did at one time own a 65 Bird with its sequential tail lights, a 70 with its suicide doors and 72 coupe which was a styling machine, LOL. Hey I was like 24 at the time... it was styling, LOL. The thing I like best is even though Chrysler created the Turbine in that likeness it doesn't compare to the car then nor now. As a matter of fact those Tbirds are like nothing else ever made and I guess thats why I like them so.
Now for a comment about JP's post about his marveling at what I do. I have said it before and I will say it again.... I do nothing different and anyone one else can do. Mind you I do have long skinny fingers which help in this business but still its not rocket science. Ok, heres the story of how I got into this.
<take bathroom break now>
Back in the late 70's I decided to open a detail shop, yanno, washing, waxing, and cleaning cars for dealers. I was rolling along and was one day asked if I could repair and paint a door on a car for a dealer. I said YEAH.......though I had NO idea what I was doing. Well, that was a nightmare to say the least but in the end it all worked out as I self taught myself how to do bodywork. At one point I got good enough that I opened a bodyshop to go with my detail shop and became a favorite of the wholesale dealers at the auctions. I did good work and turned cars around quick which they liked.
The point is I had no idea..... I screwed up a couple cars which I in the end had to fix and figured it out.
Ok skip ahead a few years and I was just starting to get into the diecast industry as a collector and dealer. Since I have been fortunate enough to own a few real Jaguars in my life (74 XKE, 78 XJS, 89 XJ6, 94 XJ12) I was collecting them. Especially the Bburago 63 XKE's. But they only made them in a couple colors and well I felt the need to make some in colors not made. This was actually my first try at painting and marketing a diecast mod. Now for those who collect diecast you know Bburagos are some of the crappiest built diecast cars on the market. So much so you can pretty much shake them hard and half the trim pieces fall off, LOL..... it true honest. They use very little if any glue and its more of a snap fit then anything. So off I went to paint a couple cars in colors not made. So I decide the easiest ones to do are Old English White and Primrose Yellow plus both will go with the standard Beige interior on the Jag. Well I do that and they are ok....... just ok, but remember this is the first time. I of course have no way to replicate the emblems on the car buy hey its all good. I put them on Ebay and sell both for $50.00 each. Yep, $50.00 for a complete repaint, car included. Was it about the money.... nope, it was about doing/trying something I never did before. So........ just do it, as made famous in the Micheal Jordan Nike commercials. Heck who cares if ya ruin the car, its all a learning experience anyway.
This brings me to my first convertible conversion..... first as in INDUSTRY FIRST. Yep for those who follow the diecast industry "I" was the first to create a production retail version of a convertible conversion. As the other guy used to state on his website, they don't cut roofs off cars while sitting on the couch in front of a TV with a dremel tool. He was correct about that its exactly how I did the first one and boy did I get yelled at for getting metal shaving in the carpet, LOL. But hey...... I wanted to try it, lived in a condo and hell..... I can always vacuum right ?
Did I know what I was doing ? Hell no......... did I think it would work ?? Kinda..I guess. My point again JP is just try it......... whatever you want to try ..... whatever you look at and say I wish...... just try it. Thats how I got started. There is no manual for modding diecast cars and if you think the magazines on making plastic models will help I beg to differ Its a whole different world in diecast.
Ok, quickly, lol, back to the convertible conversion. See I had purchased at a nice discount some 300, 1970 Buick GS Nationals cars in Aqua Mist Green. I sold off all but about 30 and decided to make 25 convertibles. Man have things changed since then, LOL. I actually created the boot from Sculptee <sp> clay and then used toilet paper dipped in Elmer's glue over the top to give it the right texture. I have posted a picture of that first car.... I did 13 Aqua Mist and 12 repainted White. I have posted the White car and you can see the boot looks like its bloated from eating too much turkey, LOL.
I was the first at the time to offer for retail on Ebay and the Diecast Board a production run of convertible conversions. The other guy might have done 8000 conversions in the past 8 years but I was still the first. Cocky aren't I ?? Damn straight..... I started that industry, LOL, and I want credit for it, LOL. Oh and for the record I think the Aqua Mist ones were $75.00 and the White ones were $125.00 but they were all (25) sold out in 3 days with a list of backups in case someone bailed out.
I also did my first unrestored car back in 1999. The first run Pea Green Ertl 70 Camaro. I bought a case when I started in business and after a month and none being sold I had the itch... well did I know how to make an unrestored car, hell no I didnt. But I have seen many so I set about to make it look ..... well trashed. I did ... and others thought it was the coolest thing. I dont know if what I did was before the "other" guy started doing them as a business but still.... it was something I had no clue how to do but just DID IT. Sadly I don't have that car anymore...... but it had a cracked windshield, the drivers mirror was hanging off the door had rust holes and a primered hood, deep gouge down the passenger side and a dented front fender. I know I have a picture on paper somewhere and will try to find it.... it was done in 99.... and well most everything I can find done by the other guy was started in 2001. Maybe I was the first for that too. I never did offer the car/cars for sale that way but I did do my own little 25 car run of 1949 Merc's again using the same theory. Just do it...... hell ya cant screw up an urestored car anyway, LOL.
Ok...... so we have that out of the way...... lets move on to yesterday. Weird day.... didn't get alot done in the way of BIG stuff but then again my business isn't about big its about small, as in scale. I posted a couple pictures of the 65 Plymouth roll bar mock up and this is really really cool. Its a working side bar on a roll cage.... as seen in the picture's. The interior has been painted and the carpet flocked. the roll cage and dash are painted gloss and the rest have a satin finish as it should. Man I just love this... hope the owner does also when its finished. AGAIN... its a dry mock up and thats why there are no windows or tires on car.
To Doug..... who asked about the door lock..... thats the way the HWY61 cars tampo is, its almost real in detail. Cool little feature that they add that goes unnoticed alot.
This brings me to my rant of the day/days........
So RC2..... manufacturer of diecast cars for those who don't know....... has just released there 1971 Charger/Superbee line. This car has been in the works for a year.... much anticipated and with all due respect, modified a few times for authenticity at the manufacturing level since there were some things they missed in the tooling mock up.
OK...... I personally don't have one yet..... maybe today (praying) but as I scanned the diecast chat boards the car is getting raked over the coals..... this is wrong, that is wrong, this part is crooked, that part doesn't move right. Listen.... DUMBASSES!!!! there fricken diecast collectibles... NOT REAL CARS.... which by the way are NOT PROBLEM FREE. Ugh....... people who want the world for $5.00 should be sent to another planet so they can realize what they do have.
Mind you I would be pissed if I paid $70.00 for a car and it had paint defects or parts missing or working items NOT working but then return it. DONT FRICKEN WHINE ABOUT IT like its the damn end of the world. Geeze you guys are idiots sometimes..... really. Lets think for a minute..... they make 2000 cars in a factory with teenagers working at it in shitty conditions and have NO IDEA what a 71 Charger should look like. Now its simple to say, well there should be a QC manager...... yeah, its simple to say but in reality HE HAS NEVER SEEN A 71 CHARGER EITHER I would bet. Plus...... he can only look at so many things at once..... look I had that 71 Cuda here I looked at with the parts that fell off in shipping and thought it was ok..... I was ready to ship it back when I noticed the paint problem. I missed it, I thought it was fine.... I looked it over and I still missed it and I KNOW THESE CARS. Go figure, were all human right ?
So..... my point is if you want a perfect car, stop collecting NOW! If you want something better then step up and buy a CMC model........ beautiful cars at $220.00 each. If you want it made in the USA and perfect.... well call Marshal Buck and be ready to fork over $5000-15,000K...... yeah thats what I typed. Perfection costs..... and you Mr Rant and Bitch CANT AFFORD IT, so STFU and be happy you at least have a 71 Charger in 1/18 scale diecast. Ugh, some people...... hell I can't create perfection in what I do. Least im smart enough to know that and don't sell my services as such. This is a America.... we have so much to be thankful for than spending your time bitching about something you can fix by exchanging the item just goes to show how spoiled we truly are.
OK... im out
PS..... For my Nova lover....... are ya REDY ? Its almost done..... hehe
Love it. Right on, no punches held back. Go for it, Flare master!
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I am REDDY, and I would love to see the little brother too. As for QC on die-cast (I did that for you) everyone is entitled to a perfect car, and with that comes the price. It will cost alot more than what most of us collectors are willing or can afford to spend. I am extremely happy with my 2 versions of the 71 Charger. I think RC2 as well as Supercars did a great job on these. Like I said on the Pub, my only complaint is that I can not shrink myself to drive these monsters around the living room. It seems that all the cars with all the errors wind up in the same hands over and over. I have only sent 2 cars back in all my years of collecting, 1 was damaged in shipping, the other was missing suspension pieces in the right front. I am still getting cars from each of the sources (GMP and Custom Diecast Replicas) and will continue to do so until I am no longer collecting. I can see the problem with complaining has been a long and well travled road if 1 manufacturer / dealer has decided not to deal with another party. I can only imagine how bad it must have been to go that route.
As for the 66 Nova, it had great lines, a 327 / 350 option and was affordable. Of course during the days of you doing the Hustle and dancing like John Travolta in your white polyester suit the Thunderbird was more part of the image. Instead of a car that you had to crank the windows, you got to push a button thus keeping your manicured hands clean. LOL Talk to you soon
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Holy shit John. What a funny rant! I almost pissed my pants.
It's sad, but you are right. Maybe the cousin lovin' whiner has nothing better to do than bitch and complain. Maybe he could take a spelling course in his free time!
That runner looks sweet.
Later!
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John, about crashing computers, I used ot have that problem when I wrote long messages with Hotmail, without a backup on your computer, if anything goes wrong, and in the electronic era, thousands of things can go wrong (QC problem again... don't get started on computers LOL) - so I started writing anything that was going to be composed on somebody else's server, including blogs, on Word, and set my program to save automatically every 5 minutes. That way, if the computer crashed, I onbly lost a few thoughts and a bit of typing. In fact, the current version of word saves yoru work in case of a program crash and offers to give it back to you almost to the keystroke. Then, you open your blog, copy the text from Word and paste in the box, add pics and you're done. Plus, you now have an archive copy of the text for your future autobiography. Looks like you have eight or ten copies already pre-sold!!
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As far as the Novas being beauty queens, well, if you put one next to an Enzo and a Garbage truck, I would definitely vote for the Nova to win and the Garbage truck as first runner up.
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