FridayFreekingFriday
Posted by Dr Diecast at 6/20/2008 7:16 AM and is filed under uncategorized 
Well boys and girls Friday and just another day in diecastland. First off the daily reads are holding steady at about 15 a day..... not sure who... most don't post but thats ok ...... just 999,999,985 more to go so I have 1 million readers.... im thinking sometime next month, LMAO.
So yesterday was filled with numerous things of which the first was creating some samples for the cable company getting the 144 vans done. Yep I said 144..... originally it was 110 but when I order the vans the smallest I could buy was a case of 144, so I up sold them on the other 34 and thats where we are.
These will have logos on the sides and roof. They finally forwarded the artwork but then I have to up load it and resize it in my photoshop program. I then print samples on paper cut them out and tape them to the vehicle for sizing and appearance. They wanted to use as much space as possible but because of how these are made it does limit it.
So after sending a couple sample shot of the van with the logs on different spots they came to an agreement on what I needed to do. See the "almost" final sample below. The side logo needs to be made crisper and just a tad narrower to fit the side panel but then its good to go. 288... probably 300... side logos and 150 roof logos. Then its cut them, soak them, lay them and dry them, LOL. Though this is a project I can do over a weekend while watching TV the only hitch in this plan is based on my decal paper supplier and if the paper gets here today or tomorrow. If not then I will have to take a day next week to do this.
I also spent at least an hour yesterday working with a customer about a project. Basically its just a Mercedes 400E but...... they don't make the mid 90's Benz's in diecast. He really wanted one for his girlfriend and while I did a lot of checking and came up with nothing he decided too have me rework a 190 "baby Benz" and just put 400E badging on it. Once this was decided then it was off to see what was available and what colors so I could possibly save him some money but alas I couldn't so now I will be repainted the inside and outside of a 190 and badging it to look like a 400E. Ahhhh........ diecast fun at its best.
I also had to venture into the Robert James Concepts side yesterday as I need to get a Nash Bridges "Fantasy" Concept Cuda built. This is like before the whole Barrett Jackson show with my using raw metal parts made for the cars but ones that I have to do major bodywork on. Basically the rear bumper/valance. The taillight panel, grill, shaker and front bumper were fine after a little sanding and filling. Yes sanding..... to remove the flash from the mold process then filling to smooth it all and more sanding. The hood got reworked... sits good on the car now and that was also sanded and will get a coat of putty today. I should have this ready for paint tomorrow.... then if all goes well I will clear it Sunday.... and assemble and ship it Monday or Tuesday.
Lastly I was working on the 58 Impala hardtop.... no picture right now but I did make the filler panel that goes between the rear window chrome trim and the body so it flows correctly. Once I have that sanded and finished I will then lay out the lines for the new trunk seam as the convertible in real life has a smaller trunk then the hardtop version.
Well....... I believe this will be it today..... im off to the shop so as I say......
Im out !
So yesterday was filled with numerous things of which the first was creating some samples for the cable company getting the 144 vans done. Yep I said 144..... originally it was 110 but when I order the vans the smallest I could buy was a case of 144, so I up sold them on the other 34 and thats where we are.
These will have logos on the sides and roof. They finally forwarded the artwork but then I have to up load it and resize it in my photoshop program. I then print samples on paper cut them out and tape them to the vehicle for sizing and appearance. They wanted to use as much space as possible but because of how these are made it does limit it.
So after sending a couple sample shot of the van with the logs on different spots they came to an agreement on what I needed to do. See the "almost" final sample below. The side logo needs to be made crisper and just a tad narrower to fit the side panel but then its good to go. 288... probably 300... side logos and 150 roof logos. Then its cut them, soak them, lay them and dry them, LOL. Though this is a project I can do over a weekend while watching TV the only hitch in this plan is based on my decal paper supplier and if the paper gets here today or tomorrow. If not then I will have to take a day next week to do this.
I also spent at least an hour yesterday working with a customer about a project. Basically its just a Mercedes 400E but...... they don't make the mid 90's Benz's in diecast. He really wanted one for his girlfriend and while I did a lot of checking and came up with nothing he decided too have me rework a 190 "baby Benz" and just put 400E badging on it. Once this was decided then it was off to see what was available and what colors so I could possibly save him some money but alas I couldn't so now I will be repainted the inside and outside of a 190 and badging it to look like a 400E. Ahhhh........ diecast fun at its best.
I also had to venture into the Robert James Concepts side yesterday as I need to get a Nash Bridges "Fantasy" Concept Cuda built. This is like before the whole Barrett Jackson show with my using raw metal parts made for the cars but ones that I have to do major bodywork on. Basically the rear bumper/valance. The taillight panel, grill, shaker and front bumper were fine after a little sanding and filling. Yes sanding..... to remove the flash from the mold process then filling to smooth it all and more sanding. The hood got reworked... sits good on the car now and that was also sanded and will get a coat of putty today. I should have this ready for paint tomorrow.... then if all goes well I will clear it Sunday.... and assemble and ship it Monday or Tuesday.
Lastly I was working on the 58 Impala hardtop.... no picture right now but I did make the filler panel that goes between the rear window chrome trim and the body so it flows correctly. Once I have that sanded and finished I will then lay out the lines for the new trunk seam as the convertible in real life has a smaller trunk then the hardtop version.
Well....... I believe this will be it today..... im off to the shop so as I say......
Im out !
Hey John, Pete and I are wondering - with as many Tbirds and 'Stangs lined up, how is it the only Ford in today's post is a van? Odds are there should be at least one of ours to any Mercedes/Cuda/Bowtie combo, right?
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Well guys thats because I am officially changing the name of the business too Custom Diecast FORD Replicas, LOL. All Fords all the time....... hehe.
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NO WORRIES, I READ YOUR POST EVERTIME AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT . I THINK ALOT OF GUYS REAB BUT DO'NT POST A COMMENT EVERTIME ,STILL WOULD LIKE TO KNOW YOUR FAVORIT TOOL IS FOR TAKING OF WHEELS.LATTER
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Sorry I forgot you had asked me that. I used a good old fashion door clip tool you can buy at any auto parts store. Its flat with a v cut up the middle..... this allows you to get between the wheel and the hub and some gentle twisting and poof its off.
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Enjoyed your blog as always. I saw you mentioned my project at the end. I am sure it was a typo but I sure hope that is '59 Hardtop Impala you are working on :} Looking forward to seeing pics of the progress when you have time in your very busy schedule.
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