Some updates 8/13
Posted by Dr Diecast at 8/13/2008 6:35 AM and is filed under uncategorized 
I was recently ranked on about not blogging everyday. While I appreciate the interest the blog does take more time then I have sometimes and while I used to use it as a way to vent, and would spend 60-90 minutes on it, lately I just don't have time to type all the little things that I do on a daily basis.
So let me update some stuff. First off, I rarely work all weekend anymore...... sit back and think for a second about what I do for a living. I take apart little cars that are really not made to be taken apart... rework, create, glue, paint, sand, polish, trial fit, assemble, bla bla bla all these things repeatedly on little cars (and trucks). There is no manual.... there are no guidelines...... this is all hand work with the mental ability it takes to do it. Its not a job for everyone.... its not a job many could do for a day let alone a week, year or 10 years.... yeah, I started modding cars in 98 that were resold on Ebay. I have since my late wife died in 2001 worked pretty much ... 80% of my weekends... on these cars... to keep busy... to get stuff done.. and at some point it just becomes tiring. Most who read this do know me more then as just the diecast modder I am. Well for those who don't know me I will put it another way.... I need a life..... I need one that doesn't include diecast cars and spending my weekends working on them. Please remember most of you work a 40 hour week and have time for other things..... while I don't have other things (kids, wife, girlfriend, hobbies per say) I still need time for whatever I want to do outside of this business.
As the economy has changed so has my business..... needless to say this is a want and not a need type business and with that being said the phone rarely rings now for new projects. Even the emails have slowed, though I have had 10 emails for possible projects in the last 2 weeks yet only 1 was written and that was after the project was changed 3 times to get the pricing from $450 to $350 and its now at $150.00. While I appreciated all the business I get the lack of new business is such that it effects my overall work pattern.
See there has to be a balance between the new and old ..... new incoming cars and older longer harder projects so that things flow well and I don't get burnt out. Sadly with no new (new includes the time on the phone talking with people and then searching for the starter product) projects I am left as a worker bee in the my shop realizing every day that even though I love this, the time it takes to create these little replicas does not generate enough revenue to sustain a long downturn in the economy. Hmmm, so I have that to worry about.
I will post some of the little tedious, time consuming, money loosing things I have been working on. While you will look at the list and say " how the hell can that take so long" I will answer by saying , work a day in my shoes.
Is this a rant post....... not really, its more of a reality post. I have a shop full of work... probably still in the 50+ project area and thats without all the future Mustang projects from Doug but.... there are no simple projects outside of 2-3, mostly repaints for Pete.
So when I look at the big picture I figure unless I have something thats more in your face and involved its not worth the time to blog and thats why I don't do it every day. Whats funny is until last October I did even have a blog and I would just tell me customers to call or email me for an update. I added this as a way for them to get a little in site and view of the things that go on. While its appreciated by most and does keep them in the know I just don't know anymore if it's worth it.
So.... over the last few days these are some of the things I have been working on.
Had to search out sun visors off parts cars to find one that could be molded and mounted on the 70 Chevelle convertibles im created for a diecast dealer. This project has been here for 6 weeks..... should have been done in 2 days over a weekend but of course... its a problem child. I have lost who knows how much money on this but thats another story.
Once I found a sun visor that worked I had to make a silicone mold for it, the mold it. Looked fine but having to do 12 is time consuming (on top of cleaning the mixing cup, injector and molds afterwards) so I made another mold.... poured 2 at a time and while good, not perfect for mounting so I had to hand sand all 12.... sounds like a drop in the bucket ? Its not.... its just more time doing some hand work. These have now been shot in satin black for mounting.
Once I had the 6 convertible boots poured in resin I had to clean them and then shoot the texture on them and shoot them in a satin black for mounting.
The cars themselves needed some fine grinding.... this is where I smooth the cut lines on the tops of the fenders and finish reworking the windshield frame cut line.
With this done I can cut the one piece window insert and then mark off where they need to be cut around the window frame and re trim the windshield to fit correctly. Oh yeah..... this isn't a simple cut but one that has to be made to not remove the mounting area for the rear view mirror. This will all make sense when I post pictures.
While pouring the resin for the visors there is always more resin mixed than needed so instead of wasting it I also poured 5 carbs, a tach, 2 A/C compressors and 6 Anson slotted wheels. Whats this mean ? Means I had to also removed each of these from their molds and clean them (mold) for the next excess pour.
I created a new convertible boot for the 99-04 Mustang body style so I can make a mold for that. The boot originally came off a mid 90's Mustang and while close does not fit correctly so... its cut, trim, size.... then section, glue, fill, sand, trial fit, trim, sand, refit.... then off to primer. Now this will get a mold box made for the silicone so I can replicate it as needed.
Having had to redo the 3 spoke wheel I think its close enough to make a mold for so I got that little mold box set up. Heck making the mold box for a product is time consuming as you have to figure out how to mount the item in the box so when the silicone has set you can remove the piece and then pour them as needed and have them come out correct.
I spent a lot of time on the Foose wheel for the Roush Mustang. After cutting the spokes at the outer edge so they would sit back further I also realized that the lugs do not line up with the spokes but are offset of them.... so I had to cut each spoke off the center hub (remember how big this is) then trim them to fit the new area I needed to glue them too. While this is a major PITA that I am getting NO compensation for it had to be done and took hours to do. I probably have at least 15-20 hours in these wheels..... and the master still isn't done. Remember the cutting and such is just one part.... the laying out what has to be done is another.
I got the 69 Coronet hood just about ready for primer. This is a mini bulge hood that came as the stock R/T hood which you rarely see since most opt for the ram air version. I thought I only needed 1 hood like this but was contacted last week by one customer who informed me that her husband had decided to switch back to the stock hood from the six pack one so now I need two. I guess I will resin cast this one now, but........ what this means is the custom 68 Coronet, 6 pack hood I have a couple hours invested in is now going to take space in my junk parts bin. Oh well right ? its only time and money.
I also got the 2000 Mustang hood about ready for primer......... again, cutting, sanding, filling, sanding.... just to get to this point. Mind you I love the creating of parts not made..... but as with most of my modding its a guessing game as to what I charge and when busy with new incoming projects and such I loose track of my time on these things but when the business isn't flying along I do come to realize I loose money on a lot of my guesswork.
I also had my hands on prepping another Cuda body for the owner of the Dan Gurney AAR. He decided he wanted a 3rd car and since I was in the roll bar stage I decided to get another body built as quickly as possible so they can all get roll barred, LOL, at the same time.
Add to this some more bench time on the Woodie..... breaking down the Atomic Orange 07 Corvette, breaking down and prepping 2 Nascar bodies and there ya have it. Simple huh??? Couple hours of work huh ???? HA !
I will post some pictures later today or tomorrow.... I just don't have time.... im over an hour into this now and its just words.
OK....... Im out !
So let me update some stuff. First off, I rarely work all weekend anymore...... sit back and think for a second about what I do for a living. I take apart little cars that are really not made to be taken apart... rework, create, glue, paint, sand, polish, trial fit, assemble, bla bla bla all these things repeatedly on little cars (and trucks). There is no manual.... there are no guidelines...... this is all hand work with the mental ability it takes to do it. Its not a job for everyone.... its not a job many could do for a day let alone a week, year or 10 years.... yeah, I started modding cars in 98 that were resold on Ebay. I have since my late wife died in 2001 worked pretty much ... 80% of my weekends... on these cars... to keep busy... to get stuff done.. and at some point it just becomes tiring. Most who read this do know me more then as just the diecast modder I am. Well for those who don't know me I will put it another way.... I need a life..... I need one that doesn't include diecast cars and spending my weekends working on them. Please remember most of you work a 40 hour week and have time for other things..... while I don't have other things (kids, wife, girlfriend, hobbies per say) I still need time for whatever I want to do outside of this business.
As the economy has changed so has my business..... needless to say this is a want and not a need type business and with that being said the phone rarely rings now for new projects. Even the emails have slowed, though I have had 10 emails for possible projects in the last 2 weeks yet only 1 was written and that was after the project was changed 3 times to get the pricing from $450 to $350 and its now at $150.00. While I appreciated all the business I get the lack of new business is such that it effects my overall work pattern.
See there has to be a balance between the new and old ..... new incoming cars and older longer harder projects so that things flow well and I don't get burnt out. Sadly with no new (new includes the time on the phone talking with people and then searching for the starter product) projects I am left as a worker bee in the my shop realizing every day that even though I love this, the time it takes to create these little replicas does not generate enough revenue to sustain a long downturn in the economy. Hmmm, so I have that to worry about.
I will post some of the little tedious, time consuming, money loosing things I have been working on. While you will look at the list and say " how the hell can that take so long" I will answer by saying , work a day in my shoes.
Is this a rant post....... not really, its more of a reality post. I have a shop full of work... probably still in the 50+ project area and thats without all the future Mustang projects from Doug but.... there are no simple projects outside of 2-3, mostly repaints for Pete.
So when I look at the big picture I figure unless I have something thats more in your face and involved its not worth the time to blog and thats why I don't do it every day. Whats funny is until last October I did even have a blog and I would just tell me customers to call or email me for an update. I added this as a way for them to get a little in site and view of the things that go on. While its appreciated by most and does keep them in the know I just don't know anymore if it's worth it.
So.... over the last few days these are some of the things I have been working on.
Had to search out sun visors off parts cars to find one that could be molded and mounted on the 70 Chevelle convertibles im created for a diecast dealer. This project has been here for 6 weeks..... should have been done in 2 days over a weekend but of course... its a problem child. I have lost who knows how much money on this but thats another story.
Once I found a sun visor that worked I had to make a silicone mold for it, the mold it. Looked fine but having to do 12 is time consuming (on top of cleaning the mixing cup, injector and molds afterwards) so I made another mold.... poured 2 at a time and while good, not perfect for mounting so I had to hand sand all 12.... sounds like a drop in the bucket ? Its not.... its just more time doing some hand work. These have now been shot in satin black for mounting.
Once I had the 6 convertible boots poured in resin I had to clean them and then shoot the texture on them and shoot them in a satin black for mounting.
The cars themselves needed some fine grinding.... this is where I smooth the cut lines on the tops of the fenders and finish reworking the windshield frame cut line.
With this done I can cut the one piece window insert and then mark off where they need to be cut around the window frame and re trim the windshield to fit correctly. Oh yeah..... this isn't a simple cut but one that has to be made to not remove the mounting area for the rear view mirror. This will all make sense when I post pictures.
While pouring the resin for the visors there is always more resin mixed than needed so instead of wasting it I also poured 5 carbs, a tach, 2 A/C compressors and 6 Anson slotted wheels. Whats this mean ? Means I had to also removed each of these from their molds and clean them (mold) for the next excess pour.
I created a new convertible boot for the 99-04 Mustang body style so I can make a mold for that. The boot originally came off a mid 90's Mustang and while close does not fit correctly so... its cut, trim, size.... then section, glue, fill, sand, trial fit, trim, sand, refit.... then off to primer. Now this will get a mold box made for the silicone so I can replicate it as needed.
Having had to redo the 3 spoke wheel I think its close enough to make a mold for so I got that little mold box set up. Heck making the mold box for a product is time consuming as you have to figure out how to mount the item in the box so when the silicone has set you can remove the piece and then pour them as needed and have them come out correct.
I spent a lot of time on the Foose wheel for the Roush Mustang. After cutting the spokes at the outer edge so they would sit back further I also realized that the lugs do not line up with the spokes but are offset of them.... so I had to cut each spoke off the center hub (remember how big this is) then trim them to fit the new area I needed to glue them too. While this is a major PITA that I am getting NO compensation for it had to be done and took hours to do. I probably have at least 15-20 hours in these wheels..... and the master still isn't done. Remember the cutting and such is just one part.... the laying out what has to be done is another.
I got the 69 Coronet hood just about ready for primer. This is a mini bulge hood that came as the stock R/T hood which you rarely see since most opt for the ram air version. I thought I only needed 1 hood like this but was contacted last week by one customer who informed me that her husband had decided to switch back to the stock hood from the six pack one so now I need two. I guess I will resin cast this one now, but........ what this means is the custom 68 Coronet, 6 pack hood I have a couple hours invested in is now going to take space in my junk parts bin. Oh well right ? its only time and money.
I also got the 2000 Mustang hood about ready for primer......... again, cutting, sanding, filling, sanding.... just to get to this point. Mind you I love the creating of parts not made..... but as with most of my modding its a guessing game as to what I charge and when busy with new incoming projects and such I loose track of my time on these things but when the business isn't flying along I do come to realize I loose money on a lot of my guesswork.
I also had my hands on prepping another Cuda body for the owner of the Dan Gurney AAR. He decided he wanted a 3rd car and since I was in the roll bar stage I decided to get another body built as quickly as possible so they can all get roll barred, LOL, at the same time.
Add to this some more bench time on the Woodie..... breaking down the Atomic Orange 07 Corvette, breaking down and prepping 2 Nascar bodies and there ya have it. Simple huh??? Couple hours of work huh ???? HA !
I will post some pictures later today or tomorrow.... I just don't have time.... im over an hour into this now and its just words.
OK....... Im out !
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