Zenrat's Flying Circus

[NARSES2]

Can't blame the dog, can't really blame him and couldn't shut the windows as it was too warm.  All i can do is hope i've worn her out today so she sleeps tonight.

Happy New Yeay Whiffers.

Unfortunately dogs seem to have this remarkable ability to ...................  Especially when they are still really puppies.

Have a good 2019 mate

[zenrat]

Finished the Hemi Hydro tonight.
Well, apart from painting the water skis.
That's about a 5 year build.

Ramcharger & Hemi Hydro 05 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Trailer wheels are Monogram NASCAR rims.  The spare is filled with fishing weights to keep the nose of the trailer down.  Winch is scratch built as is trailer board and straps.

Ramcharger & Hemi Hydro 03 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Tow car is a 1/24 Monogram Dodge Ramcharger.

Ramcharger & Hemi Hydro 02 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Ramcharger & Hemi Hydro 04 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

[Old Wombat]

 

[TheChronicOne]

Kickarse, mate!!! That's fantastic!!

[NARSES2]

Looks good mate 

[zenrat]

Thanks folks.
It's an old kit, dating from the 60's at a guess.  This was the latest re-pop.  It had some fit issues and the chrome plating was abysmal and almost all needed stripping.
It's meant to be a ski boat with a rear facing jump seat in the back.  I left this out, building it as a race/pleasure boat as while it had skis it was lacking any equipment to attach ropes to tow the skier.

[jcf]

 

[scooter]

That Ram Charger needs more rust...and holes in the floor boards.

[zenrat]

Ironically when I built the Dodge one of the major modifications I carried out was to scratch build a full floor.  As boxed the kit just has the interior tub sitting on top of the chassis with large gaps visible between the sides of the tub and the sides of the body.
I built the floor from 1mm styrene sheet which effectively gave it a scale 1" body lift.  Wheels and tyres are resin items from www.thepartsbox.com
This exposed to view the tops of the differentials which were moulded open and needed closing off.
IIRC I just used the centres and the springs, scratchbuilding new axle tubes and shackles.
79 Ramcharger 001 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Roobar is a cut down Italeri truck item.
79 Ramcharger 008 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Not much shed time today as before work I had to go and organise getting my 1:1 car looked at (transmission issues - out of my comfort zone) and then after work I had to take our house guest down the road so she could run about and chase other dogs.
I have however, over the last few days managed to put a coat of colour on the Comet floatplane.  It was a very old rattle can and it is being stubborn about drying fully- even in todays 36℃ heat.  I hope it cures eventually as it is a lovely shade of green.

[zenrat]

Per Ardua Ad Astra as it said at the park where I used to play as a kid.

Uncle duty this weekend.  This used to preclude modelling but as he has become a smelly teenager The Boy has become more surly and resentful so keeping him company while he watches anime is no longer pleasant or necessary.
We did start to make him a helmet from paper mache.  It is to his own design and we got one session of newspaper and wallpaper paste onto it.  It will need more work but even in it's unfinished state it freaked out the dog who wouldn't go near it and barked at it.  We had to hide it in the pantry.
Then the pump for the water tank wouldn't work.  I lifted the cover to find a massive ants nest surrounding the battery and pump.  Poison has been strategically placed.  This wasn't reason the pump wasn't working through (it's all sealed and should have run fine) - the solar panel has come off the end of my shed.  Either blown down or hit by a falling branch.  It looks OK but the wires snapped and will need some expert twisting and electrical tape repairs.  Oh, and I need to rebuild it's mount as the wood I used seven years ago has rotted.  This time I will be using Ikea kitchen parts so it'll be good for another seven at least...

Modelling wise I painted the FW-190, weathered the KRAZ wheels and plumbed fuel lines on the Drag Taxi engine.
Here is a picture of the Comet.  The paint seems to have cured now the temperatures have dropped.
Comet Floatplane WIP 06-01-2019 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

I also had a stash rummage.  The Mystery Inc whiff elsewhere on the forum got me thinking.  When I finish the Kraz i'll have space to start another 1/35 build.
I bought this for the crane, which I used on the CAT D9 dozer, and i've been at a loss how to whiff the rest of it.  Well now I know.
AAVR-7A1 06-01-2019 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
The camper body is from a 1/25 AMT El Camino.  I haven't used it as intended because it is severely underscale, being closer to 1/35.  It'll be perfect for this.

[NARSES2]

And we're not even a week into the New Year yet ! Busy lad 

[ericr]

they both look very inspired ! please proceed ! 

[TheChronicOne]

I had to look it up! I never realised people were so foolish as to put campers on Elcos. 





I mean... it could be fun for certain things but I think that's a bit much on the vehicle and looks like sin.     

[jcf]

Meh, it's a last series El Camino so the camper doesn't hurt its looks.

[TheChronicOne]

      It's one big travesty.