My own "Little" Shovel project

A while back I mentioned I had a little shovel project of my own happening. 'Cause, you know, when you've got a bazillion more important things to be doing, it's always best to waste time with plastic toys.

Now's a good time to mention that, if you're squeamish about "Ruining" or otherwise "Devaluing" rare-ish & harder to find model kits it might be a good idea to go listen to the best playlist in blog world over on Missinglink's, nicely ask Cain for an update, or look on in horror here as monkeys learn to use firearms.

I'm sure no one knows this but I've got a pretty decent little pile of motorcycle models & I'm going to say it's my hot rod upbringing that facilitates cutting up the ones that are harder to find.
Like this Triumph.
Which, for the hipsters keeping score at home, now sports things like a Model A tail light on what used to be the front fender:


Anyhow, this time around it's Revell's old Chain Gang chopper, that they want to sit like this:


Not that there's anything wrong with that really, I just had something different in mind & until the model companies start making what I want, I gotta "fix" that they gave me.


It seems like it may just need a little off the top.


According to the date on the box, this kit has been untouched since 1973 yet, with one uneven cut the "Collector" types can have a teeny little conniption.


Of course, there's nothing a little 2 part epoxy and some time upside down can't fix.



After taking away most of the forks, this is what I was after.


Now, being the geek that I am, I've got a hefty little stock pile of tanks & I wanted to try my hand at what the magazines always referred to as an "Axed Fat Bob".
(Did I get that right? I'm never good with the lingo)

Here's the beginnings of the hack job on this tank.


Some cutting, filing, sanding and puttying & I am ending up with this lopsided alien looking thing.


Obviously there is still some more puttying that needs to be done but I am hoping to be able to fake it enough.
I've kind of always thought of my models as "suggestions" more than anything.


All this work might wind up being for nothing anyhow...one I figure out how to get a tunnel in the bottom of the tank.
Right now I think it's going to involve some drilling....I want it to sit down over the backbone.


Yup....nothing says, "I've never been with a woman!" quite like customizing little plastic vehicles.

Like I've got nothing better to do

Awhile ago I'm sure I mentioned screwing up the tank on my own "Little" Shovel project by doing this.
Well. today was the day I decided to drag it back out again, & search through the vaults for another suitable 1/12 scale tank.
Sure enough, ('cause I'm a raging geek) I've got one.
In here:

When I bough this goofy kit I really wasn't quite sure why but I had been assuming it would some day bail me out parts-wise.
Also, if anyone cares, like all the other Imex motorcycle kits there's some pretty cool bits to be found.
The only hang up is, they're all green.
Here's where it stands at the moment:

And yes, I too know people who've completed actual motorcycles in the time it's taken me to get this far.
Spare me.
Christ, I need a life.
Have I said that yet this week?

A Shovel project of my very own

Kinda.
I've got the bug to build a model again (like I don't have enough real things that need attention)so I figure I'll do something with this:

I've had it kicking around for awhile now & in the back of my head I've been making plans that involve this as well:

Although I apparently won't be using the front end like I first thought:

It's no big deal though....I know I've got a bunch of 1/12 stuff around here & at least one complete narrow front end.
Which brings me to my question of the day.
What has gone wrong in my life that I have parts boxes like this:

Yet, I don't own a couch?

I've spent the better part of my 36 years

around old cars & motorcycles.
It wasn't until the advent of the internet that I heard the word "Patina."
I'm convinced it's either a made up, or misused word that someone with little experience said to someone with even less of a clue.
They in turn, thought it made them sound like they knew what they were talking about and started throwing it around every chance they got.
I can only assume from there, some of the bigger media outlets for these hobbies (who don't have much of a clue themselves and should know better) latched on to this new "Buzzword" in an attempt to fit in with the trendoids that make up their demographic.
Sort of "Trickle up vernacular" if you will.
At any rate, judging by the things that prompt the use of the word "Patina" I suspect it's just fancy talk for "Used" or as I like to put it "Lived in."
Much like this neat old Shovel spotted in the parking lot at the 2008 Brockton Fairground races (scattered throughout Goodish).
Although not high on my list, I would like something like this one of these days....AND something like the RD350 behind it. (Yes, I've got pictures of that too...stay tuned)





I never did run in to the owneer of this bike but would like to know what this is all about:

Back on track...to nowhere.

Apparently I've started giving monthly updates on what amounts to nothing more than playing with toys.
Well, as it turns out, mixing toys and power tools was not exactly the best way to cut a tunnel in to a tiny little gas tank but, as you all know, I'm a "Live on the edge" sort of a guy.

So, for my second attempt (Yes, I have quite a stash of model motorcycle parts, quit laughing) I figured I'd use the right tool for the job,

and seemed to meet with moderate success:

Who knew?!?!?!?

So, after countless ho...er....a bunch of time (I'm trying to maintain at least a shred of dignity here, you don't really wanna know how much time I spent with crap like this...do you?)I wound up with something a little less alien looking than the last time.


There's still more puttying, sanding and priming to do, but I gotta put it down for a bit.

This is where "The Little Shovel" (I hate it when people name vehicles) sits at the moment:


Next is the seat, which I think I have a handle on already & I wish I could find the bars I had set aside....I've got the weirdest set of problems.

Christ, I gotta figure out a better way to squander my time.
A job perhaps......

Oh yeah!

Did I forget to mention the total failure I had a few months ago?
Apparently this:

was not the right way to channel the gas tank I made for my own little shovel project.
Oops.
It's back to the parts box apparently.
Anyone have a spare 1/12 tank lying around?
I'm such a loser.