Finally, after a long Christmas holiday I resumed to work on the "Lee1". First of all, I tryed to improve the rims: I created for every wheel a circular mask, and then I painted the uncovered zone with black mat. Later, on every wheel, I painted some parts with a silver drawing pen to create the correct effect created by the "American Vectors" on the real car. Terminated to work on the wheels, I started to work on the lateral rockets and on the internal chassis: to modify these parts, I used some "plasticard" A4 papers. With a pen I traced the correct shapes I needed and then with the cutter I cut the contour. In the end, I attached all the plastic parts on the chassis to recreate the correct structure and then I painted all the chassis with a gold/bronze color.
   Unfortunately, in this period is snowy, so I can't take good pictures of the model: I need to wait until the sun will come back, so go back ASAP to visit my site!!

Posted by: Fabiano on Fri 1/4/2008 11:41

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   After about 10 months (298 days), today Hollywood 1:18 Wheels celebrates 100000 visits. This number means that every day this site has an average of 336 visits: it's a good result for a new site and I'm greatful to all the people that periodically visit it to observe my models and my "works in progress". Thank you very much, my friends!!

Posted by: Fabiano on Sat 1/5/2008 21:04

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   In these days, I worked hard on the "Lee1": first of all, I created the lower console using the plasticard and then I painted it with a tan color (today I will realize a decal with the wood texture for the top part). Moreover, with a lot of fear, I corrected the ride height: to do this, I cut about 2mm from every suspension, but now the result is perfect: now the car seems to have a lowering kits and it's seems more aggressive. Subsequently I painted all the chassis with a gold color: naturally, I painted the engine compartment too so in the next days I will work on the engine. At the end, I created a new front push bar: to do this, I used the original leading edge, and then with the plasticard I recreated the correct shapes; after a good paint, I mounted it on the model and the look is great! That's all, so... enjoy yourself with the new pictures!!!

Posted by: Fabiano on Mon 1/7/2008 11:49

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   As announced some months ago (June 2007) one of my wishes is to create a "Street Hawk" replica on 1:18 scale. So, after a long period in which I worked on 3 Chargers (Traveller #1, Traveller #2 and Lee1), I've decided that now it's the right time to start this project: indeed 2 days ago I started to work on this bike (I'm using as base an Honda XR400 produced by Maisto) so I created the front nose layouts with a simple paper, then I will round off them and when every layout will be ready, I will create the same shapes on a plasticard sheet. I hope you like it!!

Posted by: Fabiano on Wed 1/9/2008 15:06

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   Others little updates on the "Lee1": I added a decal on the dashboard to reproduce all the car instruments. Moreover, I started to work on the engine: I'm trying to create with the plasticard the filter cover; when it will be ready, I will paint it with black mat and then I will put on it a decal with the brand "FOUR BARREL".
   Lastly, I continued to work on "Street Hawk", trying to create the lateral layout: in the next days, I will correct some little defects and then I will create the same shapes with the plasticard.

Posted by: Fabiano on Thu 1/10/2008 17:36

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   Step by step, the engine go ahead... I finished to prepare the air filer (black mat paint with the "FOUR BARREL" decal) and then I painted all the parts with an orange paint. Now, I need only to add some details, like the wirings, then when I will finish it, I will put it on the engine bay and I will try to recreate the famous jump in front of the Seney Hall.

Posted by: Fabiano on Tue 1/15/2008 12:34

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   After the first news, something is moving: the sequel of "Collier & Co." is in pre-production and to promote it, John Schneider has decided to organize a "Collier & Co." fans club: joining this club for only $5, John will include every member's name in the credits of the DVD when it becomes available in stores nationwide!
   Other membership benefits include: email updates from John Schneider and the Collier & Company production staff about the progress of the film, exclusive access to a 'members only' website featuring behind the scenes photos and videos (available as soon as filming begins) and early access to trailers and exclusive clips from the movie as it is being made.
   Join the Collier & Company Fan Club today!

Posted by: Fabiano on Wed 1/16/2008 12:55

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   Finally, after one month, I received the last 3 models I ordered in December. The first model is a 1971 Plymouth Road Runner produced by ERTL (limited edition 1 of 2502): this model will became the car used by Daisy Duke in the first episodes of the TV series "The Dukes of Hazzard". The second model is a 1969 Dodge Charger produced by Johnny Lightning (I bought it in France): this model will became the second car used by Kurt Russel (Stuntman Mike) in the movie "Grindhouse: Death Proof". The third model is a 1970 Chevy Nova SS produced by Maisto: this model will became the first car used by Kurt Russell (Stuntman Mike) in the movie "Grindhouse: Death Proof".
   I will start to work on these models in the next days.

Posted by: Fabiano on Thu 1/17/2008 11:36

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   Waiting to work on the models I show you yesterday, I worked on the "Street Hawk" bike: first of all, I removed all the original paint from the body and then I started to prepare the new body with the plasticard sheets. As you can see, initially I created the front nose, and then I created the lateral parts. They need some adjustment, but I think I'm on the correct way!!
   The next week, I will continue to work on the new body, creating the rear part and the contour around the saddle. Have a nice weekend!!!

Posted by: Fabiano on Fri 1/18/2008 09:54

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   In the last weekend, John Schneider sold his "Bo's General Lee" on a "Barrett-Jackson" auction: the final price was $450,000 and it has become the most expensive 1969 Charger in the World!! In February, John will release a new DVD called "Bo's Last Ride With Bo": on this video, John will take us on a final ride in his favorite car on the streets of old Hazzard (California) and right up on the auction block in Scottsdale! If you want to watch the auction, click on the following links:

Posted by: Fabiano on Mon 1/21/2008 10:22

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   In these days I'm working on the "Street Hawk" bike, but I found the time to work also on the Lee1's engine. I added some details, in particular some wirings and then I installed it on the engine bay. However, the model it's not finished: I need to add other distinctive features to the engine, like the car battery and the water tray. Moreover, I will substitute all the decals with a new correct set.

Posted by: Fabiano on Wed 1/23/2008 16:45

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   Other updates on the "Street Hawk" bike! I finished to create the body with the plasticard and then I painted the bike with a metallized blue (it's an awesome color because it changes shade with different lights). To do this, I painted 2 coatings: when the paint will be perfectly dry, I will add the lateral decals and a lot of other details. Moreover, in the next days, I will work on the chassis, painting it (and the engine) with a mat black paint. Then will be the turn of the rims: I will paint them with a gold paint.

Posted by: Fabiano on Fri 1/25/2008 14:15

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   29 years ago, in the USA, on CBS it cames broadcasted the first episode ("One armed Bandit") of the TV series "The Dukes of Hazzard": it was the first time the world saw the Duke's family and the famous General Lee. So, today I want to tribute this great TV series and all its characters. Happy birthday "Dukes of Hazzard"!!!

Posted by: Fabiano on Sat 1/26/2008 08:19

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   Today it's my birthday and to celebrate it, I will publish some new pictures of the "Street Hawk" bike. As you can see, I added the decals on the lateral parts and then I painted the chassis and the engine with a mat black paint. Finally, I added a blackened glass on the front nose. This evening, I will paint the rims with a gold paint and in the next days I add other decals on the keel.

Posted by: Fabiano on Tue 1/29/2008 15:48

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   A lot of people wrote me asking in which way I modified my IKEA Detolf display cases. So, I decided to create a simple tutorial in which I explain, with good pictures, every step to increase the capacity of this display case. Moreover, in the future, I will prepare other tutorials about the diecast models hobby.
   I hope you will appreciate this new section!

Posted by: Fabiano on Thu 1/31/2008 11:58

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