Sand Crab

[oldfart]

I'm really not a new guy, I was a member here long before the format switched over to this Proboards. I left many years ago, and came back. A.J. invited me over, and I had joined. Dave R.- you may/may not remember me, I was the one who told you about the Surf N'Van, which you then added to your collection. Hey, BTW, I wanted to tell you, your pic of yourself as avatar looks almost exactly like me in my senior year pic! LOL!

I've been buying and building models since about '64-'65, just following behind my older brother. He eventually quit, I never did. If I saw models I really liked, I bought multiples- or, at least, my grandmother helped me! I built one of these back then when they came out, but, like most of my earlier builds, don't have anymore. Kits like this, the Red Baron, Orange Hauler, Tijuana Taxi, Magnum GT, Mail Truck, etc., and others- sometimes I'd build them, then trade them to friends for boxes of parts or something- anyway, those early builds are just GONE. Wish I still had them. I've been slow getting around to it, but I'm trying to build them over again, get 'em back on the shelf. At least I have the multiples to draw from. Hopefully I'll build them better than I did back then. All my extras are MIB, some still sealed, but because of age and much moving place to place, I never know how well they've withstood all that. Sometimes I've found tire burns, scratched glass or parts, or decals that just aren't the best. Luckily so far, no kits have come with missing parts.

Friends and I agreed that some models, like this one, always looked best in their original color, like the boxart. Anyway, I just polished the plastic on this, just detail painted some parts, so it was a quick build. I know Harley did one here that way.

Comments welcome!

Dave

[donculley]

You're right, they do look better in their original colors ! You did a great job on it, I wish I had thought about painting the seats like that instead of the old standby black . I've always like this kit, I got lucky and was able to get a restorable one on Ebay ( minus the base) back when you could get good deals on them. The day-glo decals on this kit really make it stand out. I'm surprised that this was the only kit I know of that had them , there were psychedelic decals out , but no day-glo !

[JoeD]

I agree some of TD kits look right at home just the way they are l built this kit
Years ago and it look right just the way it is
Yours looks great 
ANd yes l know who you are welcome back

[stilljustharley]

Mmmm, shiny plastic - looks just right!

And, yes, you're quite right Dave, I did build one many years ago!

www.showrods.com/gallery_pages/sand_crab1.html

but, at the risk of committing showrod heresy, I actually preferred this version:

www.showrods.com/gallery_pages/sand_crab_coupe.html

[Rallymaster]

Dave, this is an inspiration build! I do not remember you telling me to add anything to the Showroom that long ago, but I'm glad you did and welcome back. That avatar pic of me is circa 1973, about to graduate from St. Aloysisus grade school at age 14.

Can you tell us what exactly you did to polish this kit to perfection? When I build it, I want to do the same thing.

[oldfart]

Mar 8, 2023 7:58:09 GMT -6 Rallymaster said:

Dave, this is an inspiration build! I do not remember you telling me to add anything to the Showroom that long ago, but I'm glad you did and welcome back. That avatar pic of me is circa 1973, about to graduate from St. Aloysisus grade school at age 14.

Can you tell us what exactly you did to polish this kit to perfection? When I build it, I want to do the same thing.

Thanks Dave, it's been a long time. I'm not surprised you don't remember- ancient history, you know? As for our pics, I was 16 in mine, about to graduate from high school.

I use Novus #2 plastic polish, works great on bare plastic, paint blemishes, overspray- just a must have in the kit toolbox.

Thanks for the kind comments everybody!

[patw]

Superb! When I built the only one I could find here in the UK, the body was a lighter green but I did as you polished it. The decals weren't any good completely dried out, so I used some of my home printed varieties.




I also built Li'll Van.

[TooOld]

Quite possibly the nicest Sand Crab I've seen built , beautiful job Dave ! I agree that the polished plastic is the best way to build these .

[70spop]

Mar 8, 2023 0:54:56 GMT -6 JoeD said:

I agree some of TD kits look right at home just the way they are l built this kit
Years ago and it look right just the way it is
Yours looks great 
ANd yes l know who you are welcome back

Don, the Day-Glo decals must have been a late sixties thing for a moment. The original Garbage Truck, Dragon Wagon, and Tijuana Taxi also had Day-Glo decals. The decals in the reissues are bright, but if you see an original decal sheet they are eye-popping.

Brian

[70spop]

Dave, your Sand Crab looks fantastic! I love it.

Brian

[plastimatic]

YES! As it was meant to be built!
That's what I enjoyed so much about a lot the 70s show rods - some could built without spending my meager paper route stipend on kits AND paint (thumbprints were added for free).

I'm in agreement: For the right kit - in the right plastic (color and density) - polishing is the way to go.

Great job!

[Starry Eyes]

Nice clean build .. love the original colors !

[Count Dragula]

Mar 8, 2023 10:39:03 GMT -6 oldfart said:

Mar 8, 2023 7:58:09 GMT -6 Rallymaster said:

I use Novus #2 plastic polish, works great on bare plastic, paint blemishes, overspray- just a must have in the kit toolbox.

Thanks for the kind comments everybody!

What an outstanding build! 

Thank you so much for the tip on the polish you used to make the bare plastic look so utterly fantastic on the kits body!!!

Todd