:) How many of you guys no longer build engines if they aren't going to show? Just glue the hoods shut?
At 85, and having built 3 or 4 hundred models, I gave that up probably 3 years ago.
Be honest now.
I still build engines, one of my favorite parts of building kits. As I glue my bodies to the chassis's, I have given up on doing any kind of detailing in the fuel cell/trunk area.
I do but I just put them together minus the belts and fan and then paint the whole thing metallic. Exceptions are usually made for my favorite drivers like Rusty or Richard.
Nah, i still enjoy putting them together and fiddling with them until they fit.
For my first few models, I followed the instructions which want you to put the engine in after you install the rear suspension and firewall. It was a major pain so after that, I started gluing the engine in place with the trailing arm assembly taped in place to support the transmission. Once the glue dries, then I install the suspension and firewall.
Depends on the kit/body. If the body doesn't have a separate hood, then I am not going to open it up just to show an engine. With that being said, I will attach some resemblance of an engine block/transmission to the to the under carriage, particularly if there is a chance that this build might end up going to a show and being judged.
The AMT fire apparatus kits, that I have,include a nicely detailed Detroit Diesel engine, but you don't see it since it is under the engine cover in the cab/body area....opening the engine cover up would be easy peasy should one choose to display the engine as well. I could plausibly build an AMT fire apparatus kit (American La France) minus its engine/transmission and in the case of the pumper, its Twin Flow pump, and no one would know otherwise.
This is from my Rusty Wallace Kodiak car.
(https://i.imgur.com/JqvfsCT.jpeg)
Passenger cars and trucks usually get the engine built but no extra detail. Many circle track cars have the hood glued shut so the engine is done just enough to get by if I was to look at it from the bottom. No one sees my finished models so doesn't matter.
:) I am with you, Tony. I have done the bottoms of some of them. It's an age thing with me.