I've wanted this Ertl Cruisin Series model for quite awhile now. I finally bit the bullet and paid a little too much for a "collectable" to cut up. I thought about just scratch building something like this, but I already have too many projects in the wings. Some of which I have to build if I want. Anyone familiar with this will notice right off I cut off the street. Oops there goes any resale value. I also removed the back and added a couple of wide bright white lights to the ceiling. They make a little plastic snap ring to mount these 5mm lights in a panel. Well the wide white 5mm is flat and when you put it into the ring it looks just like a can light with a trim ring. I also wanted a lighted sign, but didn't want the exterior floods on the sign. I just haven't perfected a way to make those to suit me yet. So I made a sign in Photo Shop, printed it on transparency film and used one of Lee's 12v 3 light units. Thanks again for that tip Lee. I added a few interior details, shifter and aircleaner on counter. A racing tire and wheel in the window, as well as some chrome headers. Also in the corner is a blown race motor on a stand. Maybe the "RAT" standing in front and the custom on top of the sign will give a clue as to which Ed I was thinking of when I did this.
Among other strange things Ed liked to do, he would wear a top hat and tails at the car shows. Artista makes a ring master figure, (which I have already ordered). A little touch up, goatee, and repaint pants to black, and I'll have a perfect Ed, (Big Daddy), Roth figure for in front of the shop. Top hat in hand waving in the potential customers.
Hope you enjoyed. Side note, I wish I could figure out how to get pictures of the lighting in the dark. I've done it before, but do not remember camera setting, or what and how much, if any, back light I used. If anyone can chime in on this I would appreciate it.
