Roger Zimmermann

It seems that I like to upset people or do them uncomfortable with their decisions: you have an Avanti with red trim and you will paint it green? It seems to me that the combinaison is not very harmonious...Red trim is asking for a black, silver, white, red or some pastel outside color but a strong green? At the end, I have to admit that it is your car and, if you like the combo, I have nothing to add!

Thank you for the explanation; it makes sense. I believe not only the urine from mouses is agressive, also from other animals.

R1 & R2 engines are black, the oil pan too. If it would be my car, I would do another color. Not very relevant: on my scale model, I did the engine dark red metallic instead of black. I don't regret it!

The mouse was very, very hungry!

Bernie, with what did you afraid the cows? Thank you for the road map; I certainly drove more or less like you during my existance. I have a good friend who is more or less like you: he loves to drive over mountain roads, mainly in Switzerland. There is one tiny difference: he do that with a 1970 or 71 Cadillac Fleetwood! We always joke together about his narrow road experiences and my reluctance to mountains!

All things are relative: for some, 1963 is very, very old and for you it's almost a new engine! You are right about the small found parts; you can described it better than me.

I would do it too... Regarding the pieces you found: it that plastic or aluminum? are the pistons OK? GM had plastic coated cam sprocket; with time the plastic get brittle and pieces are goind into the oil pan. However, I doubt that Studebaker did that as early as 1963.

Thank you for the suggestion, but please wait until this one is ready!

I would not go there myself with a Cad! By the way, I don't know this road; I don't especially like mountains. You see, there is something for each on this planet; there are even fools who spend hours on a tiny model! Obviously, we differ a lot: I enjoyed to restore my cars (well, not all the time); driving them is not so important. When I do it (driving), I like to do it in relative comfort, compared to what cars today can offer. I understand well that this point of view is not necessarily shared by everyone. This hobby would be boring if everyone had the same ideas!

Thank you Bernie! This is a nice car, but also not one I would like to own: lack of automatic transmission and electric windows!

As mentioned previously, I had to do the generator to continue the lower bracket of the A/C compressor. A generator is usually a large cylinder with two flanges to attach it somewhere and a pulley. Quite easy... The pulley /fan is a casting part, I did it also in one piece, machined and not cast; I'm pleased with the result. The flange behind the pulley is easy to do; however, I managed to do it wrong: I forgot to add the ear for its adjustment! That wrong piece is on the top of the first picture; the other parts, including the capacitor, are ready to be assembled. The rear flange is a cast aluminum part with some recesses. Even if this part can hardly be seen, I did the recesses by milling. A nice small exercise! The completed generator is on the second picture.

You bet, Chris!

Strange world: you buy a German product for your rubber and we, in Europe, are buying an US product to do that! Don't be fooled by such products: I may be wrong, but you never will get your weatherstrips like new. It's like a beauty cream: even applied everyday with a large brush on a 80 years old face, the skin will never turn back like it was when 20 years old...

Glad you did your trip without major problem. If you are alone on the road, snow is usually not a problem if you have the right tires. But there are so many fools driving at 15 mph that I stay home when we get snow in our region.

The construction resumed this week, as I expected. After more or less finishing the case, I did yesterday the upper bracket. That thing had to be physically positioned on the engine in a way I can continue. The upper bracket is probably not very accurate; I had to adapt it in relation to the items around it. Anyway, it allows seeing the relationship with the engine block at the lower case where the lower bracket/oil pan for the compressor is located (not yet done). That lower bracket/oil pan has provisions for the generator; I will have to do the generator first... As you can imagine, the space is very tight; I was afraid that the compressor would interfere with the frame. In fact, I have 1 mm (.039") clearance between the A/C case and upper suspension lever.

It was really a nice car!

A stupid question: can you make the float arm longer?

John and other viewers, you are patient too! Thank you to Barry to direct you to the page where other pictures are shown. I don't remember if I ever gave that link: Model Makers—Roger Zimmermann other pictures and some background are to be seen. Sorry if I was slow to respond: a cold kept me to bed this week; construction will resume gradually next week.

Never heard about this "procedure". As the friction surface will be smaller, this rescue process can only be used when the engine will not be used to a large extend. Am I right?

People are full of good ideas! As far as I know, the rear body of the Mark II retractable was not identical to the one of the standard cars. There are some pictures or drawings available, would be that sufficient to create such a model? I already gave up the idea to do a Mark II convertible (wich are existing, hello Barry!) as I prefer to stick with the regular production model.

Bernie, what is the paint used on your car? If it has to be let dry for so long, it's certainly not a modern formula. About the time you are using to restore that Packard and the hint to the ones for whom it's too long, I could write the same sentence on my post as the expected duration was calculated to be 10 years! (and will probably be that long)

Thank you John for the compliment. The next one? When this one will be ready, I will be about 75 year old...If I still can work then or/and for how long is just a guess! A Skyliner like you have would be a challenge to have the roof working as intended by the manufacturer. Or a convertible... Sorry to disappoint you, an Amphicar is a cute little car/boat with you certainly have a lot of fun, but it's a no go for me as a model...

Is that an illusion or the car was once red?

Dale, the Toronado has a weight of 2.45 kg (5.4 pounds) and the Avanti is 2 kg (4.4 pounds) heavy. It's hard to tell why the Avanti is that much lighter. OK, the Toronado is a little bit larger; one factor for the weight is the electric motor for the traction and the 6 electric motors for the windows, front seat and hide-away front lamps; the Avanti has nothing electrical. The Mark II will have also electric windows (even the vent windows) as electric windows were standard on the real car.

A hammer, small or large, is the best tool in the workshop! Glad for you that the drum said OK, I'm out!