Need a realistic looking shifter boot? Make your own by cutting the end off a rubber fishing lure. Drill a hole through it, paint it black, and slip it over the shifter.

Having trouble detailing an instrument panel? Take a photo of the real car’s instrument panel, enlarge or reduce it with your Photoshop software, print it out and glue the sized piece to the dash.

Need chrome bezels and trim on your dash? Paint the entire dash silver. When that’s dry, paint the whole dash semigloss black. When the black is tacky, scrape it off the areas to be chrome. Be careful not to remove any chrome paint underneath by scraping too hard.

Add clear covers to an instrument panel by placing a drop of clear two-part ‘5-minute’ epoxy directly over the gauges. Use a round toothpick to deposit a blob into the gauge cavity.

To add more texture and depth to your model’s interior, dry brush the scrapings from a pastel pencil (that is slightly darker than the interior’s colour) into the recessed areas.

Seam binding tape can be used for scale seat belts. The buckles can be cut from thin sheet plastic, painted silver and glued on the ends of the belts.

Heat-shrink tubing, found at hardware stores, can be used for roll cage padding. Using a piece slightly larger than the cage’s diameter, slice it lengthwise and slip it over the roll cage. It will then return to its original shape. Use fine black thread soaked in super glue for the zip ties.

Make your own door lock buttons by drilling a hole in the proper location on the door panel. Cut a straight pin or insect mounting pin slightly longer than needed, dip the end in glue and mount it in the hole.

Replicating taillight and headlight lenses on parts that are already chromed can be frustrating. The most accurate way of solving the problem is by drilling out the lens area and replacing them with translucent units from the parts box or with scratchbuilt lenses made from translucent sprue.  An easier way to depict taillight lenses is to paint the lens area of the chrome part with several coats of clear red paint.

Town of Mono, ON (Mono Community Policing Committee)
With winter soon to be upon us , we’re sure , it’s time to talk about preparing our vehicles and updating our driving skills in winter conditions. Make sure your vehicle has a winter service by your garage and that you have winter-rated tires on all 4 wheels. If you drive long distances or very frequently, you should also carry an emergency kit. These are available in most auto stores or you can make up your own.

It should include the following :
A First Aid Kit
Safety Pins
Aspirin
A Candle and matches
Tissue or paper towel
A good Flashlight
Compass
Tools such as pliers, Screwdriver ( multi-head), Knife.
Booster Cables
A Pressure can of air and sealant (spare in a can).
Food (high energy – candy bars , gum)

You may want to add a blanket, a small fire extinguisher, flares or light sticks, a warning reflector or flashing light . Nowadays your best emergency equipment is a cell phone (well charged or with extra battery).

To update your winter driving remember: Slow down when snow or ice may be on the road or imminent. Watch intersections closely . Leave much more space than normal for stopping. Lights on full when visibility drops. It won’t help you to see in daylight but you will be much more visible to others. Clear snow from all surfaces of vehicle before starting out. Check windshield wipers for buildup. Safe driving!

ROAD WATCH – If you see a dangerous or aggressive driver, report them by using one of our forms or simply calling on your cellphone to (519) 925-3838 . Our forms are available at
Mono Plaza,
Mono Municipal office
Pete’s Donuts, Mono Mills
OPP Dufferin, Primrose, or
Wellington Dufferin Guelph Health Unit, Orangeville (forms only). Other locations have drop boxes for your report.

SAFETY TIP – Brake while the car is still straight, before steering for turns or curves. Brake early so vehicle speed is stabilized through the corner. (This tip comes to you courtesy of Doug Annett of Oakville’s Skid Control School – www.skidcontrolschool.com)

To contact us – www.monocommunitypolicing.com.

Don Butt is currently the Public Relations and Media Contact for the Mono Community Policing Committee. If you would like more information on anything covered in Don’s Column or would like to see a topic of public interest or safety covered; post a comment below.

Orangeville, ON (Harold Doan & Sons Ltd.)
With winter just around the corner, many Canadians are starting to pack up for their annual trip down south. Taking an extended winter vacation is a welcome escape from cold weather, but before hitting the road, there are a few steps snowbirds should take to protect their homes while they’re away.

“No one wants to come home from vacation to an unwelcome surprise,” says Henry Blumenthal, vice president and chief underwriter for TD Insurance. “Whether you’re going away for a week or several months, taking a few precautions before you leave can help save you from potential headaches.”

TD Insurance offers the following advice for snowbirds leaving their homes this winter:

Invest in an alarm system: The best deterrent for burglars is an alarm system. Although alarms require an upfront investment, you can often take advantage of lower home insurance premiums if your home is equipped with one.

Get the lived-in look: An obvious sign that nobody is home is a full mailbox and a snow-covered walk. Ask a friend or hire a young person in the neighbourhood to pick up your mail and shovel your driveway so that it looks like someone is home.

Shut down and unplug: Before you lock up, shut off the main water supply to your home and remember to drain the pipes to ensure that water pipes don’t freeze. You should also unplug electrical appliances and computers so that they are not damaged if there is a power surge.

“It’s also important to keep an updated inventory of your valuables so that it’s easier to identify what has been lost if you do have to make a claim,” adds Blumenthal. “The easiest way to do this is to take pictures of everything and send them to your insurer for safe keeping.”

Additional tips and information about home insurance are available online at www.tdinsurance.com or toll-free at 1-888-788-0839.

credit: www.newscanada.com

Great retailers love what they do. They can create enthusiasm not only in themselves but also in their staff and in their customers.