The Mustang and Corvette Group Build

Hi Gord,

Welcome to the group build. I built a version of that kit many many many years ago!  I'm sure Tony will get you added to the build roster once he logs in. Look forward to seeing your progress.

L8TR,

Eric

Here's a link I thought I would share with you guys.

It lets you make scale custom license plates.

www.acme.com/licensemaker

Here's an example,

L8TR,

Eric

Well, I found one set on ebay so I put in a bid. Now gotta wait a few days hehehehe. It'll give me time to finish the Bel Air and start on the vette.

L8TR.

Eric

Hi all,

Builds are looking great!

Mine, not so much. I finally had a little time so I thought I would start applying the decals since it's to cold to work in the shop. I destroyed a couple of them. Normally they will slide all over the clear coat until I'm ready to stick them down, but today they kept grabbing before I was ready hehehehe. Maybe it has to do with the temperature. Anyway, now I need to find some new decals so I'm going to sit this one aside and start on the vette until I find a set of decals.

L8TR,

Eric

Tony, I would use Tamiya paint and their clear all the time, but us yanks can't get it in the states anymore.  It will pop up sometimes but is will cost you some $$.  Last small can of clear I found was $15!  I have had pretty good luck with Duplicolor Primer, plain old Testors MM and a little Krylon.  When I do run across any Tamiya spray, I get it.  I would love to find more Tamiya Fine Primer.  I can order all the Clear I want from Japan, wait 60 days to get it and pay out the nose.  My wallet argues with me.

My Monogram chrome dissolved quickly too. Maybe I went a little strong with the Sodium Hydroxide. I also have a micro mesh polishing kit. Sometimes I put masking tape over the high points whilst I polish the rest to avoid burning through, then I can carefully polish the high points in a controlled way. I've tried polishing Future, it's OK, I've even brush painted it and polished it out OK. The thing to avoid is orange peel effect or a pebbly effect in the Future, I do find that hard work. If I use a Tamiya rattle can, then I use Tamiya rattle can clear gloss too. It's too hot for other paints, but works fine on its own brand.

Cheers

Tony

Rom - as always good info. I agree with Dale. What's your mailing address! Lol.

One thing I plan to do is use a test piece of styrene.  Since most of these techniques are new to me, I'm going to test paint and polish a square scrap of sheet styrene along side the actual.

I only have a little time before I go to karate class, so I thought, strip chrome.  That takes about 30. Holy crap.  Only took about 3 minutes in the dip. Maybe the Revell chrome is really cheap or something as the threads I read never warned me it would be so quick.  Immediately I was concerned about the plastic so I pulled and rinsed right away.

Hi all.  I just love this group build thing.  I loved the idea so much I went out at lunch and picked up 2 'Vettes just so I could get involved.  All the work I've seen posted all over this site has been very inspiring.  I'm currently putting the finishing touches on a Zero, but a second (or third) project never hurt anyone-right.

So I would like to sign up -I hope it's not too late.  I was going to go with the '78 Corvette Indy 500 Pace Car from Revell, I don't think anyone else is doing it yet.  My brother actually owns an '78 Anniversary Corvette so I think I will try to do a replica of his car rather than the pace car scheme.

I'm really looking forward to reading about everyone's progress.  I'm excited to try the solder-header trick, and the spark plug wires too.  I'm sure I'll find more tricks to steal. 

Gord

LOL! Dale, the photos make it look much better than in real life.  I myself don't think its that great.  The little highlights and the lens make it pop, but if you could see it under some high magnification, you might lose your lunch.  Its not skill, just a trick to the eye.

If I have some imperfections in the paint, (thats every time for me) I use a polishing kit.  It starts with 3200 and goes all the way to 12000.  You have to be careful or you will burn through the paint on high spots.  If the paint is pretty smooth, I have used Meguiar's  Cleaner Wax and No.7 and got some good results.  If I clear coat, I use the Cleaner wax or Mothers Carnauba.  I hear a lot about Future, but I have never tried that.  I might try Wheeler's paper towel method and see what I get.  My polishing kit is from Micro Mesh.  There are different brands and most hobby suppliers sell them.  Worth the investment and follow the instructions with the kit.

Rommel can I send you my dash and have you do the detail painting. That dash looks great. Can I ask you what you are going to rub the paint out with befor the clear?

Thanks for the info and tip.  I really want to try it, so I am going to stick with your brand if I can find it locally.

Kt, Devcon 5 minute epoxy.  mix a small amount, flow it in with a toothpick and you have an instant lens.  I have used other brands, use whats cheap.

Thanks for the lessons guys, I've learned a lot from this GB already. I love the epoxy gauge faces, gotta do that one on this build. I've never used solder for the exhausts either, keep em coming boys.

I can't spray, too windy, so the dust in the garage will settle nicely on my paint work. I'll content my self with fiddling around the edges for a bit longer.

Cheers

Tony

Dale and Rommel - looking good!!!! Hope I get some paint on tomorrow.

Rommel - what type/brand epoxy? I was considering using plastic window glue as it dries clear, but I don't think it would look that good.

LOL! 65, looks like we both chose the same color.  I used Testors dark blue, looked like a close match to the Sunoco blue of the Vette.  It came out ok for a rattle can.  A little rubbing and a clear coat and I can live with it.

The dash was shot with some semi matte black from krylon and the gages and needle detail picked out with a brush.  5 min. epoxy was flowed into the gages for lens.  The rear suspension was assembled and painted various shades of black and steel.  there is not much detail on this kit so I won't spend a lot of time detailing.  I'll do a full race job on the next vette.  This was about all I had time to do, I will up date more later.

Well the motor is almost done, after taking the pics I noticed I didn't glue the fuel pump on. My alternator is hanging in thin air, as if by magic. That could also be said for the fuel getting to the carbs, or the electricity to the spark plugs. The next build I want to try all those things.

I sprayed the body and interior this morning. I used MM 2 stage lacquer system out of a rattle can for the body. For the interior I used MM flat black enamel  for the main tub, and MM gloss black enamel for the dash, seats, and inner door panels. Both the flat, and gloss black was thinned with Testors thinner.

Spent the rest of my modeling time  snipping, sanding, and gluing getting ready for the next paint session.

Kt, depending on the build, I have left the solder as is, painted it flat white and used metalizer paint to get the look.  I read somewhere that someone uses heat shrink tubing to make the collector when connected to the exhaust.  I have not tried that but sounds like it just might work!  Might have some more Vette pics today……if the weather holds out.

65ss, if I can get this Vette done, I think I will start on one of the Revell Vettes, The detail is a little better on those than this 80's tooling I'm working on.  Pick one, they all seem to be nice.

Wheeler, hows the exhaust coming?  gloo on guys,  gloo on……..

Eric, Hope the exhaust is going well, sounds like it is!

Dale - primer looks good, off to a great start.

Tony - I know what you mean.  I back burner'd the space shuttle, and have my M1 build going.  That one is very complex and details, so switching between my 2 seems like a lot.  I couldn't imagine 7!!!!  Glad you are making progress and closing some out.  While working on my M1 details last night, I was able to at least prep some more parts for painting and assembly, just sand and glue.  

Rommel - Great start pics.  Love the engine!  Especially all the tips.  They are great!  Do you paint or polish the solder?

Wheeler, I see your close to Ft. Campbell.  Been through Clarksville a few times.  I didn't mention how to get the solder straight but you have the idea!  I don't know if your doing headers, just the exhaust system or both.  If you do headers, drill a hole the size of the solder in the exhaust port on your engine and cram in the solder.  you can then bend the little sucker anyway you want and when your happy, gloo it in!  You can make the flanges from some thin sheet plastic or file card.  I have added a couple of pics so you can get the idea.  

Hi all,

I started fabricating the pipes. Learned a lot like... solder is very soft so the slightest move will bend it hehehe. I did get 8 made but I'm going to redo them, there's a slight bend in them from where I made the 90 degree angle. Tomorrow I'm going to make a jig by drilling a hole the same diameter as the solder so when I bend the 90 degree angle, the rest will stay straight. I was using 2 pieces of plastic tubing the same diameter but there was too much flex. I did figure out how to get them straight. I used a piece of glass and wooden block. Just roll them under the block on the glass and it straightens them out pretty quick. (Used to do this with bent push rods) :)

Rommel,

I'm in Clarksville. I haven't been to any shows yet but I am going to the one in Murfeesburro next Saturday the 16th.

L8TR,

Eric

Rommel the engine looks great. Kind of makes me wish I would have taken some time on the motor on my build. But I've never been happy with a finished auto that I've made, so I wanted to do this OOB and really try and get the paint to look good. I'm having so much fun with this build I'm already checking out e-bay for another kit for this GB, and then maybe some after market stuff.

Good progress guys. I didn't get mine primed as I chose to finish off some other builds. I had 7 concurrent builds, which is a massive slide down from my usual policy of one at a time. Now I've got 5, and after ten minutes tonight, that will be 4 :). I've also got to complete a Jag and a Ferrari for the 2013 Automobile GB, so need to get cracking.

Tomorrow looks like being a good day for it. I'm working from home tomorrow so no commute time.

Cheers

Tony

Nashville, Huh?  Wheeler, we aren't that far apart.  I'm in the state just across the wide Miss.  you ever get to shows around the border?  Keep the better half happy, it sure makes it hard on the hobby when you have to get rid of one! hehehe.   Got that T-shirt, Got that award, been there, done that, lived through it, never will again!   I'm not married, I'm HAPPY!  hehehe.

Rommel,

I like the engine.

When you buff out the primer, it will get a smooth even shine to it without taking it back down to the plastic. Just wash/wipe the dust from the paper towel off and it's ready for paint.

Have to take the other half to Nashville for a few hours and then I can get back to the Mustang hehehe.

L8TR

Eric

Well, I have the Vette in primer and the Fat Block in "Traco" Grey and some wiring.  I added a bracket to the alternator so it won't "hang" in space as if by magic.  The Carb. in this kit is just a piece of square plastic with no detail.  Once the L88 air cleaner is mounted it pretty much hides all of it so I will use it on this build.  I shot the chassis and interior with flat black, or tried to.  I opened a new can, did all the prep and shake and just got a sputter.  I pulled the nozzle to replace it and got a steady stream of paint with no stopping.  I now have one flat black spot in the shop floor, some on the wall and a shirt in the trash.  Found a can of Krylon and finished the job, while muttering unprintable words.   I will try rubbing out the primer with paper towels from the tip I read here, was that you Wheeler?  The pics aren't the greatest but there will be more later, better luck too I hope.  Keep glooin' guys!

Thanks Eric, I think about all I'll get done today is rubbing out the body with paper towels. It's my nieces sweet 16 party today. I can remember feeding her frosting at her Baptism. My sister was not what you could call happy.

Not sure what I'm going to go with yet.  Depends on what the shop has vs what I want.  $$ is also a concern.  Don't have a lot of it right now.  Which due to the local department store's slim selection but excellent pricing I may end up doing a mustang.  Even though I'm a Chevy guy and a huge Vette fanatic.  Thuogh I think for a VS a Stang vs Camaro would have been a better choice since they were designed in the 1:1 world to compete with each other.  

Either way I will put forth an effort for a top build.  However I might not be able to start until after Christmas because starting on TG, I'll be working 7 days a week through Christmas.

Dale,

Looking good.

I didn't get anything done today since someone had other plans for me hehehehe.

I'm 3 days behind already LOL.

L8TR

Eric

Well that didn't work out very well

Well I managed to get some work done today.

The seats needed a little filler

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m252/65ss/DSCF0036.jpg

I also got the interior pieces primered

<a href="http://s106.photobucket.com/user/65ss/media/DSCF0042.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m252/65ss/DSCF0042.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSCF0042.jpg"/></a>

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m252/65ss/DSCF0043.jpg

I also got the body shot in primer. I'm going to try rubbing it out tomorrow. I'm hopeful I'll be able to shoot the body and interior on Monday.