'65 GT 350R [FINISHED]

Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

'65 GT 350R [FINISHED]

Posted by Scale-Master on Friday, January 7, 2022 6:20 PM

I started this because I was looking at it for too long while working on another Mustang based project. Never having built this kit; but always planning to, I figured I should see how it goes together since it was opened.... Perfect excuse for me; as if I don't have enough on the bench. It will be out-of-the-box for simplicity. I want to see how it builds before I make the two other cars I sort of plan to make someday with this family of kits.

I've mostly been tinkering with it and cleaning up the body for the last month or more. But I also built up the motor and rather than airbrush the parts as I'd normally do, I just brush painted them.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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keavdog

Member since
April 2003
From: USA

Posted by keavdog on Friday, January 7, 2022 6:26 PM

Following along. Motor looks good - big oil pan!

Thanks,

John

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lurch

Member since
August 2021

Posted by lurch on Friday, January 7, 2022 6:35 PM

Engine looks great. Looking forward to the rest of the car.

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Saturday, January 8, 2022 12:57 PM

Thanks guys!

The steering wheel was also brush painted. The wood grain is five colors sealed in satin clear.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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fox

Member since
January 2007
From: Narvon, Pa.

Posted by fox on Saturday, January 8, 2022 3:40 PM

That's just plain georgous! Uhhhhhhhhhhh, do you make housecalls and give lessons??????????

Jim Captain

Stay Safe.

Main WIP:

On the Bench: Artesania Latina (aka) Artists in the Latrine 1/75 Bluenose II

I keep hitting "escape", but I'm still here.

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lurch

Member since
August 2021

Posted by lurch on Sunday, January 9, 2022 11:04 AM

If he starts making housecalls and giving lessons he would be at my place for months at a time.

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cbaltrin

Member since
May 2004
From: Land of Lakes

Posted by cbaltrin on Sunday, January 9, 2022 12:21 PM

Very nice work!

On the Bench: Too Much

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Sunday, January 9, 2022 12:42 PM

Thanks!

I try to share my techniques. Part of why I build and write for FSM.

If you have a specific one you'd like more info on just ask.

I only do housecalls locally.

fox

That's just plain georgous! Uhhhhhhhhhhh, do you make housecalls and give lessons??????????

Jim

Stay Safe.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Monday, January 10, 2022 9:59 AM

Since I'm doing a streetable clone of 5R002 rather than a replica (note the valve covers for one thing) I used the larger tires that came with the kit for the rears instead of the smaller ones like the fronts all around (as the instructions show) to give it a more aggressive stance. Still out-of-the-box… I might swap the "correct" tires onto the rear later…

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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BrandonK

Member since
June 2014

Posted by BrandonK on Monday, January 10, 2022 11:19 AM

I've got the GT-350R and the H in my stash. I love the look of the R's nose. Interested to see you take on the kit overall.

BK

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed

14 / 5 / 2

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 9:00 AM

It has some accuracy issues, but most are relatively easy to fix. There are some concessions made since the same basic set of parts makes multiple versions that depending on the one you're building might take a bit of work. For example the drivers seat and door panels for the R version aren't correct. But not that visible once the model is done either. Overall it seems to capture the look of the car and fits well.

BrandonK

I've got the GT-350R and the H in my stash. I love the look of the R's nose. Interested to see you take on the kit overall.

BK

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 9:02 AM

I went with Tamiya AS-20 Insignia White as a base. I didn't want a really bright white, and Racing White is too warm for the blue stripes.

The AS-20 dries dead flat, but smooth. So I used an old Floquil product called Barrier / Glossing Shield to make it shiny enough to decal.

It could never be sold today as it contains MEK and a host of other chemicals and is an old school aerosol with aliphatic hydro carbons. It dries at least as fast as the Tamiya lacquer and leaves an adequate shine.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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rangerj

Member since
March 2003

Posted by rangerj on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 2:42 PM

If I remember correctly there were only 37 of those made and they were very, very, very expensive for that time. You could by two Cadilacs for what one of those cost. Today a real one could cost a couple of million. Ford did a 2015 GT350 R to commemorate the 1965 originals. They again built 37 "special" cars and again they are very very very expensive IF you could find one. 1965 was about the end of the factory built street legal race cars. Very soon after that time government regulations kicked in and spoiled all the fun of driving!!! The new high horsepower cars are driving the tree huggers and the politicions crazy. MORE POWER!!!

Nice build , keep going. The white and blue used on those cars had a specific color name and "mix". If I can find my Ford color charts (I moved recently) Ill p[ost the colors names and numbers. Check the 2017 GT350R and I believe the colors were matched to the 1965 cars.

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 4:39 PM

Thanks.

It should be Wimbledon White with Guardsman Blue stripes.

The GT350 lettering in the side stripes should be Viking Blue as they were stickers and the stripes were painted. Both "real car" colors are metallic, but the decal sheet is not.

The kit decals are an approximation of the color and does not have the two different colors in the side stripes for the lettering. It's actually offset printed so it has little dots like the Sunday comics. (Kind of gives a faux metallic look.)

I'm not sure the top stripes are the correct widths either as they are not supposed to be a constant width..

Part of why I'm doing it as a clone since it's easier than correcting the kit.

I do have the correct sized stripe artwork in my files from the original Shelby instructions on painting them from a decal job I did some time back. Still not worth the effort on this one for me to print up a set.

rangerj

If I remember correctly there were only 37 of those made and they were very, very, very expensive for that time. You could by two Cadilacs for what one of those cost. Today a real one could cost a couple of million. Ford did a 2015 GT350 R to commemorate the 1965 originals. They again built 37 "special" cars and again they are very very very expensive IF you could find one. 1965 was about the end of the factory built street legal race cars. Very soon after that time government regulations kicked in and spoiled all the fun of driving!!! The new high horsepower cars are driving the tree huggers and the politicions crazy. MORE POWER!!!

Nice build , keep going. The white and blue used on those cars had a specific color name and "mix". If I can find my Ford color charts (I moved recently) Ill p[ost the colors names and numbers. Check the 2017 GT350R and I believe the colors were matched to the 1965 cars.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 6:31 PM

I was concerned how the decals would go on not so much because of their age, but because they are offset printed using U.V. cured inks. Decal solvents do not affect them. Plus I wanted to give them a chance to see if they were usable on this subject.

I trimmed the excessive clear from the hood scoop decal before applying it. It wrinkled around the edges, but with a hair dryer and a Q-tip I was able to flatten them.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Mr Mike

Member since
May 2011

Posted by Mr Mike on Thursday, January 13, 2022 10:07 AM

This is looking just great!

I built one as a track-day Mustang years ago. It doesn't have the detail that I would put into it today, so maybe a rebuild is in order soon.

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Friday, January 14, 2022 9:51 AM

The hood/cowl decal would not conform to the recessed cowl vent detail. I tried 91% alcohol as a decal solvent (not expecting it to work, just to see if it might help), but all it did was dull the decal. To get it to conform I put the body in my vacuum tank overnight and it seems to have helped significantly, but it's not a cure.

The front grille/bumper cover decals don’t conform well either, but they are not too visible where they tend to wrinkle. The roof and the rear stripes went on OK. The roof decal needed to be trimmed at the window frames. (Better too long than short…)

The side stripes are very disappointingly off. They are not only significantly different lengths for whatever reason, they are both short. The right side barely reaches between the wheel wells when stretched.

The left is very short on both ends even after being stretched to the point of it beginning to crack (and gaining a full 1/8^th inch doing so). I guess at this point it doesn't matter much that the GT350 lettering is not the same color as the stripe…

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Olezippi

Member since
November 2021
From: Southern Indiana

Posted by Olezippi on Friday, January 14, 2022 3:04 PM

Nice looking so far. Is this the kit with the green Mustang for the box art?

"If you can't fix it with duct tape then it's and electrical problem"

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Friday, January 14, 2022 6:43 PM

Olezippi

Nice looking so far. Is this the kit with the green Mustang for the box art?

Thanks.

No, it's the one that has the white and blue car. 1994 release.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Friday, January 14, 2022 6:44 PM

The decals were becoming more fragile as they dried over a few days. Unfortunately the side stripes cracked and sections of them flaked off in a few places too. (Probably due to them being stretched to try to fit.) The vacuum trick didn't hold all that well on the cowl area either. Neither did the heat/Q-tip on the hood scoop; the wrinkles came back some but to a lesser degree. Oh well.

I touched up the cracks and missing sections with a mix of old Testors 1111 Blue and Tamiya black Panel Line Accent; both enamels. I cut the ends short on the side stripes to try to make them at least uniform side to side while totally incorrect.

I had planned to clear coat as a protective measure, but then it became a way to hide the wrinkles. Not the preferred way to finish a body, but an option with the way this one has gone.

I used two part urethane and applied three light to moderate coats knowing I would sand some of it out to hopefully hide some of the decal issue and it looks like it worked. I had to sand a few ripples out of the clear over the wrinkled decals.

All things considered, I'm satisfied with how it looks.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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keavdog

Member since
April 2003
From: USA

Posted by keavdog on Friday, January 14, 2022 7:16 PM

Who boy, that looks awesome despite the issues. That clear is impressive.

Thanks,

John

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Saturday, January 15, 2022 10:03 AM

Thanks!

Meanwhile I was working on the other parts. The interior is just as the kit builds except I added the passenger seat that is included in the kit.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Saturday, January 15, 2022 3:25 PM

The chassis is assembled, also box stock, but I used the traction bars not shown in the instructions. Not sure if I'll do any weathering to it yet.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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fox

Member since
January 2007
From: Narvon, Pa.

Posted by fox on Saturday, January 15, 2022 10:09 PM

Coming along very nicely! Toast

Jim Captain

Stay Safe.

Main WIP:

On the Bench: Artesania Latina (aka) Artists in the Latrine 1/75 Bluenose II

I keep hitting "escape", but I'm still here.

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Sunday, January 16, 2022 10:31 AM

Thanks!

Sadly, (it seems like 50% of the kits I have of this era and manufacturer); the tires have been feasting on other parts of the kit. In this case, one ate the windshield.

I was able to sand and polish it out.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Sunday, January 16, 2022 3:14 PM

All done. That was fun. I'll build another, later... Passenger seat, valve covers, traction bars and larger rear tires all came in the kit but were not intended for the box art version. I also added a custom made decal for the license plate.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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keavdog

Member since
April 2003
From: USA

Posted by keavdog on Sunday, January 16, 2022 3:18 PM

Modern kits bag the clear parts seperatley.

I do find it strange that they use a vinyl/rubber that eats plastic... I built an AMT F7F Tigercat that came with realy nice rubber tires. 3 months later they ate the plastic wheels.

Thanks,

John

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bobbaily

Member since
November 2003
From: Nashville, TN area

Posted by bobbaily on Sunday, January 16, 2022 5:50 PM

Another great build Scale-Master...I enjoy watching your projects come together.

Bob

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Olezippi

Member since
November 2021
From: Southern Indiana

Posted by Olezippi on Sunday, January 16, 2022 6:05 PM

Nice looking Mustang. Great job. Love the white.

"If you can't fix it with duct tape then it's and electrical problem"

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fox

Member since
January 2007
From: Narvon, Pa.

Posted by fox on Sunday, January 16, 2022 9:45 PM

Very nice build! Toast

Jim Captain

Stay Safe.

Main WIP:

On the Bench: Artesania Latina (aka) Artists in the Latrine 1/75 Bluenose II

I keep hitting "escape", but I'm still here.

Reply

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