The 2013 Automotive Group Build

These are really looking good guys!

Here's a progress report on the Batmobile. I think the photos say it all. I liked it once I primed it white, thought it looked sharp. I like it even better in black. The body took a heap of cleanup.

Cheers

Tony

That Pickup is looking really nice Eric. It's going to bea very good looking model.

Cheers

Tony

Tony: The batmobile's looking awesome.

Eric: Nice job on the pickup....love the blue paint.

Thanks Tony and Greg.

Tony,

The batmobile is looking good. Can't wait to see it. :)

Hi,

Here's where I'm at with the 55 Cameo. I have to repaint one of the channels for the bed. I forgot to run my hobby knife down the edge before lifting it up. Yep it got ugly and I think I might have said a few bad words :).

I dipped the glass in Johnson's floor wax and they came out really nice. I still have a little bit to do to the dash and interior. I have the chrome stripped, but didn't have any gloss black paint left so I picked some up today. Hopefully I can spray the chrome back on by this weekend. I think that is my biggest hold up.

Thanks.

Hi guys, been a little slow with the 240 Z.  I think I have too many projects going at one time.  I have the roll bar roughed in and I thought I would add some scratch-built camber plates for the strut suspension.  they are just sheet plastic discs with some left over PE nuts and bolts attached.  the kit supplied fuel tank was stock and I needed a fuel cell so I made one up with sheet plastic also.  The filler is not correct but I also had a PE fuel filler left over form some project so I used it here.  More to come.

That looks really good again Rommelkiste. How's the Porsche going ?

Cheers

Tony

Thanks, Tony.  I am calling the Porsche finished, otherwise the next photo would be a dent and skid mark on my workroom wall!  I think the Z will go better and there may well be a third kit, I will keep you up to date on that.  

Hi Rommelkiste,

Is there a preferred photo that you would like me to use on the Build Roster to show off your Porsche ?

Cheers

Tony

OK folks, presenting the Batmobile from the 1989 movie, 'Batman'.

Cheers

Tony

Tony, I think that is the first Batmobile I have ever seen built!  I dont think I have ever even looked inside the kit and I have had one since 89.  Now that I have looked at the photos of your build, I see a Lemans prototype project!  that is, minus all the "Bat" details and some panel smoothing.  Thanks for the idea and the nice build!  Adam West would love it, I do!

Rommelkiste, that Z is looking great- love the camber plates!  So simple, yet so elegant.

Isn't that Batmobile based on (or at least influenced by ) a Panoz LMP or road car?

Tony- that is a sharp Batmobile.  

I'd have some progress pics of my nightmare, if I only knew what I wanted to do it!

Tony: you did a nice job on your Batmobile!

Thanks Rommelkiste, Greg and Dre.

Rommelkiste, this is the second one I've seen built. The other one was built by a guy I knew back when it was released. He pinched a jet engine from the 1/24 Monogram Huey helicopter kit, opened up the hood and went to town.

Cheers

Tony

Tony,

I like it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, ran into a small setback on the 240 Z.  While doing a test fit of the body and roll bar fit I found the front Strut camber plates are in the wrong location vs. the 1:1 photos of the real car.  Sooooooo, I had to fab up some strut towers on the inner fenderwells and move them in board 3/32 inch.  First pic shows the first location and the second is my modification.  Since the interior floor of the car is white, I dry brushed some steel on the floor around the pedals to look "used" and added a couple of PE pedals I had left over.  I am afraid it was all for nothing as most of this detail will be lost when assembled.  Next should be paint, I will post more when I get there.

rommelkiste,

The towers do look better after you moved them. I also like the photo etch. I ordered the PE set for this 55 Cameo and this is the first time I've worked with it. As an example, I learned to hold on VERY tight when cleaning the edges hehehehe. I am now searching for a door handle that flew away. :) Here is the interior minus the door and window handles hehehehe.

Later,

Eric.

Looking great Eric. I hate it when the P/E flicks off. I find using a torch and focussing your eyessight on where the beam hits the floor is helpful.

Cheers

Tony

LOL!  Eric, if I could find all the PE parts that are in my carpet, behind the desk, across the room and every other place they go I would have a lifetime supply!  I really think I have lost more than I have attached to my builds.  Tony, if you use a "torch" to look for parts, do you try to make a "ton" in your car?  LOL!  Just curious.  Have a smashing good day old boy!

Great looking Batmobile Tony!

Some awesome builds still going strong in here ,keep up the great work Fellas!

I decided to try my hand at re-chroming with ACLAD II. I think they came out really good for my first go at it.

I agree EW, it's a marked improvement over the kit chrome. Good work. What did you use for the gloss black undercoat ?

Cheers

Tony

Thanks Tony.

It's not quite as shiney as it should be, but I know what works now. I just have be careful on the second coat. I used Testors gloss black enamel. I'm amazed at how much more it resembles real chrome instead of the kit chrome.

Later,

Eric

Well,

It has proven to be a frustrating weekend. I was hoping to finish the 55 this weekend. I ran into a problem with the windshield and back glass. The windshield is to small. The is a 1/8 (or close to) gap at the bottom. I figured I could get it aligned as best as I could and then use some clear glue to fill in the gap. Everything was going good until the windshield shifted. Not realizing I had glue on my fingers I grabbed the windshield to keep it from falling out. You can guess the rest. I think I am going to set it aside for a few days and work on something else :).

ewheeler, contact me.  I have some extra windshields for that kit if you need one.

Thanks for the offer rommelkiste.

I'm going to try and repair it, but if I can't I will get back with you. I spent a lot of time on this truck and would hate to box it over a windshield hehehehe. I picked up some 2000 grit sandpaper today so I can sand it down smooth and then dip it in Johnson's floor wax. I'm also going to see if I can extend the botom a little to fill in the gap with some of testors glass maker.

I will say I am really happy the way the front grille and bumper look after using Alclad. I am sold so they will all get strip now hehehehe.

Thank you again.

Tony,

I have one more to add to my build list. :)

It is an Academy/Minicraft 1939 Jaguar SS100 1/16 Scale.

I started this one about 17-18 years ago. The only thing done is the engines halfs and valve cover are glued together and painted and the rear axle half's were glued together. I forgot I had it but found it a few days ago while looking for the frame from a 1969 Riviera. (Didn't find the frame yet hehehehe)

Thanks.

Eric

Hey wheeler, are you going to hand lace the wire wheels on the jag?  I can put you on some info if you wanna give it a try.  Tony, I think I will follow wheeler a little and pick a 1/16 lindberg 1914 Stutz for my third build.  I dont think I will commit to any more than I have in case my building gets put on hold for some reason.  Keep glooin' guys!

rommelkiste,

I would eventually like to try something like lacing wire wheels, but I just recently got back into building after a 15-20 year break and don't think I'm to that point yet. I would like to see how it's done though. I am just amazed at all the nifty stuff that's available now. Today I was looking through the Plastruct catalog and saw some hexagon rod. I immediately thought, hey now I can make spark plugs hehehehe.I checked out the 1914 Stutz. That's pretty sharp. How are Lindberg kits? I can't recall if I have ever built one. I have always liked the older pre-40's cars.

Oh, almost forgot, here's a shot of the front end. Just have to fix the windshield, paint the door handles and finish the bed. I have an annual camping trip with my 4 brothers this weekend so won't be able to do much. :)

(Yep chrome is a little dull but it was my first go at it. hehehehe)