The 2013 Automotive Group Build

Thanks Rommelkiste.

I wish I could get mine to the level of detail as you do. I'm still trying though.

Later,

Eric

All,

I finished the Charger today. As I said before I was not too pleased with the quality of this kit. I've built other MPC kits and don't remember them being like this. A lot of fit issues and lack of detail. I've started on the '62 Bel Air and it's like night and day hehehehe. Another fun one.

Later,

Eric.

It looks like a Charger should look Eric, well done. We don't often see these in Australia, but I happened to drive past one on Saturday. These muscle cars are great, aren't they ?

At least the flaws you describe in the kit aren't obvious in the finished model.

I'll update the build roster.

Cheers

Tony

Thank s Tony.

One thing I learned from this one is to start scribing the door and trim lines. The ones on this one were not very deep and almost disappeared after painting. I do like the way it sits though. hehehehe

Yeah, the trim lines get me too. I saw a how to on how to do it really well once, wish I could find it again.

Cheers

Tony

Tony,

If you find it send it my way because I am very interested in improving in this area. I'm scribing all the lines on the Bel Air to get a good defined line to mask on. Hopefully it works, otherwise I've been doing a lot of unnecessary scratching hehehe.

I've just about got all the parts cleaned up. Hoping to start painting this weekend.

Later,

Eric.

Hi Eric,

I'll have a look for it over the weekend.

Cheers

Tony

Thanks Tony.

I'll post some progress pics of the Bel Air this weekend. I got my grass cut and the oil changed today, it's supposed to rain tomorrow, so no honey's do's this weekend hehehehe.

Later,

Eric

Hey all,

I did get some work done on the '62 Bel Air. This is a well done kit. Very detailed and no pin marks in the carpet.. Yeah me! :)

Here's most of the parts cleaned up and prepped for painting.

I got the under carriage painted, I used a semi-gloss black.

Got the rims painted. These were painted silver and then clear blue. The actually look anodized but they don't show right in the photos. I plan to paint the centers and the spokes chrome.

Here's the under-carriage after dry brushing with Model Master Steel.

And here it is after doing a rusty wash. Once I get all the other stuff on I think it'll look nifty hehehe.

Here's the painted interior. I sprayed the seats and door panels with matte clear to knock the gloss shine off. I have a lot of detail work on this one.

I also did a few other things like painting the engine, painting the stuff to be re-chromed gloss black etc..

Thanks for looking.

Eric

That's another really interesting looking model Eric. The undercarriage looks realistic, I like it a lot. What paints did you use for the anodised blue look ?

The interior is certainly bright, that will look great for the period.

Cheers

Tony

Thanks Tony.

The blue is Testors light blue. It looks bright because I took the photo before spraying the matte clear to knock the shine off so the flash really blew it out hehehehe. I'm painting the car a dark blue metallic so I went light for the interior.

I painted the wheels bright silver (it was spray, (I'll post the brand later) and then airbrushed them with model master clear blue.

On a side note, I just about have my son convinced he owes me a certain Mustang Funny Car hehehehe

Later,

Eric

I was able to get some of the interior done. I have a few touch-ups around the knobs and another couple of washes on the speakers.

Tony, this is what the color actually looks like after the matte clear.

And here's a test fit.

Thanks,

Eric

I like it Eric. Vibrant. Keep working on your son. What ever it takes :)

Cheers

Tony

Hey everyone.  Great builds going on!  I'm embarrassed to post my progress.....you folks rock when it comes to autos!  Been a while since I posted any pics (being a federal employee and not getting paid for 3 weeks now, I had to supplement my income with some extra jobs), so I thought I'd finally get some posted.  I admire and respect you auto builders!  Man, this may be a little car, but you can tell I have only put one other car together in my lifetime!    She will get some detail trim work and all the exterior accessories still need to be added (and of course the Union Jack!), but I finally got the chassis and body together.  I took the liberty to do some modifying and cut the windows to give the appearance the front windows were down.  Besides, you will be able to see the interior detail better this way.

Hi Eagle90,

I think your Mini is looking great. I know what you mean about finding time. It's either work, honey do's or daylight savings time that keeps interfering hehehehe.

L8TR

Eric

ewheeler454

Hi Eagle90,

I think your Mini is looking great. I know what you mean about finding time. It's either work, honey do's or daylight savings time that keeps interfering hehehehe.

L8TR

Eric

Thank you sir!  And you aren't kidding about the interference!  Thanks again!

Eagle90

Wheeler, your '62 is looking good, I like your interior and the weathering you added to the chassis.  I have built that kit and its nice.  I have been short on time as you can tell, I gotta get crackin' or I wont finish the two I have going.  Keep glooin' and I'll catch up but slow down some, your building them faster than I can get them out of the box!  LOL!  I havent even finished my two builds and I am already looking forward to the Vette & Stang group build.  Gotta get my priorities in order.      Rommel

Thanks Rommel,

I do like this kit. It even has a lower radiator hose. Don't think I've seen that before hehehehe. I'm also looking forward to the Vette and Mustang GB. I think it's going to be fun. I still can't get over how great your farm truck looks. That was amazing!

L8TR

Eric

Here's a few more progress pics.

I filled the hood scoop cut out lines and sanded them down.I used Tamiya putty. Running masking tape along the lines makes it less messy hehehehe.

Got the rear springs sized to fit. The under carriage on this kit has some very good spring seats. Looks much better than the solid springs in the kit. These are ink pen springs that were the same diameter. I cut them slightly longer so the spring tension holds them in after gluing.

Here's a shot after the rear diff was installed. Still have to mount the shocks and add a little aging to the diff.

Here's a shot of the front. The front outer tie-rods float in the air, so I am going to have to fabricate the spindles so I have something to mount the tie-rods to. Hope to get this done sometime this week.

Got the Body sanded and primed. I have a couple of small scratches from scribing to correct then it will be ready for paint.

I also got the holes drilled in the distributor and block. This is the first one I've wired and already broke 3 bits and poked numerous holes in my fingers LOL. The basic part of the engine is together and weathered. I'll post pics of it later.

L8TR

Eric

That looks great again Eric. Have you painted the body yet ? It already looks good with primer.

Cheers

Tony

Thanks Tony.

I had planned to paint it Saturday but it rained all day. Last one I painted on a rainy day I ended up having to strip it and start over so I decided to wait. I'm hoping I can get this one done by next Sunday, especially if I have to start on a Funny car on 1 November hint hint hehehehehe.

I'm just getting my stuff together for the new GB, Eric, it'll be out before November 1st. I'm vacillating at the moment, might be a Monogram Miller Mustang from the 80s.

Cheers

Tony

Hey Tony,

I looked up the MIller Mustang. That's pretty sharp.

I got the first coat of paint on the Bel Air today, but it's a little to light. Plus I think this color is going to be a %$&# to get even. Just being a little thicker in one area really shows up. I will probably end up spraying 4 or 5 thin coats and sanding in between. Darn stuff looked darker in the bottle. Next time I won't wear my sunglasses when I'm buying paint! :)

Later,

Eric

Got an update pic for you.  The Mini is coming along nicely.  Some more detail painting around the edges and a few more detail parts still to do, but I finally got the Union Jack on her!  Then a gloss coat and the final presentation surprise.

Nice Mini. I just started one. I'm going to give it the color scheme of my last Mini which was an '07 S. Not much I can do about having the controls on the "wrong" side of the vehicle, bit that's ok. This will be my first auto as I usually build planes.

Good work on the Bel Sir Eric, I was eyeing off several Bel Air kits in the LHS yesterday, but decided to hold back and build some Mustangs and Corvettes.

Your Mini is looking striking Eagle, that is one of the schemes  I will eventually get around to, your red really enhances the Union Jack.

Alan - If you would like to participate in this GB, you are very welcome. There will be a part II starting for 2014 also.

Cheers

Tony

AlanF

Nice Mini. I just started one. I'm going to give it the color scheme of my last Mini which was an '07 S. Not much I can do about having the controls on the "wrong" side of the vehicle, bit that's ok. This will be my first auto as I usually build planes.

Thanks Alan!  I too mostly do aircraft and this is the first car I've done in many years.  The ONLY other car I did was back in the late 70's early 80's (it's all a bit foggy any more) and it was the General Lee!  It was anything but pretty too!  I've learned a lot doing this Mini.  I had to laugh at your "controls on the wrong side" comment.  Everyone will get a kick out of this.....as I was putting the rear view mirror in, something just didn't seem right!  After some thought, and turning the car at different angles, I figured it out........the rear view mirror was angled the wrong way!  I laughed so hard at that!  Thanks again Alan!

Eagle90

taxtp

Good work on the Bel Sir Eric, I was eyeing off several Bel Air kits in the LHS yesterday, but decided to hold back and build some Mustangs and Corvettes.

Your Mini is looking striking Eagle, that is one of the schemes  I will eventually get around to, your red really enhances the Union Jack.

Alan - If you would like to participate in this GB, you are very welcome. There will be a part II starting for 2014 also.

Cheers

Tony

Thank you Tony!  I did this one in red (and you are right, it does make the Union Jack pop out), but the second one in the kit, I'm going to do in BLUE!  We shall see how the Union Jack looks against that.

Thanks again!

Eagle90

Thanks Tony.

I decided to go with a darker blue due to the interior being light. I'll post some photos later this week.

Eagle, The Mini is looking sharp! I agree the red makes it stand out.

L8TR,

Eric

ewheeler454

Thanks Tony.

I decided to go with a darker blue due to the interior being light. I'll post some photos later this week.

Eagle, The Mini is looking sharp! I agree the red makes it stand out.

L8TR,

Eric

Thank you sir!  I'm hoping the Blue Mini will do the same for the Union Jack!

Eagle90