Street Charger Build Thread

So today I started prepping some of the parts for the engine. Now here's where it bites to be a girl... Any advice on what is supposed to be what color? Where do I start researching? Guess I've gotten spoiled in the past being told in the instructions what color things are supposed to be...

Michelle,

I'm thinking the block and heads are Chrysler orange for more of a stock look however if you wanted to do more of a personal muscle car you can make it what you want.

Google images for your car. What is it, a 69 charger?. Google "69 charger engine" (insert proper year) and see what comes up in the images.

I'll be watching your build. 

Steve

HI Michelle. If your Charger is factory stock, the block, heads, front cover and intake are Hemi Orange. The valve covers are flat black, fuel pump is steel, distributor has black  cap, steel shaft, fan belt flat black, fan gloss black, carbs aluminum. Hope this helps. Also, what kit are you building?

Thank y'all so much!

Steve, I'm not sure what year it is supposed to be. I usually did planes, never really had a chance to be a car girl growing up even though I wanted to get into them. Just saw this one in the model shop one day and had to have it since its my dream car, lol!

MP... Wow, thank you! The kit is the Mpc 1:16 Street Charger. It's going to be a kinda slow build since I have to get replacement parts, but I'll be working on what ever I can as I have time. Not many people seem to have built this kit, and I'm a bit nervous so I want to do it justice. I had originally planned to do it up with my dream paint job, all flat black with a couple chrome touches, maybe an attempted carbon fiber hood. Working on getting that going on my real life Charger, though, so now I can do this one different. Have since found a color I want more on the model, a red metal flake from Testors. As soon as I can figure out how, I'm going to get the black off, and then try to refresh myself on the airbrushing thing and spray it up!

Michelle

Best way to strip black, a hard color to strip is probably Easy off oven cleaner, don't use the lemon scent. Get the original, and use gloves. Looking forward to seeing this. By he way, I think that kit is a 73.

Brake fluid works wonders for stripping paint too but ol' Lee's got you goin' down the right road with the Easy Off. Don't breathe the fumes either so spraying that stuff outside'll be your best bet.

That kit you got wouldn't happen to be this one would it?

..........or this one?

I'll be watching this thread with much interest. You're in good hands here, Michelle, and welcome to FSM.  :)

Mustang, mate, show her the ropes. :D She'll better than you in no time!

M. Brindos

Mustang, mate, show her the ropes. :D She'll better than you in no time!

Thanks for the vote of confidence Mike.

Lol you betcha! 

I have yet to even try half of what I've seen you do. 

M. Brindos

Lol you betcha! 

I have yet to even try half of what I've seen you do. 

 

Lookin' forward to the build photos Michelle.

mustang1989

..........or this one?

 

 

This is the one I have. I started getting the black off with some lighter fluid, but want to get something easier. I'll be picking up either some oven cleaner or Castrol hopefully tomorrow. Been reading up on spraying the paint I'm going to be using, and wasn't really in too much of a hurry to get the black off just yet, but after watching a couple YouTube videos, I'm getting a little more anxious to get it done. And add in that I watched one of those car shows on TV last night and saw a Camaro with what I'm hoping the color comes close to, that just added fuel. Ready to see this thing turn red right now! 

Michelle 

Well I figure it's a lot like when I came from building armor to building planes. There is a whole new way of using all the same tricks and a learning curve to getting a different type of finish. And the weathering is all different!

I may be almost an expert armor builder and a good plane builder, but I'm a total newb with cars still. In comparison you're an expert in this field. Not meaning to inflate your ego, just telling you how I see it.

Michelle will learn a lot from you and the other guys in this section. If she ever wants to delve into the Dark Side, or with figures, then I've got lots to share lol!

Michelle

 

 

mustang1989

..........or this one?

 

 

 

 

 

This is the one I have. I started getting the black off with some lighter fluid, but want to get something easier. I'll be picking up either some oven cleaner or Castrol hopefully tomorrow. Been reading up on spraying the paint I'm going to be using, and wasn't really in too much of a hurry to get the black off just yet, but after watching a couple YouTube videos, I'm getting a little more anxious to get it done. And add in that I watched one of those car shows on TV last night and saw a Camaro with what I'm hoping the color comes close to, that just added fuel. Ready to see this thing turn red right now! 

Michelle 

 

Michelle

 

 

mustang1989

..........or this one?

 

 

 

 

 

This is the one I have. I started getting the black off with some lighter fluid, but want to get something easier. I'll be picking up either some oven cleaner or Castrol hopefully tomorrow. Been reading up on spraying the paint I'm going to be using, and wasn't really in too much of a hurry to get the black off just yet, but after watching a couple YouTube videos, I'm getting a little more anxious to get it done. And add in that I watched one of those car shows on TV last night and saw a Camaro with what I'm hoping the color comes close to, that just added fuel. Ready to see this thing turn red right now! 

Michelle 

 

You'll think it's crazy, but DoT3 brake fluid will completely strip that paint off with absolutely no harm to the plastic. After the paint is removed just give the plastic a warm wash with Dawn. Good as new!

Testors Red Metalflake is somewhat translucent if I recall. You can totally change the tone of the color, depending on what you spray it over.

You'll get a nice Plum candy over dark blue, or a dark Cherry over black, or a really radical burgandy over brown, etc.

Cool paint to play with. ;)

I may not be a model car expert, but my family has been building custom cars for over 70 years. I have enough information about building real cars to make model car building a little frustrating when they don't look like the real car lol.

Michelle

 

mustang1989

..........or this one?

 

 

 

 

 

This is the one I have. I started getting the black off with some lighter fluid, but want to get something easier. I'll be picking up either some oven cleaner or Castrol hopefully tomorrow. Been reading up on spraying the paint I'm going to be using, and wasn't really in too much of a hurry to get the black off just yet, but after watching a couple YouTube videos, I'm getting a little more anxious to get it done. And add in that I watched one of those car shows on TV last night and saw a Camaro with what I'm hoping the color comes close to, that just added fuel. Ready to see this thing turn red right now! 

Michelle 

 

Michelle

Where do I get that? I've got an O'Reilly kinda close by, but not much else that I know of? Michelle

 

Any parts store or convenience store will carry a bottle. Its easy to find. There's only the one type and brand doesn't matter at all. Just ask about Brake Fluid. You'll have no problem.

M. Brindos

Testors Red Metalflake is somewhat translucent if I recall. You can totally change the tone of the color, depending on what you spray it over.

You'll get a nice Plum candy over dark blue, or a dark Cherry over black, or a really radical burgandy over brown, etc.

Cool paint to play with. ;)

 

Oh, wow... Really? Wish I'd have known that. I'm hoping to get it the slightly darker side, so maybe I should leave the black on, and put it back on where I've already got it off. No wonder I couldn't get it to look right on the Christine model I was working on before the dog decided to develop separation anxiety to the point where she literally ate half the parts of the kit! It always seemed way too bright red for my liking. I figured the bright would look good on this one though... 

Michelle 

mustang1989

 

 Looking forward to it. What's your plan on those rear tires? Meaning are you going for the 70's / 80's look all the way or are you bringing the outside edges a little closer to the fender line? No expectations, just a harmless question is all.

 

 

For this one, I think I'm just going to keep it the way it is in the kit. Eventually I'm sure I'll start getting adventurous and change things up, but not that confident just yet. 

Michelle 

Michelle

 

 

M. Brindos

Testors Red Metalflake is somewhat translucent if I recall. You can totally change the tone of the color, depending on what you spray it over.

You'll get a nice Plum candy over dark blue, or a dark Cherry over black, or a really radical burgandy over brown, etc.

Cool paint to play with. ;)

 

 

 

 

Oh, wow... Really? Wish I'd have known that. I'm hoping to get it the slightly darker side, so maybe I should leave the black on, and put it back on where I've already got it off. No wonder I couldn't get it to look right on the Christine model I was working on before the dog decided to develop separation anxiety to the point where she literally ate half the parts of the kit! It always seemed way too bright red for my liking. I figured the bright would look good on this one though... 

Michelle 

 

If you want it bright then lay down a red base coat or primer first. It would probably pop really well over silver too. If you want it dark then go black for sure. :)

M. Brindos

 

Michelle

 

 

mustang1989

..........or this one?

 

 

 

 

 

This is the one I have. I started getting the black off with some lighter fluid, but want to get something easier. I'll be picking up either some oven cleaner or Castrol hopefully tomorrow. Been reading up on spraying the paint I'm going to be using, and wasn't really in too much of a hurry to get the black off just yet, but after watching a couple YouTube videos, I'm getting a little more anxious to get it done. And add in that I watched one of those car shows on TV last night and saw a Camaro with what I'm hoping the color comes close to, that just added fuel. Ready to see this thing turn red right now! 

Michelle 

 

 

 

 

 

Michelle

 

 

mustang1989

..........or this one?

 

 

 

 

 

This is the one I have. I started getting the black off with some lighter fluid, but want to get something easier. I'll be picking up either some oven cleaner or Castrol hopefully tomorrow. Been reading up on spraying the paint I'm going to be using, and wasn't really in too much of a hurry to get the black off just yet, but after watching a couple YouTube videos, I'm getting a little more anxious to get it done. And add in that I watched one of those car shows on TV last night and saw a Camaro with what I'm hoping the color comes close to, that just added fuel. Ready to see this thing turn red right now! 

Michelle 

 

 

 

You'll think it's crazy, but DoT3 brake fluid will completely strip that paint off with absolutely no harm to the plastic. After the paint is removed just give the plastic a warm wash with Dawn. Good as new!

 

M. Brindos

 

If you want it bright then lay down a red base coat or primer first. It would probably pop really well over silver too. If you want it dark then go black for sure. :)

 

OK, now you've really got me to thinking. May have to do a couple different color swatches. I'm really wondering what the differences would be now... Oh, why can't it be tomorrow already so I can go get the stuff I need to start spraying some paint! I am still planning on leaving the hood and trunk the flat black, though. I just love the way that looks and that'll make that chrome engine pop! 

Michelle 

Michelle

Oh, why can't it be tomorrow already so I can go get the stuff I need to start spraying some paint!

This is one thing I know for sure! Especially with this hobby... 

Some test sprays would be advisable. :)

Then you'll not be guessing what color you'll get lol.

Just remember to keep your paint thin and do light coats. Oh, and seriously, have FUN while you do it! :D

If you're just getting started with cars it might be a good idea to stay basic in regards to paint. I know that I have a tendancy to complicate things REAL QUICK with automotive subjects and it's not something you want to do if you're trying this out for the first time. Gray primer tends to lead to brighter shades of red while the rust oxide primers with yield a darker color. Take 'er slow, learn, have fun and enjoy the results. One thing that I would like to share when going for the gloss coats: Beware of going over enamel or acrylic based paints with lacquer based clears.  It turns out a disaster every time. Ask me how I know.

You can go the other way 'round however. 

This will be a fun build to watch!