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1971 Plymouth Roadrunner 440+6

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  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Saturday, July 3, 2021 11:01 AM

I won't hijack your thread, so briefly. I've always been interested in car body design as I'm  a designer myself in a different field.

A quick search comes up with the names Virgil Exner (50's-60's- think massive bodies and tail fins), Elwood Engel (60's to early 70's- Fuselage bodies) and Don Wright. all at Chrysler.

 

Bill

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Saturday, July 3, 2021 11:17 AM

I won't hijack your thread, so briefly. I've always been interested in car body design as I'm  a designer myself in a different field.

A quick search comes up with the names Virgil Exner (50's-60's- think massive bodies and tail fins), Elwood Engel (60's to early 70's- Fuselage bodies) and Don Wright. all at Chrysler.

 

Bill

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    May 2011
Posted by Mr Mike on Saturday, July 3, 2021 4:25 PM

Bill, I'm not worried about you hijacking my thread.  Back then, cars had a distinctive look to them.  Today, many of them look the same.  Same shape.  Even SUVs are starting to look the same.  You have to look for the manufacturer's symbol to find out who built it.

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Saturday, July 3, 2021 8:44 PM

Full confession. 

The whole fuselage thing rendered body styles across the manufactors so similar that a Camaro could look like a Firebird by 1970. The Mustangs by 1972 were ugly.

So give me a 1965 Fury III two door with a three speed automatic.

Or a 1964 Pontiac Goat.

"Yes officer, I came up the onramp at excessive speed and passed you ".

 

Bill

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Sunday, July 4, 2021 9:35 AM

GMorrison
The Mustangs by 1972 were ugly.

Well, I never. [humph] I take offense to that. I had a '73!

No, I really don't take offense, I'm just yanking your chain.

They were ugly, and the only claim to fame to my '73 is it was the first year of the 5mph rubber bumper. Not only that, it was the most unreliable vehicle I've ever owned. Among other things, the engine used to like to quit when making left turns whilst accelerating. A real treat when making left turns against oncoming traffic.

 

  • Member since
    April 2020
Posted by Eaglecash867 on Sunday, July 4, 2021 2:10 PM

Greg
Well, I never. [humph] I take offense to that. I had a '73!

Me too!  I had a '72!  GRRRR!!! Angry

Hehehe.  Nah...they really were ugly, but it was a cool ugly.  People used to tell me that mine looked like it would eat Bambi.

"You can have my illegal fireworks when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers...which are...over there somewhere."

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Sunday, July 4, 2021 2:19 PM

Eaglecash867

 

 
Greg
Well, I never. [humph] I take offense to that. I had a '73!

 

 

Me too!  I had a '72!  GRRRR!!! Angry

Hehehe.  Nah...they really were ugly, but it was a cool ugly.  People used to tell me that mine looked like it would eat Bambi.

 

Big Smile

My high school buddy's older brother took to calling me "Mustang Sally" back in the day.

  • Member since
    April 2020
Posted by Eaglecash867 on Sunday, July 4, 2021 2:34 PM

LOL Greg!

What did you have in yours?  Did you have the Cleveland?  LOVED THAT ENGINE!

Sorry for the OT banter, BTW.  Oops

"You can have my illegal fireworks when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers...which are...over there somewhere."

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by keavdog on Sunday, July 4, 2021 3:33 PM

Mike - the mockup looks fantastic.  Really coming along - and the paint looks beautiful.

Thanks,

John

  • Member since
    May 2011
Posted by Mr Mike on Sunday, July 4, 2021 9:19 PM

Thanks keavdog! 

I am backing off a little from all of my builds.  Too much going on around me right now.  Upcoming events and such.

  • Member since
    May 2011
Posted by Mr Mike on Saturday, July 24, 2021 9:03 PM

One of the things I neglected to do was a split in the seat back.  I removed the seat from the interior, got out the razor saw and started hacking away at the seat back.  This is a combination of measuring and eyeball engineering.  It came out fairly good, but the cuts were off slightly.  I cut the seatbacks far enough to insert two pieces of 0.20 sheet styrene side-by-side with a slight gap between them.  Hopefully, when the seat is painted, the errors of my cuts will not be seen.

More Plymouth to come...

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • From: Corpus Christi, Tx
Posted by mustang1989 on Sunday, July 25, 2021 7:58 AM

That paint looks awesome bud. NICE!!!

                   

 Forum | Modelers Social Club Forum (proboards.com) 

  • Member since
    May 2011
Posted by Mr Mike on Sunday, July 25, 2021 4:17 PM

Thanks Joe!

Since I had wet sanded the paint and I burned through several areas, I thought it would be best to paint the entire car instead of trying to touchup all the spots.

More Plymouth to come...

  • Member since
    June 2009
Posted by bigbluejavelin on Friday, August 27, 2021 7:14 PM

 Paint looks great! Impressive work on that front bench seat too. I have a friend that bought a 71 GTX in high school, about "78 or "79, still has it too.

  • Member since
    May 2011
Posted by Mr Mike on Saturday, August 28, 2021 11:36 AM

Thanks bigbluejavelin!  I will get back to this build soon.  I haven't done anything on any of my projects for a while now.  Sort of a rest period I suppose...

  • Member since
    May 2011
Posted by Mr Mike on Friday, October 8, 2021 9:02 PM

It has been a while since I have actually worked on the '71 Roadrunner.  I have been trying to decide if I should strip the lousy paint job or sand it.  Tonight I chose to sand it.  After sanding, I gave the body a bath and it looks 100% better!  Tomorrow, I sand the hood so it will match the body and then wash it.  Then, when everything is dry, I will repaint the body and hood.

More Roadrunner to come...

  • Member since
    May 2011
Posted by Mr Mike on Wednesday, November 3, 2021 10:09 AM

I sanded the hood yesterday and I am heading to the kitchen sink for a good scrubbing with Dawn Dish Detergent and warm water.  When this has dried, a repaint in in order with Model Master Green Go.

More Plymouth to come...

  • Member since
    May 2011
Posted by Mr Mike on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 3:47 PM

It has been almost two weeks since I last worked on this Roadrunner.  I decided to give it another bath this time in prep for paint.  The Chassis and the interior have been finished and are ready for assembly.

More Plymouth to come...

  • Member since
    May 2011
Posted by Mr Mike on Saturday, November 20, 2021 3:06 PM

Another coat of Model Master Green Go and this can is done!  So much orange peel that I think was from the lack of pressure inside the can and I even warmed the can up!  These old cans from Testors/Model Master are lousy!!!

More Plymouth to come...

 

  • Member since
    May 2011
Posted by Mr Mike on Saturday, November 27, 2021 5:03 PM

Another hurdle has been cleared!  Foiling is done!  It sucks when you have to add Metal Foil Adhesive before you have to add your Bare Metal Foil.

More Plymouth to come...

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Land of Lakes
Posted by cbaltrin on Sunday, November 28, 2021 5:57 AM

Always liked this body type. You  Are doing good work Mr. Mike.  I really like the engine...

On the Bench: Too Much

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • From: Corpus Christi, Tx
Posted by mustang1989 on Sunday, November 28, 2021 7:11 AM

I hear what you're saying about the usage of BMF adhesive Mike. I don't like using that stuff either. Your car is looking great so far brother.Yes

                   

 Forum | Modelers Social Club Forum (proboards.com) 

  • Member since
    May 2011
Posted by Mr Mike on Sunday, November 28, 2021 1:32 PM

Thanks cbaltrin and Joe!  Metal Foil Adhesive is just another one of those necessary evils that I have to deal with.  

  • Member since
    May 2011
Posted by Mr Mike on Monday, November 29, 2021 9:11 AM

I added my license plate to the rear bumper and in the process of doing so, I broke the joint between the bumper and valance panel.  A little glue and hopefully I have the correct angle and it is correct.  I painted the taillights with Tamiya X-27 Clear Red and Tamiya XF-2 Flat White.  I added the radiator and detailed the engine compartment.  The interior has been painted and ready for the glass to be installed. 

More Plymouth to come...

  • Member since
    May 2011
Posted by Mr Mike on Thursday, December 2, 2021 10:10 AM

I installed the chassis into the body and added my heater hoses.  This took me some finagling as the chassis didn't want to move forward like it should.  I think the issue was the engine fan and the radiator were hitting each other.

More Plymouth to come...

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Land of Lakes
Posted by cbaltrin on Thursday, December 2, 2021 10:50 AM

That's looking really nice Mr Mike.  Love to do the same car in plum crazy Toast

On the Bench: Too Much

  • Member since
    May 2011
Posted by Mr Mike on Friday, December 3, 2021 7:23 AM

Thanks cbaltrin!  The fuselage-styled Mopars would look good in just about any color!

  • Member since
    May 2011
Posted by Mr Mike on Sunday, December 5, 2021 12:17 PM

This is my '71 Roadrunner 440 painted with Model Master Green Go aka Sassy Grass Green with a Tamiya TS-29 Semi Gloss Black and embossing powder for carpet.  I removed the center console and added a column shifter and tachometer.  I cut up the bucket seats and added the seating surfaces to a JoHan bench seat and split the seat back.  I used the decals and wheels and tires to the Fast & Furious Dom's GTX for my Roadrunner.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 3:52 PM

Your photos aren't visible to me. I've been meaning to ask, in one photo, you had the brakes painted green. Is this a common color or a fancy color for aftermarket brake components? I don't know since I'm not a car guy in the least.

I also see you're from Nashua. I'm from Vermont and was stationed at Fort Devens in the early 00s. I bought my 2003 Outback from the Subaru dealership in Nashua. I was a member of the IPMS Patriots Club that met in Bedford and used to do the shows there in that area with the club. Granite Con I think was the club show in Nashua.

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Land of Lakes
Posted by cbaltrin on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 9:03 PM

Mr Mike..  This is Rabbit Leader, I can't see them ... (your pictures that is--not the Heinkels)

On the Bench: Too Much

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