Winter 2024 Model Contest

Eleven hours later and 10 minutes of actual work. This is likely the last time the body shell will be test fit. I did not glue the engine in position until I checked clearance bonnet closed. This one is going to miss-fire in the rain, but it does close all the way. Two pics to show the color changes and detail differences flash on /flash off. Regrettably, the photo etch belts in the kit only build as if they are buckled across the seats. Who does that when they exit the car??? I don't have a matched pair of aftermarket in stock

In reply to TurnerX19 :

Looking good!

I gave the gross paint on the El Camino a couple days out of sight while I debated purple bath, sandpaper, or tossing everything in the trash. Looked at it this afternoon away from the harsh lights of the garage and determined it's not that bad. I (typically) didn't get enough coverage on the bottom of the body so I just brushed some black south of the trim line, and I think it'll be good but definitely not great. So tonight I hope to tackle painting the window trim, and since Saturday looks meh weather-wise here I should have final assembly done. I lose Monday as a productive day since I decided to go to a baseball game instead, so I better have it wrapped up by Sunday night.

The engine room is filling up on the Ford Econobox. Pics later.

@Claff, sometimes a kit is just 'practice makes perfect'. I still have some that fight me even after decades of building. 

Where I stopped "last night". The exhaust has to be built up concurrently with the rear suspension. Gearbox bottom looks OK given how it doesn't fit the tunnel in the kit at all. Radiator and left side of A/C plumbing is all in. 

Is there an epic fail category?

The Ford Econobox engine room is full. First pic is the right side A/C plumbing as a single piece. Sprue with a part-out location to be the pressure switch, and one piece of .020 wire all the way through the receiver drier and paint. Detail Master coil held by the wire to paint too. Air box and washer tank are laminated flat sheet. The red snorker is a sprue corner from this kit. The hose clamps are photo etch scrap, as is the brake reservoir bracket. Header tank was AMT Cobra.

I guess I better start assembly.

April 30th then??

In reply to solfly :

Mine has to be done Monday. Others need attention as I prep for NNL East. All those Covid builds are going to get shown for the first time, some already need maintanance. 

I could stand to do a little touch up on the paint of the plow frame, I'll get to it but we're going to call this done.   This was a really nice kit and went together well even with me not having done one in a very long time.   I've enjoyed this! 

Not to spam the thread, but FB links tend to vanish suddenly so I'm going to repost mine here for the month end. 

Also, my usual review video is up on YT. 

Are you coming to NNL East?

Great looking truck and Mustang! 

So tonight or tomorrow night? Does April 1 mean midnight tonight or midnight tomorrow?

Okay guys, take it easy on me.  No idea what I'm doing so it looks rough but it was a blast and I've now picked up a new hobby.

In reply to RonnieFnD :

Looks good.

One tip. Sand the tread on the tires. Makes them look used. Takes away the unnatural shine.

I'm sitting waiting for the window glue to set before final body fitting. The one piece window assembly had to be separated into sides and a front-rear assembly. The side windows would not go up enough. First pic this AM is the exhaust roughed in. With more time I would have made the X pipe appear to be a flange install, not one piece front to rear. It looks vollnurable. I had to add the dreaded harness bar to get enough seat belt material to do both sides similar. The hardware is a mix of 4 different brands..Second pic is now.

This is as far as I'm getting tonight. Sorry gang.

Okay. So I got a little further.

Done. Notes below pics.

Finally, a picture that shows the sparkle, Tamiya Camel Yellow with clear pearl top coat.

The Ford logo is a press apply just like current production 1/1 scale.

A rear view , with the word we cannot spell on this forum , also press apply. Amazing thick chrome plate on all the plastic chrome.

The exhaust "ceramic coat" is 1 part Tamiya flat aluminum, 5 parts Tamiya gloss white. The wheels which came from the parts box, are 3 parts Tamiya flat copper, 2 parts Tamiya gloss bronze.

More pics

The photo etch grill was intended to glue onto black paint in the chrome plastic surround. I opened more underneath as well.,beat-up old NJ plate just because it neaded a little blue.

Carbon fiber under bonnet is decal from the Japanese detail shop Modelers.

Oh, a side view would be nice too.

Final thoughts; Best build is 11GTCS Plow truck. It looks ready to roll off the dealer's lot into a 3' drift. Perfect color combo even if it is gray. 

Great to have a newby, welcome aboard Ronnie FnD!

My build isn't really complete. I want to show this at NNL East. It's not close to show quality yet. Look close at the photos, The body is still high on the chassis left front. When I squeeze it down the bonnet gap goes wide at the front... There is white plastic showing in the wheel wells. The fuel caps and license plates need touch-up. It has no mirrors.  There are dregs of carbon fiber decal on the right leading edge of the bonnet, which kind of match the beaten license tag, so some hard use will become evident too. The good of all this is over 20 days till showtime, and the kit engineering is very modern, the body still pops off the chassis. I want all of it to look as good as the coil pic below.