244 replies to this topic

[Casey]

The symmetry on custom work is always the biggest pain, but it's all worth it in the end. Someday I'll actually measure out my stuff and catch stuff like that before I get too far along!

The lack of good reference for this one is the biggest stumbling block for me, but at least I have one straight on side shot to work with. A nice large, clear rear shot would be ideal so I can see exactly what the recessed tail lights look like, but I'll do what I can with what I have.

There's nothing worse than getting close to final paint and realizing something isn't symmetrical with the body. I made sure to tape both rocker panels to a piece of glass when I was cutting up and reassembling the body, so it should be square.

[Casey]

Another minor little fork in the road- I'm repowering an older build of mine with a Rambler V8. The engine itself is a hodgepodge of Monogram Jeep and Rambler V8 parts, the latter of which I got from Casey. (I'm guessing the unused engine from his GT?) Some parts box carbs and Parks aluminum velocity stacks are the highlights.

And here's how it looks as of tonight...

I think that is the AMX's engine, yes. Looks like you removed those tube-like stubs and filled in the sides of the block? I like it better with the AMC engine, too. I'm thinking a narrowed '34-ish Chrysler Airflow grille would work?

Are those the wheels and tires from the reissued Black Widow pickup kit?

[Michigan Madman]

Nah- gotta keep the Hudson grille... that's AMC-themed too, after all. Besides, where the bleepity blank am I gonna find an Airflow grille in 1:25? I didn't fill in the JoHan block- I happened to have an old Monogram Jeep 304 block laying around, so I just adapted the JoHan parts to that. Even though it's 1:24 and the Rambler stuff is 1:25, everything matched up pretty well.

And yes, those rollers are from the Black Widow reissue.

[Casey]

I've become a lot less picky when it comes to 1/24 vs. 1/25 engines in the last year or so, for the reason you mentioned- most times the parts will work with each other without modification.

Maybe I should've suggested Nash Airflyte instead. Next time...

[Casey]

I made a little progress on the AMX GT tonight, adding the lower valence piece using sheet styrene, and closing in the back end completely. I am going to try to get the rearend shape correct first, then make the tail light openings, remove the bumper section, add some thin strips around it to narrow the gap, and fine tune the rear window reveal.




The correct shape is slowly developing...:

[Custom Mike]

Well gentlemen, I'm back! The painting Gods have smiled down upon me today, it's in color again, and I think I can safely say that all it needs now is a bit of fine sanding and some Clear. Here's the pics of the Pearl White laid down and a bit of masking for the Pearl Red...wait for it in the next posting!

Edited by Custom Mike, 22 July 2012 - 03:55 PM.

[Custom Mike]

And now, the Pearl Red, followed by a trip into the dehydrator for about an hour. Once it was removed from the dehydrator, I knocked down the edges of the stripes with some 2400 grit, a bit more masking was done, and the Pearl Blue was laid down. I'll let it cure for a day or so, drop it in the dehydrator probably tomorrow night, remove the few specks of dust, and get her in Clear!

[cobraman]

That looks great !

[Custom Mike]

Thanks Ray, I hope it goes well from here, it's already been painted 4 times so far! So much for a "quick and easy" slump buster, huh?

[Casey]

AMCs always look good in red, white and blue.

[Custom Mike]

Yeah I agree Casey. I just didn't want the typical AMC racing scheme. I tried a few different ones, and after the last stripping, I decided to go with a simpler, modern version of that paint scheme. We;ll see how she looks with some Clear and foil...

[Custom Mike]

My luck is holding up nicely today, I removed the masking from the tail lights with only two little slips of the X-Acto, both were easily fixed too. I also hit the separation between the Blue and White with some 2400, took care of the few specks of dust, and all is good. If work goes well this week, I may be able to shoot some Clear in a day or two, wish me luck!

[Michigan Madman]

Oh, yeah- that'll definitely work!

[Custom Mike]

Chuck, I'm liking it more and more every time I see it now, so I must have finally done something right!

OK, the body spent a few hours in the dehydrator, I hit it with 6000, 8000 & 12000 grit polishing cloths to get it good and smooth, and I'll throw some Clear at it tomorrow night if I get home early enough. Now onto the reason for tonight's posting, it's time to decide, Red sleeves or Silver? I'm not sold on either one yet, I'm thinking it might be better to wait until she's in Clear and all the foil and other details are in place before I finally choose, but I want some opinions, so fire away!

[Casey]

Silver.

[Michigan Madman]

Not sure- I do kind of like the red, and that would make the car stand out.... but a bright red white and blue Matador will NEVER get lost at a show or on a display shelf, so I don't know if they're really required. Hmmmm....

Something easier to decide for me- to level out the body on my Matador by raising one side or lowering the other. I'm lowering the other, of course! (Like I had to tell you that, right? ) Slung some Corvette mufflers under the hind end, and made some cutouts in the rear valance to clear the tips.

[cobraman]

Silver on the wheels look better to me.

[Custom Mike]

Chuck, that looks plain mean! I may have a pretty Matador right now, but your is gonna be a vicious beast when it's done!

Now about my rims, I'm up in the air, and probably will be up to the last second, that's just me. Now I'm gonna have to wait a few days before I can test out some other rims, because we have Clear! No touching the body for mock-ups for a few days at least! It came out nicely, only one speck of dust to worry about so far, so I'm happy with the results! What I'm not happy with is the stripes are off center. The front stripes are off to the right, and the back stripes are off to the left. Too late to fix it now, I'll just have to live with it at this point!

Edited by Custom Mike, 24 July 2012 - 05:01 PM.

[Custom Mike]

OK, we're nearing the finish line on the body, the foil work is all done, and all the windows are in place. No pics of the windshield yet, the glue is still drying, so these will have to do for now, enjoy!

[Dr. Cranky]

Love the colors, it's turning out real nice.