mrmike

Thank you Tony!

I figured that the hottest can of lacquer I have must be the Testors One-Coat Fiery Orange. I gave my test sprue two quick shots of paint and let it be to dry. The finish was smooth and glossy with no scarring or distortion. Both primers held up and passed the test! I almost used some MCW paint, but I didn't want to go through the trouble of setting up the airbrush just to tear it down again and clean it after two quick shots of paint.

I have read about other builders encounter with the metal lettering for the intake manifold and I decided I would completely read the instructions and follow them to the letter. Well, things didn't go as I had hoped. I lost two of the letters...1-T and 1-O. I fought with these tiny letters for almost twenty minutes when I stopped, sat back in my chair, and started thinking. My decision was to take the remaining letters and scan them into my computer and print them out onto a piece inkjet decal paper. They do not have the relectiveness of the actual metal transfer, but they will be a lot easier to apply. I think these should have been included on the decal sheet as well. I now hope that this kit is not going to start fighting me! More to come.....

A trip yesterday to a Walmart Super Center gave me an opportunity to venture into the paint aisle. I perused the spray cans for a while looking for primer. I had decided not to purchase any automotive primer since it does have a tendency to be thick in nature. My thought process was to fine a plastic primer (ie; resin) for outdoor funiture. I found a can of Krylon Indoor/Outdoor primer and a can of Rust-oleum Plastic Primer (last one on the shelf @ $2.00). I tried two coats on a piece of black parts sprue to check coerage and thickness. Both worked quite well with the Krylon being a brighter shade of white. Both covered the same, but the real test will be applying color to the primer and to see how it reacts. That I'll do today. Enamel shouldn't pose any problem so I'll try some lacquer on this primer and see what happens.

Thank you guys! This was a very, very satisfying build for me, as a fan of the TV series and as a builder. This is one model that I wanted to do for a long time!

Thanks Clay and Boreham! Boreham, the wheels did not come with the kit. I have absolutely no idea where they came from other than from the bottom of my parts box.

Thank you Jason!

Thanks Charlie! I just might bring this one to MASSCAR. We shall see.

Thank you everyone for the replies on primer! I now have some ideas as to what I can look for for my future builds. I really appreciate the replies.

Thanks Luis! I have been using Tamiya primer for years and it is getting expensive and I should find a substitute. I keep hearing about sandable primers from Duplicolor and Plasticote that other modelers use but no one decribes the properties of the primer. I used Duplicolor primer on my 1:1 '98 Dodge Dakota and found it to be a little thick for using on a model. Maybe I have been spoiled by the Tamiya primer.

Thank you Michael!

Thanks Peter and Charlie! Charlie, I am looking for suggestion on primer since the Tamiya primer is no longer imported. I have used automotive primer for 1:1 bodywork and I fine it to be quite thick. If I can find a primer that is close to the properties of the Tamiya primer and available in white. I can pit up with a little bit of thickness, just as long as it doesn't hide details like molded scripts.

Thanks DW and Charlie! After gluing the sides of the body to the chassis, the underside looked substantially better without the gaps. I have finished Spenser's '65 Mustang and it is posted in Under Glass. My thanks to all who took the time to look at and to comment on my WIP.

Spenser's '65 Mustang painted with MCW #6531 Ivy Green Metallic.

Here's the completed interior. With the interior reinstalled and the chassis added, I am looking at some gaps between the sides of the chassis and the body. I haven't heard of anyone doing this so I decided to try gluing the body sides to the chassis. The tape is holding the body against the chassis while the glue dries. The stance is perfect! The only items left to install...the license plates and the rear view mirror. Spenser For Hire will return.....

The Story Saturday morning is sunny and cold with Mr. Allen sitting in a cafe' having coffee and a danish. A burly looking man enters the cafe' and walks over to the master spy and sits down. "It's too early for me on a Saturday morning, says Jason Barony." Mr. Allen pulls a folder out of the newspaper he is reading and hands it to Jason. "This will open your eyes." Jason opens the folder and looks at the pictures that were taken the night before. He pulls out his cell phone and dials a number. "I need to see you immediately! One hour." He looks at the master spy and says,"Let's take a ride." The Build I painted the body and parts this morning Tamiya Silver. This is two mist coats and one wet coat. More to come.....

Thank you guys! I hope I can keep the story entertaining along with the WIP. The Story Instead of returning to the field, Mr. Allen is given a short term job at the Department while he going through physical therapy for his injuries. A Friday night invite out for drinks after work provides a welcomed change of pace and an opportunity to get to know his co-workers. He sees his handler's assistant walk into the grille followed shortly thereafter by his old nemesis, a former Russian agent now a free lance spy. They sit together at a table near the back and judging by his nemesis' movements, he is not happy about something. The master spy excuses himself, gets up and moves towards the restrooms and as he passes near the assistant and his nemesis, he snaps a couple of pictures of them with his cell phone. The Build All my hard work seems to have paid off! A coat of Tamiya White Fine Surface Primer reveals no flaws. Unfortunately, I am out of white primer and I must find a substitute. I started finding and painting other parts with Tamiya TS-29 Semi Gloss Black. More to come.....

You have way more patience than I do for that! Looking good, Walt! Keep it moving forward!

Thanks Luis! There will be plenty more story and even more build progress. Right now I am focused on the body work. The mold lines are quite prominent and require a bit of sanding. I think I have gotten them all and hopefully a coat of primer will show me no mold lines!

For those of you who know me, lately, I have taken to adding a short story to some of my WIPs. My new project comes with a new storyline featuring a new character and not related to any of my previous storylines. This WIP is focused more on the build than the story. The story is only to show what is influencing my WIP. The Build The kit is the Tamiya Aston Martin DBS. The paint is Tamiya TS-30 Silver Leaf. The interior will be shades of dark gray. If I have any disappointments about this kit, it has to be the body. The mold lines are quite noticable. It is unfortunate since the body is molded in a nice shade of metallic gray that would look fantastic if polished. The Story Mr. Allen is a long time spy who has worked for just about every letter agency and for some agencies that don't officially exist. His last mission, though technically a success, nearly cost him his life and after a considerable amount of time recouperating from his wounds, he is given an office job for the Department. But, coping with the cold winter in Washington, DC is difficult and he retires from the Department to a warmer climate in the Florida Keys. But, getting there will require one last "job". Finding the double agent in the Department who almost got him killed. More to come.....

I'm looking forward to seeing what you make of this!

Thank you Charlie! I decided to fix the steering wheel for Spenser's Mustang. I rummaged though my parts box until I found the right wheel. This steering wheel is from the Restomods '69 Cougar. I removed the damaged spokes and center from the wheel rim. Then, I removed the spokes and center from the Cougar rim. Perfect fit! Using a pin vise and small drill bit, I drilled 2 holes into each spoke. I glued the rim to the spokes and have a new steering wheel! Now, some of you are wondering why I would go through all this trouble over a steering wheel? Easy! The steering wheel in the Spenser Mustang was in fact a small diameter custom steering wheel with a thick rim and chrome spokes. I had no other small steering wheels in my possession so I replaced the damaged spokes and center. I brought this model to my monthly meeting of the Classic Plastic Model Club for Show -N-Tell and was told by another member that he would see Robert Urich driving this car on weekends in Andover, Mass in the mid 1980's.

I have finished the interior...for now! I am still not happy with the steering wheel and I am considering replacing the spokes with new ones made from scratch. A mock up to check the stance. I'm liking it! Spenser For Hire will return.....

The dash is finished. My only dislike is the steering wheel which I tried to fix as best as I can. This is the only steering wheel I could find that best represents the wheel in Spenser's Mustang. The chassis is up on four wheels. Spenser For Hire will return.....

Thank you guys! This one came out as I had hoped for, especially the lowered suspension! Out of the box was just too high.