IJ001 Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 Following all the anticipation and 'prep' for the Cambridge Show which took place over Armistice weekend (same as the UK Nationals) and last week simultaneously 'instructing' & taking a SAR course, that part of my brain that deals with modelling is really working only at 'tick-over'. That in mind, I decided to clear the bench, drag-out a relatively straightforward kit and simply build it from start to finish. So here t'is. Revells 1968 Firebird 400 in it's original 2004 boxing. The roof lining has been sprayed Tamiya acrylic 'Buff' and the chassis & firewalls Tamiya 'Satin Black' enamel. The body has been primered with Tamiya grey just this morning and will be left alone for a day or so to fully cure before rubbing back and polishing ready for the first coat of glossy black. Not certain whether in 1968 the red interior was available as an option with the black body colour, but even if it wasn't for overall effect, black with a red interior is really hard to beat and in my opinion, so classy. The bonus is that the red graphic stripes are in the kit, so it's sort of a 'no brainer' for me. Hopefully at the end of the process it will look something like this: Stay tuned & let's see !! Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenGuthmiller Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 My guess would be that red interior would have been available with the black body if red was available at all.By special order if nothing else.A red interior would only go well with red, black, white & possibly silver.Back in these days you could get virtually any color interior available in the brochure with black or white paint. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Sweet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
talon63 Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Looks like cool project. The first thing I thought about that interior was some very thin, fine grained cork, slightly darkened, to replicate that center console and dash inserts. Looking forward to seeing more of this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg K Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 i think red is a great choice to go with black exterior. as you said, "classy". my brother had a green 68 with white interior. that was nice too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IJ001 Posted November 17, 2015 Author Share Posted November 17, 2015 my brother had a green 68 with white interior. that was nice too. Thanks Greg. Never thought of a white interior for a green car, but I could see that working. I have the MPC '69 442 W30, one of Top 3 favourite muscle cars, that combo with white rallye stripes would work really well on that car.AFNIan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Looking forward to the build. Red interior sounds great... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeCee Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Red interior sounds perfect for a black car i think, done a few that way, and very satisfying result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IJ001 Posted November 18, 2015 Author Share Posted November 18, 2015 Not worth posting a photo, but last night I polished the primer with 6K & 8K grit Micro-Mesh, so it's smooth as a mirror now. Today I'll shoot the first coat of Tamiya glossy black. I'm anticipating I'll get the depth I want with three coats, but that may change !!Pics this evening I hope.Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IJ001 Posted November 19, 2015 Author Share Posted November 19, 2015 Results of this mornings' effort. Surprisingly the paint has dried satin (any ideas ??), but not to worry as I'll be rubbing it back with Micro-Mesh and lots of water tomorrow. Still got a glassy smooth finish but no depth at all... yet !! Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IJ001 Posted November 19, 2015 Author Share Posted November 19, 2015 Rubbed back the first paint with 4K Micro-Mesh this morning and shot a second coat. Looks deeper now so I'm a wee bit happier with it. Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 If your finish is really smooth you might start with a couple coats of clear and do your final polishing on that finish. I have used Tamiya TS-14 Black before and have always been happy with it, but it really needs a couple of clear coats to make it shine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jantrix Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 Very likely the satin finish is a result of humidity. Looking good though. And I agree with David about polishing the clear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg K Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 (edited) Ian, have you had any trouble with the masking tape leaving residue behind? Edited November 20, 2015 by Greg K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twi5t3d Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 Looks good I need a body for this kit,Any ideas where to get one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IJ001 Posted November 21, 2015 Author Share Posted November 21, 2015 (edited) Ian, have you had any trouble with the masking tape leaving residue behind? Never, I use Tamiya and a local low-tac auto finishers tape. So as this is written, I've rubbed the paintwork back with 6, 8 & 12K Micro-Mesh, then auto-polish, rubbed & buffed. No clear coat as yet, not certain I'll need it, but please tell me what you guys think... Ian. Edited November 21, 2015 by IJ001 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moparfarmer Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 The paint looks awsome, you have a "sand through" on the tip of the hood but can't see anywhere else..Touch up the hood then shoot two to three coats of clear on it..If you're using Tamiya stick with that brand, then wetsand and polish out the clear..Should look killer when you are done.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie8575 Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Nice gloss.And yes, red was an available color choice in '68 for the interiors. Most cars offered it. Charlie Larkin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg K Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 looks nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IJ001 Posted November 24, 2015 Author Share Posted November 24, 2015 Quick phone-pic of the block in situ. Obviously not wired or plumbed yet. Have to say I'm really impressed with the simplified but very positive locating tabs for the engine assembly on this kit. Much, much better than the old 1970's era Monogram kits !! Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TFchronos Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 Very nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IJ001 Posted November 30, 2015 Author Share Posted November 30, 2015 Thanks for all your replies folks, really appreciate you taking the time to do that.So I took a very deep breath and shot two coats of Tamiya clear. Got relatively light days of work both today and tomorrow so will be spending some time again with the Micro-Mesh cloths, pads and polishing compound.Photos when I'm done.Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IJ001 Posted December 2, 2015 Author Share Posted December 2, 2015 Progress; But I may go back and re-do some of the foil, it's a lot more difficult to get it right than I recall from years ago !! Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mustang Madness Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 Cool... paint looks great, interested to see it completed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattsteel85 Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 Good looking build I LOVE BLACK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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