AMT 1966 Mustang GT Fastback

[Snake45]

You are doing amazing work here. I've restored five or six of these AMT '66 Mustang fastbacks now, so I can REALLY appreciate what you're doing and how well you're doing it. 

Back in the late '80s I built the common AMT '66 coupe and wanted it in Emberglo. I used Model Master Kiln Red Metallic airbrushed over a primer of light tan. Not perfect but I think it looks "passably" good. Couple years ago I picked up an M2 diecast 1/24 '66 2+2 that was painted Emberglo. It looks pretty good, too. 

Drive on, and keep us posted on your progress. 

 

 

[Maindrian Pace]

Thanks Snake. I saw your thread on the '66 Fastbacks you rehabbed, nice work, and that coupe looks great. I used the MM Kiln red on a few cars back in the day, always liked that color and it always sprayed well from the can too. This project started out as a basic box style restoration, but I can already sense the mission creep.

Got a late delivery yesterday:

And did a spoon to test color and primer compatibility. Looks bang-on, the camera makes the flake appear bigger than it actually is, Scalefinishes uses scale flake, always a plus.

Getting ready to douse the body...

[Maindrian Pace]

I think Jameston nailed it this time.

Two coats of Tamiya TS-13 clear, decanted and airbrushed. Really brings out the color.

I'll let it sit for a day or so, then cut and buff it. Won't need much though, that clear laid down smooth. In the mean time, I'll get the main color on the interior parts, and then it's on to a part that I don't much care for - masking for two tone. Here is the interior I am going for, Emberglo and Parchment.

[vamach1]

The color looks great.

[oldscool]

That color does look great. If it were mine I wouldn't even rub it out.

[Just Jim]

Phew that car had a lot of "potential" when you first got it. Looking great now!  

[NOBLNG]

Nice upgrades and corrections! 👍 This is going to be one fantastic looking Mustang!

[kelson]

That interior combo you chose will look stunning!!👍

[Maindrian Pace]

Thanks Gentlemen.

I used the polishing kit on the roof, took it to 12,000 grit and finished it off with The Treatment model wax in a slightly damp soft tissue. The rest is mostly finished.

Painted the main color on the interior bits, masked off for the second color. 2.5 hours to mask these parts. Did I mention that I wasn't a fan of masking?

[mk11]

Sure glad this one fell into your hands, Mike. Gonna be a beauty  

The original paint looks like the old amt peacock metal flake. Anyone know if there's a currently available match for those beautiful old turquoises?

[slusher]

Beautiful color and finish!

[Maindrian Pace]

Second color on. These are the two paints used, Scalefinishes Chrysler Turbine Bronze - as in the color of the Turbine car - a near perfect match for the Emberglo vinyl. The Parchment is Rustoleum, decanted and airbrushed so as not to overwhelm the masking tape. I wouldn't recommend airbrushing this stuff, it doesn't clean up well with lacquer thinner, and necessitated a total disassembly of the air brush to clean it all out. But on the plus side, it sprayed well and dries very quickly.

On to the chassis. I decided to use a later issue chassis for the dual exhaust, as the original has only a single system. That is not correct, as the GT had a minimum option A code 4V 289 engine with dual exhaust. Just about all later coupe issues have the right chassis, as well as the chopped '68 Fastback Mach 1 show car and related versions of that kit. This chassis is molded in metallic blue, so it's from the Autolite Special kit. Those kits are real tail draggers, so the rear axle holes needed to be lowered to raise the car to stock ride height. I painted the chassis in ruddy red/brown primer, then fogged some Emberglo in from the sides.

Then I fitted the wheels and axles to adjust the wheelbase, stance, ride height, and in/out wheel placement. I did this on a coupe body to avoid handling the painted Fastback body.

[kelson]

Masking is a pain,but when you get the result you did on that interior,it's worth it!!.

[Slotto]

Great looking build so far. Love that color and your finish on that body is amazing. 

[slusher]

Great two-tone interior, wow!

[Maindrian Pace]

Did some paint detailing on the chassis.

You can mix flocking just like paint. These two colors combine to make a convincing Emberglo carpet, installed as much for realism as to conceal the glue burns courtesy the previous builder. Brushed Mylar sticker was used for the console insert.

Shot the engine bay in Tamiya semi gloss black, and printed some walnut wood decals for the console and dash inserts. I figured this might be easier than painting them, we'll see.

And started on the Bare Metal Foil. Happily, this car doesn't have very much trim.

[gman]

That is shaping up beautifully- nice match on the carpet.

Emberglow was one of my favorite 60's Ford colors, and your paint has turned out great.

[Dave Darby]

Its looking better and better all of the time! I also like the rescue of the old survivor fastback. One thing I'd like to mention for folks building an AMT Mustang, is that the AMT 66-up Falcons, including the mod-stock issues have a pretty decent set of those shock towers. Coincidently, it's also where those headers you used on the survivor came from. I came this close to using a set on my Ivo T.

[Maindrian Pace]

Dave, thanks for letting me know where those headers on the green Mustang came from. I have another gasser planned, and now I have two more sets that I didn't know I had.

The walnut decals for the dash went a bit easier than I thought they might, I used a leather hole punch set to cut the circles and semi-circle shapes out.

But this did require several attempts.

After some detailing with various paints and Molotow ink:

And now we have our first complete sub-assembly.

I put a strip of BMF on the door panels between the two colors (big pain, had to walk away a few times) cut the decal for the console, and used the shifter from the AMT '67 Mustang and the Rally Pack from an MPC '66 Mustang GT. I used a silver pencil to detail the gauges in the dash, decal faces for the Rally Pack gauges.

This interior represents the optional Interior Decor Group, more commonly known as the Pony interior, and those came with the Deluxe Wood grain wheel; but AMT supplied the Falcon Sprint-derived standard wheel. Since this was a part of the original kit, I used it because I want to retain (most of) the character of the original. But if you want to use a wood grain wheel, a decent one comes in the Monogram '65 Pace Car convertible kit. I didn't want to get too carried away with details here, but I'm pleased with how it came out.

[Maindrian Pace]

First mock-up. Have to address some clearance issues between the interior tub and the chassis, but it's close.

Had to trim the back of the chassis flush to the tank to clear the rear valance.

Looking at the bottom of the car all together, there was a large void in the chassis above the bell housing that went up to the inside of the cowl, so I trimmed a parts box firewall and glued it in place; this fits behind the new resin firewall and fills the hole. Problem solved.

Installed the taillights with clear enamel paint for glue. My favorite stuff for lenses, photo etched parts, and other small bits that show and can't leave a trace of glue.

[bisc63]

Looking very nice. That interior is just snazzy!

[Calb56]

Beautiful build.

I love the 64.5 to 66 Mustang but there doesn't seem to be any detailed kits of it.

Yours is just...wow!

Charles 

[Maindrian Pace]

Major parts married, engine bay mostly detailed. I gave it a level 2 - ignition wires and heater hoses. Shock tower braces from the AMT '67 Mustang, master cylinder from the Monogram '65-'66 kits, made a heater blower motor from Evergreen tube, battery and radiator original AMT '66 kit. After a few false starts with the radiator hose, I made one from 10 AWG wire. I removed the copper strands and replaced them with K&S brass rod. This allows you to bend the hose in any direction and have it stay that way. Still have a few engine bay details left.

Printed a few 1966 AZ vanity plates. It's not clear if AZ had personalized plates in 1966, but many states did starting in '65. Also seen are the reproduction original side stripes.

Front and back nearly finished. Headlights are the Monogram '65 reflectors with parts box lenses. I made license plate brackets to mount the plates at the proper angle. I wanted fresh chrome bumpers, so the '66 coupe bumpers were used. Minor trimming to the backs of the front bumper guards (fangs) to clear the original valance. The rear bumper from the coupe also had the fangs, but the GTs don't have them because they don't fit with the exhaust tips. I tried trimming the fangs off and touching up the chrome with Molotow, but wasn't happy with the result. The solution was in the same box - the "custom" rear bumper with the coupe kits. It's fang-free, but it doesn't have the mounting tabs like the stock bumper because it is intended to be used with the custom rear valance. So I cut the tabs from the stock bumper and glued them to the custom bumper at the proper angle, and that did the job. Exhaust tips are painted with Alclad chrome.

Side view mirror is from the Monogram '65 convertible kit, I always drill and pin these so they don't get easily knocked off somewhere where there is no glue available and you forgot to bring your old man glasses so you can't see what you're doing anyway. Not that that's ever happened...

This car is finished, I will post pictured in the Under Glass section tomorrow.

 

[Dave Darby]

Love it! Looking forward to seeing the Under Glass photos.

[slusher]

Outstanding work, looking forward too seeing it under glass!