mustang1989

Too cool Ira! Way too cool!!!

Thanks Dave, James and Kevin. About the hood...............I dunno yet. My goal is to put this thing back as a refreshed build and shy away from mods. We'll see. Ok I'm back with a few updates on this rascal. I have done a lot to this thing even though it doesn't really look like I did a thing. The side steps have been touched up with a fresh light coat of black as have the rear bumper mounts. I put the body on and it was an act of Congress to get that to happen as all the years of heat damage have warped the hell out of this model.......but......I got it. It fits terribly and there's just only so much I can do. I installed the rear bumper, door handles and fuel cap. I've painted replacement headlight buckets that will be set aside to dry/ gas out for the next two weeks. I did drill into the body and into the headlight buckets so I could pin them in place. I don't know about anybody else here but getting stuff like outside rearview mirrors and externally mounted headlights mounted on the body is like dancing with the devil. If you slip up and "miss" the target glue point with the part then you risk screwing up a nice paint job. I pin 'em for an exact fit so I don't have to worry about this. I'm working just as hard on this thing to keeping it true to my original build as I am modifying my decked out kits so if this aint perfect , there's reason. I wanted at least one "restored" model depicting my skills then vs. these days. The recent pics...

Got some extra bench time in later this morning. I've got to install a couple of pieces of hardware to top this all off but you're lookin' at about 95% complete right here. I've still gotta add the accelerator pedal linkage but that's it. Remember that turn signal bulb that I broke and stole the filament out of? I used it as the throttle return spring......

Thanks JC! This morning I worked on the throttle linkage at the intake manifold starting with the base bracket. I formed it and added the retaining bolt heads and then installed both levers and a retaining nut onto both levers at the "pivot point". I actually went over this morning on time so I'm running short on that this morning. Here's my reference photo.... and here's the bracket and linkage that mounts up at the base of the intake manifold....(the camera kept trying to focus my hand instead of the part but I finally got it after a few shots).

Man you are doing a beautiful job on this thing Pat!!!!!!!!!! Wow!

I've gotta say that the last couple of days have been trying on my patience and my eyes. I painted the carburetors a mix of chrome silver and gold and then toned them down with a light wash of Tamiya Smoke which brought out the detail a little better as well. After that I fabricated the fuel lines out of pins and solder. At first I had installed the fuel lines facing the wrong way so I had to start over and install the fuel lines with the inlets facing the passengers side instead of the drivers side where all my throttle linkage is supposed to be. Lastly I started to work on the throttle linkage. Jeez what a night mare! I paid for that one with a small headache from working under visor for too long without a break. I cut out all the PE for it and set it all aside last night and started to work on it pretty heavy this morning. Anyways here's where I'm at so far just for a little progress report............ I inserted the stretched sprue for the common linkage pivot rod so I've still got some work to do here like install the arms off of the rod and the linkage from the arms to each carburetor but you get the picture....

I'll be off to engine detail from there Carl. I'll try to post as many pics as possible without crowding this all up with miniscule progress. Most posts will consist of several things that have been done regarding this subject.

Nice work Paul! I really like all the weathering!

Man what a great job! That engine and interior look great and you did just as good of a job on those wheels and tires!!! Wow!

Thanks Dan and Tim!!! Mike: I used the 1/8" Aluminum rod from HL and used a 3/32" drill bit chucked up and run on low speed. I worked in even and slow circles with the drill to the walls thinner. Then I worked the drill bit back and forth through the rod to clean up any burrs. I did a little clean up with an X-acto but not much as I wanted the inside finish to be clean.

Oh believe me I know what you are talking about. I'm used to the opening panels up on 48th scale aircraft but this whole 24th /25th scale thing is a lot easier to see a foul up on. lol. Cool ideas going on here. Whichever way you go I'm sure you'll make it look good.

Well this morning I wrapped up the L/H tail pipe after 3 remakes. I've got it coming out equally on both sides and at the correct lengths. I have to do some minor tweeking on the exhaust pipe going over the differential on the L/H side due to the bed fitting a little crooked but that's small stuff. Here's where we are now.....

That looks great so far Darren. I haven't dove off into the fabricated hinge work yet as I feel like I've still got a ways to go skill wise till I tackle that. Looking forward to that interior work.

Man I love Hueys......ALOT!!!! You've done a great job on this Lee! Awesome! Seein' these things fly these days'll dang near bring a tear to my eye. Memories brother.......memories....

Thanks Ira and Dave! I worked with the L/H tail pipe today and that is proving to be difficult due to the critical nature of lining both exhaust exits up exactly at the same angles and lengths. I've already made a second tailipipe and now see myself starting over again with a third. No worries...I'll get it right.

Looks like you made it past the warpage issue fine Arno! Great work on the whole thing!

Nice build Rich!! I've got this kit in the stash and it looks to be a good kit to build. It even comes with a little photo reference book which was a nice touch.

Thanks Carl! I just wished I'd find stuff like that before moving on. lol Still trying to get the correct angles to match it up perfectly with the R/H side but we're gettin' there.....

Great planning so far John! I'll be in on this big beast!

Looks like a fauxback box for this reissue: Now THAT ....is cool!!!

I noticed that the tips were not to scale thickness so I took a step backwards and removed the tips, drilled 'em out to scale thickness and then coated the tips with Future to retain that polished look over time.

Thanks for the heads up Jim!! I'll be trying this in the future.

Outstanding model here! Keep this stuff coming as I love to just watch and learn from builds like this. Awesome work Mark!!!!

Slick! More pics please.

That grille and the bumpers look great JC! I really like how this ones coming along. Nice work!