mustang1989

Nice!!!!! I'm really liking all the attention to detail that each piece of this kit is getting. It's really looking good John!

Good grief!! I'd be scared to handle it! What an immaculate build Jim!! I really enjoyed following the build and watching all of the detail you put on it.

Ok there Carl I've put it together. First I started with ate up headlamp-exhibit A: Then cut the post off: After that I broke out a small file to get rid of all traces of the post from the lens: To get started I held it between my thumb and index finger because the initial cutting of plastic is pretty rough and I needed to be able to hold it while filing lightly. You need light pressure initially to keep the lens from being pushed out of your fingers. After you get it somewhat smoothed out to where the file will slide easier on the plastic you just sand it with it pressed into your finger by the constant downward pressure from filing. until it looks fogged over and the post completely removed. then you sand it with flexible sanding sticks working from 2800 grit all the way to like 12000 grit..... and end up here. After that you simply turn it over and apply a good coat of Future to the outside of the lens and it's a done deal. Hope this helped you out Carl.

You're right about that Bill. I appreciate all the help fellas. I have a Bf109 slated up next on the bench. With all the egging on I'm getting around here this could be the next build. http://www.ebay.com/itm/MPC-1-25-Pro-Street-Barracuda-Vintage-Plastic-Model-Kit-/111595462450?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19fb9b9f32

Thank you Scott!

That sounds like a plan really. In re-doing the Challenger there were some things I left the way they were just for old times sake. I'm definitely gonna put it on the list of builds. Thanks fellas!

That sir..............is a great looking engine!!!!

Thanks everybody! And that's definitely the kit Mike. Oh my Gawd!! It's even got that gay wing on the back of it! LOL

The next build may be covered in the All the Rest section. It'll be a Bf109 G-6 "Yellow 2" flown by Franz Stigler. For those of you who like history the book, "A Higher Call" is an amazing story about a B-17 bomber "Ye Olde Pub" flown by Charlie Brown. The short version of the story surrounding this book is a german pilot, Franz, took off to shoot this B-17 down that was only running on one and a partial second engine and had been shot up already by Fw190 and other Bf109 fighters. By the time Franz caught up to the B-17 he couldn't believe his eyes at how the thing was still flying as he could see through the blasted craters in the fuselage at the crew caring for the wounded. The tail gunner was in pieces all over the back of the aircraft. He simply would not bring this bird down and elected to escort them out of Germany instead. Decades later in the 90's Brown and Stigler and some of the rest of the crew reunited through a magazine article and a lot of help from folks associated with the publishing magazine. All I have to say is what a story it is! Any how here is an artists depiction of that encounter:(the painting shows 3 engines running but the story tells of the 1 -1/2 engines actually doing the work) Here's the kit in 1/48th scale: and the engine that I'll be displaying with that build (and the engine is a boxed kit in itself with well over 100 parts) There's about 8 pages of this instruction sheet: and the resin base engine: This...................is gonna be a lot of fun!!!

I'll come back to that after I get to work between 6-6:30. Thanks guys!

Thanks Bruce and Lee: Yeah I know Bruce and you're right. I'm just ready to move to the next project! lol Well I got the fuel cap on today and primed the replacement front clip. It is in the lower picture where you can truly see the wider tires than what came in the kit. My Monogram 66 Mustang kit came in handy for these as there were two sets of these in that box!

This is another kit that I built around 30 years ago. I have 2 more builds like this to include a 66 Charger and a 69 Z28 Camaro but I've been eyeing this one for a future resto project like I'm currently taking on with my 70 Monogram Dodge Challenger in the "On the Workbench" section here. I cannot for the life of me find a manufacturer logo on it anywhere. I'll start with the pics and then a little more commentary: What I'm looking for is another kit so I can replace what needs to be replaced and add into place the things I didn't as a kid and to modify certain things this time round so I don't have front tires that hang out of the fenders a scale 6" or better. To tell you the test of time that this thing has withstood I'll show you in the next pic the temperatures it's been exposed to which bust 100+ degrees in North Texas where my parents live and where this model has been for the 30+ years. Here is the original Jo-Han display case base that it was sitting on. I literally had to pry the model off of the display base with a pocket screwdriver! Anyway if anybody can help me out with who makes this kit I'd be greatly appreciative. Thanks, Joe

Jim: I'll be remembering that. I do use 5 minute epoxy in certain areas and had given it some thought here with this but elected JB weld on this one due to problems with the epoxy in the past. Once its sealed up there aint no goin' back was my reasoning. I will look in to the Microsol brand though. Thanks man! Carl: I aint forgot you on the lenses and thanks! I'm chipping away at the details while making progress to the finish line. It seems that it's this point of the build that takes the longest.........sigh.....

I'm with you there. Powerplants and interiors/cockpits are always the most fun parts with me along with decaling and paint. Sanding and filling.................................sucks!

Yeah, but you know all that detail is there and it's sure fun to build all that stuff. Lookin' good Tim!

Lets have a pic of what you're dealing with and we'll go from there karsten. Thanks there Tom!

The Lights and the Death Ray? Looking forward to that!!! Keep it coming Ira!! Flying Naked? Hopefully it's not "guys". lol

lol . Looks like a good start Jonathan.

Tim and Dan: Thanks fellas! kazy: I usually use clear parts cement but I had some trouble out of it this go round. I ended up using JB Weld of all things and it worked like a charm! Welcome to the forums BTW.

Gotcha posted Jason! Again thanks a mil dude!

Carl: I'll get a pic up on how I did it tomorrow morning bud. Everybody: Well I didn't post much in the way of progress this weekend because I was freekin totally busy. I had to choose between forum or benchtime and benchtime took the win. Any ways I finally got the glass assy installed and after the glue fully cured out I installed the interior and chassis onto the body. Well...............so far this is what I've got (the front clip is the old one so don't worry as it'll get changed out soon. I'm currently working on the new one). The stance is exactly what I was after. I've still got a ways to go but here we are:

Lookin' good Nick. To add to what Nick (high octane) said , try not to build too far outside of where you are right now. You're doing great so far so build within your ability and enjoy the hobby. Try not to compare your work to others. Instead, challenge yourself to get better with each build and you'll get there bud. Can't wait to see more, Joe

Yo Ho Ho!!! Lookin' good buddy!! Nice paint work on that motor!

I hear you on that Tim. I'd say about 30% of my time at the bench is made up of photography. The right angles, the right lighting, ensuring the colors are there , that the model is free of the junk that I recently had in my photos (plastic drill shavings, dust.............dog hairs and the like removed from the scene!!) and all that stuff. I installed the window assy this morning. Speaking of photos , there aint any yet but will more than likely be by end of day today.

I had the fastback version of this kit and I couldn't get the stance right to save my neck when I built it 11 years ago and I certainly didn't do near as nice a job as you have pulled off here! Great job on this build Pat and like I've mentioned else where, I had a great time following this build with all the triumphs and stuggles you had.