StevenGuthmiller

Thanks everyone! Now it's on to the engine. I'm planning on using the 421 engine from the AMT '62 Catalina kit, as long as it fits. Steve

Simple! Drop it into some Super Clean! I clean kit glass with it all of the time. It will dissolve the enamel in minutes! Won't harm the plastic at all. The glass will look just like new when it comes out. Steve

Now "that's" going to get expensive!! You would probably use up the entire contents of a pen for a set of wheels & maybe a bumper or 2. At $12.00 to $18.00 bucks a pop, that's a little rich! You can send a whole rack of parts out for re-chroming for less than $25.00. By the way, I'm assuming that this guy has heard of latex gloves before? Steve

I have 9 completed convertibles on my shelf right now. Only 3 of them are built with the top down. That was only because the kits never came with them & I didn't want to mess with scratch building anything. I did modify a '59 Impala top for my '59 Merc though. It turned out fair. Steve

If you really want to go hog wild, I suggest some of the Alclad colored paints. Steve

I buy all of my #11 blades @ Hobby Lobby in the plastic "dispenser packs". There is a slot & compartment in the pack for used blades. When the package is exhausted & full of used blades, it can go directly into the trash. Steve

Thanks David! Funny part is, even when I do build the occasional convertible, I'm always looking for an up top for it! I've always just thought that a convertible with the top down is missing something as far as styling goes. So many of these old hard tops had such interesting roof lines. I guess it's all part of the trade off. Steve

2 tablespoons will last me forever for what I'm using it for. I won't be substituting it for foil, just complimenting it. It works great for small details like dash detailing & chrome touch up. I still say that some of us are getting a little ahead of ourselves with using these instead of foil. Nobody knows how well this stuff will hold up over time, or even how durable it will be in the short run. I know that BMF holds up for decades. Steve

Just arrived, a 1mm Molotow chrome pen. I was a little surprised at how quickly it came, coming from the UK! Steve

As a matter of fact I have. Unfortunately, I don't know how to post the link here. But if you check my "activity" you'll find it under the heading "Transparent Steering Wheels" back in August of 2016. Steve

That's ok. I know it's there. Steve

That's what I was thinking. Steve

I mix all of my own engine colors with Testors Enamel. I can get them close enough for me. Steve

Thanks Mike. I found the same product on amazon, but it says "currently unavailable". I guess with all of us crazed modelers buying this stuff up, the company can't keep up with the demand! Any idea how much that is in American & if I would have to take out a second mortgage to pay for shipping? I have one 2mm pen & a 1mm on order. I might just hold out for a while & see if Amazon gets them in eventually. Steve

Comes right out with lacquer thinner. Steve

I hit the interior pretty hard this weekend, & to my surprise, I finished it! It's amazing sometimes how much you can accomplish if you just put your head down & go! The mods on this one include; Scratch made transparent steering wheel. Cast window cranks. I omitted the console & added a scratch made shifter. Added the factory dash mounted tach The gauge face is an after market piece from a '60 Ford! Embossing powder carpets. I also added a turn signal switch & door lock buttons. I used a combination of foil & Molotow pen for the chrome & it worked quite well. I did discover though that the finish from the Molotow pen is quite fragile. I had to touch up a few things after assembly. The window cranks, door locks, turn signal switch, horn ring & a few dash details were done with the pen. It worked quite well. Steve

Here's another great tip for the pens. I was just contemplating the "fine detail" issue & found the perfect solution. You can just load up the tip of a paint brush by touching it to the tip of the pen applicator. Then just paint as you would do normal detail. I'm beginning to think that the pen itself is unnecessary. If i can find the paint refill for them, I won't bother with the pens themselves in the future. Steve

Looks as if there was a trim piece along the rear edge, but it was a vinyl piece matching the top color, not chrome. Steve Although there are some that appear to have had a chrome strip as well.

Either that, or it it is being applied over rough or "grainy" paint. I have never had any issues with foil coming off of a body in the many, many years that I have been using it. The only problems I have seen with foil not sticking well is on an occasional interior where I've used flat paint, or the paint has a texture to it. Even then, a little bit of clear acrylic applied over the foil with a brush takes care of the problem. I have also found, like Tom, that pieces of excess foil returned to the backing lose their adhesive properties very quickly if not used right away. Steve

The tonneau covers are a little tricky. Custom pieces from early 60s kits. I know I've seen them before, but I can't recall where. 2 of the boots look very familiar to me. I think #5 is from a Johan '68 Cadillac. #4 looks pretty generic, like it could have been used on several different kits. It looks very much like the one on my AMT '60 Mercury. #6, '58 Pontiac or Chevy? Steve

Jim, you can empty your message box, ( the envelope) by first clicking on the envelope, then clicking on the bottom of that window where it says "Go to Inbox". Once the new window opens, click on the little "gear" symbol, (tools) to the left of the "compose new" tab. Another small window will open & you will see "empty" at the bottom. Click on that & then click "ok". Steve

The 2mm Molotow chrome pen came earlier in the week. Still waiting on the 1mm. The stock wheel covers for the '65 Mercury came yesterday. Another reminder that with some patience, you can find pretty much any vintage part you may need. Took me about a year and a half to find this set. Steve

I think I would try this approach 1st! Steve

Just a basic mineral spirit should work too, but I won't guarantee that. It works fine for removing enamel from the automotive lacquers that I use, but I'm not truly familiar with the composition of Tamiya paint. Steve

Same here. I hear of people having issues with foil peeling off, but have never experienced it myself. Steve