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Found a good way to strip the peeling decals off my 5th wheel. Warm slightly with a heat gun and scrape them off with these plastic scraper blades. It gets the decal and 95% of the glue off. Gunwash on a rag will take the remainder off.

Is that the Revell of Germany kit in the flat box? I have opened mine a couple times and put it back. I find the instructions a little intimidating. You can always put it on hold and start another simpler kit. Get a kit that you’re not in love with so it won’t bother you as much if you mess up a bit.?

No kit available of the Willys, only a diecast stake box....so I cast one.? Link to my long, slow build. http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/156181-‘54-willys-pu/

This 1/24 diecast would be a better starting point, as it is a JL. Unfortunately it is a truck, but it has the correct grill, fenders, hood, taillights and the four doors. I am surprised with the popularity of the new(er) 4 door jeeps that no company has kitted them??? https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B08DL94PHL/rocketfin-20

You’ve got your work cut out for you! That kit is a TJ body style (turn signals in the metal fenders). After that body style came the JK and JKU(4 door), then came the JL which is what a 2020 would be...or JLU? There are as far as I know, minor differences between the JK and JL. This kit may be a better starting point. I have messed with the Revell kit but have not seen the Meng kit so I don’t know how detailed it is. Good Luck! Some good info: https://carbuzz.com/features/history-of-the-jeep-wrangler-in-five-generations

You WILL need patience while waiting for sprue glue to cure, if that’s the route you go.

Little jars that I got from Michaels.

I agree, but evergreen rod might be softer than the original styrene. I haven’t tried the epoxy that Bill recommends, but I have made “sprue glue” using styrene chunks and liquid cement. Preferably use the sprue from the original kit if possible. Dissolve chunks of it in liquid cement until you have a thick paste. Fill the cracks and let it dry thoroughly. It may take a long time, (start another kit in the meantime) but when it is fully cured it will be just like the original plastic. Then the lines can be re-scribed. If you have an old scrap body...experiment a bit.

Thanks All! I took another pic of it with the flash on and it looks a lot brighter...in fact I can tell how dirty it is now.? I’m going to wash it off and give it one more try. If I can’t get a decent facsimile, I will try the Plate Shack next.

I would like to copy my custom plate. I have downsized and printed a photo of it, but it is dark and the definition is poor. Has anyone tried putting an actual LP on the printer/scanner? Or any other ideas? Thx.

I remember Mr. Magoo and the Pink Panther being shorts that they would play before the movie started in theatres. Now all we get is advertising.?

Channels? Channels...you had more than one? I wasn’t real big on the Banana Splits either, but it was something different! Bismark, ND ( I think that’s where it was broadcast from?) is 280 miles from my hometown so we could only pick it up over the air on certain days. On most days the only channel we got was CKX Brandon. I remember those too.? And Quick draw McGraw also.?

Bugs Bunny, Road Runner Hour. With Wile-E-Coyote, Foghorn Leghorn, Elmer Fudd, Pepe Le Pew. Daffy Duck, Porky pig, Taz, The Martian. ( I think these were all on the same show)? Popeye The Flintstones Heckle and Jeckle. Huckleberry Hound. Magilla Gorilla Yogi Bear On good days when we could pick up Minot or Bismark ND. I would watch “The Banana Splits”. not really a cartoon but...

Only worth a hundred grand then!?

These are all of the “plastic melting” glues that I have. I use the Tamiya Quick Setting stuff now almost exclusively unless a non-solvent glue is required. They all work well in my experience, except the Plastruct. I bought it last week because the shop owner had it on sale so I figured why not? I glued some .156” half round styrene to some rectangle to make a muffler. When dry, I used a pin to dimple the end so I could drill a hole and it split apart.? Oh, and the plastic nozzle on the testors always plugs up.?

I’m not familiar with this kit, but I imagine the oil pan should have large flat mating surfaces. So if it is falling off, perhaps your glue has gone bad? If the lid was left off, maybe the solvents evaporated?

Thin super glue (CA) will work on close fitting parts, but you will need an applicator like “glue looper” or a home made one in order to apply very tiny amounts. I prefer medium CA as it is easier to apply tiny amounts and doesn’t set instantly like the thin stuff. Either will bond to paint, but the joint will only be as strong as the paint-to-plastic bond is. The best thing to do is get some .020” brass rod (or any tiny wire) and make pins to join all the finicky little parts before paint. Then you are not relying on the glue for the strength and it saves a world of grief during final assembly! ?

I think I used .010”x.030” flat strip for the seams on the roof, and .030” half round for the chrome trim. You can sand the half round slightly to make a half oval shape? I cut the first piece I installed just a hair long and glued it in place. Then made the second piece overlap it. Then with a very sharp (new) blade, I trimmed both strips with one cut.

Can you right click on the pictures on Fotki and save them to your computer? Then upload directly to your post by clicking “choose files”?

I agree! I always search the site first if I am looking for tips or techniques, or examples of models I intend to build. I would rather read a dozen 1 page threads than one that is 12 pages long.?

Wow, nice work on that rig! And the forklift too!?

Get yourself a cheap food dehydrator (one with adjustable temp control) to use as a drying booth. It is also good for keeping your paint cans warm in colder weather. There is a sticky in the Q&A section on them.

Very nice. Good job on the woodgrain!

On a related note, I just tried another test with 1/16” round. The Tamiya QS cement made the bend snap. The Plastruct did not. I got the Plastruct on my last trip to the hobby shop cause it was on sale. I can see why because it sure doesn’t weld styrene together the way the Tamiya does!?

Yes, thanks Guys! Things seem to be OK now.?