MarkJ

Started working on the grille. I found some mesh material about the same size as the plastic grille mesh. Somebody that I can't remember now but it was probably 15 years ago sent it to me. It has something to do with the filtration system on a fish tank. The photos below show how I used masking tape to get the size of the mesh I need, and also shows that I sanded off the plastic mesh and will paint that black. I will color the new metal mesh with a light coating of aluminum paint and try not to clog up the holes in the mesh so the black can show through. I will attach the mesh with tiny dots of canopy glue just at the 4 corners of the mesh. I will then add strips to the borders of the mesh to clean up the look of it all. If you can understand what I just posted, you are better than me. I just hope it works and gets rid of the usual toyish look of a kit grille that has been left alone.

Thanks, Kevin. I appreciate your thoughts on the build.

Got the masking off the body and cleaned up the airbrush for my next chance to paint, if the weather gives me one. I need to paint all the black items this time. In the meantime, I can work on the grille and the engine.

Looks awesome, Bruce. Really like the molding holes in the front fenders. Adds a lot of authenticity to the build. 57 Fords are one of my favorite all time cars. They really looked cool when they came out in 57. Long and low compared to the 56 version.

As a famous builder would say, yup.

Thanks, Mike for stopping by to weigh in on the build. Yes, the Createx has a lot of options as far as colors and types of paints you can get in acrylic paint. I for one really like the wicked lineup of paints they offer and when you get through the paint looks like any good enamel or lacquer paint job out there without the hazard to your health the others might cause. Cleanup of the airbrush can be done on the kitchen table with isopropyl alcohol instead of a lacquer thinner or whatever you would have to use to clean up an enamel job using an airbrush. Plus, Hobby Lobby sells it which is convenient for me.

Thanks, Donato. It's been relatively fun so far compared to the last build. If I can figure out the grille it should be smooth sailing to the end as long as the decals don't come apart or something weird when I go to put them on. I don't know how old they are, but they have been in a zip lock bag since I got them so since they are high quality power slide decals I'm thinking they will be okay.

Thanks, Carl. I'm pretty pleased so far with my results. Hopefully the gold will turn out as well as the red did. I still have a group of black things to paint as well. This sure is more fun than having to paint each and everything with a bristle brush.

Had a really good day for painting yesterday high 80's and humidity at 66%. Wind only 10mph but mostly still, which I kind of wished it had stayed a slight breeze. But for southeast Texas this time of year that is very weird but good weather. I masked everything that needed masking and shot all the red areas of the build. I'm really loving this air brush and the Createx paint. I have finally got a good mix going that keeps the tip from drying up through the whole painting session. I mix up a 10-gram batch with 2 different reducers and 10 drops of my own flow improver made from dish detergent. It makes the paint flow out better without making the paint run. Not a hint of orange peel either. Its slightly dull but when I shoot some acrylic Tamiya clear after I shoot the gold it should give me a nice gloss for decaling. I now need to mask for shooting the gold and wait for another good day. In the meantime, I can fix the grille and hand paint some small stuff and the engine and put it together and make an air cleaner that looks more authentic for this car. The rear bumper on this particular car was red and the front bumper was half red and chrome. Have no idea why.

Thanks, Pierre. I think I have a mesh that will work. Hope the bug hits you quickly. That Ferrari sounds like a project that will be a feast for our eyes out here in mediocrity land . I will be on the lookout at the wip section where you usually are found. I'm guessing that is where it will be.

Thanks. Pierre. I think you're right. I scraped off some the dried wash last night and the paint in the little squares came with it. Looks like I might not be able to get rid of the toyish looking grille on this one. Have to go to some kind of plan b. Maybe involving a mesh screen of some sort like you have used on your recent builds. Are you possibly home from your travels? If so, can we be expecting a new build from you soon? Thanks again for your input on the build.

Added the bar on the floor of the tub that the cage connects to, it won't actually ever be glued to it because I have to keep the cage free till final assembly for painting. The cage is black, and the tub is red. I will paint the bar on the floor black after I paint the tub red with a brush. Also got the body primed and now I'm working on the grille with some black wash to make it look more like a grille. After the wash dry's I will rub the grille with a wood toothpick, and it will remove the wash from the eggcrate part of the grille, but the wash will remain in the little, tiny squares. I always like to do this to make the build a little more real looking. I think most of you guys do this too.

Just one more bar to add to the floor of the tub and I will be ready to start painting for a while

Good news. Not much rain this week so I can get to painting in a big way. Just hope it's not too humid.

Looks great, Bob. I wonder how long that fiberglass body would last on a short track. Of course, it has the bar all the way around it so it might be just fine. Sure, would be an eye catcher though.

Got the crush panels at the rear fenders mostly done and the 1/4 glass fairings as well. Also filled in the voids in the pads on the triple horizontal bars on the inside of the left door cage. Just need to do a little putty and sanding to finish up and start painting.

Thanks, Carl. The bar extending from the left rear frame rail to the right roof rail cage bar at the front corner of the top of the cage. I believe that is what they called the Petty bar but don't quote me on it. I just copied the Allison cage from a ref picture and included it for that reason only. The horrific crash that Richard had at Darlington in 1970 or 71 brought that bar into being. It exposed a weak part in the cage they were using at that time.

Thanks, Mike. I always appreciate your takes on my builds. Thats good to know, Bob. It's always nice to have a large stash on hand. Every time I finish a kit I go through all the sprue and cut off anything that looks promising for a future build. I have a large plastic case with a bunch of little compartments and try to keep all the parts that are like carbs or manifolds or anything like that in the same compartment together for easy finding later if I need something that I don't feel like scratching.

Mocked up the tub in the body with the chassis connected as well. I can still get the cage a little tighter at the left roof rail. Looks pretty good on the right roof rail. I need to finish the crush panels around the rear fenders and also fix the fairing around the quarter glasses. There are a few spots on the triple bars in the left door that need to be filled in with styrene pieces. I'm starting to see some painting in my future once I get these little details ironed out.

Got the cage mostly finished and you can see by the building technique I used I can now remove it from the tub for easy painting with an airbrush. Had to add some crush panels to the rear part of the tub to get the tub more centered and get rid of the huge gap between the body and the tub at the front of the rear fenders which are part of the tub on this model. Really looked odd to be able to see the rear tires from the inside of the car but that's what you get if you build this model oob. I still have some more styrene sheet to add to complete the crush panels. I have to redo the fairing around the quarter glass openings as well. The cage now sits much closer to the window openings and a-pillars then the oob cage would have.

Almost done with cage.

Thanks, Kevin . I really appreciate you stopping by for a comment.

Andrew, again, that dash looks superb and the engine is going to look superb too. You are the only builder I know that's not in a big hurry to finish. And it shows in the final photos.

Got the head restraint installed. Now on to the triple bars in the doors.

Thanks, Donato. Always appreciate your positive comments on the builds.