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I know…I know…. Getting serious about silliness. <sigh…> Cold winter mornings off and I can be easily entertained.

SAE? Bad pun…

Well……. The first generation Hemi was available in the fifties, in `64 the second generation "race" Hemi was available, then the "street" Hemi returned later in `67. Today's Hemi is referred to as the Gen3 version. Now, the GTO comes to mind too. There was an iconic muscle car from each manufacturer that year. Why just the Mustang?!? ​Ponies…Fish….and Tigers.

It's the 50th. anniversary of the Rustang and circle your wagons…. Did ya know that the Barracuda beat the Mustang to market by 2 weeks, and it's the Barracuda's 50th. too (even though it was technically an option package on the Valiant initially….) this year? Did you know I bought a resin `69 Barracuda phantom wagon at NNL East 2 years ago? Could this be an entire Mopar / Barracuda build season? I see an anti-theme brewing in my head…..

Silly… that's for the TRUCK modelers! Don't muddy the waters! I better keep quiet with all the points against me on mine……

Now, let's all bow our heads and hope the next variant is………

How about a teaser shot?

Rick & Rich, thanks! It's been slow going the last few days, but I'm taking a break from round #1 of foiling. There's some THIN pieces to trim! But so far, so good…..

I'll throw a curve ball here…… How about a scratch-built paint stand? I recently made a stand that was too big for my booth, so I was on the look-out for "something" I could make a smaller & sturdier one from. Them I spotted my new stand. This is the spare tire hold-down from a late model Infiniti, but that was what I had access to to. I cut-down the stud that would normally secure the tire to the floorpan and reverse the metal "washer" and bolted it on the end. For the tension arms that actually hold the body, I used the spring steel found in a set of windshield wiper inserts. I cut two into a U shape and epoxied them into the plastic "knob" on the stud. For the arm I grabbed a small cable clamp and a piece of scrap metal bar. Check it out…… This is what happens when I get bored during my lunch break at work…….. After I posted I was looking at it and was thinking I should add holes around the perimeter. This way I can insert rods with alligator clips on the ends so I can paint small parts when not shooting a body. Hmm….

X2

OK… not much to see because I'm starting the fender-lip mod now. Then the roof comes off. I'm making some concessions here: I'm probably not going to modify the rear interior panels to convertible-spec. Someone will do that in the aftermarket and that will make it easier in the future. But for now, I need a high body count. Here's some shots of the basics going together. Engine block is shot. Now to mask the bell housing & transmission. The floor & dash are painted, the chassis is primered. The engine compartment is badly twisted on mine so I'll have to clamp it and epoxy the joints. I don't want it being an issue later. Once the body is cleaned up it should roll together nicely. After seeing Randy's 2 builds I can't wait to see if mine looks as good! Great inspiration those builds were! ?

Very nice work Randy! They both look beautiful!

I was wondering about this re-issue. Thanks for posting your comments Tim.

Thanks Mike! It's MCW Bright Turquoise (Chrysler code LL1, my car's color) w/ Model Master Clear. There's some sins…. but it's a quickie-build (HA!) I'm sooooo anxious to put it together. I know it's going to be a fun assembly. With the foiling and markings, not to mention the modified grilles and lenses, it should be a close replica. Patience…. I must show patience.

I know…. I know…. But there's a reason. See, JEFFS396 first posted a convertible conversion last month. Great idea and I'm stealing it 100%. I secured the boot from Sean. I've dropped hints I was going to build one hoping Jeff would progress with his, but it hasn't gone that way. I just PM'ed Jeff on this since it was his idea first. THAT'S why I'm dragging my feet. The engine is being painted today and most of the interior will be done tomorrow. I'm cutting off the roof later this afternoon. I have the paint, and there will be some moderate detailing. I should go together without too much drama from what I've seen. I just wanted to get in with a high-impact color on the first go-around with this kit. I'll say it again. Build etiquette.

That is absolutely INSANE!!!!! Beautiful workmanship! I love seeing what people envision. I would never had seen that looking at the Atlantic. Amazing! Unfortunately, my old Atlantic build is a bit dusty and stuffed in a box somewhere….. I really should get a nice display case going somewhere in the house. Maybe I'll clean it up and get some photo's in my gallery. There's a few of my old builds I'd like to photograph before they get shop-worn. BTW: If my Atlantic, or any of my builds, caused you to honestly offer the compliment given, I'm truly humbled. I never view my work as comparable to the builders I admire. It keeps me going in a positive direction I feel. Now I'm flattered even more. Thank you.

Jeff…. Jeff…. Jeff…. Where's your `Cuda? I want to see your convertible conversion go together since you inspired another drop-top build. I'd hate to finish mine before you…. but it's been a while since an update. I don't want to seem like I "stole your idea"…… which I totally did. I've been polite and dropped enough hints. Now I'm getting razzed for not posting pictures. I was hoping you'd have yours done first, or at least further along, since it WAS your idea to cut one up first. Just trying to share some build etiquette here.

Be careful with ground clearance on those headers. They look a little low, but otherwise beautiful job fabricating them! I've tried in the past and failed every time I did. Very realistic. Just watch out for your clutch Z bar clearance…. BTW: Forgot to mention nice job on the manifold too! So many `70 Barracuda builds going on it's nice to see a modified one going together.

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Thanks for the compliments guys. It's not perfect, but it's not bad either!

Now you know why I didn't want to do a full detail….. I'll have to put aside a year for that!

I'm calling this paint job done. It's been painted and cleared. For a "Quick-Build" it looks good! After being stalled for over a week due to nasty weather, I finally got it painted. Truth be told, I finally set-up my spray booth (I bought it when I was at Toledo in `01…..) in my cozy little warm room instead of painting in the chilly basement. It's not going to stay where it is now, but it's in there & functioning. This is a HUGE plus as it's always nice & toasty in that tiny little shoebox called my hobby room. I can paint year-round now. Maybe Monday night I'll rub it out and apply those beautiful Keith Marks `68 Barracuda emblems, scripts, and badges on and get it foiled. Cut the glass, stuff it together …. done real soon! Thanks for following along. This will probably sit for a day or two. Time to continue with the `70 Cuda…..

Hate to admit this, but 2 years ago I totaled a customer's car on a road test. The first and only time in over 35 yrs. in the business. I had a 2010 Infiniti G37 that had a drivability issue. After the repair I had the customers authorization to drive the car home over-night to road test it. On my way into work the next morning I was severely cut-off by an idiot in a Silver Toyota SUV on the Southern State Parkway. It was raining heavily and I hydroplaned into the divider at about 45-50 MPH. Flattened the nose to the timing chain, set off the air bags, scared the ever loving pooh out of me. Because I had authorization from the owner it went through the customers insurance. My dealership stepped up and took care of them on the replacement they bought. I saw no retribution for it. It was an accident, and I felt terrible about it. Hopefully in this case the details aren't the same where the dealer is offering him a replacement he can buy with his insurance money. When you sign the repair order you authorize the dealerships personal to drive your car. Granted not on a Sunday for a high-speed joy ride, but that may the grey area the Weasels, er… I mean Lawyers might be angling for. Wonder how it resolves….

Final color coats are done. First two pictures it looks too Blue, and in the third too Green. My 1:1 photographs the same way as it rarely looks correct in pictures. The MCW shade is so close to my car's paint that I used it on my air cleaner lid. It looks real nice in person on the model! Needs to be cleared and assembled. I can't wait!

Just realized it took exactly a month to get color on a "quick build"…..