Beans

Grill update...the struggle is real. I love following those builds from the really experienced and awesome modelers on here where they simply are able to figure out what they need to scratch build and magically turn raw plastic into an amazing looking piece. That aint me. With me you will get every ugly, messed up, convoluted, and weird scheme I can think of that may eventually turn out to be generally passable as to what I am trying to create. Since I am updating the 74 to a 76 I needed to change the grill out. Yes I could have just gotten a 76 model but I had the 74, it was not expensive when I got it, and overall I am cheap. Plus I get some odd enjoyment out of the frustration and work that goes into modifying things. I had several ideas on how to accomplish going from this to this With the old grill gone and drilled out I made several attempts at making a new one. 1) Wire....too bendy. Hard to keep straight, no depth. My bright idea was to try to glue it down to a mesh backer..... That didn't work out so well. 2. Craft foam... Yes craft foam. I have actually used this to make parts before. If you use heat to close up the pores and seal it, it works pretty well. The trick here was cutting it thin enough to stay in scale.... Yike!!! But getting closer. 3. Styrene. I cut out the internal size and shape I needed for the base of the grill and added an edge. Used masking tape to hold it in place while glue dried.... This might actually work. I will put the mesh in then add the center bar and grill lights. Hopefully my next post will be of the completed grill...

Thanks. Overall I am pretty happy with it.

Looks...color!!! Humidity dropped to 50% at about 80° by the time I got home from work and couldn't resist.

Cool. Thanks! Did you paint the ends for the boots?

Ran across some chrome paint while looking for something else.. Has anybody ever tried this stuff?? Pretty spendy. They say it can be airbrushed or brushed and looks more durable than molotow. https://www.culturehustleusa.com/collections/potions/products/mirror They also boast the darkest and blackest matte black and have a mirror black that is basically a gloss black that is designed to not need a clear coat.

Duplicolor works over Timiya primer with no issues.

Thanks. I understand the connection part, just have a hard time finding anything smaller than the 32 gauge I use for spark plug wire, especially with any color to it. Thanks for the description as well. I am going to have to go scrounging for wire. You have inspired me to do more detail on my next engine.

Thank you both. I learned a lot during this one and probably did more detail than ever before. The whole time I just kept saying to myself, "if I only had a 3D printer..."

If you are precise and careful with your application, superglue will work to fill a small gap.

Wow, what the heck gauge wire did you use for that alternator wiring? All the extra wiring detail looks amazing.

I am going to try out a method I recently saw on here somewhere and punch out some clear plastic circles. Haven't had a chance to get back to the model yet, it's been a busy week.

I think you missed it....unless it is a year long build off.... I totally wanted to jump in until I looked at the dates.

Nice detail painting!! Maybe take the mounted figure and find a different street bike and turn it into a bat-bike. Assuming you can find a 1/25 motorcycle.

As I was pulling out of the gas station.

It may be something like this: Newer but trailer seems pretty similar.

Looks like there are hoses, maybe to fill the aircraft?? Also looks like there is some equipment on the ground on the far side of the truck that blends in perfectly and gives the indication there is more behind the cab than there actually is. My fueler experience is all with heavy combat vehicle fuelers but I will see if I have any old pictures that are helpful.

My hack job. Still not good, but better.

Great discovery!! I am definitely doing this!!

Thanks all for the info on locating an inline 6. Looks like the Pacer is the key. Update for today starts with an observation based on initial assembly of the interior: The remainder of my progress today was dremeling off the excess on the inside of the body from the recessed tail lights and removing some around the back of the interior so that I can get the interior to fit higher and tighter in the body. and while I am at it, removing the center of the molded grill insert area to make ready for grill modification and squaring off of the headlight recesses. I may have to drill out the backs and make them a little deeper. Also realized the actual headlight is molded in chrome. I can never get them to look quite right so I will have to look at alternatives.

Thanks for the info. I will start looking!!

Thank you. Unfortunately we didn't have any of the older style plasticier ones with the holes in them. I thought that might make a decent perforated steering wheel cover.

Working on modifying the kit, and by modify I mean chucking the chrome grill piece in the parts box, drilling out the molded in mesh and rebuilding the grill while using the dremel to square off the headlight openings. As long as I haven't totally destroyed the kit front at that point I will work the side markers to smooth out the bumpy area.

Didn't get to the body work yet... Had to deal with this: Two steering wheels supplied with the kit. The one I want to use is on the right. For sake of this post I will call him Stubby. Not sure how that happens but there definitely isn't enough clearance to mount that correctly. Plus no steering column to speak of. A trip to the old military parts bin and one 120mm or 105mm tank shell is going to donate it's life as a steering column. As per usual for me, the show car is an automatic, the kit is not..was not. New steering column complete with gear indicator, automatic column shift and turn signal lever (which will be trimmed and capped.) Next will be fitment fixes and front grill modification (oh and headlight opening mods too...can't forget that.)

Coming off of the completion of the Supernatural impala (and all the crazy little things I made) I wanted to do something that required a little less fine detail. I also wanted to continue with my overall project of building cars from the Supernatural show (being a fan of the show). So next up is the AMC Gremlin as driven by the Character Charlie Bradbury. The show car is a 76 Gremlin. Being stubborn, and cheap, and already having a 75 Gremlin kit, I decided to just modify that one. Normally I start my kits with the engine..... Well the show car has in inline 6. The kit doesn't come with an inline 6. No inline 6s in my parts box.... hmmm. Skip the engine and come back to it when I can find a decently cheap inline 6. Moving on to the interior. Having scratchbuild burnout, I decided to not worry about the door panel detail and can live happily with it as it is. Flocked (Embossing powdered) the carpet areas, then used my reference photos and some internet research to try to match the seat upholstery for the back seats and the seat covers for the front seats. Used bandaids and masking tape to replicate the front blanket seat covers. I added more slight color variations on the front seats and cleaned up the black vertical lines after I took this picture. Need to blend the back seat pattern in a little more and darken it, and totally missed the spare tire so added that and need to carpet it. Overall it is so far so good.... Oh, test fitting the interior to the body did show some fit issues. Fun with the dremel to come...

Looks great!. Love the green. I'm still struggling with the fit issues with my Gremlin build. May have to start another WIP thread just to share the pain.