xs650shawn

A bit of a departure for me, as I'm used to building classic American cars/trucks and muscle cars. I did love cars like the Testarossa, Countach, and 959 as a kid though. Bought this kit opened but complete from my local hobby shop. Thinking black with a yellowish tan interior, and still looking for some more modern wheels for it.

Nice!

Tamiya Honda City GG. Built for a 24 hour build, I got a late start last night at 10pm, finished at 12:30 pm today. Was busy yesterday, so I knew I'd get a late start. Played the easy button with a snap fit kit, but I did paint the whole thing, modified the wheels to fit (they were too wide), and added a styrene tube exhaust tip and flocked the interior. Overall a neat little kit. Tamiya Honda City GG Aoshima "Equip" wheels, narrowed to fit Wicked Colors Pearl Black 2k Clear Folkart Hot Rod Red interior Red flocking on floor and rear deck All paints acrylic except small details and clear.

Testors Aluma Coupe. I love this car and kit, but boy is it fiddley. Finished as a "tribute" to one I built in my teens. Color is similar to what I used then. Hinged the lids, removed the roof to make it a Roadster. Grafted in some actual taillights, and exhaust tips. My original one was being built for a build challenge in Scale Auto when the kit was first released. I have learned I still have a lot to work on with my patience, as this kit tested it. 2025 goal.

Finished. I love this car and kit, but it sure tested my patience. Lots of fiddley parts.

Some progress. Looking like the one I built years ago. Was thinking about some pink or purple scallops on it, but wouldn't really be a tribute build then, would it?

Phase one of the paint completed.

Went a little unorthodox with my hinge method, but I think it's gonna work.

Thanks. I think I'm going to tweak the color scheme a little bit.

Little work today on my Aluma Roadster. Built the subassemblies, as the front one is way too fiddly to try assembling after paint. Also decided to fit up some taillights, as the kit just provides a sticker (not a waterside decal) for the taillight. Will fill in the rear grill, since it looks odd with the taillights. Will come up with an exhaust outlet after it's smoothed.

No, this is the full detail version. It has interior and engine details.

Started this while I figure out a few things on another build. Testors Aluma Coupe, or Aluma Roadster more appropriately. When I was a teen, Scale Auto had a contest/build-off for the Aluma Coupe kit. I did not get my build done in time, but it ended up being my best build up to that point. Sadly, I got rid of it in a purge when we were moving. This build is a recreation/tribute of that one. Color will be a periwinkle blue/lavender (very 1990's color), with a fawn/tan interior. Obviously, the roof is gone. May have to buy an AMT 1969 GTX pro street just for the decals, as I had used some for the interior. Otherwise will be box stock.

Built this 1963 Vette as a lowrider. Those that have built this kit know that it is a bit of a turd. Good body proportions, but the chassis, interior, and engine suck! I built it with the optional big block (1963 Vettes never had a big block option, so this is custom), and parts of the instructions system that if using the big block, the hood will not close. I modified that air filter to make the hood sit (almost) closed. Added a 3D printed hydraulic pump, batteries, and some wire wheels. Paint is all Createx acrylics, with 2k clear. Added seat belts and guage faces to the interior as well. Interior color is Vallejo Prussian blue, with matching flocking. Nothing but minor paint detail to the chassis, other than lowering the rear suspension.

Done.

Where it's going......

Just mocking up for stance. I kinda like it 3 wheel parked.

Got some clear laid out today.

Still needs to be cleared again.

After a step backwards on the paint (had to strip it, and boy, is Vallejo primer difficult to remove), got the body in base color. Createx Pearl Blue with 2k clear. Will let this dry a few days, then wet sand and mask out my second color.

Finally got some paint on the Vette. Interior is Vallejo Prussian blue, with Quick Shine topcoat. Engine is also Prussian blue, but with a small amount of red and blue pearl in the Quick Shine. Body is currently Createx Wicked Silver metallic, but will mostly be covered with Createx Pearl Blue, except for some panels on it. Chassis is already the Blue pearl.

Been a while away from the bench, but still plugging at it. Some more work on the smooth fenderwells and firewall. Also swapped the small block for a big block.

Got some time with my 1963 'Vette lowrider tonight. Adjusted front ride height, smoothed firewall and started on some smooth fender aprons. Also got a different 3D printed hydraulic pump for it.

Been away from the bench for a long time. Real life getting in the way, picked up one of my dream motorcycles as a project, blah blah. Anyway, finally took some time to work on the 1963 Vette lowrider. Shaved the emblems, shaved the poorly molded front marker lights, and had to fix the passenger side front wheel opening.