mrmike

Thanks Charlie and John! Charlie, 99 years old...God bless her! John, the surgery went very well and I am in recovery mode. Back to work tomorrow!

The Story The blackmailers were demanding the judge to preside over the case of the Commonwealth vs. Roberto Solaros which the judge couldn't do since the cases were assigned randomly by the court administrator. McNally tells the judge to remain calm and go through the rest of the day as if nothing has happened. Now, McNally has a name to go on and there will be nothing to stop him now. He returns to Boston Police Headquarters to see what he can get from the Police now that he has a name and hopefully they will be a little more forthcoming. All Lt. Det. Adam Troy would tell him is that the DA, the State Police, and the DEA were not releasing any information to anyone. The Build I got most of the interior pieces painted with Tamiya TS-29 Semi-Gloss Black. I also painted the boot cover and the up-top. While that was drying, I finished assembling the wheels. McNally will return...

Charlie, Yes, I did need the surgery! My eye doctor said that it was the densest cataract he has ever seen. The grille stripe wasn't the easiest thing to do and it did require the use of my magnifier. I just need to go back and clean it up a little.. I went back and used Model Master Acryl Iron for the center caps and a second coat of Tamiya X-11 Chrome Silver for the wheels. They look much better now. I've been trying to get back into working on the 'Cuda since I had my eye surgery last Wednesday to remove a very dense cataract. This morning I started foiling the body with a brand new sheet of BMF. I have also started masking for flat black paint on the cowl and the rear cove. My eye is starting to feel the strain so I'll give it a rest for a bit before going back to work on the 'Cuda. Since I didn't file down the wheel lips, I feared that foiling them would make the 'Cuda look like a pimpmobile. My solution was to cut a thin strip of foil and carefully foil the very edge of the wheel lip molding. Each wheel lip took about 5 to 10 minutes each to foil. More to come...

Since you had filed the tabs off the dash, why not glue some new tabs on using sheet styrene? Here's a couple of pics showing the location of the dash in the chassis of two Dusters I have built. I hope this helps.

I think the issue may be with the chassis itself, especially at the front. I would like to suggest that you test fit, test fit, test fit!

I built one of these several years ago switching out the wheels and tires for a set of aftermarket five-spokes and tires along with changing the grille for an Bentley style grille and adding a subtle ducktail spoiler to the rear deck. Watch for the fit of the front and rear bumpers as I had problems getting them to fit correctly with the chassis installed. It kept the nose and rear from fitting properly.

Thank you Harry!

Thanks Dan! Here's a few more pics to view... I detailed the grille this morning and it wasn't exactly the easiest thing to do. First, I needed to use my magnifier, then I couldn't find the correct brush to paint the details with. Ten minutes of searching for my extra brushes that were stashed away resulted in finding the proper brush to paint the red stripe in the center of the grille. That brush will remain with the rest of my brushes in the holder on the bench! I painted the wheels and I need to find a slightly darker shade of argent silver for the center caps. The tire lettering is Shabo Tire Graphics. I painted the core support body color and then with a quick spray of flat black on the front. More to come...

Thanks guys! Thanks Charlie and all of MASSCAR! While my surgery is a relatively simple procedure, I am getting a little anxious. I have much to do today so I will not be at the MASSCAR show. I wish you all a good show! Easy Off Fume-Free works just as well as regular Easy Off. Just no awful fumes. The chrome was removed from the plastic in about 10 minutes.

Thanks guys! The short driveshaft is attributed to the shorter engine I am using in the 'Cuda. I compared the Hemi to the 383 and found the engine block to be the same size, but the bellhousing and transmission were longer on the Hemi. As you said, once it's painted and sanded, you would never know the difference.

I needed to extend the driveshaft to reach the tailshaft of the trans. First, I cut off the universal joint from the driveshaft. Then, using a 1/8 inch piece of parts sprue, I glued the universal joint, the parts sprue, and the driveshaft together. With the driveshaft extended and painted, I installed the engine into the chassis and added the radiator and hoses. More to come...

Thanks Riley! I've seen Vipers in many different colors, but red seems to fit it best!

Thanks JT, Jose, and Dave!

Thanks John! I seem to have a few McNally fans from several of the forums I belong to. The Story McNally leaves the motel and starts hunting for clues. He finds one of his informants who tells him of a drug cartel trying to get their leader out of jail. He returns to Boston Police Headquarters and the Police and the DEA refuse to tell him anything about the cartel, its leader, or about the deceased woman found at the motel. After striking out at Police HQ, he heads back out to the streets talking to his informants around Boston. He stops for lunch at a burger joint near home when his cellphone rings. He answers the call from a very shaken Judge Darpolos. The Build In order to give the brake rotors a more realistic look, I stripped them of their chrome plating using Easy Off Fume-Free Oven Cleaner. I painted the discs with Model Master Aluminium Metalizer and the caliphers with Testors Gloss Red enamel. After the paint has dried for several days, I finished them off with decals. McNally will return...

The brothers posing together is a great shot, Tony! I like them both. Great job! Just now, I pulled my Cobra from the shelf and dusted it off. I built it shortly after the kit first came out and I used the Model Master Lacquer System for the first time and I wasn't happy with all the orange peel that I attributed to my inexperience with lacquer. Today, lacquer is my favorite paint...go figure! When I get around to building my second Cobra, I hope to be able to build it as well as you built yours!

Well Jim, what can I say that hasn't been said already? How about...SHINY!!!

Thanks Carl! Might explain why we see so many red Vipers around!

Thanks Carl and Tony! I'm sure it will go well. Removing a cataract and I should be in and out in an hour or so.

Looking good Tony! I just picked up another Torino Cobra kit from an estate auction sale and I plan on something similar to what you have done here.

Thanks Charlie and Stan!

The Story Adam allows McNally into the motel room where the Crime Scene Unit was still busy at work collecting evidence and fingerprints. They knew the fingerprints would be useless due to the sheer number of prints that have collected over time. McNally takes mental notes of the room...blood stains, the clothes on the floor, the blood in the bathroom and on the towels...the room was an absolute mess. McNally asks about any witnesses or other victims and Adam says the body of a young woman was removed by the coroner 20 minutes ago and so far, no witnesses. According to the night clerk, the room was rented by the deceased, paid for in cash when she arrived as the passenger in a red sports car. McNally thinks that this might be a frame up if the Judge was telling him the truth. The Build I got the wheels and tires assembled this afternoon. I'll add a wash to the lug nuts and decals for the center caps. With the exception of the brakes, the chassis is complete. McNally will return...

Thanks guys! Charlie, I wish I could attend the MASSCAR show, but with my eye surgery a few days after, I have much to do prior. I wish you all a great show and know that I'll be there in spirit with my fellow Classic Plastic Model Club members. I completed the interior this morning. Last night, using a magnifier and a steady hand, I painted the silver trim around the steering wheel spokes. I'm fairly happy with the result. Not bad for an old guy with so-so eyesight! The chassis is almost complete. I need to lengthen the driveshaft to reach the trans and install the 383 into the engine bay and connect the exhaust to the engine with longer pipe extensions. Save for a few touchups, the engine is done! I am using the "383 Four Barrel" pie plate decal until I can get a new printer since the old one has decided to give up the ghost on me. The correct pie plate says "Super Commando 383" on it. More to come...

I have detailed the Hurst Pistol Grip shifter. The steering wheel has been painted but, I wanted to paint the fine silver trim that goes around the spokes of the wheel and I don't have anything handy to be able to paint it with. I may have to raid the wife's sewing box for a fine needle. I hung the pedals onto the back of the dash panel and mocked it with the interior. It's looking good so far and if you haven't noticed yet, I have decided to go with a white interior instead of black. More to come...

Thanks Bob! And, his name is Augustus. The Story McNally drops off the urine sample with Bennie at Commonwealth Chemical Testing and then drives out to the Parklane Motel see what he could get from the Police at the scene. As he walks across the parking lot, he sees Adam Troy's detectives car and walks over to it. "Hey Adam." "Hi McNally, what are you doing here?" "Working. My client may have been here last night. Can I have a peek?" Adam says, "Who's your client?" "I can't tell you that." A voice behind them speaks up and says, "Let's take him downtown for some serious interrogation, Lieutenant." "Det. Darvell, I gave you this case with the hope that you'll want to make Sergeant someday. Back to work!" McNally says, "Lieutenant? You got promoted! Congrats!" Adam says, "Yeah, yeah. Come on, I'll take you upstairs." The Build I painted the body this afternoon with Tamiya TS-49 Bright Red. McNally will return...

Some painting for the afternoon. I found it kind of odd that the Hurst pistol grip shift was not chrome plated. I painted the shifter gloss black and then sprayed some Alclad II Chrome paint through my airbrush and gave it a nice chrome appearance. I'll paint the boot flat black and the handle wood. More to come...