mrmike

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...

Thanks Lee! The Story McNally is met in the courthouse lobby by attorney Charlotte "Charlie" Rothmann and is led to the chambers of Judge Augustus Darpolos. They are introduced to each other with McNally recognizing "Judge Viper" as he has become to be known. The Judge tells of his predicament of being at a motel in bed with a dead woman he didn't recognise. McNally asks the judge if he has a drinking problem and the judge says he doesn't, but he seems to be consuming more in the last several months since the passing of his wife. McNally says he'll take on the case and will try to keep the judge's name out of the investigation. If the Police discover the judge in their investigation, he'll do whatever he can to clear the judge of the crime. The judge is then persuaded to give a urine sample to see if the judge was drugged and the sample will be tested by an independent lab. The Build Engine assembly is underway. Some of the pieces I have been painting. The body has been washed and is drying. I'll primer the body and other pieces and then paint the body with Tamiya TS-49 Bright Red. McNally will return...

Thanks guys! I hope you find the story entertaining as I have worked on it for quite a while. And, the build should be interesting as well.

Thanks guys! This model has exceeded my expectations! I would definitely build another one!

Thanks Carl, John, and Tony!

Thanks John! I sometimes struggle with the ignition wires getting them to lay just right. No kinks or sharp turns. I've started making my own plug boots, but they sometimes tend to be too long. I need to come up with a jig or some sort for measuring and cutting them to the right length.

Mark, everyone has their own way of stripping chrome. Mine is to place the parts in a container and spray them with a liberal dose of Easy-Off Fume Free Oven Cleaner. It works very well for me.

Thanks guys! As usual, I forgot about the side view mirrors when I painted the body and hood. A search through the box found only the passenger mirror and no driver's door mirror which seems to have fallen off the part sprue when the kit was put together. I placed an order through Revell's excellent part replacement service and received the new mirror in 10 days. I hope other builders do not abuse this service and only use it when a part is missing from the kit or was damaged at the factory! Save for a few touchups and painting the transmission, the engine is mostly complete. I need to add the air filter with 383 Super Commando pie plate decal. More to come...