mrmike

Thanks Richard, Kerry, and Carl. I'm not 100% happy with the interior color as I think it may be a tad too light. Maybe I can darken it a bit. If not, then I'll just add the decals to the seats and door panel and seal it with some semi gloss clear.

What you have is the AMT '68 Roadrunner. At one time, this kit was issued as a prostreet version. The '68 had the round side markers and the '69 had rectangular side markers and a different grille. If this model has sentimental value to you, rebuild it as your father had built it or build it as you want to see it as. The choice is up to you.

Thanks Adam! I'm hoping to get back working on it soon.

The Story McNally's father was becoming more and more absent from young McNally’s life. He almost never saw him on the job or in the station house. His father started running around with drunken floozies and once, when young McNally did see his father at work, he thought he could smell alcohol on his father’s breath. He confronted him at home about his drinking and his father got mad and tried to throw a punch at his son. The punch thrown was slow and misguided as the elder McNally missed and lost his footing. “You are so drunk that you can barely stand,” says young McNally. “I can take you…anytime,” his father yells at him. “You can’t even stand up and look me in the eye, Dad!” His father was on his knees and elbows, with his forehead touching the floor. He was breathing very hard. His body goes limp as he passes out and falls flat on the floor. “Stay there and sleep it off, old man!” McNally grabs his jacket and leaves the house, frustrated and angry. The Build I started polishing the paint only to rub through the paint on the trunk lid. I taped off the trunk lid and resprayed it. I had to top the engine with some chrome so I painted the air filters with gloss black enamel and then sprayed them with Alclad II Chrome Paint. I decided to paint the interior with Humbrol Dragoon Green. When this has dried, I'll apply the gray decals to the seats. McNally will return...

Thanks guys! Johann, I have been doing this type of build for about 4 years now. I find that it gives me a little bit more of an incentive to build a model that has "meaning", versus just building a model. My influence for writing comes from the late author Robert B. Parker, the creator of the very popular Spenser novels. The first model I built (2006 Ford Mustang GT) with a story to it was more of an introduction to some of the characters than a story. The second story (2006 Dodge Charger R/T) was a more defined story and it has been growing ever since. I purposely keep the stories short as to not overwhelm the WIP and to keep the focus on the build, but sometimes I fear that the interest from readers may be more for the story than the build. I am grateful that my stories are getting some notice and I hope that the build will please their eyes as well. McNally's back story has really not been told until now and it is just one of the many facets to my character. There will be others down the road as I continue building. As long as there are models that I can incorporate into a story, there will be more stories to tell. And, I have as least one other character that I wrote a story for who might make a reappearance someday that is not related to McNally, Boston PI.

Rick, here's a couple of articles to help you along. http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/2009/12/01/hmn_feature5.html http://avalonmm.tv/barris/category/mannix/ This link is a video about the Mannix Dart and a short interview with Mike Connors. http://www.hittv.com/DRIVE/mannix.html

Thanks Michael, Charlie, Shane and Andy! The Story The following year saw young Police Patrol Officer McNally trying to make a name for himself as an Officer. A few undercover operations, solid investigating, and following procedures were helping to build himself an excellent reputation within the Department and with the District Attorney’s Office. It was almost as if he could do no wrong. It brought an opportunity to try for his detectives shield. A test that young McNally passes with very little difficulty. The Build I removed the tape before I turned in last night and it came out pretty good. Some touch ups are necessary, but it has met my expectations. Have a look... This is going to look even better once I get it foiled! McNally will return...

Well Rick, you've got my attention. Looking forward to see what you can do with your version of the Mannix Dart. Been there, done that! lol

Thanks Carl! The Story After seven years in the Army and serving as part of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Division, McNally was honorably discharged. When he returned home, he joined the Boston Police Department as a patrolman which made his father very proud. Ray McNally threw a big party for his son, who in his eyes, was still "my future cop" as he was called since he was a baby. After the party and all of the guests had left, young McNally went looking for his father who was in the garage sitting in his non running '57 Ford, quite drunk. Ray tells his son how he wished that young McNally's mother was there to see him in uniform as a patrolman. He gets out of the old car and nearly falls to the garage floor with young McNally catching him before he does. After helping his father into the house and up to bed, he goes outside and sits on the back steps and wonders about his mother and where she could be. The Build After spending considerable time masking and praying that I had everything sealed, it was back into the paintbooth for another painting session. The body got several mist coats and several wet coats of Tamiya TS-20 Metallic Green. This color is reminiscent of the green that my first car, a '56 Ford Customline 4-door sedan, was. McNally will return...

Thanks guys! I have decided to forge ahead with Tamiya TS-20 straight out of the can. Previous experience with this paint has produced a nice looking green that in my mind will look great on the '57 Ford. The Story McNally and Vic take a break for lunch and Mc tells him the story of his family. His father's parents had died in a car crash, but were loving grandparents and his mother's parents had shunned them because they weren't of "high society" due to his father being a cop. When his parents divorced, he was stationed in Germany with the Army. His father continued working the beat as a cop and his mother had disappeared, possibly traveling around the world with her family and friends. McNally would get a Christmas or birthday card every other year or so. The Build Out of work early meant an afternoon of working on "Spearmint". I painted the wheels, headlight bezels, and the underside of the hood with Tamiya TS-20 Metallic Green I painted the engine with Testors #2918 Guards Red. I masked the body and painted the roof, tail fins, and trunk lid with Tamiya TS-7 Racing White. I'll let the white dry overnight and remask the body and paint the rest of it with the Metallic Green. McNally will return...

Thanks Adam! Unfortunately, I haven't finished the Merc, but I am hoping to get back on it soon.

In my mind the two colors should look good together and I am a bit concern about the green looking...too green. I was thinking about using a gray primer to help darken the green slightly. As far as the interior is concerned, I thinking of a tu-tone green with the gray interior decals, but that may change. It has been awhile since McNally has shown is literary face on the board and I have been wanting his return sooner than later. I have recently completed the story, so I have plenty to choose from for the board to read and hopefully...enjoy.

An interesting project to watch, Charlie! I'm looking forward to more progress on this. As a side note, my mom had a '65 Wildcat 4-door with the 445 Wildcat V-8 and power everything. Boy, could that car go!!

A new project and the return of an old favorite...McNally, Boston PI. This WIP is more about the build than the story. The story is titled Daddy Was A Cop and is only to show what is driving this WIP. The Story McNally and his buddy Vic pushed the old Ford out of the garage and into the sunlight. His father's old Ford hadn't run in years and McNally wanted to get the car running again. As they worked on the engine, Vic, not ever knowing the elder McNally, started asking about him. McNally said that his Dad was a sergeant on the Boston Police Department and he was killed in the line of duty. His father acquired the car because he loved '57 Fords and cruising. Carb adjustment, new plugs and points and the engine finally starts, but it doesn't run strong. Vic hops into his Dodge Dakota and heads to the parts store for a new coil. When Vic returns, he asks about McNally's father again. McNally tells him that his father met a Boston socialite named Stephanie and the two dated for a while and eventually married. Young McNally was born nine months later and his father called him "my future cop" much to his mother's chagrin. As he grew, his parents started to drift apart and by the time young McNally graduated from high school, his parents had separated. Neither parent was around when young McNally decided to enlist in the Army. The Build I am using Revell's new '57 Ford Custom kit for this build and it will be built as a street machine. The engine will get the dual carbs and intake. I will attempt to make a pair of cheater slicks out of the drag slicks in the kit. I will also add a floor shifter to the interior. My paint will be a tu-tone scheme using Tamiya TS-20 Metallic Green for the main body color and Tamiya TS-7 Racing White for the secondary color. McNally, Boston PI will return...

Thanks Jeff! I am slowly getting back to wanting to work on anything again. So, this morning I decided to start on some foiling. I then started paint detailing the engine bay. More to come...

No, I did not use the Tamiya British Green paint. I used Brewster Green paint from a company called Automotive Touchup. I split the cost of the 12 oz. can of paint with a friend. Charlie, I'm not sure when I'll finish the T/A. Life has been kicking me really hard for the past month and I have little to no time or ambition to work on any of my projects. And, I hate trying to push myself to finish a project since the end result is usually less than spectacular. It's been awhile since I have done anything with this T/A and since it is raining outside, I decided to spend a little time on it. I clearcoated the shaker hood scoop this morning. I painted the scoop a couple of weeks ago after I stripped the paint when I discovered a major flaw in the paint on top of the scoop. More to come...

Thanks Ron! I painted the body, doors, and hood with a 3rd coat of Tamiya TS-85 Bright Mica Red this morning. Life has been kicking me really hard in the past month and I am finding little to no time to work on the SLS. I fear that I'll not be able to finish it in time for the Club Challenge for next month's show. More to come...

Thanks Bill, Charlie, and Scott! Scott, how have you been? Haven't seen you at the meetings for a while and I hope you can make it to one or at least, the Exhibition on Oct. 6. Charlie, I'm hoping to see something that you built at the Exhibition on Oct.6. Bill, you've gotta get one of these!

I got the two halves of the hull glued together. I glued the retractable doors to the front lower hull. The fit is tight enough that I can leave the lower hull section as is until I can finish the interior and insert it into the main hull. I am concerned with the fit of this section as it bows a bit at the rear. I'll have to come up with a solution to fix the fit. More to come...

Thanks guys! Work has gotten in the way of my building by leaving me very tired and with little to no time whatsoever and I have also been sidetracked by smaller projects. I am going to make this my main project and shoot for the deadline of the Classic Plastic Model Club show on October 6th to finish the Merc. Work on the interior has started. I've been polishing the hood and body and found a major flaw on the hood. So far, I have polished the paint down to the plastic and I'll prep for another painting session. More to come...

This is my '06 Mustang GT that I built back in 2007 and rebuilt this past week. The paint is Tamiya Metallic Red with Model Master Insignia Red seats. The wheels are from the Revell '06 Dodge Magnum kit.

I finally got my paint on Tuesday and I sprayed this afternoon. I must admit, this is nice paint as it sprayed thin even coats. The paint came from Automotive Touchup. I'll let this dry and then hit it with some Testors Wetlook Gloss Clear. More to come...

Hmmm, a diorama for Seaview. Do you realize just how big that'll be? At this point, I still don't know where I'm going to display this thing in the house! A chance for a little assembly today! I still have to putty the seams, sand them, and then primer and paint. More to come...

Well, I sit here waiting for my paint to show up at my door. The first can never made it probably because the shipper put the wrong address on the box. Now, another can is suppose to be on the way and should be here by Tuesday or Wednesday. We shall see...

Thanks guys! Jim, I think the diving bell is undersized compared to the mini-sub and the Flying Sub.