mrmike

Thanks Charlie! For those of you who don't know how to make '68 Mopar side markers, I'll show you how. This technique is also posted in the Tips, Tricks, and Tutorials section. First acquire 4 straight pins like those used on a new shirt. Using caution and care, cut the pin about 1/8th inch below the head of the pin. Drill a hole into the fender in the correct position, and from the inside, squeeze a small amount of glue into the hole. Insert the pinhead into the hole and allow to dry. Use your favorite clear paint and apply a small dot of paint onto the pinhead, amber for the front and red for the rear, and you are done. After looking at some reference photos, I noticed that the rear panel was painted flat black, and so it was done. This is the rear panel trim that I had in my parts box and I painted it with aluminium Metalizer. And mounted it to the center of the rear panel. Mannix will return.....

Ron, I know your Mannix Dart will look as good as mine! I had the MPC Mannix Roadster when it first came out. I wished I still had it today. What a difference 40 years makes! DW, yes I am going to use painted pinheads for my side markers. While removing paint and prepping the body for bodywork and paint, I ended up removing the molded in side markers from the body. Thanks for checking in Dan! I foiled the body this afternoon. I started work on the engine bay. I added the chrome trim to the hood, cleaned up the grille, and started reworking the rear panel. Mannix will return.....

Thanks DW and Steve. DW, I don't mind painting, just the puttying and sanding. I just have a hard time with it. I did a mockup of the interior, chassis, hood, and grille to see what the Dart is starting to become. This shot shows the fruits of my labor, the hood scoops, the rear spoiler, and the Tamiya British Green paint. I still have much to do. Foiling, motor installation, my side marker technique, front bumper, and rear panel installation. DoubleD has offered me a mobile telphone and I'll install that when it arrives. Mannix will return.....

This is looking really good Virgil! I'm liking the details!

Thanks Virgil! I'm just glad that the bodywork on the rear spoiler is done! Trying to get transition of the fender tops to the rear spoiler perfect was tough. Even in paint, the transition looks fantastic. Hey, I'm impressing myself!

Thank you Charlie, Dave, and Virgil! After the polishing, this paint really shined and it just looked perfect for this car. It's definitely one of my favorite builds!

DW, the one my Dad had was from Radio Shack. Wasn't worth the ###### it was made out of! Mike, I should check out that kind of primer, but I love Tamiya Fine Surface Primer. Is the Duplicolor primer thick? The paint I'm using on this build is Tamiya TS-9 British Green. It is a solid, non-metallic color that is close to the green Georga Barris used on the 1:1 back in 1968. I have two clamp-on lamps on my paintbooth that I have been banging my head on for some time and I finally decided that I had enough of that and cut two holes into the top and permanently mounted them. Then I finally finished body work on the Dart and I just couldn't wait for paint to start flying! The dash was assembled and installed into the interior. Mannix will return.....

My Dad had a 23 channel telephone style CB in his '71 Cougar between the seats. He would get mad at the truckers talking trash back and forth and tell them all to shut up! And then he would turn the CB off. Charlie, if there is a buck to be made, someone out there could change the internals to a cell phone mechanism. Somehow, that doesn't sound right. So much has changed in the world of communications in the last 40 years that basically has outmoded that type of mobile phone. But, who's to know when someone looks into your car and sees a mobile telephone mount under the dash or when a police officer pulls you over when you are seen "talking" on a telephone while driving. Have I ever said, "I hate bodywork?"

Pushy?!! When have you ever been pushy? Well, we won't go into that! That is a great idea Cliff and one to consider for the future. But, right now I have other projects in mind that I want to do including finishing my Mannix Dart GTS convertible and starting a Spenser For Hire '66 Mustang from that series first season. Thanks for the idea and if you ever get back to building, you might want to consider that Challenger, too. Good idea!

It looks like an overpriced Shelby 427 Cobra to me. I can't wait to see if ol' Carroll's lawyers jump on top of this guy and shut him down!

After much hesitation, I finally got the body into primer and I see that I need to do more work on the fender transition to the spoiler. I was getting anxious see some paint on the hood. This is one coat and a little more TLC is needed on the hood. I hate doing bodywork! Mounted under the dash and to the right of the console is a mobile telephone that was considered "state of the art" in 1968. This was merely a prop on the 1:1 car as it wasn't hooked up nor had an antenna. I'll be making one of these. Did I say I hate doing bodywork? Mannix will return.....

Thanks Dave! I seem to recall the Shaker 340-S on the other forum. I think it was at the same time I did my Challenger R/T 340 Shaker using the T/A kit. Anyway, you are correct that building "what-if's" is a fun alternative to building factory stock and I would do it again if I can think of one that is appealing to me.

Thanks guys! This is a favorite build since it was fairly easy with the low parts count, but it also challenged me when I used the 426 Hemi in place of the 340 6-Pak. There were a few issues to sort out and if it wasn't for the help of a few members, I probably would still be working on it now.

Thanks Mark! I've been meaning to ask you about your avatar. Is that your dog and is it a Golden Retriever? The reason why I ask is I have a 105 Lb. Golden Retriever myself. He's a great dog and a good friend! I have finished my Challenger Hemi T/A and it is posted in the Under Glass section. My thanks to all who took the time to look and to comment on my WIP.

This is my Challenger Hemi T/A painted with Model Master Hemi Orange Lacquer with a semi gloss white interior, Cragar SS mags, Shaker hood scoop, and Shabo tire lettering.

Thanks DW and Dave for the suggestions! I used the MRC wheel set spacers on the Shaker scoop to alter the angle as Dave suggested That's much better! The rear panel has been assembled and will be installed onto the body when it's dry. I'm hoping to finish the Challenger Hemi T/A today. More to come.....

Thanks Brandon, Ian, and Jon. And, thanks for the link! I'll check it out. Decals are on as well as the wheels. And now I have run into another problem to solve. The back of the scoop sits too low while the front is at the correct height. The motor angle cannot be altered anymore than it is now, so I have to come up with some creative way of leveling the scoop with the hood. Meanwhile, I'll continue with finishing the Challenger while I ponder a solution. More to come.....

The chassis have been completed. Foiling is completed and decals are next for the body. I need to finish up the wheels and wheel backs and add some extra detail to the engine bay. More to come.....

Dave, I can see why my Challenger would remind you of El Hemi! Sharp car and the model that his son built of that car if just absolutely awesome! Scratch building the valve train in 1/24 scale takes real skill!

Brandon, I realize that you are a young person here and I think you once said that you wanted to hear any and all criticism and I do apologize if I am wrong and I am only saying this to give you encouragement, not to knock you down. I see some sloppy detailing on the chrome trim and probably done with either a not too steady hand or you where rushing to get the job done. Slow down and take your time with this. A slow and steady hand will produce better results and in the long run, a better looking model. Can you go back and fix any of this? Maybe if you had masked off the roof with masking or scotch tape to do the trim, a better job would have been the result. Have you ever tried Bare Metal Foil? Maybe this is something you can try in the future. I know you are trying to make your version of the '69 Charger S/E that I built and I feel like I should try to help you along if you want my assistance. As I said before, I am not trying to knock you down, but I am trying to encourage you to try and do a better job on your Charger. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

I have finished the interior. I went and added the front suspension and then the Hemi. The Hemi wasn't sitting right as the headers were sitting on top of the tie rod assembly. Out came my Dremel and a sanding bit and I ground away at the headers until the Hemi sat on top of the K-member. I repainted the headers, but I still didn't like what I saw. I sat at the bench staring at the chassis and started to wonder where the original exhaust manifolds went and what I was going to do next since I didn't like the headers now. I looked the my display shelf and grabbed a '71 Hemi 'Cuda that I built back in the '90's and removed the exhaust manifolds from that model and installed them on the Challenger Hemi. I wished I had thought of this a long while ago and I would have saved myself a lot of work and headaches. Speaking of headaches, foiling is next! More to come.....

Thanks Nico! I usually try to leave the air cleaner, engine cover, or in this case, the shaker scoop, removable to view the extra details on the motor. If I didn't care for the underhood details, I might as well just glue the hood shut.

Thanks Brandon! Yes, MAD has great looking distributors and other products, too! The Hemi is 99% complete. I need to do a little more detailing. I even ran a fuel line to the carbs. The Hemi with it's hat on, ready to go outside to play! More to come.....

I cleared the body this afternoon with Tamiya TS-13 Clear Gloss. The motor is partially assembled and mock up with the shaker scoop. A little clearance made on the passenger side motor mount and the Hemi sits where it should. I'm using a distributor from MAD for this Hemi. More to come.....

Thanks Charlie and Rob! If it's one thing I don't really like doing (next to BMF), it's bodywork. This is why I haven't been making much in the way of progress on this build. I don't mind prepping a body for paint, but slinging putty and sanding it is not something I don't like doing. A couple of years ago, I built an AMT/ERTL '87 Mustang GT as the car actor Robert Urich drove during the 2nd season of Spenser For Hire. This kit was bad! The front and rear didn't line up with the body itself which required much putty and sanding and more putty and sanding. I eventually finished the build, but I'm still not happy with the way it came out, partially due to the kit and partially due to my lack of experience with extra bodywork. I'll go and primer the hood and try to finish up the rear spoiler and then get the body into primer and then see where I'm at.