mrmike

Thank you Charlie and Matthew! I had heard that there were about 380+ Charger 500s built instead of the NASCAR required 500. I wish that Revell would produce one which should be fairly easy for them to do. They have the molds for the '68, '69, and the '70. A Charger 500 body and interior would be rather easy, I would think...

Someone, somewhere said that this kit is a bear to put together. The chassis and interior are starting to prove that. I have been struggling to get this together even after I have scraped the paint and plastic for glue adhesion. I got the engine compartment and the trunk floor glued and clamped and I will leave it like this for a while. More to come...

Thank you Michelle, Carl, Chris and Lee!

Thanks Dominick! My '69 Charger 500 is completed and posted in Under Glass.

This is my '69 Charger 500 which has been rebuilt for the third time. Originally paint with Tamiya XF-28 Dark Copper with Tamiya X-22 Gloss Clear shot through my Badger 200 airbrush. I used the chassis and the interior from the AMT '69 GTX and the interior is brush painted with Model Master Classic White. I changed the steelies and hubcaps to Magnum 500s andGoodyear White Lettered Tires.

For the longest time, I have hated detail painting Magnum 500s! I do it, but I still just absolutely hate it. Re-assembly has begun and so far, so good! The AMT '69 Charger 500 kit is a compromised kit. The hood came from another version of the Charger, possibly a 1970 version. I'm trying to figure out a way to fix this hood. There was a corrected resin hood for this kit, but I can't remember where I saw it or who was the resin caster. More to come...

I am starting to hate these little projects that turn into bigger projects. Case in point...my '69 Charger 500. I saw elsewhere a Charger 500 that looked really nice with white lettered tires and Magnum 500 wheels. I have the same model on the shelf with hubcaps and steelies and redline tires. I decided to change the wheels and tires...wrong move! The rear window was in the back seat having broken loose from the body, but everything else was intact. I tried to remove the wheels and they wouldn't budge, so the chassis would have to come out. As I removed the chassis, the rear suspension broke loose and the radiator came out. When I was done taking the Charger apart, the interior remained all together. I glued the rear window in and called it a night. I am fortunate enough that the body and paint was still good. The clearcoat still glossy and shiny and a simple cleaning was in order. A polishing with Meguiars Scratch X 2.0 and Novus 2 Fine Polish and the body gleams. When the Charger is back together, I'll wax it with Novus 1 Plastic Polish & Shine. The glass was unscathed and polished out nicely. More to come...

Thanks Dan! I have seen a few Revell kits that have the B, C, and D pillars covered by the interior pieces. They are out there, just hard to find.

I've been picking away at the DB4 today and I finished the engine compartment. I next tackled the steering wheel by painting the spokes silver and the rim with flat dark tan covered with clear ornage. The instrument panel is completed. Just needs the steering wheel and steering column. More to come...

I ordered a resin hood and hood scoops from the old AFXN Scale Resin site many years ago. Took about five months to get my order and then they were gone.

Seems to be working for me now! Don't know what you did, but thank you!

Thank you Goatguy!

Thanks David! I am not going for the 100% period correct look for my DB4. I just want a better looking wheel and the wire wheels that I found will look 100% better than the toy-like wires in the kit. BTW, here's my laptop background. Different cars and photographer, simular picture!

Thanks for the heads-up, Bill! I'll watch for that when I get to that point in the build. I was asked about the different tire sizes elsewhere. The new tires that I am using are about 1/16th inch shorter than the taller, skinny tires in the kit. They just look a whole lot better than the originals do. And, the wire wheels don't stick out a country mile like the kit wheels do. More to come...

Back on the Aston Martin DB4. I never cared for the wire wheels or the skinny tires that came in the kit. I dug through the parts box looking for a better set of tires and I found them...with Borrani wire wheels on them! If my memory is correct, these wheels and tires came from an old Fujimi Ferrari Daytona from many years ago and was retired from the shelf before it fell completely apart. I'll just transfer the knockoffs from the kit wheels to the Borrani wire wheels. The tires are twice as wide as the originals. I assembled and detailed the luggage. I want to add ignition wires to the engine, but the wires run out of a tube to the distributor and I need to drill some attachment points into the tube. Maybe I can find a slightly larger tube... More to come...

Thank you Scott!

The Story The following morning, McNally arrives at the Courthouse to give testimony in another case that he had worked on, but walking down the hallway to the courtroom, he sees Attorney Wilmot Jackson. Attorney Jackson asks why McNally is in the Courthouse and tells him that he is no longer wanted on Damian Williston's case. "Until I am told by my superiors, I will remain investigating this case." Attorney Jackson says that McNally is in his way of defending his client and McNally replies that if he is in the way, then Attorney Jackson is the reason for his being there. McNally gives Damian's attorney a hard look and continues walking to the Courtroom. Attorney Jackson says, "BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH fool! I'll show him." The Build The chassis is nearly finished. McNally will return...

I'm glad that you like that, Jeremy! Keep watching!

Thank you Tim!

Thank you Jeremy! I'm glad you are enjoying the story as I have more of them in the wings...

I still can't upload pictures from my computer. Still getting that message-"problem uploading files-200". Until the problem is fixed, I'll be using IMGUR.

The Story McNally needed more information from Damian and he drives out to Damian's home on Beacon Hill, were he was greeted by the sight of several Police cars and the Crime Scene Unit truck. He is allowed onto the scene after he shows his PI credentials and asking to talk to the detective in charge, Lt. Det. Adam Troy. Damian's girlfriend, Tina Leavitt was found murdered in his kitchen. Lt. Troy tells him that Damian is in the living room with his personal attorney, Wilmot Jackson and McNally thought that Charlotte Rothmann was his attorney. In the living room, McNally is introduced to Attorney Jackson who tells the Boston PI that he and Attorney Rothmann are no longer needed and that he needs ot leave the premises. McNally asks Damian is that what he wants and Damian just shrugs and stares to the floor. He turns and leaves the house, walking down the granite steps to the sidewalk and pulling out his cellphone and calling Charlie. He tells her about the dismissal by Attorney Jackson. Charlie says she'll find out from Damian what is going on and she'll figure out what to do next. The Build The exhaust system has been upgraded to a true dual tailpipe system instead of the dual into one into two exhaust. I painted many parts of the Escalade yesterday. Now for some detailing and assembly. McNally will return...

Thank you Trendsetta68! Inspite of the kit's shortcomings, it did build up rather nicely.

When I try to upload a picture from my computer, I get this message in a rectangular box near the top of the screen. "There was a problem processing the uploaded file. -200" It happens for every picture I try to upload. I had to go back to using third party hosting for my pictures. Is there an issue with the forum or something on my computer?

The Story At home, McNally starts doing background checks on Damian and Liza through the apps he has on his computer. Liza works part-time from home for a make-up manufacturer and retailer. She has a savings account with about $2500 in it. She has been driving an older 2009 Land Rover Discovery with about 80,000 miles on it. She has kept up the massive house and property in Brookline on her own for the last 6 months and she keeps a good eye on her two children. Damian Williston has a home on Beacon Hill on Beacon St. His sports car and his motorcycle are back in Brookline. He has a savings account with about $40,000 in it. He owns two small businesses and a large software firm. He has a 2006 Cadillac Escalade in excellent condition with about 90,000 miles on it. The Escalade is treated better than he or his family is. The Build I started off with assembling the wheels and tires. I am not too crazy about the overly large wheels and tires in this kit, even if the tire sidewalls do have detail on them. I have a set of Pegasus 23" Phat Daddy's that I may use instead. They are five spoke wheels and are generally the same as the HUGE kit wheels. I spent about 10-15 minutes searching for moldlines and flash on this body. I found some on the cowl edges and a little flash near the rear hatch opening. The body is ready for a good washing and then primer and paint! So far, I haven't gotten too much done on the Escalade. I should have more done on Wednesday. More to come...