Mooneyzs

Alright Fellas... I got a little more work done today. I got some Alclad Polished aluminum sprayed on the fire bottle brackets. and I did some sanding on the rear panel of the car and got the body filler smoothed out but It needs some more filler added. I was also able to get the few body mount tabs that I broke, replaced. Although I am just going to show you a pic of the Brackets that were Alclad and cleared with Alclad Aqua Gloss. I am too tired to edit the rest of the pics and I need to head to bed. Here is a shot for you. Here are the fire bottle brackets after they have been painted with Alclad Polished Aluminum and with 2 coats of Alclad Aqua Gloss. I will show some pics tomorrow of the brackets on the bottle. I wanted to make sure that they were good and dry before I even touched them. I am still considering having the guys at work try and machine me a set of these brackets just to see if they can. I will talk to them about it:

Ray... Thank you. Its all about having fun and enjoying the hobby. Dirk... Thank you. Glad to see you peeking back on the boards. You been getting any build time in on any of your builds. Dave... Thank you.

That would be cool if you were to bring a build with you But I do under stand about being in the work truck. I would say pack it up nice in a box/container. Would be awesome either way if you were able to be here for the show. Ed is a really nice guy.

Tim... Thank you. Yeah I am so glad I decided to go with this red that I got for it because there were a couple other reds the PPG guy was showing and he suggest the Viper red and I love how it Pops like you mentioned. You are right that when you love a build and are having fun the time and money become priceless. I don't think I have ever kept track of how much I put into a build before. Although I don't know the exact amount but I know its over the mount I posted above. Mike.... Thank you. Now I wouldn't say I am money bags.... but I have put a lot into this one...lol. Now if I could just win the lotto so I can finally get that Lathe and End Mill....lol. Talk to you later.

Tim.... I completely hear you about finding tweezers or pliers that won't get grabbed by the magnets. I did a search for some anti magnetic tweezers on ebay here is a link to some: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2060353.m570.l1312.R1.TR0.TRC2.A0.H0.Xan.TRS5&_nkw=anti-magnetic+tweezers&ghostText=&_sacat=0 http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=Pro%27sKit+1PK-101T+Insulated+Tweezer%2CNon-magnetic+Insulated+Anti-static+Tweezer+For+Soldering+Station&_from=R40&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.XPro%27sKit+1PK-101T+Insulated+Tweezer.TRS0&_nkw=Pro%27sKit+1PK-101T+Insulated+Tweezer&ghostText=&_sacat=0 http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_nkw=anti+magnetic+swiss+tweezers&_frs=1 Now I don't know if they make and anti magnetic and anti solder resistant... which like you said would need to be aluminum, Titanium. I know some stainless is non-magnetic but I do know that you can solder some stainless as well. you would almost need some sort of Phenolic or plastic type of pliers that would hold up to the heat the iron produces when soldering. I will continue to look because I would almost like to find something for myself as well since I am going to be doing some brass chassis in the future. I will even ask my Dad as he did a lot of soldering in his day and he may know of something. Clint... you are welcome. That would be awesome if you did find pic of other builds.

Ray... This is a freaking awesome build. Man you have me blown away by hand making all of the body panels. Man is that some nice work. I am in for the long hall on this build and will be following along for sure. Keep up the great work on this. I am looking forward to more.

That will be awesome getting the '37 running this year. I know how big of a milestone it will be for you. You have been working hard on it. I just may have to pick their brains and even yours on laying carbon decals. I have some I want to use on my next build. As far as machining goes I think you are one of the best on here. I know I could learn a heck of a lot from you. I will need to give you a buzz soon to catch up with ya.

Bruce... I wouldn't even bother with the Hobby town in Gilbert. They used to be really good in the past but that store has gone down hill in my opinion. Most of the time I go to Hobby Depot since they are the biggest plastics shop on the east side of the valley. I have also been to one of the Hobby Bench's and I think it was the 19th AVe and Northern and they seemed to have a pretty good selection of kits and supplies there. On another not if you are into Drag Racing there is supposed to be a Nostalgia Drag race at Wild Horse Pass Raceway (formerly Firebird Raceway). I know I am going to be planning to be out there. I have heard they are going to have some cackle cars and I would love to get some reference pictures of them. Clayton... That would be pretty cool if you were to make it out here for the Desert Scale Classic. its the best show we have here. I have to agree with you on some of the prices of kits there. The owner Dick and His Wife Susanne are really nice though. They always call me when they get the new Model Cars Magazine in. I don't think Ed is an owner he just works for Dick and Susanne.

I can't find anyone here that sells the Plastikote Spot Filler & primer Part #466.I have been using it for years and has worked good for me. Looks like I have to order online now. I actually picked up some 2 part primer for my bodies from my local PPG store but for small parts I will continue to use rattle can primer.

Alan... Thank you for checking in and for the kind words. I do keep track of the hours I am putting into this build. I actually write my time on 3x5 cards and then I input them into an Excel spreadsheet I have for my time on this build. As of Tonight I have a Total of 1368.75 Hours So far....lol. As far as money into this build. I haven't check in quite awhile but I can say it is well over $500

Randy... Thank you very much. I can't tell you how Happy I am with the fire bottle. now I still need to make the valve that goes on top of it. It also feels great to be working on the body. I am going to fix a couple of my body mount brackets that I broke on the underside of the body and then do more body work tonight. My goal is to have the body in primer for The Desert Scale Classic. and even have the body tins and body support structure's painted. I am even debating on getting the underside of the body painted black too. Clayton... Thank you. I have to admit I am so tired of seeing this body in bare plastic...lol Its going to a huge milestone when I finally have it in primer. Looking forward to seeing your builds when you finish them. Ray... Yep Ever since I got the chassis painted I had to think of a way to keep the dust off it. Although I know its gotten some on it when I have it out but this has worked pretty good for it. That is the one think I dislike about Arizona is how things get so dusty so quick. It was never like that when I grew up in California. I have been thinking about picking up a second or third case. one for the body and a smaller one for the engine..lol

Tim... You are a true craftsman my friend. I love seeing this come together. So cool to see your drawings you are working from. Everything on your chassis and rear end is so precise and spot on. I am going to have to come up with a Jig like yours for future builds of mine. Actually the next build could use a jig for sure. Keep these gorgeous updates coming. I am always ready for more of them. Hey Clint... Those Armor build are just gorgeous you go there. I have a few armor kits that I want to build and learn how to weather like that. They are an inspiration for some of my armor kits. Would love to see more of your work.

John... This build is Flat Out Bad A$$ my friend. The think looks killer. Nice scratch building. The trailer is so cool and I love how the pin striping on the boat matches the trailer. I know this this has to just about be done.

Brad... I love how creative you are when it comes to building. Totally cool how you used a rim to turn it into a toilet. This is looking killer with the skins mocked up. I can not wait to see what you share with us next. Glad to see you getting bench time in buddy!! John... before you know it you will be doing the same as Brad and I ....

Now here are a few shots of the bottle and brackets after they have been cleared. The Brackets I spray 2 coats of clear on and the Bottle I sprayed 3 Coats of clear on: Another shot in the sun trying to capture how bright and shinny it turned out: Here you can see the brackets. which will get a coat of Alclad polished aluminum on them next, Well hopefully tomorrow. I want to let the paint dry for 24 hours: Here is the start of the body work on the rear panel, Time to sand and start working on the rest of the body:

Alright Fellas... I got some little updates to show. I decided to paint the fire bottle and brackets today. Let me jump right to the pics..... Here is the Fire Bottle and Brackets all wet sanded and ready for paint: Here is the supplies for today's adventure in painting: Here is the fire bottle after it has been based with House of Kolor white base: Here is the bottle mount brackets painted House of Kolor black base along with the PPG Viper Red I am using for the fire bottle all mixed and ready to spray: Here is the FIre Bottle after its been based with the PPG Viper Red and you can see I have the PPG Omni Clear all mixed up, I picked up some of this clear yesterday to try it out. IT sprays pretty much like my PPG Concept 2020 Clear which they don't make anymore so I am trying to save what I have left of it just for bodies. The Concept 2020 was probably one of the best clears that I have ever used:

Clayton... that's awesome on the stock eliminator cars. you should post them. That cannonball entry sounds like an awesome build. I will have to go over to the community builds and check it out. My biggest advice is not rush anything and just take your time on things. I love the idea of adding the valve stems. Its such a small little addition that will make a big impact in the over all look of a build. You don't know how many things I have seen on the forum that's made me try new stuff. You are right that somethings are so simple after trying them. The more I have practiced with things the better I see I can do them. I am sure that is true for most people as well.

Clayton... Thank you. These bottles were turned on a full size CNC machine that they programmed to my 3D cad model. I have talked to them about trying to do the brackets for me because I think there would be nothing better than for the brackets to be out of actual aluminum instead of being painted. Although I am still going to paint up my 3D printed brackets for back ups in the mean time. I should hopefully have an update on the bracket and bottles today as I am going to break out the air bush on them in a little bit. Don't be scared at even trying to build a car. I have been building for 20-25 years with big amounts of time off in between but I will tell you this I have never taken a build this far ever. I have always wanted to and when I started this I wanted this build to be the first one that I really went all out on and I guess along the way I kept telling myself I need to do better on things (as to why there has been so many things that I redone multiple times). its the reason its taken me so long to do this build. I had no clue when I started this that i would take it this far. It was a challenge that I gave myself just to see if I could build a highly detail build like many of the top builders that I have admired over the years. I have to say that is one of the best brands of body filler. I picked that new can up yesterday and paid around $36.00 for the quart but It sands much smoother than the bondo brand stuff. and is much easier to work with.

Clint... thank you Very much. i have to admit after I had the first bottles done i knew I had to redo them since it didnt look like the the one on the real car. I am with the rest of you. I can't wait to see more of this build together with paint on it. Scott.. thanks brother. You all know I am trying to capture as much of the real car as I can on this build. I am getting closer little by little to get this done. Danno... thank you sir! Joe... So thats what his family looks like... lol kidding. Love ya Johnny boy.

Mike... thank you. I really appreciate the kind words. youknow I had never really seen anyone do the underbody structor/supports before and I wanted to see if I could accomplish it. They arent 100% correct but I am very happy with them At this point. Brad... what can I say my big brother but thank you. This new fire bottle is much better for sure and it will look even better once there is some red paint on it . On that steering shaft the length isnt set yet I just used that piece for mock up purposes. the actualy steering handle will be sitting outside of the cage.

Joe... shhh don't say anytbing but I snuck out one of Mr. Teresi's Minions and sent him into Prudhimme's shop sonI wouldnt get caught...lol Thank you for the kind words on the detail of this build. You know I have beem trying to do my best on this build. Ray... thank you very much. I have been a big fan of the evwrcoar fillers. Much better than the bondo brand In my opinion. I did try to stir it up but it was really hars and not creamy. This was a can I have had for quite some time. I will get a new can today so I can continue on with the body work...lol. i will make sure to store the new can upside down. Mike... thank you very much. i am really happy with it. This new bottle is much better and I may actually paint it this weekend. I will get some primer on it today.

Alright so here is what my plan tonight was, I was going to to do some body work since last night I was sanding most of the rear body panel. After sanding some of the plastic I added to fix certain areas I needed to go back and add some body filler. Well I go to mix up this body filler to find out that it had gone bad on me. So I need to pic some more up. I had some Bondo brand in the tube but I wanted to used this better stuff since it is a little finer and sands a little nicer, Although this suff is about 40 bucks a quart, but well worth it in my opinion: I think that you guys know that I like to mock stuff up and take pics to see how it looks together. here is a shot of the fire bottle along with the chassis and stuff so I can get a taste of what it is going to look like installed: Here is a top down view: Then I had to set the body tins on it just to check it out:

Alright Fellas... Little update to share with you this evening. I didn't get to get as much done as I was planning on tonight but you will see why when You get to a couple of pics. Anyway I will show you some of the tabs I need to replace for the body mount structure. I also had one of the guys turn a couple updated bottles for me for the fire suppression system, I am much happier with this one than the first for this car. Aright I will stop talking and show some pics.... Here is one of the body mount tabs for the rear pivot bracing that I need to replace both tabs on this one as you can see they are no good. I some how broke them handling the body since they were quite thin. So I will beef them up just a tad when I fix them: Here is one of the body mount tabs on the front portion of the body that I need to replace as well: Here are the turned Aluminum bottles that I have had one of my machinist at work turn for me the two on the left were ones he did a while back for me and the one on the right is the updated bottle that he made today: Here is another shot of the bottle with the 3D printed brackets. I am actually thinking about asking the guys at work if they can turn these for me in aluminum, just curious if they could be done:

Alright Fellas...just a quick update. I wanted to let you know that I got a little bench time in last night and was sanding on the body working on the rear panel. I didnt get any pics of it cause there wasnt much to show at this point. I am going to add some body filler to the rear panel when I get home from work. I Also need to redo a couple of the body mount bracket tabs on the inside of the body that I had busted from handling at some point. I will shoot pics of the ones that were broken to show what I am trying to explain. Anyway I am looking forward some bemch time later. Jumping back to the body has been a nice change of pace from the engine and tranny. I am looking forward to working on more of it and am excited that I will have the body in primer soon.

Brad.... that is no joke that time is running out. I sat down at the bench last night probably around 8:30 and stared at my build last night. I couldnt get into it since I was wiped out from work. I wqs looking at some of those body mount supports we talked about at the swapmeet I need to fix. Tonight my plan is to stsrt working on those, the body tins and get back on the body work.