Rockford

This is more to show everyone (including myself) that this is not a stalled build. The weather has finally broken and spring has landed. Temperatures have been reaching double digits on some days and the big shiny thing in the sky has returned. So I can finally get some paint on the Aeromax. Chose a two tone scheme. Was going to do the top cap of the cab in the darker colour but then thought against it. That's why I left it loose, otherwise I'd have cemented it on before painting, never mind. The turquoise went on beautifully but the light blue seems a bit more porridgy and didn't settle as well, however, I'm sure it will polish up ok. Really happy with the duals, they look like proper axles now, from above and below. Can't help mocking it up but have to be careful because the paint is still a little soft. Leave it to cure now. Then a polish and final touches. Thinking of a white stripe on the cab.

He's levelled off the rear fender line at the top and the rear dropglass opening. , For me, that loses the car's identity and I don't look at as a Grande Mustang. It becomes anonymous. You've got admire the work but not a car I'd want. It was proper, Ford styled and built Mach1's that used to make me drool, not massaged ones.

Looks brilliant! I love the old ali vans. It's all GRP now isn't it? Looks like AMT did quite a 1/43 range in the day. I've only ever seen the 359 Pete and KW cabover.

That's the exact kit I was talking about in your other post, my first American Truck. I think I saw that box art and couldn't stop myself. As young kid in Liverpool I didn't know what a Peterbilt was, or a conventional. It was like something off another planet in comparison to the weedy little "lorries" in UK. When you look at the parts you realise what a great little kit that thing is! In contrast, I've just started the AMT 1/32 Trailmobile van snap kit and its horrendous! Your progress looks great so far. BTW I look forward to seeing the lady driver if that's what the "Medium Duty wench" refers to. ??

Those Petes look beautiful. Brings back memories. An AMT 1/43 Peterbilt 359 was the first American truck kit I'd ever seen. To a kid in GB in the 70s it looked like something from another planet! It was the version that had the black stripe decals on a white cab and hood. I built it as per the instructions but didn't have a clue what anything was because it looked nothing like the trucks I'd seen over here. You've done a wonderful job on those kits though. The smaller scales do make life a little easier on storage but do take it out of you as age creeps up! I struggle with 1/32.

Got the magnetos wired up, not my tidiest job, don't know whether I'd have been better starting at the magnetos rather than at the plugs working back, never mind. Got the motor plate shaped and dropped the engine and gearbox in to check the height, looks ok.

Welcome Arnaud.

Well I'm 57 and never had a stroke and spend 50% of my modelling time searching for stuff I've dropped so you're not doing too bad. Welcome!

Wow -25!? Don't think I could live with that. Welcome aboard.

Welcome to the forum. They're a good bunch here.

Great models there mate. I think every modeller looks at a finished job and sees the flaws, which are invisible to onlookers, but they also see something that they're really proud of! Enjoy the diversion.

You're not building a model, you're building a complete plastic car! So Impressive!

Thats such a shame. You used two primers too! I hope you get it sorted out.

I'm snatching moments on this build. I'm desperate to get the engine together so I used some Tamiya Clear Orange over the silver to mimic an anodised sump pan and magneto bodies. I then picked out the top of the magnetos and painted the bellhousing/scattershield in Tamiya gloss red. Coloured the front pulley with a blue Sharpie to look like blue anodising and then fitted the rocker covers and the blower so that I can route the plug wires properly. I have the old Dukes of Hazzard Hemi sitting on the bench, I scrapped the car years ago, and I couldn't help but put the two together.

Like what you're doing here. Looking good. These cars epitomise the term "Muscle Car" for me. They look so brutal. What could be better than a Trans-Am? TWO Trans-Ams!!!!

Looking great, like the colour choices. What a stunning car the Charger was. Fuselage styling they called it didn't they? Was this the Dukes of Hazzard kit too? Moulddd in orange?

That's a good kit to get back into things with. I built it a few years ago and seem to recall it going together very well. Top marks on the paint too, very adventurous with great results.

You've got your work cut out there but it looks like the Impala is in capable hands.

Never seen one of these kits. Paint looks great!

I've got a couple of these in my stash, they are very well engineered kits. This is looking good!

Another barnstormer Gareth, like the colour. Looking forward to seeing this come together.

I think I just get frustrated with my eyesight. This cataract in my right eye makes close up work so difficult. After two cancellations they've referred me to a private clinic and hopefully it'll be gone by mid-March and I'll have two eyes again! Actually, that big block Chevy doesn't look THAT bad does it!?

I've felt a little frustrated with this build because I haven't been able to make any progress with it. I felt in a Catch22 situation over the rear suspension and the engine, I couldn't see how to work out the ride height or a sequence to complete the engine. I've got over it though. I used plastic card to form plates for the rear axle and will simulate a simple 4 link rear end from rod. I fitted coilovers behind the axle and a strengthening box across the diff. On the engine I brushed Tamiya silver on. Then, again using plastic card, formed a front motor plate. I used the timing cover to guage the size and where I would have to drill holes for the locating pins on the timing cover into the block, then trimmed it so as not to interfere with the magneto mounts. It will require further fettling obviously but it felt good just seeing the engine and transmission in place at last. It's too high at the front but I don't care at this point. I can now make the engine one piece. Wire it up, and then set the final height. The headers that come with the Nova aren't too bad once built with the collectors. I'll have to use them because the rail just has Zoomies. I realized that I'm a right messy pig too, there's no room on my bench. Every time I move something, something else falls off the edge. Maybe I should just leave them on the floor. Can't tell you how hard this sort of work is with one eye!!! So hard to align stuff etc... I got that frustrated I decided to just build the engine that comes with the Nova, it's a poor rendition of a big block Chevy but plonked together nicely. Made me feel as if I can still do stuff. Actually got me moving again.

A Corvette for $1, can you imagine...? Bet they were big blocks too.

Not great progress but something. Built the short motor, drilled and wired the rocker covers. Cut the two speed off the scattershield and attached the Lenco transmission (less its scattershield). Mocked the engine up. I'm thinking of using a motor plate to mount it in the chassis. Repaired the mess I made of the trunk panel line. Removed the "Hatchback" script from the C-pillars. Started thinking about the interior. I'd love to fit a front bench seat but I'm not sure it will fit with a full cage. There's a simple roll bar that comes with the kit but it's too narrow. It's a start though, so I widened it using sprue. As it was thicker than the rollbar I made the cuts as close to the end as possible so that it looks like padding on the bars. I'll have to make door bars, a cross brace and connectors to the rear end.