Swifster

After a 30 year layoff from building model cars, I found 5 at a garage sale for $2. My skills as a teenager were nothing special, especially since I didn't have a lot of patience. I'm hoping time has allowed me more of this special commodity. I figured the best to learn with is the '67 Mercury Cyclone kit. The others are a little more detailed and this kit seems to be closer to the kits of my youth in the '70's. Feel free to participate with suggestions as I plan on being a sponge. Constructive critiquing will be most welcome. There are many things I don't know and would like to learn. Back in the day, my glueing and painting were horrible and I hope I drastically improve since my childhood. According to the instruction sheet, there are 16 steps towards building this car. I'll definitely update this at the end of each step. I'll probably also update (seek help and guidance ) more often than that. I've been reading the great 'Back to Basics' article and I've learned a lot. This should be a great learning experience and a lot of fun (and frustration ). Here's the car... This is the cover art. The kit was open... But everything appears to still be wrapped inside the box. And everything looks to be there. (Dang Photobucket ^^^^^ ) I gave the parts a soapy bath and have washed everything clean. The second kit is a Tamaya VW Beetle. As the alternator is part of Step #1, I hit it with Easy Off to remove the chrome. That's the one old trick I remember from back in the day. I have a can of Tamaya semi-gloss black paint for chassis detailing. I still need to get some gray primer for the underside of the car. Step one should be rather simple as it's just attaching the fan and alternator to the belt assembly. I have the paints for this, but I think I'll try thining the belts (I hope it doesn't break ). I'll be painting the fan and belt assembly with the semi-gloss, and detailing with flat black (belts), gold (alt pulley) and aluminum (alternator). I plan on making a alternator bracket (something I never did as a kid) out of a pop can when the time comes to attach the fan assembly and water pump to the engine. On a 390, the bracket bolts to the pump. I'm also going to order a pre-wired distributor for both the Merc and the Bug. Plenty of detail stuff to play with on the engine. In the meantime, hopefully I'll see the real deal (or a Fairlane, Mustang, etc.) with the same engine for pictures. Thanks to anyone who follows along and thanks for any help and tips along the way.

Thanks again everyone for the warm welcomes. I popped two cars in the soapy water to clean them (the Merc & Volkswagen). I'll pull them before bed and let them air dry some place the cats can't get to them . The parts on both cars look to be pretty clean as far as flash, mold lines and ejector depressions. In fact, the only obvious ejector marks are on the chassis on the Merc behind where the front suspension attaches to (and hides it). I also pulled the alternator off the chrome tree and hit it with some easy off. No chrome alternators here. I may try making a bracket after reading a way around the 'magic fan belt'. I think I'll try making it out of an old pop can. I've already have a few 390-4V pics including the bracket. Hopefully I have enough 'small' tools to make this. At least I have plenty of cans . I'm part way thru the 'Back to Basics' thread and I'm really enjoying it.

Mike, it did for me to. But if you trim down the link to just 'italianhorses.net', it'll take you to the base website, and the tutorial option is along the top.. There are a lot of great 'how-tos' on that site.

All I can say is...OMG! I have just suffered my first case of generational sticker shock. What did I buy? 5 jars of Tamaya paint, 1 jar of thinner, 1 can of Tamaya semi gloss black spray paint, 1 X-acto knife, 1 5-pc Atlas brush set, 1 tube of Testors glue, 1 Testors liquid cement, and 1 tube of Loctite super glue. All of this joy came to $43!!! I just glanced at the model car section and almost fell over when I saw the $20+ pricing. How do kids get involved in the hobby at these prices?

Added to my favorites list. Thanks!

Thanks guys. To start with, I'll pick up some regular Testors and some of the liquid. I'll pick up some CA while on my travels. The canopy or Elmers I won't need right away, so I'll get that when I'm ready to pop in the windows. I'll pick up other stuff as needed and located (I do a lot of driving for work). Thanks for the suggestions and help.

While my skills may not be up for it quite yet, I'm a lover of sedans & wagons. I'd love to see a '59, '60 (Monogram) or '61 (Lindberg) Impala flat top 4-dr conversion. That or even a Biscayne or Bel Air 4-dr (would work with cop car conversions too).

This is a bummer. I always like the toy and model shows and was hoping for a local club.

I'm getting back into this after scoring 5 kits for $2 at a garage sale. The kits I picked up are; 1937 Cord 812 (Monogram) 1950 Ford F1 (Monogram) - missing tail lamps) 1966 Volkswagen Beetle (Tamaya) 1967 Mercury Cyclone (AMT) 1967 Chevy Corvette 427 (Monogram) I'm looking at that Mercury as my first victim.

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. I just might paint this bad boy. I've decided to start with a '67 Mercury Cyclone (blueprinter series) from AMT. All the parts are still there and still wrapped in plastic. Looking for a good suggestion for glue as my first step. Then maybe a primer . The model is modeled in a light gray.

OK, so I'm just getting back into the model car stuff for the first time since being a teenager in the late 70's & early 80's. I'm just going to start with the basics and work my way up. I'm going to start with a kit I got at a garage sale. It's a semi-unopened AMT '67 Mercury Comet Cyclone. I say semi-unopened, as the plastic pieces are still in plastic bags even if the box was opened. My first need will be glue. After 30 years, what are suggested brands of glue? Back in the day, all I remember using was Testors orange tube of glue. Is there anything better? Anything to watch out for?

Hi, my name is Tom and I'm from Central Florida. After 30 years, I've gotten the itch. Things have changed since the early 80's so it's just like starting from scratch. I picked up a couple of models at a garage sale so I'm going to start with them. I might just glue one together to practice assembly skills before I bother trying to paint. Anyways, I'm sure it'll be fun.