GTMust

That's a great idea! Makes me want to build a diner just so I can build a few of those!

Thanks for all the encouraging feedback! Vizio93: I hope you decide to do a garage dio. I would love to see more ("in progress") dios on this site. I have no idea right now, how to do the lights. I would like to have a couple of florescent tube lights ander the storage area and even some task lighting at some location where the workbench will go. And then maybe a few more lights hanging from the roof? Maybe a couple outside above the garage doors? Maybe I find use a remote location for the battery and the incoming "hydro line" can be run from there to a hydro meter on the front of the building somewhere, plus a fuse box inside, and then the interior wiring could be done like in real life? Trouble is, right now, I have no idea how to do all that, so a lot of research (and suggestions) will be needed......... I should also check out the doll house websites, I think?

Thanks Danny.

Just one word. INCREDIBLE!!!

My 100+ year old small house has only a tiny basement (cellar) big enough to fit the FA gas furnace and no windows. If I spray down there without ventilation, the fumes spread throughout the house when the furnace fan turns on! Not a good scenario. I thought about setting up an insulated, ventilated spray booth to exhaust through the window of my upstairs hobby room, something like a window airconditioner set up, but the overspray would discolor the bug screen (very noticeable from outside!). My wife shot down that idea! So, for now, I'm stuck, unless I get a better idea.

Thanks Jim and Charlie. I'm going to have to add some lighting in there somehow. Never done that before. I'm really having fun with this one!

It's about -10c here(don't know what that is in farenheit - about 12?). Anyway, there was no wind and the sun was shining, so I heated a can of Testor's gray primer (in the can), and shot a couple of guide coats across the plastic to see where it would need more filler. I don't have anywhere to spray during the winter so most of my builds have to wait until the spring when the weather warms up, to get completed. I just work on the interiors and chassis, etc, until then. I also have started work on the engine and tranny. Funny.... I always thught the engine would be Ford blue, but both my 1:1 cars are original and they're painted black. So that's what I painted the plastic one.

I managed to get a little more done between some other builds and here's the progress: The upper level has a barrier and the old single car garage gables are showing their age. The stairs are starting to look a little more "used" but will probably see more aging. So far nothing has warped out of shape. I brought my AMT Ford in for an oil change and will get back to working on the '29 Ford chassis pretty soon, I hope! Wonder where I left all my tools....?

I'm with you, Grandpa. It really is size that counts! Wish my hobby room was big enough for something that daring! Best wishes for the season. Tony

WOW! What more can be said?

Boy, that red oxide primer comment really got blown out of proportion. A "helpfull suggestion" was never intended as a criticism of the excellent work you're doing. So if my comment was interpreted as knocking your build.... lighten up guys.... not in a million years! For the record, I really look forward to opening this forum each morning and seeing your progress. I know it will be a killer build. To all who read this.... Merry Christmas and a great 2011!

I'm just amazed at the quality of work on this site. Beautiful!

And I like it too!!!

Thanks Eric.... and that '79 Cobra definitely deserves finishing. Does anyone know if there ever was a kit of the '85/'86 Mustang GT with T-tops. I don't think I've ever seen one... but memory fades with age! I'll have to check into the Tamiya "smoke" at our LHS. Real window tint sounds possible too.

Time to start carving up the styrene for the T-Tops. Here's a reference picture of my actual '86 GT roof with the T-top on, and then one with the glass top (and the weatherstripping) removed: (Did I mention it's being restored?) I transferred the T-top dimensions I had taken from this car, on to the roof of the build and, with trembling hands, started cutting. Fortunately, I didn't make any boo-boos, so the cut came out clean. Then I made a frame to sit under the roof and support the T-tops. And here's the 1/24 scale copy of the real thing: I then built the T-tops from clear styrene with the edges of the cut out roof section used as the edge of the T-top: Has anyone got any ideas how to create the impression of smoked glass?

For reference, here's a pic of the (dusty) front of my '85 Mustang. ('86 is the same and unique to those two years.) Here's my (sorry... Backyard Billy's) attempt to update the '81. Still a little clean up and "Bondo" to get the opening exactly right, but you should get the general idea? Next job is to carve up the roof for the T-tops.

Very nice, Eric. Hope mine turns out half as good!

I realise that your comments were meant, not just for me, but also for others in this build community. Definitely no offence taken! I certainly don't have your extensive detail knowledge of the marque, but, as I own two aero style LX's and two four eyed GT's, I know something about them. Like you, I much prefer the four eyes and will have to get a replacement bumper cover for my '86 GT. Comparing the two styles in model form, really convinced me not to screw around with a classic! Know I have a clearer idea of where I'm going with this (and my real ones)....... Let the modellin' begin!

Love to see your racers coming along, Tony and Greg. Hope you don't mind me jumping in with a picture of the 25th Anniversary version Mustang racer I built OOB quite a few years back. The decals have seen better days. I also have the "Seven Eleven" car to build but haven't found the correct blue paint color to match the decals yet.

Ummmmm meant "should I bother with this detail or not?" I know about the quad shocks, as I have them on both my '85 and '86 GT's. I realise that I have to deal with several issues to make the cafe racer into an '85 GT model. I originally started this build to check out ideas, in scale, that I could apply to my 1:1 '86 GT that I'm restoring. So I'm trying to keep it as simple as possible, more for overall appearance than extreme detail. I decided to go with the '85 idea instead, as the "New Monkees" kit contains an engine that will work for me (302, auto trans). As far as I know, the CFI dual snorkel air cleaner in this kit only came on the '85 auto trans model. Anyway that's the way my 1:1 '85 GT is. So with all the differences of model years aside, how's this for a scenerio for my model: Billy buys an '81 turbo, four banger brand new. In late 1984, the new style 1985 GT's come in the showroom and he would just love to have one, but he's only just finished paying for his '81, and doesn't want to go back in debt for another 3 or 4 years. So he decides to update his '81 with a new V8 transplant, and modify some of the bodywork to make it look like the '85 that he likes (he works in a bodyshop). But of course, some of the original '81 style will remain and he hasn't enough of the green stuff to do a complete changeover, so he makes do with what he can in his backyard garage. And he wants to make a few changes, like install a custom front air dam, louvred hood and custom wheels. (Remember this is 1985, so he's got a limited choice of wheels and tires compared to today!) Just like "Backyard Billy", I don't have the coin to buy a bunch of later Mustang models, like the Cobra kits, so I'll have to cobble something together from the parts I already have in my stash. Hopefully it'll all come together as a decent build. Thanks for all the info. And no, you didn't scare me off, I just had to figure out in my mind what direction to go. Does all this make any sense?

I know the '69/'70 Mustangs had a red oxide primer chassis with some overspray of the body color along the edges. I'm guessing that the '64 1/2 to '68 models did too. Unfortunately, I have to agree, from the photo, that the primer color you've used appears way too red. Krylon has an indoor/outdoor spray can primer they call "ruddy brown" which is pretty close to the real thing. But I think it may be a laquer so be careful if your current "primer" is enamel.

I agree with Tony. You might want to check out some model railway websites and forums to get a design for the base supports. Lowes or Home Depot have free plans to build a sturdy workbench that might also work for you. The diarama will also have to be located away from the wall as you'll never be able to reach across 40" to the back of it. I'll definitely be interested in how you overcome these problems.

Bradley, you had correctly pointed out, in my "on the workbench" thread, that the side trim on the '85/'86 GT is unique and that the cafe racer side trim is obviously earlier. I hadn't realised that, even though I can see my 1:1 '85 out of my kitchen window! And I've almost completed the revised '85 front grille and hood lip. I guess I have customized mine more than I thought! And the quad shocks at the rear..... ummmmm?

Thanks guys. I'm keeping the build '85 GT with T-tops. I'm transferring the progress on this over to the Fox body community build thread, so the continuation will be there..

Thanks Bradley, Just to refresh, here's the Monogram "Built up" 4 cyl turbo cafe racer I received from Ebay: I'm converting it to an '85 GT T-tops with a 302, similar to my 1:1 '85, but I will retain a couple of the Cafe racer custom touches.... the hood and front air dam (which look kinda neat, I think) and some kind of "Old school" style 5 spokes. The motor from the "New Monkees" Monogram kit will replace the 4 banger. And I'll add T-tops to the model... I've stripped off the old paint and I'm changing the grille area to match the '85 style. Pics to follow. If you haven't already seen the progress to date, it's in the "on the workbench" category. And if you're interested, I also posted detail drawings of the front and rear suspensions there to help the builds. Great video...... played it over and over and over again!