RickRollerLT1

In between work and life, I haven't managed to get very much done within the past few years. One most recently finished in the midist of all is this Revell Monogram kit (which seems to be a re boxed Revell Germany offering going by the multi color piece and the 1992 Revell AG copyright). This one was purchased in a club mtg auction for a tenner sealed in September and looked like a nice kit with hardly any flash and the quad turbo V12 pulled me in! However, it has serious, and I MEAN serious warping issues and with the blu body parts being so brittle that any slight hard twist back into the right shape always cracked. This one required a lot of trimming of the chassis/interior parts in addition to careful bending and filling of warped body sections, which took about a month to do all that before it was ready for paint. Almost OOB build with the exception of swapping out the 1930's like multi-spokes for 5 spokes from a SVT Mustang Cobra. I found the Bugatti blue a bit boring and dated, so on went Tamiya Clear Red over Rustoluem aluminum cleared with Pledge. IDK if the motor is supposed to be off center if the 1:1 is like that, or could be due to atrocious warping or bad kit design.

Noice goin!! Good luck at the LIARS Show with your tribute entry. Wish I could be there but soooooooooooooooo busy with things now its crazy and i have to go in to work tomorrow and study for a music test hardly any time to do much. However, I should be at this thurs mtg so see ya there.

Here's my 2JZ powered 98 Firebird:

Nice work! Can't wait to see it in person later on tonight!

Thanks. Yeah, haven't been able to get any outside photos due to the constant rain otherwise I would've.

I know the one you're talking about as it's in the "Create FX" glitter line, which I avoid as some ppl who used it says it dries flat and textured and sanding won't cut it. This is the one I used, purchased from Hobby Lobby I'm aware that one has larger flakes and compared to the larger Rustoluem Color Shift cans I used to get at Lowes. I thought it was mislabeled as it looks like a metal flake British Racing Green, but then I found out that the colorshifting only shows up in certain points of light but is much harder to see than the Rustoluem version. Ether way, i'm stil happy with the color even if it's mostly dark met green (don't have many builds in that color).

Depends on how badly the clear pieces were "melted" together to the mounting joints. If they aren't too welded in and can somewhat move or bend around, i'd try the mineral spirits method as the Ziploc freezing bag trick sometimes works and sometimes doesn't (usually good for getting parts with weak joints and chromed pieces, or if the builder used the blue non toxic stuff). Worst case scenario is that you'd have to get new glass, but the good news is that these kits are common and you could easily snag a started or incomplete kit next to nothing for it.

Revell kit mostly OOB, but had some simplified bits (which are actually carry overs from the snap-tite Shinoda Boss kit) swapped out with guts from the '99 Cobra. Front suspension was missing springs and shocks, so that and IRS came from the 99. However, while the interiors are the same sans small differences in door panels and seats, the SS's chassis had to be swapped with the Cobra's as the former had indents that were meant for the solid rear axle setup and wouldn't work with the IRS. My kit despite being sealed, had a horribly deformed (short shot?) steering wheel, so I found a replacement parts one from what appears to be a Monogram '70 Mustang Boss. The one off 5.4 DOHC engine (just DOHC heads on a SOHC truck 2 valve motor, which is different than the 4.6) while somewhat simplified and based on the 5.0 in the Shinoda Boss, was used as is considering you won't see much of it with the supercharger and all. However, the '99 Cobra's exhaust had to have the tips trimmed so it would not interfere with the body-to-frame fit frame and also had the tranny cross-member at a different place and shape and wouldn't work with the 5.4. So out went that and in came the brace from the Super Stallion chassis that was cut and placed to aprox it's original location. Paint is Testors Color Shift Emerald Turquoise cleared with Pledge. Color looks like a metal flake British Racing Green in the pics, though in certain lighting you can see somewhat of a shift to Blue.

It's finish!

It's finish!

Build info Finished 8/11! Thread exclusive group pics with prior F-body builds

Update 8/10: we're at the home stretch baby! Added mesh in the vents I opened up (I did the side vents as well but in the mock up pic they're kinda hard to see). Got the ride height to where it plans to be. Just need to adjust some things and add a few bobs and bits and we'll be finish!

Once again, lack of updates due to life and such and apologies for the slightly messy work area. In this update report however, we're at the home stretch baby! Added mesh in the vents I opened up (I did the side vents as well but in the mock up pic they're kinda hard to see). Got the ride height to where it plans to be. Just need to adjust some things and add a few bobs and bits and we'll be finish!

I do agree the tires seem a bit large, but those were the only ones that the Camaro rims and the backings would fit on without sticking out from the tire. I originally had more larger wheels from Integra spare parts planned, but the only tires that fit those were the super skinny ones that came with it and made it look more like a donk lowrider. I decided for a mini muscle look and the large profile tire with the small wheel size does work better for the Opel.

Earlier I went to the LHS near Hobby Lobby in Bayshore and picked up a can of Tamiya Clear Red. Then made a stop at that HL to look for more $7.49 kits, and in a bizarre case whatever clearance kits left that were on the shelves got strangely brought back to 29.99 MSRP??? And what's even weirder was in the actual clearance section in the back of the store, there were still 3 Revell 914s marked $7.49. Whats up with that????

Found on Amazon out of all things: And only paid only what a recent Revell reissue goes for. These are quite rare now then they were almost 8 years ago at the craft stores, and I've seen them time to time fetch in the $70-120 range so me thinks I scored considering. Also went to the LHS near Hobby Lobby in Bayshore and picked up a can of Tamiya Clear Red. Then went to HL to look for more $7.49 kits and in a bizarre case whatever clearance kits were on the shelves were strangely brought back to 29.99 MSRP??? And what's even weirder was in the actual clearance section in the back of the store, there were still 3 Revell 914s marked $7.49. Whats up with that????

Recent issue AMT/R2 kit. Always liked these as they resembled a mini corvette, but the actual kit and it's overall detail left a lot to be desired. Used some of it's custom exterior parts and added wheels/tires from AMT '97 Camaro convertible. Underneath, in came a 2.1 Quad 4 motor from an ancient AMT Beretta scrapper and the turbo from the Monogram Olds Aero spare parts with some scratchbuilding. I wasn't able to get in an upgraded transmission in due to the quite narrow bay and interior tub, so the 4 cyl opel transmission was used as that's the only thing that would pair with the Quad 4 motor and fit. Suspension was left as is and the exhaust was reworked with a muffler coming off a Corvette exhaust accompanied by cutting down the aluminum stacks to make as some rather wicked exhaust tips. The kit's chrome taillights were too thick and clunky looking, plus one of them was a short shot and the other half chromed. I ended up making do with pieces of a flat clear parts tree painted Tamiya Clear Red on one side then some Sliver on top, IMO this looks better that using the kit's clunky parts even if they weren't botched from molding defects. Speaking of defects, the glass was a short shot as well and of course only one side of the F/R glass piece was half molded on one side. I found a spare glass set from parts from an old Opel GT I built years ago and while not perfect, I'm happy with using that than relying on trying to have R2 take like 5 months to send a replacement. Paint is Tamiya Clear Orange over Rustoluem Aluminum, cleared with Pledge/Future.

Update 8/3: Now that I finished my Quad 4 Opel GT (coming up in a bit), I got the 98's body parts, 2JZ valve cover, and custom engine bay plate painted Colorplace Fire Red after the 2nd painting attempt (same color I used on the 93 I built in 2009). Though there were some minor imperfections, they were lightly sanded down i a few spots and the front bumper on the chicken emblem thanks to Mr. Teensy fly. Then I applied Pledge/Future and here's how it all looks before I do some toothpaste polish. In some shots, it looks different and kinda pink but that's due to lighting and such in my room. It's a much darker red than what you see in the pics. Drip came down because I had just applied it and still wet. I plan to paint the chicken flat black or apply the leftover CE bird decal to further break up the reds, but that's all once I get to detail painting. Soon we'll be ready for mother road!

Update 8/3: Got the body parts, 2JZ valve cover, and custom engine bay plate painted Colorplace Fire Red after just the 2nd painting attempt (same color I used on the 93 I built in 2009). Though there were some minor imperfections, they were lightly sanded down i a few spots and the front bumper on the chicken emblem thanks to Mr. Teensy fly. Then I applied Pledge/Future and here's how it all looks before I do some toothpaste polish. In some shots, it looks different and kinda pink but that's due to lighting and such in my room. It's a much darker red than what you see in the pics. Drip came down because I had just applied it and still wet. I plan to paint the chicken flat black or apply the leftover CE bird decal to further break up the reds, but that's all once I get to detail painting. Soon we'll be ready for mother road!

Love where this one's going. I've seen LS1 swapped 300zx's on the road and they're sick SOBs lemme tell ya. Superb work and I sooo dig the street/semi-motorcross theme you have. I know everyone's telling you to do the old fashioned drag theme with the big slicks and all, even though you got a modern V8 which is more for street usage than drag standards. It's your project and you decide what YOU want.

The Lil Red Express was last seen during the early RC2 era, so I imagine that would be easy for R2 to reissue in vintage box art and all the mini cardboard do-dads with their usual $35 MSRP

Hopefully the MPC '82 Celica isn't too far down the announcement pipeline.

I apologize for lack of updates, had to strip the paint job due to humidity causing bubbles underneath that somehow got under a near perfect finish. While waiting for it's purple bath to finish, I was also trying to finish up a Quad 4 swapped Opel GT that was started way before I joined in on the 2018 CB. With the Opel nearly finished (just need to get a moment to assemble it all) I also tried to squeeze in whatever time I had after work and find a less humid day to respray the 2JZ bird's body. This paint job came out much better... aside from a teensy big landing on the chicken emblem on the front bumper, which isn't a biggie as I plan to ether lightly sand it down then apply an leftover unused chicken decal from my 2002 CE build that would likely fit over it. Worst case scenario would be to apply a licence plate over it, making it more street legal since while kinda ugly looking, I've seen 1:1s that have them so option B wouldn't be unusual if so. No pictures right now, tired as s and i'll get new pics of the 2JZ Firebird soon when I do my photo batch alongside finished pics of the Opel GT in a different thread.

I apologize for lack of updates, had to strip the paint job due to humidity causing bubbles underneath that somehow got under a near perfect finish. While waiting for it's purple bath to finish, I was also trying to finish up a Quad 4 swapped Opel GT that was started way before I joined in on the 2018 CB. With the Opel nearly finished (just need to get a moment to assemble it all) I also tried to squeeze in whatever time I had after work to find a less humid day to respray the 2JZ bird's body. his paint job came out much better... aside from a teensy big landing on the chicken emblem on the front bumper, which isn't a biggie as I plan to ether lightly sand it down then apply an leftover unused chicken decal from my 2002 CE build that would likely fit over it. Worst case scenario would be to apply a licence plate over it, making it more street legal since while kinda ugly looking, I've seen 1:1s that have them so option B wouldn't be unusual if so. No pictures right now, tired as s and i'll get new pics of the 2JZ Firebird soon when I do my photo batch alongside finished pics of the Opel GT in a different thread.

I originally decided not to go with a front intercooler, but why press my luck and have issues during the race so I went with it anyway. Found an intercooler from what seems like an old Revell Impreza STi motor and combine that with a piece of a yellow molded exhaust system, can work with the 2JZ's intake pipe through the radiator and gets me extra insurance.