Slowly firing back up- 71 Charger

[Kmb0319]

As we are still setting into the new house back in our home city, I get little windows to accomplish things on my builds.  I have 11 kits in the stash... This one was started when we still lived in AL... Haven't done much, but I've added a few pieces to the engine and today I got the clearcoat laid down.

This is one of AMT's best kits and one of my favorite cars, so it's been on my to-do list forever.  I'm taking my time with it, anyway, and don't have an actual workspace yet, so I can't get into detail painting yet, but thought I'd share the paint finish so far.  I'm using Pontiac Verdoro Green spray from Automotive Touchup, and their spray gloss clear.  Great stuff!!!! I'm also going with some AMT pad-printed Polyglas GTs and some resin dog dish caps I found on eBay.  Also going with a two-tone interior.  Flocked the carpet.  Here is the pic I posted in AL with the layout of my scheme and color laid down, and two shots of the body now with 4 coats of clear.  It isn't totally dry, so it may come down a little in gloss, but I also have not polished the clear yet.  I did use a full polishing kit on the paint before moving to clear.  This stuff is really nice... I highly recommend using them for a project.

 

More to come soon.

Edited September 10, 2016 by Kmb0319
clearing space

[GMCMAN52]

That Pontiac color does wonders for that Mopar. Your project is moving along just nicely

 

[Mopar - D]

Kevin nice work on your Charger. What are you going with for your engine?

[Modlbldr]

That is looking great! I wish I had never gotten rid of that kit now. I love the green on it and can't wait to see how the polishing comes out. You're doing fantastic. I hope the move in is going well.

Later- 

[Kmb0319]

Kevin nice work on your Charger. What are you going with for your engine?

I'm sticking with the kit 440... Have a pre-wired distributor I'll use and will look to add a vacuum hose or two.  I'll also play with the firewall a little and try to add to it.  The brake lines are nicely molded in, so I'll just paint those.  I wish all AMT kits were this good.  This and the 70 Camaro are the best I've built, but depending on the age of the tooling, they are so inconsistent.

[Rider]

Good looking project, paint looks pretty darn smooth. 

[Roadrunner]

Looks excellent, Kev.

[Kmb0319]

OK... House is mostly settled and I now have a place to work.  Got a little more progress on the Charger.  Got the decals on the body, assembled part of the engine and drilled out the holes for the spark plug wires.  Painted the oil filter and starter for installation.  

The big keys to making this kit really look good, in my eyes anyway, are detailing the engine compartment, getting the interior detailed with the wood grain inserts and chrome trim, and the grill/front end has to be detailed correctly.  Those are all still to come, but at least I have some progress.

 

[kymdlr]

Im a real big fan of this color. Anyone have any suggestions of a rattle can manufacturer that makes something close to this?

[Kmb0319]

Im a real big fan of this color. Anyone have any suggestions of a rattle can manufacturer that makes something close to this?

This is a rattle can finish.... Go to automotive Touchup.com, and type in any late 60s/early 70s model year... I think I picked 1968 Firebird... And it will give you all the available factory colors, including verdoro green.  You can order cans to mix into an airbrush or 12 oz. spray cans.  This is their spray paint and spray clearcoat.

[Rider]

Looking great!

[crazyrichard]

nice !

[Janne Herajärvi]

Nice color... 

[om617]

Is looking good.

[Modlbldr]

That is a gorgeous color. Very nice work so far.

Later- 

[Kmb0319]

Small bits of progress....  Got my engine together and my wired distributor placed.

 

Then wired her up and got the air cleaner on...

And then went back to the body...  Painted in the under hood vents and wipers, and used my silver paint pen to make the window trim. (A few touch-ups still needed)  All that's left outside are door handles and lock cylinders on the doors and trunk.  I also made a lot of progress on door panels and dash, but I'll post when completed.  All for now.

 

 

Edited September 10, 2016 by Kmb0319

[slusher]

 

And then went back to the body...  Painted in the under hood vents and wipers, and used my silver paint pen to make the window trim. (A few touch-ups still needed)  All that's left outside are door handles and lock cylinders on the doors and trunk.  I also made a lot of progress on door panels and dash, but I'll post when completed.  All for now.

 

Beautiful paint and clear. What brand paint pen did you use on the trim?? I could use one...

[randyc]

That looks close to Chrysler Rallye Green maybe?  I know it's a Pontiac color, but seems close from memory...

[carman1]

I love that color !

[Kmb0319]

Beautiful paint and clear. What brand paint pen did you use on the trim?? I could use one...

it's a Decocolor paint pen.  $2.99 at Hobby Lobby.  Here's a shot of it to help if you're looking for one, Carl.

 

Edited September 10, 2016 by Kmb0319

[slusher]

 

it's a Decocolor paint pen.  $2.99 at Hobby Lobby.  Here's a shot of it to help if you're looking for one, Carl.

 

Thanks Kevin I am going to get one of those.... 

[Kmb0319]

Got a lot going on with work, but made some progress today.  Finished up my engine and got the front frame assembly together:

 

Detailed the firewall, with a couple finishing touches still to come:

And tonight I finished up my rear suspension, which allows me to test my stance.  I'm using the pad-printed Goodyear Polyglas in front... In the rear, I decided to step it up a little.  Im using the wide rears from the Moebius 65 Belvedere kit.  They are nice tires, and add the right width and circumference to beef up the rear without going overboard.  This looks just right to me.... 

 

More to come.

Edited September 10, 2016 by Kmb0319

[kelson]

Awesome work so far!.

[Kmb0319]

Got my interior together.... Dash:

Took one of the Charger R/T decals and cut the RT off, making a nice emblem for the dash.  Always see things I need to touch up when I take my pics, though.  Then I moved to door panels:

And got the firewall in place and joined the chassis to the body.  Gave me a couple issues at first, and I haven't glued the front frame down, but it's close to situated.

 

Moving into final assembly, I painted my front fascia.

 

Home stretch now, but still some things to take care of to make sure it's right.  Funny how big these cars are... Those L60 Polyglas tires, which really fill out the fenders everywhere else I've used them, look positively tiny up front, which is why I moved to bigger rears.

Edited September 10, 2016 by Kmb0319

[restoman]

Nice job on those grills and headlamps!