'74 Toyota Celica / '90 Lexus V8

[89AKurt]

Body color was chosen.  This morning after waking up but before being totally awoke, plugged in different colors, decided on this nail 'polish' because it's different, and wanted to see how it worked before using on more expensive kits.  I've finally learned that I need to spray light coats really fast, just build up a little at a time, allow to flash for a few minutes, when I run thinner through the airbrush before refilling.  I felt this car needed a darker color, but not too dark that the modifications can't been seen, but not too bright and feminine looking.  So I used nail 'polish'. ?

[gman]

That looks great- should accent all the work in that interior nicely.

[89AKurt]

10 hours ago, gman said:

That looks great- should accent all the work in that interior nicely.

Appreciate that comment!  Most of this project is inspired on the spot, have not really planned much out beyond the basic construction.

For example, the hood bulge evolved with what I had to work with, the Celica floor pan had nice groove detail, that I wanted to accentuate.  Have lots of small scraps of the carbon-fiber decal, so took it to the extreme for detailing.

Had some dust boogers in the paint, so wet-sanded the worst, and sprayed a second coat of nail 'polish'.  This paint dries hard quickly, helped to have in the pickup cab dehydrator today.  First time I have used Splash 1K clear paint, did quick coats and let it flash, managed to do one of my best paint jobs ever.

[Dann Tier]

I just got all caught up on this little Beast!!....WOW!!!...Amazing, Bud!!!.....the way you displayed those seat belts is probably the most realistic i've seen!!!

[89AKurt]

5 hours ago, Dann Tier said:

I just got all caught up on this little Beast!!....WOW!!!...Amazing, Bud!!!.....the way you displayed those seat belts is probably the most realistic i've seen!!!

Thank you Dann!  They were simpler than other projects, the nice thing about this kit, the belts are adhesive on one side, so shoving them into the corner is really simple.

[Matt T.]

This build is AWESOME! Keep up the great work! 

[Italianhorses]

Paint looks terrific!

[gman]

The clear coat really makes that paint job look superb. Looking forward to seeing this one come across the finish line.

[89AKurt]

7 hours ago, Matt T. said:

This build is AWESOME! Keep up the great work! 

Thank you!

7 hours ago, Italianhorses said:

Paint looks terrific!

Appreciate it.  You are the standard I strive for (and might never reach).

5 hours ago, gman said:

The clear coat really makes that paint job look superb. Looking forward to seeing this one come across the finish line.

Can't do without the clear on such paint.  No more than me, I want to blow off work until I finish (I'm self underemployed for a reason).

I got license plates and scaled kit boxes printed. ?

[89AKurt]

Made the boxes, cut wood blocks, glued the paper on, done.  If only everything was so easy. ?

Headlights.  The kit isn't bad, could have been lit if desired.  So there were no reflectors, did my trick of wine bottle foil.  So far, so good.....

Taillights got my usual treatment, instead of painting, used AAA Insurance, Farmers Insurance, holiday stickers, and aluminum tape.

Turn signals also done this way.  First time I have cut out my KW Design logo for an emblem.  Backup lights will be another sticker.

I should have listened to my little voice, "those reflectors need the superglue/baking soda on the back."   Naw, I'll be careful. ?  Well, better than stripping paint!

[gman]

That makes for a very realistic looking headlight and tail light treatment. :staying tuned:

[89AKurt]

Backtracked to fix the headlight reflectors.  Every time I redo something, have to find ways to improve, the kit headlights were molded together, the inner lens is forward a bit, so made sure the single side matched the other.  Why do I care?  One reason I chose to remove a light, was the lens had a bubble molded in, and it was the thicker inside unit, so my OCD should be satisfied. ?  Started on mounting the oil cooler, solid pipe will be under the radiator (not seen when done), will used braided line from radiator support to the oil filter; I should wash black in the fin area.  This photo also shows the hood hinge tubing.

As with the front, set in the taillight part just to see how it looks with the spoiler.  Need to polish the paint before shoving parts into place.

[Curt]

Awesome project, Kurt!  I've really enjoyed following along.

[Gumball]

Killer looking car! Looking forward to seeing it complete

[89AKurt]

14 hours ago, Curt said:

Awesome project, Kurt!  I've really enjoyed following along.

Thank you Curt!  The car in your icon appears to be the same color. ?

10 hours ago, Gumball said:

Killer looking car! Looking forward to seeing it complete

? Thank you.  That's an understatement.

Always a struggle to get a nice paint job.  Wet sanded, then polished.  Have also done Bare Metal foil.  I'm debating whether to also foil the taillight part, there is very thin chrome on the edge and around the lights.

[stinkybritches]

Very nice ??

[Intmd8r]

Looks good.

The extra little detail on the hood bulge really pops with the finished paint.

[shucky]

Really love this build! Great work so far and cant wait to see it finished!

[89AKurt]

5 hours ago, stinkybritches said:

Very nice ??

Thanks!

1 hour ago, Intmd8r said:

Looks good.

The extra little detail on the hood bulge really pops with the finished paint.

Thank you, glad it was worth the trouble.

56 minutes ago, shucky said:

Really love this build! Great work so far and cant wait to see it finished!

Thank you too!  Yea, if work, sleep, eating didn't interfere..... ?

Wanted to see what it looked like in sunlight.

[porschercr]

?

[Dann Tier]

WOW!!!, you should hold seminars on how to tastefully customize!....love your logo as well, Bud!!!

[89AKurt]

12 hours ago, Dann Tier said:

WOW!!!, you should hold seminars on how to tastefully customize!....love your logo as well, Bud!!!

I'm just old school, start with a classic, stay basic.  Modern cars are over designed IMHO.  I like my 1:1 Honda Civic, but don't care to build a model of it, too busy a design.

Decided to BMF the taillight part.  First side went well, other side was a PITA, took several tries.

Painted inside the body flat black.  Airbrushed the hood, but brush painted the body, no risk of overspray or tape screwing up the paint.

Since one headlight was removed, felt auxiliary lights were needed, came from the Fujimi bicycle, roof cargo carrier kit, it has several lights included.  Tow hook glued on.

Back bumper glued on, will do tow hook after it's all together.  Trunk release if a photo-etch screw head.  You can see the fusee chain on the spoiler.  In general the Aoshima Celica is a good kit, things fit well, the taillight part didn't need to be glued in.   But both bumpers had no positive connection, are glued with Tacky glue big goobers.

Fender vent openings have the R&M of MD photo-etch screen too.  Since I airbrushed semi-gloss paint, did the cowl vent grill too.  Detail Master dutz fasteners used on the hood.

[Dann Tier]

This really IS exceptional, Bud!!!....sometimes i brush paint the insides of the body too, but i usually mask it all.

[89AKurt]

5 hours ago, Dann Tier said:

This really IS exceptional, Bud!!!....sometimes i brush paint the insides of the body too, but i usually mask it all.

Thank you Dann The Man!

Was determined to finish today!  Final details were the paper headliner, sun visors, license plates, and the worst part was stuffing the chassis into the body.
Made the sun visors for a previous project.

Skipped taking pictures of what amounted to putting cowboy boots on.  Needed to take the Dremel to the air filter box, bottom of the seats, and the front mounts.  It all fit together without having to glue, including stuffing the radiator into place.  Got radiator hoses in, but skipped plumbing the oil cooler lines into engine.  Final detail is a signature of mine, bug splats and now bird droppings.  I know that bugs clean freaks (pun intended). ?  Also sprayed Dullcoat with dust and flat black mixed in at the end underneath.

Tried black paper for the studio shots.
Officially ~drum roll~
DONE!

[Italianhorses]

Epic!