Ford GT 2006 Polar Lights Snap Kit: WIP

[David G.]

Hello Everyone, it's time for another update.

I decided that rather than trying to use the template to create a mask from tape that I might be better off to use the template as a mask. So I trimmed the template and layered the back with double sided tape.

 

As this is not the most ideal of masking methods, great care must be taken to burnish down and clean up the edges that will be creating the paintlines. Tape overhang (underhang?) and paper fuzzies are the biggest issues. I spent a good deal of time hunting and trimming them out gently with a single-edge razor.

 

With the new mask in place, the next step is to mask all the other areas that don't get painted orange. Covering the areas around the duct depressions in the hood are particularly tricky. I had to cut small slivers of masking tape and carefully work them into place. I didn't get a photo of the "ready to shoot" masking work as I wanted to get the paint sprayed and I was losing daylight. I also didn't want to leave the double sided tape on any longer than necessary.

 

It actually came out rather good, I'll get some photos posted soon.

David G.

[David G.]

Hello Everyone. I finally got around to taking some pictures.

The paper mask worked about as well as I could have hoped.

 

The decals which will border the stripe will go a long way toward hiding the mask lines.

 

Of course using double sided tape and paper to mask with is not ideal and there will certainly be some cleanup work to do, but I think it worked well enough.

 

The orange is Tamiya TS-12 straight from the can. Not knowing how much of the blue from the plastic would bleed through, I did spray a layer of Tamiya TS-26 Pure White first. The orange looks a little too bright to my eye but shows well in the photos. I think if I were to do it again, I'd just spray it right over the blue.

 

As always, thanks for taking the time to look and please feel free to comment. 

David G.

[TransAmMike]

Those low angle pictures sure give the car a menacing look, really cool?

[David G.]

16 hours ago, TransAmMike said:

Those low angle pictures sure give the car a menacing look, really cool?

Thanks Mike.

David G.

[slusher]

Nice paint work, David.

[David G.]

20 hours ago, slusher said:

Nice paint work, David.

Thank you Carl.

David G.

[David G.]

Hello Everyone.

Over the weekend, I got the rest of the stripe masked and painted.

It's now time to let this cure for a few days while I work on finishing finishing up the little fiddly bits. After that, I'll get the stripes and overspray cleaned up.

Then I can start placing all the decals... Oh the decals! ? 

 

As always, thanks for taking the time to look and please feel free to comment.

David G.

 

[FLHCAHZ]

Really looking good David!

[David G.]

22 hours ago, FLHCAHZ said:

Really looking good David!

Thank you Chaz.

David G.

[David G.]

Hello Everybody!

After getting all the overspray and mask leakage cleaned up I started fitting the ancillary parts only to find that more adjustment was needed for the headlight pods.

When I installed the headlight assemblies I discovered that the transparent covers didn't fit flush with the body, sticking up almost 2mm above the fenders. That simply wouldn't do.

In earlier test fittings I discovered that the headlight pods were almost too big to fit where they were supposed to go so I filed them down accordingly. This time I found that the locating studs on the bottoms of the pods were too wide for the slots that're supposed to accommodate them. Needless to say, more filing ensued.

 

Finally, both headlight pods sitting low enough to allow room for the clear covers to sit flush.

 

Now I think I want to do something about those ugly locating tabs.

 

As always, thanks for taking the time to look and please feel free to comment.

David G.

 

 

Edited June 12, 2021 by David G.
typo

[FLHCAHZ]

Coming along really nice.  Will you give the head light lenses a black border like the windows?

[slusher]

looking great David, the end is not far off..

[David G.]

8 hours ago, FLHCAHZ said:

Coming along really nice.  Will you give the head light lenses a black border like the windows?

Thank you Chaz. Funny that you should mention painting the border around the headlight lenses. I did just that along the top edges to hide those location tabs that I mentioned in the previous post. It turned out pretty good but I think I may stop there. I hand painted it and it was enough of a challenge that I'm worried that If I try to do more I may muck it up. 

6 hours ago, slusher said:

looking great David, the end is not far off..

Thanks Carl, it is beginning to feel that way. I'm kind of getting that urge for the final push if you know what I mean.

David G.

[David G.]

Hullo Everyone! I got a bit more done today.

I found a way to take care of those ugly locator tabs on the headlight lenses. I painted a black stripe along the top of the lens.

 

There's supposed to be a border all the way around the entire lens, like this.

But I'm not going to get that fancy. One of the things that model building has taught me is when good enough is good enough. If I try to do any more than what I have, I stand a fair chance of mucking it up.

This is good enough.

 

I also got almost all of the detail painting done. A bit of it can be seen with the gas cap but that's all I'm showing of it until I get some more photos taken.

As always, thanks for taking the time to look and please feel free to comment.

David G

[64SS350]

Nice work!! This is one of my favorite car/paint scheme combos.

[David G.]

Thanks Karl, mine too.

David G.

[Funkychiken]

Never seen this kit, yours looks amazing so far! 

[David G.]

13 hours ago, Funkychiken said:

Never seen this kit, yours looks amazing so far! 

Thank you Atin, I appreciate your comment.

David G.

[David G.]

Hey Everybody!

I was doing a final detail painting check before I went on to darkening the panel lines and I discovered that I missed a few details on the rear deck lid.

 

I kind of missed the third brake light. In my mind, I knew it was there but I wasn't sure how it was represented. But the flat black vents on either side of the rear window and the pair of black vents on the rear deck lid? Yeah, totally missed them. This car is just full of all sorts of "hidden" details.

So here is the quick mask and shoot rescue plan.

Mask...

 

Shoot... Score!

 

I'll brush paint those side vents in the next session.

Thanks for checking in!

David G.

Edited June 16, 2021 by David G.
typo

[David G.]

Hello Everyone.

I've been busy the last two weeks completing the continuing education units for my professional licensing so my bench time has been severely limited. But that's all done. I was able to get a couple of hours in yesterday and here's what I accomplished.

I was able to get the panel lines darkened and cleaned up. They'll need touching up in a couple of spots.

 

I know they look pretty dark and I may still dial them back in a couple of areas but the are rather pronounced on the 1:1.

 

There was another task that I wanted to accomplish and I was waiting for a time when my hands felt a little more stead and my eyes a bit sharper but I went ahead and did it anyway  

I don't know whether a chrome plated snap-in mirror was intended for the side views or what, but that's one heck of a hole that was cast into them. Even if there was a chrome piece that was meant to be inserted there, it would likely be waaaaay too thick to work with. In either case, these holes need to be addressed.

 

I found some super shiny Mylar which I cut down to put in place there. The back of the Mylar is sort of self-adhesive but I plan to hold it down with a dab of PVA.

 

I think that'll work nicely. Oh, yeah, I added the third brake light too.

 

As always, thanks for taking the time to look and please feel free to comment.

David G.

Edited June 27, 2021 by David G.
typo

[FLHCAHZ]

Looking great. The mask and paint came out excellent 

[David G.]

22 hours ago, FLHCAHZ said:

Looking great. The mask and paint came out excellent 

Thank you Chaz. I'm glad that you're sticking with me on this one.

David G.

[David G.]

Yesterday I set up the "big-boy" camera for some better quality shots of my most recent mock-up.

 

Having the panel lines darkened makes a big difference in overall the appearance of the model. I decided that the lines around the front and rear deck lids and the roll pans were too dark and I've since lightened them up a little.

 

I also detailed and installed the driving lights.

 

As always, thanks for stopping by for a peek.

David G.

[FLHCAHZ]

That really looks great David. The detail in the driving lights takes it to a new level!

[David G.]

11 hours ago, FLHCAHZ said:

That really looks great David. The detail in the driving lights takes it to a new level!

Thanks Chaz, It's sometimes the smallest details that make the biggest difference.

David G.