John Buttera white 29 Model A Hiboy

[David G.]

Great idea cutting the hood for the side panels, the grilles are a nice touch.

David G.

[tim boyd]

Alan....somehow I missed this build thread one until now. 

First, what a great choice for a model project!  My old modeling buddy Chuck Helppie built a replica of this car, with several enhancements or revisions, completing it sometime in the early-mid 1980's.  Wish I had pix to share as it would be a very interesting comparison with yours, which is staying more closely aligned to the original 1/1 while still adding your personal tweaks and refinements.   Other than yours and Chuck's, I don't offhand recall anyone attempting a 1/25th scale replica inspired by Lil's 1/1.   

I can only add my cheering-on to those posted by many others here who are following this thread.  Love seeing how you are approaching the build and carrying it through to completion. 

Very best wishes from this end!  Cheers....TIM 

 

[alan barton]

Thanks for your support David, glad you like the grilles.  I am 90% convinced but might try  some options before I lock that choice in.

Great to hear from you Tim.  I remember a lot of Chuck's models but can't place his Buttera roadster - was it white?  

My model is so close to finished but I have some obligations at the moment that will keep me away from the final finishing for a week or so. I will be sure to pop it in here as soon as it is done.

Cheers

Alan

[alan barton]

Well, the update was a long time coming but I just couldn't abide the multiple shades of white that I ended up with.  However, we had one of our longest, coldest and wettest winter in years so I really couldn't get excited about painting!

Sometimes, though, the planets line up to make things happen!  First, as a result of my job I had to pass through Adelaide Airport a few weeks ago which, at the time, was classed as a COVID hotspot and as a result I was forced into 14 days of self isolation quarantine.  At the end of the first week, we got our first taste of hot weather, say around 100 degrees in the old money. 

I gently removed the seat, the steering wheel and column and the windshield and posts.  I then masked up the rest of the interior.  I sanded the whole body and panels down with 800 wet and dry and then glued them together with some old sprue and superglue.  This had to work as I really couldn't afford to get much more paint on that body - the AMT bodylines were starting to disappear on me!  

I put about three more coats of Tamiya white primer over everything, followed later in the day by three coats of Tamiya gloss clear.  I left it a few days to gas out and then today I polished it with Tamiya fine polishing compound.  And at last, I am happy!

While I was doing all this, I noticed that the taillights weren't the tight fit I would have liked so I swiped a bit of Tamiya putty around the edges and sanded the result smooth before paint.  I painted the body, taillights and all, and then used a sanding stick to cut through the paint back to the red taillight inserts.  It's not quite flawless but I am very happy with the results. They are as close to a flush taillight as I could get without risking cutting through the paint!

Tonight I have the body glued and clamped to the frame and then there are just a handful of pieces to glue on before I send it Under Glass.  Hopefully this weekend so stay tuned

Cheers

Alan!

Edited December 10, 2021 by alan barton

[bobthehobbyguy]

Looks great. Glad you were able to repaint.

[NOBLNG]

Just read through this thread now. Excellent resourcefulness and scratch building talents Alan! I am not familiar with the original, but it looks like you are doing great justice to it. I don’t know if it’s available over there, but I have just learned on here about Zinnser bin shellac based primer. It will seal against any color differences or bleed through. Looking forward to seeing the finished model.?

[Dan Hay]

Really neat build!  Lil John was a heckuva craftsman. 

[alan barton]

Thanks Bob, thanks Dan, thanks Greg.  My wife just googled Zinser and we can get it here in Australia at Bunnings ( like your Home Depot, just with less range and higher prices!)  She had used Zinser brush on paint years ago in our bathrooms but we weren't aware of the spray cans so will be getting some today!

Cheers

Alan

[Kit Karson]

Awesome, Mate! -KK

 

[David G.]

I'm glad you got the paint worked out, it looks great!

David G.