Lead City Customs

[Zippi]

Yeah, you've gone and done it again Luke.  Just a Bodacious looking ride.  To pretty for burnouts. 

[TransAmMike]

Whoa, that looks so cool!    Great job, that paint job....WOW!!?

[Cool Hand]

On 9/19/2024 at 4:28 AM, BK9300 said:

Looks great on the trailer - must be tough to coax something like that onto the trailer 'slowly"!

Thanks Brain,  blower surge at idle would walk it up onto the trailer ? 

 

On 9/19/2024 at 7:43 AM, Zippi said:

Yeah, you've gone and done it again Luke.  Just a Bodacious looking ride.  To pretty for burnouts. 

Thanks Bob, always appreciate the kind words. Us Aussies build them for burnouts and looking pretty at the same time

 

7 hours ago, TransAmMike said:

Whoa, that looks so cool!    Great job, that paint job....WOW!!?

Thanks Mike.

[Cool Hand]

A change of wheels and burnout mode activated.

[Zippi]

8 hours ago, Cool Hand said:

A change of wheels and burnout mode activated.

Lools like she's ready for a melt down.

[Cool Hand]

When the inspiration strikes, its time to start planning out the build.

 

 

[SpikeSchumacher]

8 hours ago, Cool Hand said:

When the inspiration strikes, its time to start planning out the build.

 

 

Crikey! ???

[Cool Hand]

Finalized my idea's and plans for the Holden HQ. So time to start moving forward with the wip. 

I 3D printed a 572 big block, 6/71 style super charger and pulleys.

 

And after some cutting, I had it fitting into to the kits engine bay.

Painted the wheels with Alclad chrome.

[Cool Hand]

I lost interest to build model cars for a couple months as I was enjoying one of my other hobbies painting miniatures.

But over the last week I started a couple fresh builds and done some mock ups to try out a few ideas and get back into the scale auto's again.

 Really liking this AMT 64 Chevy Malibu,  impressed with the kit. Very crisp moulding and the parts fit is excellent. Of course I had to build it as Lowrider and be my usual black with red interior combo.

[Cool Hand]

And the other kit I have been focusing most of my attention on is this Aoshima 72 Nissan Skyline which I decided to do custom Lowrider style.

Shaved and smoothed the body.

Used one of optional tail light panel set ups from the kit.

Also used one of the optional front headlight/grill set ups.

Which I modified removing the centre divider and installing some photo etched mesh

Going to use this build for a practice/skill refresher black paint job, before I paint the 64 Malibu.

Edited January 27 by Cool Hand

[Mattilacken]

 Looking good! That blower motor for the Holden looks like a great engine for that type of build! 

[Zippi]

Couple of good looking kits to get back into the swing of things Luke.  The black is going to look Awesome as always dude.

[Cool Hand]

On 1/28/2025 at 5:50 PM, Mattilacken said:

 Looking good! That blower motor for the Holden looks like a great engine for that type of build! 

Thanks Anton, yeah the super charged engine set up is perfect for Aussie burnout cars and Street Machine's.

20 hours ago, Zippi said:

Couple of good looking kits to get back into the swing of things Luke.  The black is going to look Awesome as always dude.

Thanks Bob, hoping a couple simple builds will keep the motivation going. 

[Cool Hand]

Finished the interior parts for the Nissan Skyline.

Made a custom shift knob, 3D printed a chain steering and Lead City Customs plaque

[BK9300]

Really like your dashboard detailing, Luke - very crisp!  How do you get the gauge bezels so cleanly defined?

[Cool Hand]

9 hours ago, BK9300 said:

Really like your dashboard detailing, Luke - very crisp!  How do you get the gauge bezels so cleanly defined?

Hey Brian, thanks. Appreciate you dropping in and commenting.

I cover the whole gauge face panel with Bare Metal Foil, cut out the opening for the gauge face.

Then paint over all of the foil with flat black acrylic paint and using a Tamiya extra small round cotton tip soaked with alcohol remove the paint on the bezel trim.

[Mike Slapattack]

13 minutes ago, Cool Hand said:

Hey Brian, thanks. Appreciate you dropping in and commenting.

I cover the whole gauge face panel with Bare Metal Foil, cut out the opening for the gauge face.

Then paint over all of the foil with flat black acrylic paint and using a Tamiya extra small round cotton tip soaked with alcohol remove the paint on the bezel trim.

That's a really cool idea! I'm adding that to the idea toolbox.

[Steve H]

Hi Luke, great to see you back on the board. I must admit, you made me laugh saying that you were “practicing” as a refresher… Your paint work sets the bar for all of us. Always flawless and smoooooooooth….. I have also tucked the gauge bezel trick in my tips file. I have AC/DC’s “back in black” in my head now, seeing a couple of your black paint jobs…

[Kenmojr]

Wow, that Nissan Skyline makes a very neat lowrider. Nice thinking outside of the box...

[Cool Hand]

On 1/30/2025 at 1:32 PM, Mike Slapattack said:

That's a really cool idea! I'm adding that to the idea toolbox.

Thanks.

I used same technique on the front grill. Covered the outer trim, grill and headlight surrounds with BMF. Then coated all of it with Mr Surfacer 1500 black. And used cotton tips soaked with Mr Levelling thinner to remove the surfacer.

 

On 1/31/2025 at 1:28 PM, Steve H said:

Hi Luke, great to see you back on the board. I must admit, you made me laugh saying that you were “practicing” as a refresher… Your paint work sets the bar for all of us. Always flawless and smoooooooooth….. I have also tucked the gauge bezel trick in my tips file. I have AC/DC’s “back in black” in my head now, seeing a couple of your black paint jobs…

Hey Steve, yeah mate trying to get motivated to build and start posting on the board again.

Ha ha, been awhile since I done a spray can black paint job, so definitely need some practice.

Appreciate the kinds words, taken me many years to learn how to paint and polish. So glad I found some products and techniques that help get consistent results that Im happy with.

 I will most certainly be "back in black", got to stick to the trade mark colours 😁

 

On 2/1/2025 at 5:18 AM, Kenmojr said:

Wow, that Nissan Skyline makes a very neat lowrider. Nice thinking outside of the box...

Thankyou, I always try do something different and choose unusual suspects to style like Lowriders. 

Edited February 2 by Cool Hand

[Cool Hand]

Whilst waiting for the surfacer to fully dry on the 72 Nissan Ken Mary Skyline.

I got the body work done on the 64 Malibu. 

Scribed around the front and rear window moulding, drip, trunk lid and tail light moulding.

Removed the side peak moulding and door handle.

Block sanded entire body and applied a fresh coat of Mr Surfacer 1500 black.

 

Hmmm, guess I didnt notice the bonnet/hood had slid forward whilst taking the picture 🤦‍♂️

 

Now to let it dry/cure for a week so that the surfacer fully hardens.  

[Zippi]

That's going to be a really sharp looking 64 Malibu Luke.  You know I'm diggin it.

[Cool Hand]

Cheers Bob, its a perfect candidate to build in my favourite trademark style.

Edited February 2 by Cool Hand

[Cool Hand]

Whilst im waiting for the surfacer to fully dry on the Skyline and Malibu, and im in a body prep kinda mood I figured I will get a few more bodies prepared and ready for paint.

Need to keep it simple and fun so I remain motivated.

Dug this kit out of the stash to see what I can come up.

Out of the box mock up, yeah its going to need a change of wheels and a stance adjustment.

 

[Zippi]

Now that's going to be a nice build Luke.  I'm really liking the Camaro SS/RS Coupe.  This one is really more my style but all your builds are Super kewl dude.