1997 Plymouth Prowler

[ModelcarJR]

This kit was one of the kits that I bought at the last model car contest/vendor show 3 for $25.  The others were the 32 Ford 5 window that I built recently and another AMT Pro Shop 57 Chevy that I always want to have at least one of in the closet. I have a can of Testors Plymouth Prowler Purple Metallic.  The paint is getting old so might as well put it to good use. 

I hinged the trunk lid for the trailer; a little off-center but its OK for me.  I also hinged the hood on the right side; I didn't research how the hood actually hinges it was just the easiest way to do it. I hope that the hood hinge is tight enough and the keepers on the hood itself won't interfere with the hood closer or clearance for the engine. Maybe I'll get some paint on it in the next few days but with temps around 100 degrees F it may not be soon. Thanks for looking! 

[John B.]

I'd say you're off to a good start! I know what you mean about the heat - many years ago, I lived in Houston and I remember doing most of my painting at night.

[slusher]

A sharp car that not often seen anymore,John I will follow your build.

Edited June 17, 2022 by slusher

[espo]

Nice job on the trailer hinges. 

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, John, Carl and David! I appreciate your comments!

As my son used to say when he was young- "I've changed up my mind"!  I looked at the Testors spray can and it says use at room temp, 70 F. It won't be 70 around here again until about November. I tired to paint the front fenders with it and here were a couple of problems. First, the metallic in it looked too big to me and as it was drying it bubbled up like there was sand in it. I figured it was either because the weather was too hot or the paint was too old or both. So I had bought a Tamiya color, Lavender with the thought that I might use it on this build. The spray can says to use at temp above 50 F and not high humidity.  So I waited until the the humidity came down to about 50% and temps at 95 F according to my Temp gauge with Hygrometer and went for it.  I spent about an hour painting and watching paint and clear dry, to monitor whether or not it would blush. When I was younger, this would be a perfect day to go to a swimming pool, get a little tan (or sunburn), swim, and keep an eye on all the young ladies. But now, I watch paint dry. 

Anyway, it turned out pretty well. The Lavender color is a little lighter and not metallic but it looks purple to me and I won't spend much time rubbing this out or re-painting because I used the wrong paint.  Thanks for looking! ?

[Mopar - D]

I like your new color choice John it looks good. You had me wondering how Plymouth made the hood open so I checked and it’s on the back side but I like your way on the side better. Here’s how they did the trunk. 

[slusher]

I like that color John!

[espo]

Your new color is a pleasant looking change. The Big Metallic you mention is sort of a characteristic of some of the Testors paints.  I wouldn't be too concerned about your air temp, remember it is common to warm the paint can in warm water before using and that brings it above your air temp usually. Just about any paint that has a lot of metallic in it and has sat on the shelf for a time will take a lot of agitating to get all of the metallic particles back in suspension. 

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Dan, Carl, and David!  I appreciate your comments!  Yeah, I don't know what it is about the Testors paint but it always seems to bubble up on me. I don't think I get it on to thick and I never have that problem with Tamiya paints, even metallics. But their metallics are much smaller flakes. I am not going to use any of the Extreme Lacquers from now on. Rust-oleum just doesn't make good paint in my opinion. 

Rubbed out the body, assembled the engine, wheels and tires, and the interior. I used Tamiya Gunmetal on the interior and I didn't like it at first as it was too bright. I painted the interior Semi-gloss black and I didn't like that either.  So I repainted it with the Gunmetal and finally got the shade of dark gray I was looking for.  Notice that the dash is a little lighter since I didn't repaint it as it was already complete.  I didn't have any white decals for gauges but had one black one that fit the center so I used it and just painted the small ones black.  I know they should be white but I didn't like how the white looked when I painted them the first time. Here's a mock-up of body and interior. Thanks for looking! ?

[ModelcarJR]

I'm making some progress now but it took me awhile to get here.  I had the rear suspension assembled with the transaxle and all the struts, uprights, etc. when I realized I had the transaxle in upside down! Don't know how I did that as I was looking right at the instructions. Anyway, I took my Z 7 Debonder since I build with superglue and took a lot of the transaxle assembly apart. I lost a few pins but was able to remove the transaxle without disturbing the struts and unrights. I only had to remove the A-arms, axle and drive shaft. Then tun it around and glue everything back together again.  I have the body on the frame and interior now.  The hood hinge still works but the hood will not close all the way with the hood in the hinge.  So if I take the hood off the hinge via the keepers in the top of the hood that are not glued to the hinge I can close the hood.  That's good enough for me. Now I am working on the front suspension which is another long slog. Thanks for looking! ?

[1930fordpickup]

I like you color choice, looks great.   To bad these are not all over the place anymore like they were here. 

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Andy! I appreciate your comment! 

This one is done!  I forgot to foil the emblem on the nose of the hood but I'll get that done. The top has just been painted so as soon as it dries I'll add it. Went together pretty well except for my stupid errors. The hinged hood and trailer worked out well and I enjoyed the build. Thanks for looking! ?

[GoForItPainting]

Very nice model! (You can see mine in the "WIP: All The Rest" topic I made last weekend.) I originally ordered this kit with the trailer, but got the quick build version. The end result would have been similar, but I would have used the engine and trailer for another project.

I like the color of yours better than the factory color mine was!

[Wolf]

Wait, John, what?

You started this when? I can't even get all the parts off the sprues in the time it took you to finish this! Nice Plum Crazy Purple color too!

Cheers,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Wolf

[slusher]

absolutely stunning, John!