Monogram Green Hornet

[OldNYJim]

I'm really impressed with the well-done changes you're making to this kit...makes me wanna build one of my own!

Although I haven't built this particular one, these somewhat simplified Monogram kits usually build into a nice looking convincing model when they're done, and the changes you're making will just add to the finished piece.

Keep going!

[Joe Nunes]

Have been sanding the rails and getting parts ready for primer. The rails smoothed out nicely and I will finish sanding the body and the top next. And onwards we go!  ?

Joe

Edited November 26, 2022 by Joe Nunes
Forgot to add photos ?

[Straightliner59]

Those did clean up, nicely! 

[Scott8950]

On 11/13/2022 at 9:13 PM, Joe Nunes said:

The pedal cover pieces and wire looms were cut from the plastic that encased Sudafed pills and has an embossed aluminum appearance. 

It's amazing what modelers can come up with.  Thanks for this tip I will be trying this.

[slusher]

3 hours ago, Scott8950 said:

It's amazing what modelers can come up with.  Thanks for this tip I will be trying this.

That is so true, Scott..

[Joe Nunes]

Clean up and sanding time on the inside of the body and top is the task at hand. 

Joe

[cobraman]

I really like what you are doing here.

[Joe Nunes]

Thank you for the nice post and I certainly appreciate your thought. 

Joe

[Farmboy]

Clean work like you're doing turns a kit into a looker every time, Joe.  Are those bumper pads on the front leaf?  Nice quiet detail touch!  If they're not, well, I'm old lol.  All kidding aside, I'll be adding pucks like that to my next cross leaf build.  Wel done!

[Joe Nunes]

Mike, I am not sure what you are referring to as bumper pad however I went down to the bench and took some photos to show what I am doing with the front axle. May not be scale but I like it so far. 

Joe

[Farmboy]

Guess I was a bit vague.  On your leaf spring, what do the 4 round pieces of rod  represent.  I recall puck-like rubber spacers (looking somewhat like those) on the axles and the backs of some leaf assemblies back in the day.  Kept metal from hitting metal due to bad potholes, rr crossings, etc.  I thought your leaf spring was under a frame cross member and that would explain their (more for looks) function.  Whatever,

they're a nice detail.

[Joe Nunes]

Oh...those. Just something I added so it would look like the spring would stay together as a unit. 

Joe 

[Farmboy]

Found these examples of leaf spring bumpers and protectors on Amazon. Not a big deal to modify to suit the application, and you can bet it's a small understated detail not everyone thinks of.

 

I think the simple 'puck' style works well in scale. 

[Zippi]

This build is looking really kewl.  Lots of Great detail work.  

[Joe Nunes]

Decided to change the dashboard to something similar to the actual Grasshopper dragster... and, yes, I do realize I am slower than cold Sorghum in Alaska!  No sense in rushing the fun...?

Joe

[Dragline]

That Sudafed idea ia pure genius. You'll forgive me if I swipe it.

As for the rest. .. Keep your chin up and never let em see you sweat

[Joe Nunes]

6 hours ago, Dragline said:

 

As for the rest. .. Keep your chin up and never let em see you sweat

No worries about that... I'm not moving fast enough on the project to even work up a bit of a glow..???.  I am having a good time with it though!

Joe

[Joe Nunes]

Thought I had better get a little something done on the build so I came down to the bench and drilled out the gauge openings to fit the aluminum and brass pieces that represent the bezels on the dash. I cut the metal to length and will level the gauge faces to a uniform height after the glue dries.  Also found a small Grant HO Scale nut and bolt item that, when the tops get sanded down a bit, can stand in for the dash screws. I’ll fill the metal bezels with a drop of epoxy and add a bit of gauge detail so they can look like glass covered gauges…small as they are. Add some paint and away we go!  Still having a good time at the bench. 
 

Joe

[bobthehobbyguy]

Really nice work. Cool improvements. 

[Straightliner59]

10 hours ago, Joe Nunes said:

Thought I had better get a little something done on the build so I came down to the bench and drilled out the gauge openings to fit the aluminum and brass pieces that represent the bezels on the dash. I cut the metal to length and will level the gauge faces to a uniform height after the glue dries.  Also found a small Grant HO Scale nut and bolt item that, when the tops get sanded down a bit, can stand in for the dash screws. I’ll fill the metal bezels with a drop of epoxy and add a bit of gauge detail so they can look like glass covered gauges…small as they are. Add some paint and away we go!  Still having a good time at the bench. 
 

Joe

 

 

Looking really good, Joe! Those model RR NBWs are the cat's meow! I've been using them, forever. There used to be one of the finest model railroad hobby shops, in the world, here in Denver, Caboose Hobbies. I bought so many detailing and scratchbuilding supplies, in that place, it's not even funny! It was a huge store. Sadly, no more.

[Joe Nunes]

Hi Daniel,

I worked in Denver in 1980 at Stone and Webster Engineering and lived in Aurora. I flew RC planes at the reservoir but often went into a hobby shop with lots of train items just to look at the trains. Can't recall the name of the shop and am wondering if it was Caboose Hobbies; if it was, that was a neat hobby shop to visit. 

Joe

Edited December 16, 2022 by Joe Nunes

[Joe Nunes]

I filed the metal bezel pieces down to the plastic surface on the back of the dashboard and applied some glue to those areas. While waiting for the glue to dry I decided to change the way the pedals hang on the model, which is straight down and vertical. A matching bevel was sanded on the pedal piece mounting locations and this will allow a more natural and better orientation for the pedals when viewed on the finished model. Will probably separate the gas pedal from the unit for a better look, too. Now I can add a heel rest to the bottom of the gas pedal, get the pedals painted and then glue on the "shiny plates" which were made beforehand. 

Joe

[Tortuga Kustomz]

sweet

[Straightliner59]

15 hours ago, Joe Nunes said:

Hi Daniel,

I worked in Denver in 1980 at Stone and Webster Engineering and lived in Aurora. I flew RC planes at the reservoir but often went into a hobby shop with lots of train items just to look at the trains. Can't recall the name of the shop and am wondering if it was Caboose Hobbies; if it was, that was a neat hobby shop to visit. 

Joe

I can't remember what year Caboose Hobbies moved from downtown, to South Broadway, but, it likely would have been about 1980. That was about a year-and-a-half before I got back into modeling. I took about a five or six year break from modeling, right after I graduated from high school, in eastern Montana, and a few months later ended up here, because I was SO ready to ditch small-town, middle-of-nowhere, America, for the city. Being a preacher's kid, who had (and still do) a rebellious streak didn't make that life any easier! Those few years were all about the sex, the drugs, and the rock and roll--quite literally! It was hella fun, but an artist will soon find himself needing to create, again. I digress--Caboose had quite a few layouts of various sizes and scales on display. Colpar Hobbies would have been in Aurora, and there was Downtown Hobbies, which was, well, downtown! They later moved to Cinderella City Mall and were renamed Mile High Hobbies. I worked for them for several years, in the mall, for their wholesale distributorship, which was named DTH Distribution, and allusion to Down Town Hobbies. There was also a place up in Westminster called Mizell's Toy Trains. There's more than anybody ever needed to know about me, or the history of hobby shops in Denver! There were plenty more, too. This was really a good hobby shop town--and is still pretty decent.

My favorite extant hobby shop is in St. Paul, MN and is called Scale Model Supplies. The locals call it "The Dungeon". I always looked forward to a trip, there, when I was living in Minnesota, and I would encourage anyone who is in that area, and has a chance--check it out. I promise you'll be glad you did!

[Joe Nunes]

Today I'm going to work on cleaning up the inside of the body and probably will make some "padded inserts" to place inside the interior. Planning on a white interior with body color inserts that will be green. 

Have ordered a Pace 24" Super-Mini spray paint booth and when it arrives I can start painting parts (or at least learn how to use the airbrush and paint lots of plastic spoons!). ??

Joe