AMT's 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 XL: WIP

[customline]

31 minutes ago, David G. said:

Yes you do! It's a fighter actually, the Northrop P-61.

 

I like to challenge myself with different build genres on occasion.

David G. 

I need to build some (particular) aircraft myself.  I've been putting it off far too long.  It would be a nice break from cars.  That P-61 was a strange one. Looks like a challenge, certainly. 

[David G.]

On 8/28/2024 at 8:19 AM, customline said:

I need to build some (particular) aircraft myself.  I've been putting it off far too long.  It would be a nice break from cars.  That P-61 was a strange one. Looks like a challenge, certainly. 

It certainly is testing my skills.

What aircraft would you build Jim?

David G.

[customline]

1 hour ago, David G. said:

It certainly is testing my skills.

What aircraft would you build Jim?

David G.

PT-17, AT-6, P40(E), P-47, P-51, B-25, C-47, P-80.

[David G.]

22 hours ago, customline said:

PT-17, AT-6, P40(E), P-47, P-51, B-25, C-47, P-80.

Wow, that's a lot of aircraft!

[David G.]

Hello Everybody!

It's been a few months since I've finished a build and I'm eager to wrap this one up.

It's soooo close.  

When completing a foil job I often brush the inside edges with a diluted PVA solution to help keep then from working loose in the future.

 

 

Yes! The foil is complete!

 

 

It also looks like the trunk will work as planned too. Just cleanup, detail painting and then final assembly (I hope).

 

As always, thanks for taking the time to look and please feel free to post any comments you may have.

David G.

[customline]

1 hour ago, David G. said:

Wow, that's a lot of aircraft!

Yeah, long story.

What is PVA?

[rv1963]

Nice work David, the pva thing is a good idea.

[Musclecarbuilder]

Man its coming together! I can't wait to see it finished!

[DJMar]

14 hours ago, customline said:

What is PVA?

In very broad terms, PVA (polyvinyl acetate) is a type of glue that has good bond strength, dries clear and remains flexible. It is often used in cloth and paper crafts, and in woodworking.

Aleene's All Purpose Tacky Glue is a very common PVA glue. I've used it to attach clear parts, like windshields and headlights, without worrying about the crazing or fogging that might occur with super glue or liquid plastic glues.

[David G.]

20 hours ago, rv1963 said:

Nice work David, the pva thing is a good idea.

Thank you Robert. I used to just paint the foil ends to hold them down but the batch I had prior to this one had such poor adhesive that I had to use PVA just to apply the foil and get it to stick. That's when I started gluing the inside edges instead of just painting them. The new batch of foil has better adhesive and will probably stick well enough without but I've developed the habit so I may as well just stick with it.

 

17 hours ago, Musclecarbuilder said:

Man its coming together! I can't wait to see it finished!

Thank you Will, that makes two of us.

David G.

[customline]

7 hours ago, DJMar said:

In very broad terms, PVA (polyvinyl acetate) is a type of glue that has good bond strength, dries clear and remains flexible. It is often used in cloth and paper crafts, and in woodworking.

Aleene's All Purpose Tacky Glue is a very common PVA glue. I've used it to attach clear parts, like windshields and headlights, without worrying about the crazing or fogging that might occur with super glue or liquid plastic glues.

Thanks, DJ, I am very happy to get this info.

[customline]

So the next question is what did David dilute the PVA with? 

[David G.]

26 minutes ago, customline said:

So the next question is what did David dilute the PVA with? 

Just water. It's a water-based glue. The best known example would be Elmer's.

-D-

[David G.]

Hello Everybody!

I'm in the midst of a push to finish the Galaxie, just feeling a need to get something completed. The last kit I got done was back in June... Early June! 

Well, enough whining, on with the update.

Based on a suggestion from a fellow model builder (thanks @customline) I decided to remove the tint strip form the windshield all together. I think this is much better.

 

 

I used come canopy glue to glue in the canopy (more PVA).  When I test fitted the canopy it kept wanting to pop out of place so I want to allow the glue to cure as completely as possible. After two days it still has some curing to do.

 

As always, thanks for looking and thanks for any thoughts or other comments you may wish to share.

David G.

[customline]

Why not 5 minute epoxy for a glass install? It cures out absolutely clear....in 5 minutes ?

[David G.]

23 hours ago, customline said:

Why not 5 minute epoxy for a glass install? It cures out absolutely clear....in 5 minutes ?

I'm just not good with epoxy. I've never been able to get the mix right.

-D-

Edited September 2, 2024 by David G.
typo

[customline]

2 hours ago, David G. said:

I'm just not good with epoxy. I've never been able to get the mix right.

-D-

Yeah, I get it, Dave. 50/50 can be tricky. ?

[LennyB]

2 hours ago, David G. said:

I'm just not good with epoxy. I've never been able to get the mix right.

-D-

David

 

I find the most common mistake people make with epoxy is they mix it on a piece of paper. This absorbs some of the resin and throws off the mixture. Have to mix on something solid like plastic or metal. I use the inside of an old plastic jar lid. When I run out of room I simply scrape it off the lid with and start again.?

[David G.]

1 hour ago, customline said:

Yeah, I get it, Dave. 50/50 can be tricky. ?

Aw, that's just mean  

I know it's supposed  to be that simple it just never really works out that way for me. It usually ends up sticky and never really cures completely.

I can eyeball-mix ink and cosmetics colors and I'm really good at specking formaldehyde index ratios for edematous cases but epoxy just eludes me. If I have to be bad at something that's one of the things I can live with.   

And I use it so infrequently that it usually gets dried up in the tubes by the time I get around to needing some again. 

-D-

1 hour ago, LennyB said:

David

 

I find the most common mistake people make with epoxy is they mix it on a piece of paper. This absorbs some of the resin and throws off the mixture. Have to mix on something solid like plastic or metal. I use the inside of an old plastic jar lid. When I run out of room I simply scrape it off the lid with and start again.?

I've tried that Len, thanks though. There are enough alternatives that I can usually find a work-around.

-D-

[customline]

12 minutes ago, David G. said:

Aw, that's just mean  

I know it's supposed  to be that simple it just never really works out that way for me. It usually ends up sticky and never really cures completely.

I can eyeball-mix ink and cosmetics colors and I'm really good at specking formaldehyde index ratios for edematous cases but epoxy just eludes me. If I have to be bad at something that's one of the things I can live with.   

And I use it so infrequently that it usually gets dried up in the tubes by the time I get around to needing some again. 

-D-

I've tried that Len, thanks though. There are enough alternatives that I can usually find a work-around.

-D-

I've used the "hypodermic" double tube stuff and it's too difficult to handle for me and I promptly ?-canned it.

I have found the Bob Smith "Quick Cure" stuff to be quite forgiving and I mix it on small paper plates. Never a problem (unless I forget what I'm doing and it hardens up before I make the assembly ☺️)

Jes' tryin' ta hep ?

[DJMar]

6 hours ago, David G. said:

I'm just not good with epoxy. I've never been able to get the mix right.

-D-

I find myself using PVA glue for clear parts, especially where the mating surface is going to be visible (headlights, taillights, etc.). For me, using epoxy is a bunch of extra steps, and it doesn't clean up with water. Ever accidentally get some 5 minute epoxy on a finished, painted surface? No fun. And since my motor skills aren't what they once were 30 years ago, I like to give myself a lot more room for error.

IMHO, unless you need the bond to be super strong, epoxy feels like overkill. Honestly, I use it very infrequently. Just my two copper.

[slusher]

Looking great David!

[David G.]

19 hours ago, customline said:

I've used the "hypodermic" double tube stuff and it's too difficult to handle for me and I promptly ?-canned it.

I have found the Bob Smith "Quick Cure" stuff to be quite forgiving and I mix it on small paper plates. Never a problem (unless I forget what I'm doing and it hardens up before I make the assembly ☺️)

Jes' tryin' ta hep ?

I've used both of those types Jim. But after so many disappointments and errors, I'm just not confident enough to take the chance on messing up whatever I'm working when there are so many good, easier to use alternatives.

I appreciate your effort but I've accepted that epoxy is one thing I'm just not going to be proficient working with.

-sorry    

 

16 hours ago, DJMar said:

I find myself using PVA glue for clear parts, especially where the mating surface is going to be visible (headlights, taillights, etc.). For me, using epoxy is a bunch of extra steps, and it doesn't clean up with water. Ever accidentally get some 5 minute epoxy on a finished, painted surface? No fun. And since my motor skills aren't what they once were 30 years ago, I like to give myself a lot more room for error.

IMHO, unless you need the bond to be super strong, epoxy feels like overkill. Honestly, I use it very infrequently. Just my two copper.

Thank you DJ! 

I've used PVA on clear parts and PE for years. It is much more forgiving and easier to clean up.

 

3 hours ago, slusher said:

Looking great David!

Thank you Carl!

David G.

[David G.]

Hello Everybody!

I feel as if I'm getting close to the end of this build, it's becoming a push to the finish line... At least in my mind.

The wheel arcs have been foiled, the vent window trim has been detailed and it's also the first test fit for the rear quarter windows I made. I think I'll use them, I like the way they look.

 

 

From this angle one can see the detail work I did on the windshield wipers using a Sharpie pen. I also removed the blue tint band from the top of the windshield.

 

 

I also mounted the tail lights. It looks like I'll have to do a little touchup on the chrome.

 

As always, thanks for taking the time to look and please feel free to share any thoughts you may have.

David G.

[slusher]

She is looking great David!