Western Star 4900 FA plow truck

[BK9300]

15 hours ago, Gary Chastain said:

An amazing build

Thanks a lot, Gary!

 

9 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

Absolutely beautiful work, Brian! I look at this, and I could swear I was still in Minnesota. Just fantastic work, sir.

I appreciate that, Daniel - been a fun go, and just about done!

8 hours ago, Jürgen M. said:

Looks great! Perfect details and a tidy job beyond of everything!

Thanks very much, Jurgen!

[redneckrigger]

Your build photos literally look you were taking them at the REAL factory that truck was built at. Absolutely stunning work. You have the finishes even looking in scale, incredibly done! 

Edited 11 hours ago by redneckrigger

[BK9300]

4 hours ago, redneckrigger said:

Your build photos literally look you were taking them at the REAL factory that truck was built at. Absolutely stunning work. You have the finishes even looking in scale, incredibly done! 

Thanks very much, Tom!  It was a good feeling to see all the parts in place on the truck.

[BK9300]

I started in with cab again, this morning, intending to get the window seals painted black.  Thought about masking the whole cab, leaving just the seals, and spraying them, and just as quickly talked myself out of it - worried about a screwup on the polished finish!  I never got to painting today, but did manage to get the seals isolated by using some stretchy, Tamiya chrome film.  Said it before, but I'm finding myself more uncertain doing the fine detailing, than at any time doing the actual building of the the model - go figure!  Maybe I'll still brush paint the seals later today.

 

So, the plan was to use strips of the adhesive, stretchy film to cover a small border around the seals, and re-expose the seals by using a new X-acto blade to trim and remove the tape covering the seals -

 

This was the third effort to apply the film and make clean cuts all the way around the rear seal - I've still ended up with a bit of mess in the upper, driver's side corner -

 

Wasn't able to get any overlap at the windshield wiper mounts, so will have to be careful painting those areas -

 

Doing all that, I managed to re-break/crack the center windshield support post at the old break - not visible now, but is when the windshield is pressed up against it -

Really hoping this will work out - looking at the pics, I'm sure I can't put too much paint on, or removing the film might chip the paint.  Maybe remove the film before the enamel paint has fully set up.  It will either work, or could be faced with an unwelcome do-over.  I'd rather build another front plow than face that prospect!

 

Edited 6 hours ago by BK9300

[Gary Chastain]

Oh man, hope you can repair the center windshield piece. Looking so good otherwise 

[Scott Eriksen]

1 hour ago, BK9300 said:

I started in with cab again, this morning, intending to get the window seals painted black.  Thought about masking the whole cab, leaving just the seals, and spraying them, and just as quickly talked myself out of it - worried about a screwup on the polished finish!  I never got to painting today, but did manage to get the seals isolated by using some stretchy, Tamiya chrome film.  Said it before, but I'm finding myself more uncertain doing the fine detailing, than at any time doing the actual building of the the model - go figure!  Maybe I'll still brush paint the seals later today.

 

So, the plan was to use strips of the adhesive, stretchy film to cover a small border around the seals, and re-expose the seals by using a new X-acto blade to trim and remove the tape covering the seals -

 

This was the third effort to apply the film and make clean cuts all the way around the rear seal - I've still ended up with a bit of mess in the upper, driver's side corner -

 

Wasn't able to get any overlap at the windshield wiper mounts, so will have to be careful painting those areas -

 

Doing all that, I managed to re-break/crack the center windshield support post at the old break - not visible now, but is when the windshield is pressed up against it -

Really hoping this will work out - looking at the pics, I'm sure I can't put too much paint on, or removing the film might chip the paint.  Maybe remove the film before the enamel paint has fully set up.  It will either work, or could be faced with an unwelcome do-over.  I'd rather build another front plow than face that prospect!

 

Brian,I use a Sharpie marker pen to do the glass rubbers without masking,,,and if you mess up just take a bit of polish on a Q tip and take it off

[BK9300]

22 minutes ago, Gary Chastain said:

Oh man, hope you can repair the center windshield piece. Looking so good otherwise 

Thanks, Gary - if need be, I can fix it after the seals are painted, or replace the whole vertical piece.  Less worried about that, than painting!

[BK9300]

20 minutes ago, Scott Eriksen said:

Brian,I use a Sharpie marker pen to do the glass rubbers without masking,,,and if you mess up just take a bit of polish on a Q tip and take it off

Good idea for the future - I did happen across some AK Interactive, acrylic marker pens this afternoon at the hobby store.  Picked up a couple flat black ones and going to see how they work.  Appreciate the info, Scott!

[BK9300]

The rubber seals have been painted using that AK Interactive acrylic marker pen - 

Some touch-up with a fine brush was needed after carefully removing the Tamiya film used as masking - I removed it about 1/2 hour after applying the paint and even then, the paint was cured enough to be brittle along the edges -

 

 

Maybe the Tamiya film is not the best masking to use either - leaves a very fine edge, but also left a bit of adhesive residue, on the door just below the seal.  'Goo-Gone' won't remove it either, so may need to try and polish it off, carefully -

 

The other problem is how to protect the brittle flat black during the remainder of the build.  Not sure I want to clear over the polished paint, or what clear I could use over both the acrylic, flat black and the lacquer body colour (acrylic lacquer?) but maybe will need to do that, after putting the decals on the doors.  No end of issues!

Edited 3 hours ago by BK9300
typo