Gas Ronda's '69 Ford Mustang Funny Car

[W-409]

 

This year the Traditional Rod & Kustom In Scale forum has a "1969 Build Off", where the goal is to build something from 1969, but of course keeping the car period correct, because on TRaK forum, the cut-off year is 1969.  So, I picked up a Polar Lights kit of Gas Ronda's '69 Mustang. I'm a little late to the party as I haven't had much time to build during the summer, but I'll try to finish it before the end of the year. Let's see if I can make it...

 

I started working with the body. The kit comes with front end for either 1969 or 1970 Mustangs, because the real car used both, but I'm obviously using the 1969 nose. The fitment of the nose and the separate "tail light panel" wasn't that good. After some careful sanding and test fitting I was able to make them fit a little better, but some putty is required to smooth out the gaps. The first round of putty and sanding is done, but there is more to come. Underside of the body has also bunch of stuff that needs to be cleaned up before painting.

 

The frame is assembled from several pieces. I thought it's easiest if I assemble the frame first and then paint it as one unit. But first, I had to prep the frame parts ready for assembly and paint. Removing of the mold lines was really tedious work and took several hours, but I made it. I also had to smooth out some ejector pin marks and sink marks with putty, so now I'll need to wait for it to dry before sanding and assembling the whole thing together...

 

[THarrison351]

Good luck with this. I finished this kit earlier in the year. I shortened the frame 3/16" once I realize the wheelbase was too long. OK kit otherwise. The decals even did reasonably well considering they're Slixx and so old.

[Brandon17]

Definitely looking forward to this build!

[dragcarz]

I’m loving this project, I agree with Tim, watch the wheelbase, I built the Blue Max and the front wheels are too far forward . 

[W-409]

Thanks guys! Let's see how this thing will turn out.

I got the frame assembled. It was a ton of work to get everything to line up properly. Not only because it was quite fiddly assembly, but the frame rails were slightly warped, but that was so little that I didn't even notice it until it was time to actually glue the parts together. After some very careful heating with a hair dryer and at some places, a candle, I was able to straighten it out the best I could. Now I think there is a possibility that everything could actually line up properly and all four tires might hit the ground at the same time.

I assembled the tinwork on the body and then I was able to test fit the frame on place. This was also a good indication if everything fits correctly. After some adjustments, measuring over and over and trying to make it straight, I think I was succesful.

And then there was the issue with the wheelbase. I mocked up the front axle to the frame with the body on place. The front axle seems to be tilted slightly forward, so I figured out that I'd tilt it a little backwards so that it's in about 90 degree angle with the framerails. It'll still look good even with the body lifted up, but now the tires line up as they should. Obviously, I might have to do some slight modifications to the hairpins and steering gear, but I think it'll be easier, because after messing with the frame so much to make it fit properly, I don't want to cut it up to shorten it.

 

I also test fitted the rear axle and it seems to line up pretty good. Now there's some more cleanup to do, but I think I can soon move on to painting some of the frame parts, to get started on the assembly.

[W-409]

After some cleanup and dozens of mock ups, I think the frame is ready for paint. I've been wanting to move from spray painting to an airbrush for a long time and now I finally picked up a small compressor for my airbrush and the frame of the Mustang was the first test. Well, actually, I've used that airbrush with a few models years ago, but for last 10 years or so I've used spray cans.

Anyway, I shot some primer on the frame. It's Alclad Grey Primer & Microfiller which is really good stuff. And with the airbrush, it's a lot easier to control the amount of paint than with a spray can, especially on a tricky item like a Funny Car frame. It turned out good. Now I'll let it dry completely and then shoot some color on it.

[W-409]

Today I was able to paint the frame. I don't have too many reference pictures on the real car, and from the ones I have, it's really hard to figure out a correct color for the frame. I've seen the restored car myself and have pictures of that, but restored car is not always the same as original.

Anyway, I thought the red looked more like a metallic or even candy color than just a solid red. So I painted mine with Tamiya TS-95 Pure Metallic Red. But instead of spray painting it with the can, I decanted the paint and sprayed it through my airbrush. To do this, I thinned the paint a little with Tamiya Lacquer Thinner. Now I'll let it dry for a day or two and then it's time to clear coat it.

[W-409]

And now I got the frame clear coated so now we're getting closer to the assembly stage. Clear coat is Mipa two-part clear coat that I've also used for my 1:1 cars. For the scale model application it just needs to be thinned down quite a bit more. It sprays on really nicely, evens out when drying and it's much more glossy than any of the other clear coats that I've used.

 

[Sledsel]

Another nice one coming along. Your wheelbase "fix" looks to work well. The pic of the 1:1 shows them a bit forward anyways.

[W-409]

Thanks Andy! You're correct that the front tires on 1:1 car are not exactly in the middle of the wheelwells, and that's what I'm looking for.

 

[dragcarz]

Looking really nice Niko! Great looking paint on the frame!