'70 BOSS 429 - The MAXSTANG

[mrm]

As the title implies, I am facing my latest addiction - Mustangs. And so far I'm losing the battle. After few cool '70s Stangs popped up in the "Under Glass" section, I couldn't resist and finally ordered the '70 Boss 429 that I was contemplating for quite some time now. Well, it's here and I don't intend to leave it alone in its box. I have some interesting plans for this one, so stay tuned. 

Edited September 27, 2024 by mrm

[LennyB]

It's like a disease son, once you get it you can't be cured.?

[mrm]

3 minutes ago, LennyB said:

It's like a disease son, once you get it you can't be cured.?

Tru dat yo!

[mrm]

This took more body work than I anticipated, but I feel like it was worth it. 

[mrm]

The original plan for this was to make a black car with an accent color. So trying a black primer was only natural. 

Very little touch up will be needed, mainly some sanding where the ca glue has shown up around the front fenders and wasn't completely sanded down. That's one of the reasons for a primer coat in the first place, to see things like that, right? 

 

This is the Very first time ever I am using this particular kind of primer. It is Dupli-Color DAP 1698 Black Hot Rod. $10 at my O'Rileys. Went on perfect, altho it looks really weird at first before it dries. I'm still leaning towards black on the body, altho thoughts of Nardo Grey are starting to creep in. 

Another important thing of this build is to chill and sip on a fine beverage. No stress or rush. Just enjoy it. A Wild Turkey Rare Breed Barrel Proof Rye Whisky does the job just fine. ?

[atomicholiday]

Cool build!   Didn't you 3D print the flares?  They look great on there.

I'm working on a black '69 in between projects currently. 

[mrm]

38 minutes ago, atomicholiday said:

Cool build!   Didn't you 3D print the flares?  They look great on there.

I'm working on a black '69 in between projects currently. 

Thank you Jeremy.

Yes, I printed the flares and the rear wing. I printed the ones on my other Mustangs too, but these here needed quite a bit more body work to fit like I wanted them, compared to the other ones. 

[mrm]

First coat of paint is already on. Originally I wanted to make it black, but decided to go with a grey. These pastel grays seem to be very popular our days on anything from Hyundais to Bugattis. 

 

The color I used is from Tamiya's Color for Aircraft series. What seems odd to me is that these colors are available in US and any hobby shop that carries Tamiya products can order them for you. Yet I have never seen a shop carry them on the shelf, like the other Tamiya paint. This particular one is AS-31 Ocean Gray 2 RAF (aka the Brits ?), which is exactly what I had in mind. I sprayed the body straight from the can. These spray paints are easy to use and very forgiving. The only thing is that they are never glossy and definitely need a good clear coat. 

 

Edited September 28, 2024 by mrm

[mrm]

Ready for some black!

[mrm]

Tamiya Matt Black on the fenders and spoiler and Tamiya Gloss Black on the central stripe. 

 

Now it needs to dry well enough to be masked again for some orange. 

[Steve H]

Hi Mozzi, great looking build! Should be a very cool colour combo when the tape comes off. The wide body treatment looks fantastic on this body style. As for the paint, the AS military colours typically dry semi gloss, or flat. I agree that all Tamiya paint definitely needs a clear coat though.

Cheers, Steve

[mrm]

16 hours ago, Steve H said:

Hi Mozzi, great looking build! Should be a very cool colour combo when the tape comes off. The wide body treatment looks fantastic on this body style. As for the paint, the AS military colours typically dry semi gloss, or flat. I agree that all Tamiya paint definitely needs a clear coat though.

Cheers, Steve

Thank you Steve. 

Flat or satin colors tend to cover better and dry smoother. Which is not the reason I chose this color, but it's still a nice bonus. The clear coat is going to be a necessity on this model, as it's needed to even the edges between the three colors on the body. Which also means 2K clear. I am about to spray the orange today, which will need white underneath. Then the clear will have to go on somewhat heavy and then sand everything down to a uniform  smooth finish. At least that's the plan. LOL. 

Edited September 28, 2024 by mrm

[mrm]

This model, unlike most of my creations will actually have the stock kit's engine and the interior will also stay pretty much bone stock, in line with the look of many modern restomods. After all, in real life just because something looks factory stock, does not mean it is. As you can see, both the interior and the engine are very, very orange. This is also the color of the center stripe I'm painting on the body. It will all get somewhat toned down oce all the details are added, but it will still be a stark contrast to the outside of the car. 

 

Although the frame of the car and most of the underbody is going to remain stock, I am not using the stock rear suspension from the kit. So all the mounting points for the original rear end were covered up by styrene stock.

 

Then the chassis was also painted in Hot rod black primer and most of it will remain that way on the finished model. 

 

Now I got to get on that engine...

Stay tuned...

[mrm]

To tone down the interior some pattern decals from Scale motor sport were used. First off, these must have been really old or plain defective, because they were falling apart, splitting, not wanting to set down even with heavy solution etc. just a plain pain in my *$$. Each template, and there were ten of them, had to be don at least twice. Then I covered everything with Tamiya Flat clear to create that nice creamy rich leather look. The decals definitely did not like that and quite few places needed repair, which was a major PITA. But as I like to say, it's all good when it ends good.

  There is still a lot more work to be done on the interior, but this where I am right now. Still needs the dashboard detailed, flocking on the floor, seatbelts etc. 

 

The orange stripe is finally on the body. I sprayed white primer under it and build it up a little on the edges on purpose. Now, after I unmasked everything, just as I expected there is a super ultra thin white outline along the orange stripe, which would have been absolutely impossible to paint that fine. It's barely visible, but it makes a difference. I always wanted to try this and I think I pulled it off nicely. There are still a couple of spots where the black bled through, which is absolutely puzzling to me, but it's not a big deal and an easy fix. 

 

And this is what the body will look like with the interior in it. It is the most understated body color out there, yet the car is looking really loud, almost vulgar. Which is exactly what I was shooting for. 

 

[mrm]

I did quite a bit on the MAXTANG today. By the way, my wife gave it that name and I decided to run with it. 

First I made some nice coil over shocks for it.

 

While they were printing I realized that the rear bumper and the tail light bezels are one piece and it is chromed. I have no Idea how I missed this before. So the piece got dechromed with Easy Off oven cleaner and while I was at it, the grille/headlight assembly joined it. After painting it, I was dry fitting it and saw the molded detail for the letters spelling Mustang right under the rear wing. Somehow I have missed that too, otherwise I would have removed the letters for a smooth look. But now I had a problem. So I decided to have fun with it. NOT!

I found a MCG photo etched set for a different AMT Mustang. There was some kind of issue with it when it was produced and the two sets of letters to spell Mustang were not "printed" on the fret. So, MCG the great guys they are, included an additional fret with four sets of lettering. I painted two of them black, while they were still attached.

 

And then  remembered that I had a whole box with photo etched emblems and miscellaneous decals from when I used to modify 1/18 diecasts way back when. And I found these Lexus emblems.

 

Because by now I actually had a plan. Forgetting to sand down the molded lettering totally played in my hand, as now I could use those molded letters to locate mine and I could also swap a couple of them. I cut out the two sets of letters that I painted black and then I cut the X from a Lexus emblem, purposefully bigger. And then I rearranged the Letters to spell  M A X T A N G.

 

I first painted the X in the same orange I am using as the accent color and then proceeded to glue each letter. I used Tamiya clear coat for that purpose. It allows me plenty of time and room for error, while it dries crystal clear and does not attack any paint. To say this was some tedious work is the understatement of the month. But I am happy with the result I got. 

On the picture you can see the spots of clear. But once the whole body gets clear coated, all that will disappear. Just like some spots that the camera picks up, which will be touched up. 

 

The hood scoop got upgraded to carbon fiber. Because I just can't help myself. LOL

 

The front grille assembly got painted body color and then only the grille itself received black paint. The emblem received all orange as a background and hand painting the horsey was another one of those moments, where I just ask myself why am I doing this. Again, once everything is cleared it will be nice and shiny. 

 

Next - finish the interior and start on that engine...

Stay tuned...

Edited October 7, 2024 by mrm

[STU111]

This thing is insane! The Maxtang? What a concept, l’ve just gotta follow this one! ??

[mrm]

7 hours ago, STU111 said:

This thing is insane! The Maxtang? What a concept, l’ve just gotta follow this one! ??

Thank you Stuart. 

Other than color and steering wheel, the interior is basically stock. The engine will get some wires and hoses, but will remain stock. However there are more surprises to come. Then the name will make more sense. 

[NerdmanB]

Michael always enjoy your builds. You are very talented. This is awesome , really like the maxstang on the rear of the car. Very clever. Like the color combination. Will keep watching. Brian 

[mrm]

On 10/7/2024 at 1:18 PM, NerdmanB said:

Michael always enjoy your builds. You are very talented. This is awesome , really like the maxstang on the rear of the car. Very clever. Like the color combination. Will keep watching. Brian 

Thank you Brian. I appreciate your kind words. The Maxtang name was given by my wife and pretty soon it will became apparent why. 

[Steve H]

Excellent progress Mozzi. That orange REALLY pops against the body colours. Nice choice. The MaXtang lettering is perfect, well played!

[mrm]

3 hours ago, Steve H said:

Excellent progress Mozzi. That orange REALLY pops against the body colours. Nice choice. The MaXtang lettering is perfect, well played!

Thank you Steve. The color combo is a long story, but in a nutshell the inspiration started from some exotic cars. The MAXTANG lettering, believe it or not, was just an afterthought. 

[mrm]

This past weekend I broke a tooth, which wrecked havoc to my plans. Visit at the dentist on Tuesday, all but killed that day and today I received my temporary crown until they, hold on - 3D PRINT my permanent one. Technology is a wonderful thing. I am sure that my machines at home are nothing compared to what they use, but I am still taking full advantage of the tech I have at my disposal. 

   Since I am trying to complete the interior, I made myself a cool steering wheel, inspired by the original (on the right). 

 

Also I made me some window cranks, which are so poorly engraved on the kit, that they are almost nonexistent.

 

And the window cranks were painted chrome and installed on the door panels.

 

I made myself a cool shifter, which is still staying in character with the original, but punches up the attitude with some brass knuckles detail. It is sitting on carbon fiber center console insert Also the arm rests were installed on the doors. Of course I did not miss the opportunity to add some flocking too. 

 

The dash also received some carbon fiber (I just can't stay away from the stuff), a photoetched "Mustang" emblem on the passengers side and a nice set of orange gauges. 

 

While working on the interior, I am slowly starting to work on the suspension too. 

The wheel barrels were painted Revell Chrome while the centers received the orange treatment. They are still missing the center detail. I did prints the centers, but have not painted them yet. 

 

I got files for a detailed rear shocks for Revell's "32 Fords. However, I took those and resized them to fit my application and then detailed with chrome and THE orange LOL

 

That's it for now. Thanks for looking and stay tuned...

[BK9300]

Fabulous work!

[STU111]

G’day Michael, I don’t envy you that visit to the dentist. Some nice work on the Maxtang so far, I do like that custom shifter, very nice. Those wheels look great as well, I like the look of the Revell chrome spray on the rims.?? Gotta get me some of that stuff 

[NOBLNG]

Outstanding work Mozzi!? This is going to be a real looker when done.?