Neil Bonnett #5 Charger

[majel]

I'm building the MPC  1/16th scale Petty Charger but using the Power Slide decals for the #5 Neil Bonnett Charger.  I'm going to build it box stock because to be honest I think the model sucks and I don't want to spend the time detailing it.   I'm finding out that it being an old mold it is full of sink marks and flash.   Most of the time spent has been cleaning everything up so it can be painted and put together.   I've started cleaning up the body and chassis and will be priming both soon. 

[majel]

Got the body all cleaned up,  primed,  and painted with Tamiya Pure White.  Started working on the floor pan and roll cage to get all the parts installed that are going to be painted the same.   Once again,  a lot of clean up to get rid of flash and sink marks. 

 

 

[majel]

Painted the chassis,  floor pan, and the roll cage a mixture of red and orange.   I was not able to find any pictures on the web of the actual interior but I have been told it was a shade of red. Obviously this isn't going to be a replica so I've taken liberties on the colors.   Some of the padding on the roll cage is shrink tubing and others are just painted black. Once I get farther along I will add some weathering and staining to the chassis. 

[majel]

Lettered the tires using Tamiya acrylic white, they will be toned down and weathered along with the chassis.  The wheels are painted using Model Master spray can gold.   Started on the engine and have been weathering it as I go along.  Engine block is painted same color as the interior and heads are Tamiya aluminum.   For box stock the engine has some decent detail. Will be working on the interior and weathering the chassis next. 

 

 

 

 

[majel]

Installed the engine, wiring,  and hoses that were supplied with the kit.   Once it all went together I think it looks pretty good for what was included.  Finished up installing the rest of the interior along with the window net.   I'm not real happy with the way the front end sits now that it's all together, not sure what I did wrong,  but the wheels don't want to line up real well. Used various Tamiya weathering master colors to weather the engine,  chassis,  and tires.  Now it's on to finishing up the body and putting it all together.

[slusher]

Very nice work, I liked Neil !

[majel]

I used Power Slide decals on the body to match the layout for the 1977 Firecracker 400.  The decals went down great,  I had absolutely no issue with them.  I did manage to mess up the layout of the front fender decal set.   All the decals had to be cut out individually and hopefully laid out correctly.   The Holley and STP decal were supposed to line up with the door side of the Champion decal above them.   I obviously didn't do that which didn't leave quite enough room for the DieHard decal to fit without a portion of one letter hanging over into the wheel well.  The chrome on the bumpers is too shiny to my liking so once I get the window trim painted or bare metal foiled I'm going to spray the whole body with Tamiya semi- gloss clear to get rid of some of the shine. 

Edited November 25, 2024 by majel

[Shark]

I think it looks great.

As far as the Diehard decals going into the wheel opening, that kind of stuff happened all the time on the real cars. 

[majel]

Glass is all in,  bumpers are installed,  and the body has been cleared with Tamiya semi- gloss to take off some of the shine.   All that is left is to install the body on the chassis and call it done!