AMT 1957 Chrysler 300C

[R. Thorne]

An in between drag cars (waiting for parts) stock build.  Love the engine detail.  Removed the seam line on front fenders.  No primer, no other sanding of the body.  Had some old Testors metallic gold spray enamel that I decided to use (probably regret it).  Looks awful after the initial spray, but after drying a few minutes, it levels out.  The finish is flat with no gloss.  Put some Tamiya silver plate on the engine.

[NOBLNG]

It looks like a nicely detailed kit.🙂 What are those things you are using to stick your parts to the paint stick if I may ask?

[R. Thorne]

1 hour ago, NOBLNG said:

It looks like a nicely detailed kit.🙂 What are those things you are using to stick your parts to the paint stick if I may ask?

More than happy to answer.  They are adhesive stick double backed dots I am trying instead of tape or fun tac.   They were helpful in this instance because they are about 1/16” thick and the air cleaner base could be more fully painted.  Thank you for all the tips you have posted on this forum, Greg.

[R. Thorne]

Well, the gold Testors enamel turned out like BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH, so, decided to put some old red enamel on over it after about a week of dry time.  That turned out less than average, but I am moving on.  Lesson learned.  Leave Testors enamel alone and remember why I have been using Tamiya TS series cans for the last 4 or 5 years.  

[R. Thorne]

Decided to trial fit the wheels and tires while eating supper. Also trimmed up the frame.  Then sanded the backs of the wheels (just had to try out my new dspiae sander/grinder).   Put some dull cote on the tires to take some of the sheen away.

[FoMoCo66]

Looks good, how was your salad? 😁

[bill-e-boy]

Looking good Ron. I feel for you over the paint issues. The red looks better IMO anyway. I have had issues with solid metallic colours with and patchy finishes before too.

The AMT 57 300C is a dream kit that does not need a lot to make even better and an excellent base for a true box stock model as per the IPMS rules where you cannot add any after-market details and only what is in the box can be used along with paint and BMF  

[R. Thorne]

On 4/28/2025 at 10:25 PM, FoMoCo66 said:

Looks good, how was your salad? 😁

Above average, Elliot.  Crispy, as opposed to leafy.

 

19 hours ago, bill-e-boy said:

Looking good Ron. I feel for you over the paint issues. The red looks better IMO anyway. I have had issues with solid metallic colours with and patchy finishes before too.

The AMT 57 300C is a dream kit that does not need a lot to make even better and an excellent base for a true box stock model as per the IPMS rules where you cannot add any after-market details and only what is in the box can be used along with paint and BMF  

It’s what I deserve for trying to use up some old paint that I didn’t like before.  Insanity:  doing the same thing over and expecting different results.  Glued the tires/wheels together and painted a bunch of small parts (that’s what you get with a highly detailed engine/chassis/interior).

Edited April 30 by R. Thorne

[bobss396]

I gave up on Testors enamel 20 + years ago. I came across many old Testors and Model Master jar paints... into the trash!

[R. Thorne]

After painting some more parts, I decided to try to show some of the details in this above average kit.  The rear end actually has a visible brake line molded in, the generator has a bracket, the rear springs don’t have any arch to them, it has a road draft tube.  I used my acrylic marker (brush end) to paint some of the smaller pieces.

Edited April 30 by R. Thorne

[R. Thorne]

Painted the hogshead and interior parts and chassis, then noticed the hood had paint bubbles on it.  Sanded it down, cleaned it up, then sprayed it again.  This time, worse bubbles (even showed on the sprue with the hood hinges) rendered the can into the trash (followed Bob’s sage advice) and the hood into the paint remover.  When it’s clean, the hood will be painted with a Tamiya pure red and hope it matches the rest of the car.  I have been so impressed with this kit that I ordered another kit off EBay.  

Edited May 3 by R. Thorne

[customline]

I can't say I blame you, Ron, for discarding a spray-can of Testor's. I'm surprised it hadn't already leaked out the bottom.  The bubbles are kind of a mystery, though.  I ran into bubble trouble (see what I did there?) a while back.  Was the can full and cold? 

[R. Thorne]

Same can (about half full) that I had painted the body with.  Warmed with hot tap water and spun in my drill fixture as usual.  I believe the nozzle partially clogged painting the body and hood previously.  I have never had this issue with Tamiya ts series paints perhaps because their paint is thinner and, of course, has a better nozzle.

[R. Thorne]

Did some detail painting with my new acrylic markers.  The dash is gonna take 2 coats , as do most parts for good coverage.

[bobss396]

20 hours ago, customline said:

I can't say I blame you, Ron, for discarding a spray-can of Testor's. I'm surprised it hadn't already leaked out the bottom.  The bubbles are kind of a mystery, though.  I ran into bubble trouble (see what I did there?) a while back.  Was the can full and cold? 

I had the same issue with the bubbles 25 years ago, I was shooting their gloss black.

At the time, other hobby paint was scarce. I had a local parts store change hands at the time. They had those small Duplicolor cans for 99 cents each. I'm still using it.

I have to try those AK markers for sure.

[R. Thorne]

A little more detailing and, since I received another kit today, I stole the hood out of it and put some Tamiya paint on it. It looks so good I  may just throw the whole body in the tank.   Then, paint the “new” body with Tamiya.  Decisions, decisions.

[R. Thorne]

Well, a couple pictures of the difference between the paints.  It is going in the tank and the “new” body is to be painted Tamiya red after some slight clean up.  No primer, of course.

[R. Thorne]

Finally got around to painting the “new” body.  Some sanding to eliminate a few minor spots, no primer on body, 1 light coat, wait 5 minutes, then 2 medium coats, done.  Turned out very good.  Put a lid on it overnight.

[customline]

Much better, Ron. I'm with you on Tamiya rattle cans. Way better than Rustoleum garbage.

[R. Thorne]

On 5/12/2025 at 10:15 AM, customline said:

Much better, Ron. I'm with you on Tamiya rattle cans. Way better than Rustoleum garbage.

I am always experimenting, Jim.  Sometimes, it doesn’t pay off.  Got the “old” body looking good as new after soaking in purple stuff for about a week with some tooth brush scrubbing a couple times.  Put some thin ca glue in an old Tamiya bottle with their small brush.  Put the parts together, then applied the ca using capillary action.  Used it on the somewhat fiddly exhaust system installation along with some kicker in a small bottle with eye dropper.  So far, so good.

[R. Thorne]

This drill bit set is convenient for reaming out tight fitting holes.  It doesn’t fit all holes, obviously, but quite a few common ones.

[customline]

Ron, that body does look like new! What brand of purple are you using? 

[R. Thorne]

5 hours ago, customline said:

Ron, that body does look like new! What brand of purple are you using? 

This is what I topped it off with, but most of it was about 5 year old Castrol branded superclean, which is no longer available.

[R. Thorne]

Another pic of the installed exhaust.  Was planning on using some thick ca for longer assembly time as the rear end installation is also somewhat fiddly , but the Hobbylobby and BSI stuff had both hardened up, so went into the trash.  Decided to remove the painted mounting areas (tedious work), of which there are many, and use regular thick type plastic cement (Perfect Plastic products in this case).  Oh, yeah, the driveshaft walked away, so robbed one out of the new kit, and put some gun metal on with one of my new markers (how did I do without these acrylic markers?).

[R. Thorne]

Rear axle and tires installed.  Tried some thin Tamiya sheets.  Too thin and delicate for me.  Went back to the Hasegawa.  It’s coming along.  That’s enough for today.