Building the AMT Ford F100

[BK9300]

What a contrast - looks awesome!  What are you cutting your masks with?  They have very sharp, clean edges.

[OldNYJim]

9 minutes ago, BK9300 said:

What a contrast - looks awesome!  What are you cutting your masks with?  They have very sharp, clean edges.

Thank you!!  I’m using Oramask 813 masking film (which I like because it has just the right amount of ‘stick’ and is semi-transparent, which can be helpful for if you’re masking multiple layers) cut on a Silhouette scrapbook cutter.

I used to do them by hand, but this is WAY easier, once the design is laid out…

 

[BK9300]

Still fascinated with your scallop masks!  How do you handle the thin, trailing parts of the scallop, align them, and still have them be sticky enough to prevent paint seepage?  It's a wonder to me!

[OldNYJim]

On 7/25/2025 at 5:47 PM, BK9300 said:

Still fascinated with your scallop masks!  How do you handle the thin, trailing parts of the scallop, align them, and still have them be sticky enough to prevent paint seepage?  It's a wonder to me!

The Oramask really does 90% of the hard work - it’s thick enough to hold it’s shape pretty well, sticky enough to prevent paint getting underneath (although creeping up on it with mist coats definitely is helpful too) and never gives me any issues when I remove it either - no sticky residue left behind, doesn’t try and pull up the previous layers…works great!

A helpful tip for aligning masks like this is to hold the mask on a scalpel blade with one hand, and hold the body in such a way that gravity is working in your favor…which in this case was with the points pointing downwards and the cab’s nose pointing up.  Get it lined up pretty close and just touch the largest part of the mask to the body and let it lay down on there.  THEN, if the placement is good, rub your fingers over it to set it in place…if not, you haven’t applied any pressure yet so it’ll peel up easily for a second try.  
 

Small update, as I’m replying anyway…started building up some clear on the stuff that needed clearing…couple of mist coats on here so far (I’m being cautious so the clear doesn’t ‘drag’ the black down over the pink…)

Also primed and at least base-coated every single component…got a lot of clearcoating left in my near-future but then we can start detailing up some stuff and doing some assembly.

More soon, soon as I’ve done more!!

Edited July 28 by OldNYJim

[OldNYJim]

A little more progress this week…

Got the wheels and grill painted.  Went for a similar look to the Wimbledon White (I THINK?) that Ford would’ve painted these originally, but a more gray-toned version.  I didn’t want the cream tones to clash with the pink…

I was a little stuck on interior color; black seemed too dull, a pattern too much, pink definitely too much and white too kustom, not hot-rod enough.  Settled on silver - this would be vinyl if it were a 1:1.  Planning on some pink accents to tie it together with everything else:

Started some very light frame assembly (but I can’t do too much because this thing assembles in a weird order…) - plus added some chrome to the engine…

And tonight I started polishing out the body.  It actually doesn’t look TOO bad…

…but I’m polishing it anyway…

Almost time to get some serious assembly done!  Thanks for looking - more soon, soon as I’ve done more!

[espo]

Great looking chassis, bright but like it. 

[OldNYJim]

7 hours ago, espo said:

Great looking chassis, bright but like it. 

I thought a LOT about the frame color before I went with it…it’s not exactly traditional - and most of the rest of the truck IS.  Not too many 50s hot rod builds got fluorescent paintjobs, probably…but it’s more fun than plain old black or whatever Henry painted these I guess…

 

Small update…spent the day polishing out the body and bed - mostly straight, level and shiny now:

Then I cleaned up all the overspray of primer and clear and pink and black and whatever else from all the undersides of everything - really adds a lot to making it all look ‘finished’ to me.  I like cheap old craft paint and a cheap old brush - takes 5 minutes but makes a TONNE of difference:

Pretty poor output for a whole weekend at the bench…but now I’m ready to do some serious assembly and see this thing come together…more soon, soon as I’ve done more!

[slusher]

Beautiful work Jim