What the heck...

[charlie8575]

I've posted this on a couple of other forums. As of right now, I'm waiting for a little extra scratch to order a little replacement paint from MCW to touch up a couple of polish-throughs, after which I can try foiling (again, it's been a while.)

I started this build in July, 2008. My first really serious attempt at building anything in about ten years. A combination of lack of time and space caused me to stop building (but not reading or buying.)

This is AMT's 1998-issue 1962 Buick Electra 225. I decided to paint it in Desert Sand with a red interior, for something a little interior. This was an available combination.

The engine is painted using Acryl RLM 25 Hellgrun, which is very close to the Buick engine blue-green. I picked up some basswood and once I get the nerve up enough to start cutting, I'll be making a more accurate console/armrest for the interior in place of the generic "thing" AMT supplied. I was half-temped to order a bench-seat interior from R&R, but I like the buckets, it's a little different.

The interior is painted with craft paint, which, while I like the variety of colors available, I think I'm going to have to do serious experimenting with them to get the kind of coverage I want. Has anyone ever sprayed those with an airbrush? If so, please share your experiences. I used Anita's Ruby because to my eye, it wasn't too far off from the red used by G.M. I did find a primer underneath them is crucial for anything bearing semblance to coverage. I also discovered the Model Master Acryl Dried Paint Remover works very well, just be sure to follow the directions to the letter; it did turn a couple of spots on the gray plastic white.

Anyway, here are my pictures. I hope you enjoy.

This is a pre-assembly mockup, taken on the tailgate of my dad's recently-dead 1991 Roadmaster Estate Wagon.

A close up of the dash after some detail painting.

Underside detailing; I used Tamiya semi-gloss black for the heater box and flat black for the hood pad.

The interior about as good as I can get it; I'm a little reluctant to try stripping it again. Not the feeble attempt at detail-painting.

This picture was taken in my apartment with a real camera (as opposed to my cousin's digital one as in the first few pictures.) This shows the color much, much better I think.

This is a shot of the engine, also taken with a real camera (Canon AE-1,) I think the exposure was off a little, but you get a pretty good idea of what's going on.

So far, I'm most happy with the chassis. I thought it came out pretty nicely.

Hope this didn't bore anyone too badly.

Charlie Larkin

Edited September 22, 2009 by charlie8575

[Jantrix]

Charlie, so far so good. As for airbrushing craft paints, I'd shoot ol ###### Cranky an email, that's his arena.