1981 Mustang Cobra

[Eric Stone]

I'm not very good at build threads because I forget to take pictures along the way... I picked this kit up at the Houston Autorama swap meet Friday after Thanksgiving, and have been working on it when I can. I hadn't been doing much modeling lately, so this is kinda refreshing.

The kit was complete except for one tire- It had 3 Firestone tires in it. I got home and didn't have a matching Firestone, and was having problems finding tires that fit the wheels, so I started trying different wheels until I realized it was supposed to have Michelin TRX tires. I dug around in the closet until I found a set, which ended my search for a wheel/tire combo. This is the only pic I took in primer, while trying wheels/tires. These are the wheels I'm using, but not the tires.

After detail painting. I'm not sure if I will keep the spokes silver, or do them Testor's Steel or Gloss Black...

The car will look similar to this one... (Pic courtesy of www.earlycobra.com)

But it does not have the Cobra decals, just the decals on the box art, which I will not be using. It also has some type of aftermarket hood and front valence, so the raised center of the hood will be flat black, as will the grille area, like on the box art. I'm still debating on interior colors- black, red, or kind of a butterscotch-colored brownish tan... Let me know what you think...

I started by painting the top half white, but I'm not sure if I'm happy with the finish on the body, so I may strip it and start over. I am still learning my airbrush, and I think the paint was too thick when I started spraying it, since no air pressure adjustment would help, and it was spattering. I thinned it some and got it to lay down a little better, then noticed some lint or fuzz or something in it... Grrr. I've done a little wet-sanding, but haven't sprayed a second coat yet.

Since these are unibody cars, I did the chassis pan white, as well as the K-member, and began detail painting. It's too bright to me, so I will probably get some flat clear and add a little gray to spray some light road grime on it.

This car has the early turbo 2.3L four cylinder, with the turbo on the driver's side, instead of the later 2.3 turbos like the Turbo T-birds and SVO's (with the intercooler and turbo on the passenger side). It will be wired.

I'm home sick today with the crud, so I'm getting a little work done. Weather is crappy though, so there won't be any painting progress...

Edited December 8, 2009 by Eric Stone

[Rick Schmidt]

I'll be watchin this to see how your coming. These build up into a neat little model. I had to resist changing the nose on mine. Also glad ya was able to get a set of TRXs not much in revells current line up has tires that fit these wheelbacks. I have one I got to convert to my 1/1 82 and had a time trying to get the Turbo coupe wheels on it. Ended up realizing I needed the wheel backs from a Later Mustang

[Eric Stone]

Thanks. Yeah, even in scale, these are odd-sized wheels, since I had issues finding other tires to fit right. I'm trying to get the engine wired up right now. Will post more pics as I make more progress.

[Rick Schmidt]

Must be gettin the same great model buildin weather we are Cold to make ya not feel like gettin moving wet to ruin any chances of painting

[Eric Stone]

Dave, I never knew this kit existed until I had it in my hands, but I'm having fun with it.

Rick, not cold here right now, but it's very wet and humid...

[Rick Schmidt]

Dave, I never knew this kit existed until I had it in my hands, but I'm having fun with it.

Rick, not cold here right now, but it's very wet and humid...

Yea it is a fun little kit. I had more fun building the box stock one I did than I did some of the others I've done. Wonder if stuff to do it still exists? or is it long gone due to the other variants of Fox Mustang that have come since ??

[Eric Stone]

Yea it is a fun little kit. I had more fun building the box stock one I did than I did some of the others I've done. Wonder if stuff to do it still exists? or is it long gone due to the other variants of Fox Mustang that have come since ??

Dunno... I had a crack in the front subframe, so I glued it and set it aside. I used the Revell 93 Cobra chassis to mock up the suspension and wheels, and they are 99% identical, with the exception of the little rail molded in along the back edge. The 93 has about 3/8" on each side that is completely flat and doesn't have that little rail. Other than that, the chassis and suspension is exactly the same ... which makes sense because the 1:1 cars were pretty much the same too. Dunno what condition the molds are in though. I think the 93 Cobra is related to the GT 'vert kit that's out there, because there's an 87-89 (pre-1990, pre-airbag) steering wheel in the 93 Cobra kit.

Since I started this thread, I've detail painted the turbo and exhaust, and have wired the engine. Will get some pics up later.

[Eric Stone]

More progress:

(I will paint the transmission immediately before installing the assembly into the chassis.)

[Rick Schmidt]

Dunno... I had a crack in the front subframe, so I glued it and set it aside. I used the Revell 93 Cobra chassis to mock up the suspension and wheels, and they are 99% identical, with the exception of the little rail molded in along the back edge. The 93 has about 3/8" on each side that is completely flat and doesn't have that little rail. Other than that, the chassis and suspension is exactly the same ... which makes sense because the 1:1 cars were pretty much the same too. Dunno what condition the molds are in though. I think the 93 Cobra is related to the GT 'vert kit that's out there, because there's an 87-89 (pre-1990, pre-airbag) steering wheel in the 93 Cobra kit.

Since I started this thread, I've detail painted the turbo and exhaust, and have wired the engine. Will get some pics up later.

Yea Chassis are virtually identical I think the chassis in the newer 93 is about all that's is left of our Cafe Racers lol. Everything else is different. the 93s parts do fit into the 81 tho One of my Cafe Racers is an original built up that I've stripped and reworking into my 82 which has a 93 interior in it fit right in. I agree about the 92 vert also virtually the body is only difference between the two. Stole that steering wheel for my 82 also lol

I'll be looking in to see the progress on yours good to see someone else doin one of these and like I was told good to see one without the v8 lol

[rustybill1960]

Hey Man

hope your feeling better

i really like your detail painting dude

nice real nice man

hope the weather breaks soon too, would like to see the body in paint

i like what you have planned for it, nice theme

there ought to be someone around here that could help out with the graphics

those sure are some really sharp looking ones

make that little pony the prettiest one on the block

thanks for sharing dude

[Rick Schmidt]

Just thought about it but there are a very similar set in the Revell Turbo Cobra I dug out my set ut they are ruined. They are black with a yellow outline

[beefheart22]

The detail in your painting is pretty convincing. Nice.

[Eric Stone]

The detail in your painting is pretty convincing. Nice.

Thanks for the positive comments, guys.

Rick, I haven't seen the insides of that Cobra kit, and haven't seen one on the shelf for a while. I had looked at Keith Marks, but he doesn't have 79-81 Cobra decals.

I took some shots under mine last nite for reference on painting/weathering the driveshaft and rear axle, and found that the center of the body is still gray primer, so I'm thinking about stripping the floor pan and repainting it all, leaving the right primer section down the middle. I don't have much time invested in detailing the gas tank or crossmember, so that's not a big deal, and I think I want it more correct... I might be able to shoot the body again this evening, as long as it doesn't get too cold.

[whale392]

Looking very good! I am a Fox body fan, and a 4eye fanatic at that. Early Cobras, GTs, and about any 4eye turns me into a giddy schoolboy.

[Eric Stone]

Well, the chassis pan is stripped and re-primed, ready for some more white paint, then chassis assembly. At some point, I will need to install the radiator and engine, then fabricate some radiator hoses, since I realized this kit does not have any. I have made them out of aluminum tubing in the past, so I'll try that again on this one.

The interior got some primer and paint. I couldn't find a caramel color I liked, so I ended up painting it red, using some Duplicolor paint I had for another build. It's drying right now, and maybe I'll put in some flock and detail and assemble the interior tomorrow night.

The white on the top of the body came out ok. I've done a little polishing, not sure how much more I want to do, since I don't want to burn through the paint anywhere. I need to sand the bottom half a little bit to prep it for the black, then mask off the top.

I ended up with a parts kit 79 Cobra the other nite, so I can use the chassis and body from it for mock-up purposes and won't be risking harm to the paint on this one. The 79 is missing some parts for the Turbo 4, so I think it will end up with a big block Ford.

[whale392]

Keep up the good work man...and is that your Fox in the pic in your sig area?

[Eric Stone]

Here's a mockup of the interior so far. I lost the E-brake handle, so I had to carve a new one out of some sprue, and its paint was still drying when I took this pic. Once it's installed, I think the interior is done. I used some old Soft Flock I still have around to do the carpet, and the interior is Duplicolor 'Candy Apple Red'.

I shot the flat black on the bottom of the body this evening, and screwed up some on the hood, so I had to sand and sand and sand to smooth it out, then shot some more black. I'm about to go see how it came out, and maybe unmask it all if it looks good...

I also tinted the rear and quarter windows, sunroof, and the top of the windshield. I'm not sure if I'm going to keep it or redo it, since it's not perfect.

And yes, that's my '91 LX hatch in my sig.

[FordWagonNut]

I really like the interior on this one, that red "fits" it.

[Rick Schmidt]

Interior looks very authentic. Reminds me of my 1/1 82s stock interior. it was Red too but had fake woodgrain where yours is black. Took car of that tho lol all black now lol.

Your 1/1 Fox is nice looking. Is it a V8 Car ?? I see what look like the 5.0 on the fenders but can't tell for sure.

[Eric Stone]

Thanks for the continued encouraging comments.

I'm trying to get the body finished up, but I am now realizing how much trim painting work there is... The second shot of flat black turned out ok, so I unmasked it and painted the red stripe. I had only masked to the bottom of the side trim on the body (nose was just masked off around the headlights), so after I painted the red stripe, I sanded the side trim lightly to scuff it up and smooth off some of the excess red. Now I'm hand painting the side trim on. It was easier to mask below it for spraying, and now I will have to mask above it and brush very carefully to get the top edge of the trim painted neatly. THEN, on to all the window and door trim... I'm pretty happy with the overall look so far, even though there are some imperfections that I'm trying to keep from bugging me. I'll have to leave it for a few days while I'm across town for Christmas, but will be back on it hot and heavy when I get home.

BTW, my 1:1 is a 5.0, 5spd with a few minor mods.

[whale392]

Looking VERY good. I like the interior, and the exterior two-tone treatment.

By the way, I have 4 1:1 Foxes; an 83 GLX vert triple black V6/auto, an 84GT Turbo 5speed, an 86 GT Ttop 5speed, and my daily 91GT (base GT.......no options) 5speed.

[Mark Brown]

Looks great, Eric, especially that interior. You almost make Porno Red look desirable!

[charlie8575]

REALLY nice!

Is that Dupli-Color you used on the interior semi-opaque, and if so, what color did you use under it? That really looks like most Ford red interiors I remember from the 80s and early 90s.

Charlie Larkin

[Eric Stone]

REALLY nice!

Is that Dupli-Color you used on the interior semi-opaque, and if so, what color did you use under it? That really looks like most Ford red interiors I remember from the 80s and early 90s.

Charlie Larkin

Charlie, I used one heavy coat of Duplicolor gray primer under the red. I don't know how opaque it is, I assume it's pretty opaque... I don't recall if I've ever shot it over anything other than Duplicolor gray primer. I used Testors Acryl Flat clear brushed onto the seats, and the carpet is Plaid Soft Flock (no longer being produced according to Plaid, it came with a color-matched water based adhesive). Since I couldn't find a caramel color that was right, I opted for the red, and it is pretty close to reference photos of two or three different cars I found online.

Thanks again for the compliments!

[James Flowers]

The body looks pretty nice in white. Keep up the good work.