Joe Mannix '68 Dart GTS

[dwc43]

Looks good. Sorry I missed the post on making the hood scoops. Looks like your off to a good start on it though.

[mrmike]

Thanks Russ and DW!

After I added the second scoop, I started giving thought to replacing the first one since it seems to be a little undersized. The second scoop looks just right.

[mrmike]

I got both scoops mounted, puttied, and sanded. Primer is next!

The ends of the rear spoiler needed more putty for the transition from the rear fenders to the spoiler itself. I'll let this dry a day or two to get the most shrinkageout before sanding.

Mannix will return.....

Edited November 4, 2010 by mrmike

[charlie8575]

Coming along nicely, Mike.

Charlie Larkin

[Rob Z]

This is a rather interesting project, I like how you are coming along on the hood. Really looks good and the spoiler is really something else... Can't wait to see more...

[mrmike]

Thanks Charlie and Rob!

If it's one thing I don't really like doing (next to BMF), it's bodywork. This is why I haven't been making much in the way of progress on this build. I don't mind prepping a body for paint, but slinging putty and sanding it is not something I don't like doing. A couple of years ago, I built an AMT/ERTL '87 Mustang GT as the car actor Robert Urich drove during the 2nd season of Spenser For Hire. This kit was bad! The front and rear didn't line up with the body itself which required much putty and sanding and more putty and sanding. I eventually finished the build, but I'm still not happy with the way it came out, partially due to the kit and partially due to my lack of experience with extra bodywork.

I'll go and primer the hood and try to finish up the rear spoiler and then get the body into primer and then see where I'm at.

Edited November 14, 2010 by mrmike

[mrmike]

After much hesitation, I finally got the body into primer and I see that I need to do more work on the fender transition to the spoiler.

I was getting anxious see some paint on the hood. This is one coat and a little more TLC is needed on the hood.

I hate doing bodywork!

Mounted under the dash and to the right of the console is a mobile telephone that was considered "state of the art" in 1968. This was merely a prop on the 1:1 car as it wasn't hooked up nor had an antenna. I'll be making one of these.

Did I say I hate doing bodywork?

Mannix will return.....

[dwc43]

Hang in there. That's my hang up too. I hate paint and body work. I used to have a 20 channel CB radio that had a handset like a phone. Had the PTT button in the center of the handle. Little metal clip with a roller on the top end of the receiver to hold it in place. It was pretty cool, but still felt stupid using it since cell phones were still not popular and no one could believe a kid in a Road Runner had a car phone. So, it had to go for a more popular version.

[charlie8575]

I want one of those phones in my car....seriously. I wonder if the insides could be updated to work with the modern systems?

Looking good, Mike.

Charlie Larkin

[mrmike]

My Dad had a 23 channel telephone style CB in his '71 Cougar between the seats. He would get mad at the truckers talking trash back and forth and tell them all to shut up! And then he would turn the CB off.

Charlie, if there is a buck to be made, someone out there could change the internals to a cell phone mechanism. Somehow, that doesn't sound right. So much has changed in the world of communications in the last 40 years that basically has outmoded that type of mobile phone. But, who's to know when someone looks into your car and sees a mobile telephone mount under the dash or when a police officer pulls you over when you are seen "talking" on a telephone while driving.

Have I ever said, "I hate bodywork?"

[dwc43]

  On 11/15/2010 at 2:45 AM, mrmike said:

My Dad had a 23 channel telephone style CB in his '71 Cougar between the seats. He would get mad at the truckers talking trash back and forth and tell them all to shut up! And then he would turn the CB off.

Have I ever said, "I hate bodywork?"

It might have been 23 channel. It was that off white color too. It was a Lafayette brand name.

And that last statement, I think I vaguely remember you mentioning it at least once in the past.

[mikelo]

Looks like it is coming along good! Yea, I don't like body work either. I think that is why I have found a friend in Duplicolor sealing, sandable filler primer. A couple coats of that stuff while you are working on something really helps fill all those little pinholes, scratches and hides the filler edge marks. I love the color you are using. What color is it?

I have been a little busy, but not with modeling, as it looks like you have been. Love the Challenger!

Mike

[mrmike]

DW, the one my Dad had was from Radio Shack. Wasn't worth the ###### it was made out of!

Mike, I should check out that kind of primer, but I love Tamiya Fine Surface Primer. Is the Duplicolor primer thick? The paint I'm using on this build is Tamiya TS-9 British Green. It is a solid, non-metallic color that is close to the green Georga Barris used on the 1:1 back in 1968.

I have two clamp-on lamps on my paintbooth that I have been banging my head on for some time and I finally decided that I had enough of that and cut two holes into the top and permanently mounted them.

Then I finally finished body work on the Dart and I just couldn't wait for paint to start flying!

The dash was assembled and installed into the interior.

Mannix will return.....

[Dr. Cranky]

I love how the engine turned out, and I like the color. Keep it going, chap.

[mrmike]

Thanks Virgil! I'm just glad that the bodywork on the rear spoiler is done! Trying to get transition of the fender tops to the rear spoiler perfect was tough. Even in paint, the transition looks fantastic. Hey, I'm impressing myself!

[dwc43]

Looks great for someone that does not like paint and body work. I think your impressing all of us. Great paint job. Something that I need to improve on.

[Salvo]

This is a sweet project! It looks like it is coming along great!

[mrmike]

Thanks DW and Steve.

DW, I don't mind painting, just the puttying and sanding. I just have a hard time with it.

I did a mockup of the interior, chassis, hood, and grille to see what the Dart is starting to become.

This shot shows the fruits of my labor, the hood scoops, the rear spoiler, and the Tamiya British Green paint.

I still have much to do. Foiling, motor installation, my side marker technique, front bumper, and rear panel installation. DoubleD has offered me a mobile telphone and I'll install that when it arrives.

Mannix will return.....

[Ron Hamilton]

That is some excellent workmanship. I am a fan of the Mannix tv show too. I have the box set of the first season of the show. In the first few episodes, Mannix drove a 1966 then a 1967 Mercury Cyclone Convertible, before the Custom Toronado Roadster, which I have the unbuilt kit of in my collection. I'm going to do the '70 Cuda, and the '74 Camaro Z28LT he had on the show, as well as the Toronado, and the Dart like yours, but I am going with the Rader wheels on mine, as I have a set of them in my parts box. I just hope that my Mannix car comes out 1/2 as well as yours.

[dwc43]

Looks good. A little low in the tail for my liking, but it aint finished either. Using painted pin heads for marker lights ??

[Danno]

Just checkin' in. It's looking good!

[mrmike]

Ron, I know your Mannix Dart will look as good as mine! I had the MPC Mannix Roadster when it first came out. I wished I still had it today. What a difference 40 years makes!

DW, yes I am going to use painted pinheads for my side markers. While removing paint and prepping the body for bodywork and paint, I ended up removing the molded in side markers from the body.

Thanks for checking in Dan!

I foiled the body this afternoon.

I started work on the engine bay.

I added the chrome trim to the hood, cleaned up the grille, and started reworking the rear panel.

Mannix will return.....

Edited November 17, 2010 by mrmike

[charlie8575]

Looking good, Mike.

That color looks really nice on it.

Charlie Larkin

[mrmike]

Thanks Charlie!

For those of you who don't know how to make '68 Mopar side markers, I'll show you how. This technique is also posted in the Tips, Tricks, and Tutorials section.

First acquire 4 straight pins like those used on a new shirt. Using caution and care, cut the pin about 1/8th inch below the head of the pin.

Drill a hole into the fender in the correct position, and from the inside, squeeze a small amount of glue into the hole.

Insert the pinhead into the hole and allow to dry. Use your favorite clear paint and apply a small dot of paint onto the pinhead, amber for the front and red for the rear, and you are done.

After looking at some reference photos, I noticed that the rear panel was painted flat black, and so it was done.

This is the rear panel trim that I had in my parts box and I painted it with aluminium Metalizer.

And mounted it to the center of the rear panel.

Mannix will return.....

[mrmike]

Thanks to DoubleD, I have a telephone that I modified into the mobile telephone that is in the 1:1 Mannix Dart. Thanks Dave!

He also sent me two reel-to-reel tape recorders, one of which I have already paint detailed. I must now determine a location for this tape recorder in the Dart interior.

I didn't like the flat black treatment I put on the rear panel and thought that semi-gloss black would look better.

I am hoping to finish the Mannix Dart this week.

Mannix will return.....