Monogram PC-60 "Black Widow" '27 T Roadster Pickup

[John Goschke]

Rebuild with a Hook! It's NOT a Black Widow... It's a WILD CANARY!

Not exactly a Holy Grail, but I always liked this old kit, having built one when I was a kid. Found a nice disassembled, but rebuildable, example on ebay with a decent box, instructions, decals and the ever-popular Monogram kit catalog.

I wanted to do something a little different, since I've seen a few nice rebuilds in black, and also wanted to try masking and spraying whitewalls on the rubber tires to set it apart. Looking around the workbench for likely rattlecan colors, focused on three possibilities, with Tamiya's TS-16 Yellow (sprayed on top of their white Surface Primer) being the ultimate choice for ease of application and to contrast with the red and ivory I wanted to retain from Monogram's original color scheme. The paint went on well enough that I could skip the polishing bit! WooHoo!

The red on the engine, frame and dash is Tamiya TS-49. The ivory on the top and interior is Testors Flat White with a little Flat Yellow and a tiny dot of Flat Red mixed to closely match the original ivory plastic of those components. The red on the upholstery and floor is Testors Flat Red.

The model was built "box stock" except for scribing in the door lines and the addition of the molding around the doors and top of the cockpit using Plastruct half-round strip. Originally, the back of the body was molded with the seat. I cut that part away and blended it into the body before adding the body moldings and painting. I also added taillights from the first issue of AMT's '32 roadster, since Monogram didn't supply any! MV #228 lenses replace the glue-damaged original headlight transparencies. Also needed was a transmission since Monogram's drivetrain detail stops at the end of the bell housing! The bed cover is a scratch replacement for the missing kit piece, made from Evergreen sheet and strip plastic. I also had to recreate the front fender brackets, since the originals had been welded to the fenders in the wrong place. Fortunately the fenders were salvagable!

The steering wheel rim is the original unpainted ivory plastic, with the shift knob turned from a bit of ivory sprue to match the wheel, and mounted on the kit shift lever. The windshield is tweaked a little from the more upright position designed by Monogram to a more rakish angle, and to give the top more overhang at the front.

It was a really fun build! Hope you like it!

[Luis Ayala]

Congratulations John, you did an EXELENT Job on the restore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really love the last picture, makes you feel you are back in time...

Do you have any "Before" pics?

[BIGTRUCK]

Thats great John..the build and the ''old school'' items around it look really good..

[Paul Payne]

absolutely fabulous! I love it! I would also like to see any before pix, as I also have this kit and want to rebuild/restore as well.

[John Goschke]

Thanks for the compliments, guys. Sorry no "before" pix though. Wasn't much to look at anyway. Just a disassembled old build in a box. Fortunately, Not a total glue bomb and almost no paint except for blue enamel on the seat (thank you Easy Off!) A little more disassembly was required on the engine and the fenders. The latter I might have noticed BEFORE I painted them, put them on the car and installed the front wheels, if I'd READ THE INSTRUCTIONS (or at least looked at the pictures!)

[Modelmartin]

That looks like a model you had fun building. I like it. I also have a Black Widow restorable but I think I will be boring and do a boxart model. :roll:

[Jeff Johnston]

Very cleanly done model...I love the last picture with the old Testors glue and paint. THat is a classic photograph ! Very nice.

[James2]

WoW... does that look nice!!!

[bsoder]

WAY COOL!!..I love it , and the pics. are wonderful 8) ..B