'32 Phantom Vicky guinea pig-update-1-11-12

[mrm]

This model was started somewhere in the middle of last year, right after I decided to return to plastic kit building. Long story short, it was used as test bed for few different things. First I really wanted to see how an almost completely dechromed modern Deuce would look like in the flesh. Then I wanted to try the then-somewhat-new one toush paint from Testors straight out of the can (well it sucks MHO) Last but not least I wanted to see the front suspention with a particular size wheel/tire without modifying it or the frame/body/grille (not very happy with that either)

So here is my little guinea pig, which is still not finished. So far it has Alumacoupe wheels, brakes and tires, photoetched gauge panel,pedals, door handles and steering wheel and a dual pipe intake machined from aluminum.

It still needs the upper portion of the body to be repainted (in the same metallic black)

front lights hood and supports installed

windshield installed

rear taillights and licence plate installed.

It does not seem like a lot, but considering that for some reasons unknown to me, apparently I have decided back when I did the car so far, to actually glue everything together. So now, I have to very carefully mask the model while it is assembled to do any painting on it. And I assure you, I am not happy with the paintjob on it.

Stay tuned and thanks for looking.

Edited January 12, 2012 by mrm

[Dr. Cranky]

Well, if it's a guinea pig it most certainly doesn't look it. I think i'ts beautiful and you got lots of cool details into that engine bay. I agree with Erik, the colors are just right. Nice going.

[1fine89]

I have never liked those wheels in chrome, but in black they suit your build perfectly.

Can't wait to see it finished!

[mrm]

Thank you guys.

I was thinking to save the Vicky and I started to sand some of the nasty fish eyes on the black paint. Then I noticed some more on the green too and at one point I realized, that it would be considerably easier to just take the thing apart, reuse what I can and build the rest from square one, as I have few kits like this.

So, I will make the identical thing, but just build in a better way.

[mrm]

I started dissambling everything and then ideas started popping in my head. So now the build is going to follow the same guide lines, but it is getting different. Engine, frame, body, interior, wheels stay the same. I just thought that it needs more 'POP' so I decided to sharpen the contrast. So, now the engine, frame and lower body are still going to be green, but a much "louder" green and the upper part will be blain jet black instead of metallic. As a challenge I want to make the build a rattle can job, but I substituted the one touch cans for Tamiya ones.

The interior will stay untouched, except some seatbelts may be added. I also am thinking of dechroming the grille and making it black also. I would like a second opinion on this from everyone.

Thank you

Edited October 25, 2012 by mrm

[mrm]

So I stripped everything from paint and painted it over again. Because this is my guinea pig I decided to experiment with different paints and their compatibility. I said I wanted to do this as a spray can job, so I first covered everything in Rust-o-leum primer sealer from the Auto Zone accross the street. This went very well. Next I sprayed few coats of Tamiya bright green, which was way too bright, so I decided that I need to take some of its fluorensence out. Back to Auto Zone I went and bought a can of clear EFFECTS (or something like this) which claimed that creates a metallic out of any solid color. I sprayed it very very carefully over the Tamiya paint and the green was metallic. Then I did something I usually don't like. I used a 0.05 marker to put black in the door creases. I did not like what I had because it just did not look very realistic. I never liked the black painted creases on doors or nay panels and I have no idea what made me do it. Anyway, since this is my guinea pig and the Tamiya paint had some transperancy to it, I decided to spray a couple more very thin coats of green, so it could cover the black creases but to be transperant enough, so the black still gave a shadow. Then I sprayed the clear effex, or whatever it is called, and decided to build up glitter with it. In few thin coats I build up enough of it, to receive an amazing effect. It gives the paint almost a shifting ability. Under surtain angles it is just plain green, but under others it has golden hues with even some blue into it. Really really cool.

This is why I love guinea pig projects. Always something new to discover.

I guess third time was the charm.

I wil wait a couple more days and mask it and put the black on the top part of the body. I decided not to take away from the wow effect of the green paint and make the top part just plain black. (originally I was thinking spraying the clear effex over the black too)

Thank you for looking and stay tuned.

Edited January 9, 2012 by mrm

[mrm]

So I sprayed the black on the top part of the body and was watching it dry and two new ideas hopped in my head. The first was to make the thing full fendered. That sounded good and it will be done, but it is going to be a separate project to create a sister car. The second idea was not really new, but ratter remembering an idea from the day I laid eyes on this kit for the first time. The model will look awesome with a top on, but the top of the model is somewhat not suiting the car. Too round and bubbly. It will probably look cool on a Prowler Phaeton, but not on a cool angular '32. So I have always manted to make a proper roof that suits the car. That time has come I guess.

Anyway, the original roof with tape marking the line for the first cut.

It is important to keep the front edge of the original roof as it is a perfect mating surface for the split windshield. In order to maintain all original proportions and angles, a "spine" is glued in the middle of the cutout, before the sides are cut

Then after the sides are cut out and replaced by square styrene rods, thin sheet of styrene is used to create the new roof in two halfs

I want a particular shape I saw as a scetch somewhere, which is kind of complicated as it had a a raised edge in the center, which fades away towards the back which is squarish but looks kind of round on top. I know, I am terrible at describing it, but I have the vision in my head how to do it and when I am done with it, you will see what I mean (if it goes according to plan ofcourse)

Here is some strips added and a pool of hardened superglue to prevent the top from sagging from the putty.

Thank you for looking

Edited January 12, 2012 by mrm

[mrm]

So here is the roof after some putty with a new character line added. It is superglued on top of the putty, which is irrelevant as it will have filler all around it and on top of it. It is marely a guyde line to keep the shape in check.