Project Phoenix: Custom '61 Dodge Dart resurrection: The Wall, March 29

[Ace-Garageguy]

I really appreciate your interest and comments on this old girl.

The most recent problem has to do with the proportions and slope of the windshield. I started to try to get a little too tricky with it, and haven't been happy with the results yet...so I let her rest for a while.

Looking back over the photos here, I'm pretty sure I know the way to go now, and as she's never left the "short term" storage next to the build-bench, she'll be back as soon as I finish a couple of others.  

[misterNNL]

Great project!I'm enjoying watching your progress from absolutely trashed glue bomb to stylish street custom.I know what you mean about parking "in progress" cars out where we can see them while our OCD brains work out the details of their construction.Thanks for taking the extra time to shoot and post the excellent photos.

Edited April 10, 2017 by misterNNL
Forgotten details

[Zed]

way cool ! Can't wait to find update ?

[Ace-Garageguy]

                                                                              

                                                                       

                                     404 Error

                 Sorry. We can't seem to find the page you're looking for.

[Ace-Garageguy]

3 hours ago, Zed said:

way cool ! Can't wait to find update ?

Thanks for your interest. I was trying to post more of a response, but got 404'd.

[djflyer]

Now look what you made me do.  After this thread got brought back, I read it again from the beginning and was amazed by the great custom and repair work that was done to a severely damaged body.  Then this shows up on the bay, and well, you know....   (I even have a spare Lindberg '64 Dodge Super Sport with no body). 

So Bill, what say you to re-popping the missing cowl piece for me?

[Ace-Garageguy]

21 hours ago, djflyer said:

Now look what you made me do.  After this thread got brought back, I read it again from the beginning and was amazed by the great custom and repair work that was done to a severely damaged body.  Then this shows up on the bay, and well, you know....   (I even have a spare Lindberg '64 Dodge Super Sport with no body). 

So Bill, what say you to re-popping the missing cowl piece for me?

Cool...and thanks for your interest and comments.

Yeah, I have a cherry body I could pop a mold from, but I've been really bad about getting things done that I've offered like that. If you're not in any kind of hurry, I could work it in within a couple of months.

[djflyer]

4 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Cool...and thanks for your interest and comments.

Yeah, I have a cherry body I could pop a mold from, but I've been really bad about getting things done that I've offered like that. If you're not in any kind of hurry, I could work it in within a couple of months.

Excellent!  How ever soon your schedule allows would be great. I still have some figuring to do on all of the other stuff.

Will keep watch on this one for some more ideas on what to do with mine.

Edited October 25, 2019 by djflyer

[midlineqb]

On 10/18/2019 at 10:30 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

                                                                              

                                                                       

                                     404 Error

                 Sorry. We can't seem to find the page you're looking for.

Bill, could you try to repost this 404 Error? I'd love to see what else you did to the project!!! THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!

[Ace-Garageguy]

On 12/24/2023 at 1:29 AM, midlineqb said:

Bill, could you try to repost this 404 Error? I'd love to see what else you did to the project!!! THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!

I have no idea what happened there.

But sadly, after I'd pulled the molds for the body parts from that beautiful resin repop, I inadvertently stored it with a little pressure on the roof.

Took it out a few weeks back, as I was thinking about getting this model and the stock resin shell ready to take to the upcoming ACME event in late October, and it's hopelessly warped (the resin repop).

Since then I've acquired a perfect styrene shell, and it's very carefully stored indeed...but I'm kinda out of time for the ACME show.

[Glassparman]

@Ace-Garageguy I have no idea how you have accomplished all this work to that poor lost body! I would have made 16 1/2 new curse words by now! You are awesome!

[Ace-Garageguy]

On 9/25/2025 at 7:48 AM, Glassparman said:

@Ace-Garageguy I have no idea how you have accomplished all this work to that poor lost body! I would have made 16 1/2 new curse words by now! You are awesome!

Thanks for your interest and comment. I did get a little "linguistically creative" when I first saw the poor thing, and later on when I found I'd let the very nice resin body (that I bought to pull molds from) get irreparably warped, but this can be a very emotion-evoking hobby.  

[Nosferatu]

WOW! A lot of work but a great save! Very impressive!

Dave

[Ace-Garageguy]

11 hours ago, Nosferatu said:

WOW! A lot of work but a great save! Very impressive!

Dave

Thank you sir. I really appreciate your interest and comment.

I'm kinda thinking of dragging this one out, dusting it off, and showing it on the "primer" table at the upcoming ACME show at the end of October. Maybe get me motivated again...

[Jay Whittaker]

WOW, you have done an incredible save with this project!! I love the direction you're taking this and very much look forward to seeing its completion!

[Ace-Garageguy]

8 hours ago, Jay Whittaker said:

WOW, you have done an incredible save with this project!! I love the direction you're taking this and very much look forward to seeing its completion!

Thanks for your interest and comment. Much appreciated.  

[Donny]

On 5/29/2012 at 12:11 AM, Ace-Garageguy said:

Tricky bits....Masked the inside of the shell while spraying poly-vinyl alcohol release agent on the outside, and inside the mold. Jagged broken edges were scarfed ( tapered) back about 1/4" INSIDE.

 

http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af320/fastoldcarz/61%20Phoenix/DSCN5749.jpg

 

Mold aligned and securely taped in place. Release agent was CAREFULLY removed from extreme edges of break so that resin would adhere all the way to the surface.

 

http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af320/fastoldcarz/61%20Phoenix/DSCN5751.jpg

 

I coat of MGS 285 epoxy / 285 hardener thickened with Aerosil + 3 layers of fine model airplane cloth and MGS 285 resin / 285 hardener. Covered some stress cracks as well. Should have used the slower 287 hardener, as in the 90deg. heat, the resin was kicking during the third layer, which is why it looks kinda nasty.

 

http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af320/fastoldcarz/61%20Phoenix/DSCN5752.jpg

 

Popped the mold off after overnight cure.

 

http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af320/fastoldcarz/61%20Phoenix/DSCN5757.jpg

 

A little cleanup and she'll be good as new. In all honesty, I got the mold mis-aligned a few thousandths of an inch, and the molded surface is just a tad high, but careful bodywork will fix it. The repair is stronger than the original plastic, and the joins at the edges are forever. Forming parts in place like this is the same technique I've used sucessfully on 1:1 composite, 200mph aircraft. Same resin system too.

 

http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af320/fastoldcarz/61%20Phoenix/DSCN5759.jpg

Genius! you really know yer sh*T Bill.