1982 Mustang GT

[bigbluesd]

I thought I stole this on eBay when I got it for like $12 with shipping but it quickly became apparent that the kit is a bit of a turd. So I'm going to use it to practice my body modification skills (nothing fancy, I've just never done ANY modification yet) and try to turn it into a halfway decent curbside shelf trophy based on this car:

I've started cutting out some of the molded in foglights, etc. and cleaning up the massive and many sink marks on the body. The tires that came with it are beyond hope so I have no qualms about swapping them out for something more similar to that picture. I hit my small but growing stash of parts and came up with the following contenders:

A set of tires from a Burago Ford Focus rally kit that I also "stole" on eBay the other night after a few glasses of wine while browsing on my smartphone. Only problem is that the smartphone app doesn't show the listing description by default and I was too drunk to give it much of a look. Realized the next day that there was no body with the kit at all. DOH! Oh well, spare parts I guess, I only paid $6 with shipping so I'm not heartbroken. On this kit though though they look too small I think. The good news however is that the Focus kit had some pretty nice racing seats, I think I will use those.

A set of SVT wheels off of a Lightning gluebomb that I just snagged off of eBay. Not bad. Liking the look, definitely a contender, although I really wanted to build the Lightning box stock so this would be a bit of a sacrifice.

A set of wheels from a prepainted NASCAR kit that I bought in the thrift shop the other day for $5 to use for parts.The slicks would look weird so I mounted them on the Focus tires just for the purpose of the picture. Meh.

DING DING DING, I think we have a winner. I like these almost as much as the SVT wheels and they came out of a Boss 3'n'1 kit that I plan on using the other wheels in to build, so they aren't a sacrifice at all. Don't look too hot chromed but I think if I paint them aluminum they will look much better.

Next up, I will waste a week or so staring at it pretending like I'm about to make progress and never really accomplishing anything. Then eventually I will cut out the side marker lights (going to back the hole with Evergreen and make new lenses) and try to recess the door handles (any tips?). I also need to find a way to thin down those stupid oversized window moldings, I'm guessing I'm going to have to shave them off completely and trim it out with new evergreen stock? I have some evergreen coming in the mail and once that gets here I'll start working on the hood scoop as well.

Edited April 11, 2014 by bigbluesd

[stang_crazy]

is the hatch separate on this kit from the body?

[bigbluesd]

It is but I am going to glue it in place so that I can make the panel lines look good, it doesn't fit very well. I'm sealing the hood too because the engine bay is just embarrassing.

Edited April 11, 2014 by bigbluesd

[MsDano85gt]

is the hatch separate on this kit from the body?

yes it is as its basically a snap kit for the most part, really easy to convert this to a open hatch build.....

[stang_crazy]

I think this is one of the few fox body mustang kits I don't have. Could use a few for sure..

[MsDano85gt]

they are not all that great but can be kitbashed fairly easily the 1/24 revell monogram kits fit perfectly underneath and make them so much more detailed

[JTalmage]

Funny, I bought one of these too on Ebay for 6 bucks... and yes... its a a crappy kit for sure!

[Captain Obvious]

Kinda liking the NASCAR wheels myself, but I realize that they don't really match the 1:1 inspiration...

Watching this one, interested which direction you take with it.

[Modelmikey]

Never seen this one before, I like the Focus wheels myself.

[bigbluesd]

I've got to recess the area underneath the door handles, they are flush on the kit. Any suggestions on how to do this before I start mauling plastic with my dremel and knife?

[MsDano85gt]

any other progress on this one yet??