mrm Posted April 23, 2014 Posted April 23, 2014 After I haven't build models for over a year I had the itch several times, but it never got serious. However the last two days I have been trying to fix the mess at home and unbox various piles. Well, yesterday I opened two big boxes full of kits. And boom! It bit me! So I left everything and played with models until 5am. I had two Alumacoupes. Here's the deal….I want them box stock, just like the real car. I love the way the car looks, but I want everything open. The way the model is made, you can fix the hood in either open or closed position. So I decided to build two of them to display next to each other. One with the panels open to show the details and one closed to show the lines of the car. I basically got everything done, but the bodies. I felt like a zombie when my alarm clock buzzed at 7:30 am, but it was well worth it.
mrm Posted April 23, 2014 Author Posted April 23, 2014 Thank you. I'll start prepping them for paint tonight. It's a shame all that nice crisp chrome has to be stripped.
rsxse240 Posted April 23, 2014 Posted April 23, 2014 I was never able to find any of the full detail Coddington kits. I was really wanting the Chezoom. You are doing a great job! I love the color that you chose too. I was not aware that the Alumacoupe had a Honda motor. I will love to see this done.
mrm Posted April 23, 2014 Author Posted April 23, 2014 (edited) Thank you Ken. These are going to be copies of the real deal, so the colors are just as the real car. It is still going to be BOYDS Alumacoupe yellow met on the outside. The car actually has a Mitsubishi Eclipse motor. Actually the whole vehicle was commissioned by Mitsubishi. I haven't even looked for one of these kits in the last few years, but I got my stash at about $5 a pop. I never found them hard to get or expensive. And it is a such a cool kit. Edited April 23, 2014 by mrm
mrm Posted April 23, 2014 Author Posted April 23, 2014 Darn it.... I just stripped all the chrome with oven cleaner, washed everything and sprayed it with black automotive primer and Comcast pooped the sheets, so I can't upload pictures. Oh, yeah, I started two more projects by the way.
Custom Hearse Posted April 23, 2014 Posted April 23, 2014 Good to see you back at it again. Sounds like you're gonna be busy! I have the Alumacoupe kit, but I have no clue what to do with it... Looking forward to seeing more of yours, so maybe I can get an idea of what to build...
mrm Posted April 23, 2014 Author Posted April 23, 2014 Both bodies glued together, sanded and washed, drying and waiting for primer. Getting their bottoms perfectly flat and smooth took some elbow grease, but overall it's nothing some body filler and sandpaper can't fix.
mrm Posted April 24, 2014 Author Posted April 24, 2014 Everything getting ready for color. The suspension is dechromed and primered in black. The Body panels are in Tamiya fine primer straight from the spray can. The rear of the second body (closed panels) needed some filling, as there were gaps on the bottom of the hood. Everything will be first airbrushed with decanted Tamiya yellow, followed by the Boyd color. I have no idea how long I've had this can, so I hope it will not cause me any problems. The plan is to wrap everything in urethane clear.
slusher Posted April 24, 2014 Posted April 24, 2014 I have no idea how the enamel will work over the lacquer I have seen it wrinkle...
mrm Posted April 24, 2014 Author Posted April 24, 2014 I have no idea how the enamel will work over the lacquer I have seen it wrinkle... Well, you are absolutely right. If you shoot lacquer over enamel it can wrinkle. Never seen it happen the other way around. The wrinkling happens when one coat eats into the other or dries faster than the coat underneath. Lacquers are "hotter" and faster drying than enamels, therefore there is no issues with them as long as they are under the enamels. At least this is my experience. Anyway. I sprayed the color about 3am last night. First I went with the Tamiya Chrome Yellow. Let it set for about an hour, at which time it was dry to the touch. Then I sprayed few coats of Aluma Coupe Yellow. Both paints I shot pretty "dry" on. This way they dry faster and there is less of a chance to cause any problems. As of right now the parts are still slightly tacky, but it has been only 12 hours, so it is to be expected.No wrinkles or any issues at all. Honestly, looking at the color, I should have just shot it with Giallo Tristratti, which would have been better looking and already cleared. Oh, well, I wanted to go with the original paint.
MsDano85gt Posted April 27, 2014 Posted April 27, 2014 I was never able to find any of the full detail Coddington kits. I was really wanting the Chezoom. You are doing a great job! I love the color that you chose too. I was not aware that the Alumacoupe had a Honda motor. I will love to see this done. i thought the description on the instruction sheet on the aluma coupes mentioned a mitsubishi motor??
mrm Posted April 29, 2014 Author Posted April 29, 2014 I am sorry I don't have progress shots on this, but I am waiting to clear coat it together with two other models. I try to have as little time around polyurethane as possible.
mrm Posted May 6, 2014 Author Posted May 6, 2014 Thank you Art. The body has been cleared and will be polished tomorrow. I will hate tomorrow. Four bodies need to be wet sanded and polished. That is the part of building I hate with a passion. Lots of elbow grease goes into those mirror finishes.
DeeCee Posted May 6, 2014 Posted May 6, 2014 These are a cool rod i think, done a couple of them myself. Like what you have done so far, and look forward to seeing those painted shots.
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