CHARLIE ALLEN Dart F/C - Hobby Room Construction - Update 7/14/15

[Chris in Berwyn]

First an update on the house hunt, then one on the project.

This week I put a bid in on what would have been the perfect home. I got beat out by a cash deal. I'm a novice at this and don't know why cash from a buyer vs. cash from a mortgage company is different. I could have held my own in a bidding war, but wasn't even given the opportunity.

Mortgages can fall thru before closing, so cash is always preferrred.

[Nitrozilla]

You got that part right Chris. I've got a bid in on another house I should hear about tomorrow.

Happy Memorial Day to all of my Fellow and Fallen Brothers and Sisters.

We can also say goodbye to the old paint job. I put in a huge order with TCP Global for some HOK primer, clear coat, red and silver paint. Hopefully, I'll have everything stripped by the time it gets here.

Since I've never seen a "How To" or a tutorial on the actual stripping process, I thought I'd fill the void. I started the stripping process yesterday by pouring a gallon of Super Clean into a container, then soaked the parts. I checked on it from time to time with lackluster results, then decided to let it go overnight. Most people I've talked to or read about say it takes about 5 - 6 hours. Not in this case. It literally dissolved the silver, but left the red and the primer beneath it, proud and resistant. I will give it fair credit in that it did a halfway decent job on the resin body.

Now it's soaking in Dot 3 brake fluid. On my first check an hour into it, there is minor progress, but at least it's progress. we'll see what the end of the day brings.

Aside from improving my paint skills, I'm also changing my mindset on, "Do I paint a part metallic / chrome or make it out of metal?" Basically that means I'm starting to collect EVERYTHING that may lend a purpose that has a metal surface. It started when I took apart a bread bag from Olive Garden. From now on, every bag and wrapper is fair game.

Enjoy the pics and enjoy the holiday Fellow Modelers.

Here's the before pic of all the parts to be stripped

Next is the soak

Then after the overnite Super Clean. The strange pattern on the tinwork is from me scraping with my thumbnail. A stiff brush had no effect.

So I now have a really big master cylinder with a gallon of brake fluid

Edited May 25, 2015 by Nitrozilla

[Nitrozilla]

And here's my new metal collection

[Codi]

Joe, I'm so sorry that the end came at the "pond". We've all been there and we all share your pain on that decision. UGH! On the other side of the coin however, that foil pic you've shared is very very cool. I know you'll keep us posted on the results of the stripping and where you take it next. Again, sorry to hear of your headaches with this. Cheers(?) Tim

[Randy D]

Hey Joe,

Thank you for your service and I hope you get the house hunt behind you soon!!!!

I bettin' this paint job with be the real deal ( or else I'm going to start calling you Chris #2 :D )

Randy

[cobraman]

Good luck with the house hunting. What a shame to strip the paint on your model. I wish I could lay down as nice as job that you already had.

[John Teresi]

Joe ......good luck with the new paint job.......I know you will like using an airbrush so much better

[Nitrozilla]

Tim, thanks for the words of encouragement. You're about to see how badly I need it right now.

Randy, about me being Chris #2. You have no idea how prophetic that is. I'm going to need a little more time on this one. Read on.

Ray, it was plenty shiney, but wasn't smooth enough. Now it's just, well, you'll see.

For the most part I have discovered that Super Clean is weaker than needed and brake fluid has left me highly confused. It seems that the TYPE of plastic you are stripping makes a difference. It worked fine on kit styrene, not at all on Evergreen and Plastruct and a little too well on resin.

I think the pictures speak for themselves. Actually, at this point you might want to look at the pictures and then come back for the rest of my commentary.

***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

My first clue to there being a problem was when I looked in the container and saw the hood floating on the surface. Not a desirable characteristic in a one piece body. I may have discovered a new process for turning resin into rubber. I wonder if I need to file for a patent?

Now the plan is to primer the Deora and the ramps after some clean up. The tinwork is fine too. I think I'll try some SpazStix Chrome as I wanted too all along.

Anybody have a suggestion for a new body and or theme? I have the "Charlie Allen Grail Thing" out of my system and am open to suggestions.

[John Teresi]

Joe.......Oh my God.......what a bummer......Just get a new body Brother.......no big deal.......we all learn from our mistakes

[Nitrozilla]

I haven't decided if I'm going to stay with the Dart or go in another direction. Maybe something simpler until my skill level increases.

The body I used is this one: http://www.compresins.com/site/751597/product/CR-4006

I do have the 68 Dart body, but I also have a Charger, both a solid and a clear Cuda, and on an off the wall thought, I've got a Super Bee and a Road Runner.

Thanks John and Paul for your thoughts.

[bobthehobbyguy]

Bummer things were going so well.

[Mooneyzs]

Joe... Hey Buddy... I am so sorry man. That is a bummer, I have never used brake fluid to strip any parts before and no idea it would do that to a resin body. Well Between you and me we have found out that you can not put aluminum parts in the purple pond to strip or put resin bodies in Brake Fluid..... . I know when you get a new body and once you get into your new house that you are going to love painting with an airbrush and automotive paint. It will make a world of a difference in my opinion. I know others may disagree with me but ever since I have been using automotive paints for my bodies I haven't looked back and I have been using them since I was a teenager...lol Keep your chin up and don't let it get you down. It was a learning lesson we all go thru.

[Art Laski]

Oh man, Joe! What a drag, no pun intended... Thanks for sharing, as we'll all learn something from this.

-Art

[Codi]

Joe, you've taught us all a valuable lesson. TEST first, then move on when it comes to paint and chemicals of ANY sort. Plastics / resin etc. just don't seem to play well with each other sometimes. I'm not trying to diminish the pain you're feeling over this one. I learned on my first build back to the hobby (my 66' Mustang) when I stripped it the first time it ate all my body filler and caused me hours of extra work....learned my lesson then and there. Anyways, I commend you for your attitude above all else as this just sucks. Won't even attempt to make a "funny" at this time. Chin up, head down. I know you'll make your next build that much better. Cheers my friend. Tim

[Nitrozilla]

Thank you everyone for all of the positive feedback. It's a good thing I took some cool down time afterwards before posting. There's a big difference between what I said when it happened versus what I posted. There are probably websites that allow that type of language and I STILL would have gotten a warning.

As a stress reliever, I'm going to narrow a Super Bee body just for the fun of it. I've already shaved and sanded the door handles, side markers and window trim including making the front vent window go away. The wheelbase also needs attention by widening the rear fender wells and moving the fronts forward. What might look funny is the nose with those two big bug eye grills butted up to each other. Need to chop up the bumpers as well.

On the up side, I've started escrow on a house and I should have some news in a few weeks. WooHoo!!!!

Hope to have progress pics before the weekend.

Again, THANX for the good vibes. Y'all ROCK !!!

[10thumbs]

Hi Joe, I think it's good to not do a Dart this time around, so your choice is correct in my opinion. Good luck with the house deal.

Michael

[Chris in Berwyn]

Given the effort you have already made to replicate the Dart I think you should do a dart again,unless as the decals, stripes, etc are just too hard to get as right as you want them.

I also think that some builds just don't go 100 pct right, and you can either live with the flaws and move on, or take whatever time it needs to get it right. I have two cases in point. My Mickey Thompson Revellaser had great paint but the decals have cracking issues. I finally said it isn't what I envisioned,but it just isn't worth the pain to perfect. On the other hand, I am building Phil Castronovos 71 Mini Charger. It's a labor of love and I will take all the time it takes to get it right.

Edited May 28, 2015 by Chris in Berwyn

[cobraman]

My heart skipped a beat when I saw the car body. I can only imagine how you must have felt. Hang in there !

[Nitrozilla]

Mike and Chris, I have two trains of thought right now and they are both, "Finish what you started" and, "How cool is this Super Bee going to look?"

Ray, my heart would have skipped a beat, but I was too busy trying to suck in oxygen to avoid passing out.

I'm just trying to remain focused on an overall great looking end product. I've got an "off the chain" hauler and a "bad to da bone" chassis. Now I just need to put it all together.

The Super Bee is taped off, ready to commence a hackin' and a slashin'. We'll see if it has potential. If I have learned anything from life, it's that things happen for a reason. Does it mean something that only the body was damaged?

On the "new home" front, I signed all the paperwork to start escrow and now the real wait begins.

[Mooneyzs]

Joe... that is some great news aboit the house. I will keep my fingers crossed for you. On the body... I say keep on with the charlie allen themE because it is a an awesome build.

[Nitrozilla]

Thank you for those inspirational words Chris. You gave me the idea to do what all good pragmatists do. COMPROMISE.

Here's the new plan, I'm going to use the Super Bee bod and everything stays the same theme - wise. It'll still be Charlie Allen. What can I say? I'm hooked on Phantoms.

So this morning I commenced to whittlin' on the body. It came out a little too narrow, but it only forces me to radius the rear fender wells to fix that. Kinda' glad it came down that way because I was considering it already anyway. I still need to move the front wells forward, but I'll do all of that after the body is back together.

Tonite I'll make inserts for under the trunk, roof and hood to strengthen the seams when I reunite the halves.

Enjoy the hacking and slashing goodness.

[Nitrozilla]

I know...... mwahahahaha

[John Teresi]

Joe......now that is what I like to see......you had a small problem.......but,you turned it around to being a good thing .......looks Awesome

[cobraman]

Oh ya, that will be sharp !

[Randy D]

Hi Joe,

Like the new direction my friend, that bodywork looks right on !!!!

Randy