April 2023 ~ Old Mans Curiosities

1970 Plymouth Roadrunner (Tennessee Screwjob) PT 2

April 30, 2023 Failure, Plymouth, Revell, Roadrunner

After soaking the parts in brake cleaner for about an hour, it slowly started to make the paint tacky, to where it was stick against the basin. After a few hours, took a toothbrush to the body. The paint in some areas started rubbing off.

After another hour so so, scrubbing and soaking, I dumped the parts into a bucket of warm soapy water.Took the toothbrush and continued scrubbing. The bottom portion where the paint ran was the worse. Had to resoak the body for another half hour. Finally pulled it, washed it off in the soapy water and dried it off. Let it ser for a few hours while some chores got done.

Took the parts to the sink. Laterhered them up with some Dawn soap and began wet sanding with 800 grit paper. After about 30 minutes of sanding, using toothpicks in the crevices, it's about as clean as it will get.

Going to look for either a flat white or flat yellow primer. Think I am going to switch from the Chrome Yellow to a Lemon Yellow.

Up next: PT 3 - new body paint or junkyard?

1970 Plymouth Roadrunner (Tennessee Screwjob) PT 1

April 29, 2023 Failure, Level 4, Plymouth, Revell, Roadrunner

When I bought the Nova, I found this kit on the same site. I recall my dad having one was I was a kid. Not sure if it was his or one of his friends, but it sat in our back yard for quite awhile. Man would he beat my ass when he caught me playing around it.

When I saw this, I thought it would be a good project after I finished the Yenko, but I ended up doing the Camaro instead. The plan for this kit was simple, bright yellow with a flat black and yellow trim interior. So it would have seemed.

There's something about this car that I've always enjoyed. Not sure if it is the stance, the body lines, etc. To me, it falls inline with the '69/70 Charger, the '67 Belvedere GTX, the Roadrunners sister the '70 GTX and a few others.

I bought a can on TS-47 Tamiya Chrome Yellow for the body color and a can of Testors Semi-Gloss Gray primer. Already had a can of Testors Flat Black for the interior. Picked up a bottle of Gun Metal and Flat Gray for some more engine details. While I was at it, decided ti grab the Tamiya paint stand and some other supplies. Starting to feel like a pro at this now!

Last evening, I washed and wet sanded the body parts like normal. Washed the interior parts and a few others. Dried them and let them site for a bit. All the meanwhile, kept running over detailing options in my head for the interior and engine bay. Unlike the Nova and Camaro, this engine bay was molded into the body. After about an hour of letting the remaining water to dry off, I wiped it down and took it to the booth for a coat of primer. The primer seemed to be a bit thick despite shaking the can for about 10 minutes.

It was getting late so i decided to let it set overnight and pick up in the morning. Early this morning, I grabbed the body and did a little wet sanding. I found some mold lines that i didn't see on the white plastic base. After about an hour, I sprayed another light coat of primer to cover what i have sanded off back to plastic. Letting it set a few hours, I ran some errands.

Finally getting around to it, I decided to lay the first coat of yellow. Following a few tips I saw in some YouTube videos, i set the can in some hot tap water for about 5 minutes, while eating my bologna sandwich! As I started the spray, the paint seemed to be just mist. It didn't seem to be adhering to any part of the body. Shook the can a bit more and rotated the body, sprayed a bit more.

By time I was done, I could see the paint wasn't setting in the crevices around the trunk, sat heavily around the door handles and vents and started running down the passenger door. A little perturbed, I went to mow the lawn.

I let it set for a few hours while I did the lawn work. Grabbed the 800 grit sandpaper and sat at the sink for an hour, wet sanding the body. Hoping that I could somehow salvage it.

Worrying I was going to sand through the body lines, I went online and got some insights from others.It's been decided that it's going to need a brake fluid bath to strip the paint. I will pick up a can of flat white primer and a different yellow. I say that as the paint on the hood and rear bumper (not primed) is too dark for my liking. If I can find a can of Lemon Yellow, I may go with that. Had an old Flying V guitar in my teens that was redone in Lemon Yellow.

On the bright side, the interior and other parts of the car done in flat black are ready to go. I will hold off on those for awhile.

To Be Continued:

1969 Chevy Camaro Z/28 RS - "Purplicious"

April 29, 2023 Camaro Z28, Chevy, Level 4, Revell

I used to run a normal blog. Ran it for roughly 9 years until my account was compromised and it was deleted. Google was unable to recover it, so I lost many years of memories, thoughts and more. I started a few more blogs after that but they fell by the wayside. I am hoping this one doesn't.

I decided to start this blog to capture my memories again. Mainly of my hobbies. Having recently decided to get back into model building, I figured this would be a good place to start.

After finishing the Yenko Nova, I happened to spot this kit at the local Michaels craft store. I also saw it at Hobby Lobby, but it was $8 cheaper at Michaels, which also allowed me to pick up some more paints for future kits. At first I was contemplating the color scheme when i saw a can of "Purplicious,' and knew that was the color.

I could not find a purple color in enamel paint at either Hobby Lobby or Michaels, so I decided that I would do a solid white interior.

This kit was a lot of fun to put together, despite the extra flashing that needed to be sanding and a lot of sanding required to get pieces to fit. I also tried the BFM (bare metal foil) for the first time in my life. It added an extra level of frustration, but overall, provides a better detail that a silver trim paint in my opinion. Though my first foil attempt is far from perfect, I am happy with it.

I did run into an issue with the paint as well. Oddly, after applying the second clear coat, it started to display the "orange peel" effect. I spent about an hour at the sink wet sanding it using some dish soap and 800 grit paper. After i let it dry overnight, i sprayed another coat of clear and it fixed the peel issue and looked great.

I spent a little extra time on both the engine and engine bay. Though there are no aftermarket parts or home made wire kits, it was the little things like the nuts and bolts, molded wiring that i spent the extra time on.

In the end, the Camaro turned out well. Still ran into a slight fitting issue. The hood doesn't sit flush as it did during a pref-it phase. The decal sheet was lacking and there were no molded lights, so I hand painted those. Didn't turn out quite like I wanted, so I have filed this as still a WIP.

So now it sits on my mantle next to the Yenko and the 15 year old General Lee.

1969 Yenko Nova (Street Burner)

April 29, 2023 Chevy, Level 5, Nova, Revell, Yenko

It's been 15 years or so, since I built my last model kit. Back in the late 80's, early 90's, my brother and I had built just about every modern NASCAR kit there was, along with a few others. We even went as far as taking his old slot car track and built our version of the Daytona speedway in the basement. We lined it with our cars, used empty cereal boxes to make the infield and grandstands. It was the true poor mans diorama.

15 years ago, I built the General. A long time fan of the Dukes of Hazzard,I had built this car when I was real young. Not sure what ever happened to it though. Not sure what made me buy it or even want to put it together, but it was a bit fun. Recently, I found that I needed a hobby that wouldn't break the bank. So I decided to get back into modeling. Things are a lot different now then decades ago.Especially the use of the internet to see tips and tricks and different builds. Who would have thought of using embossing powder to make carpet? Not I. When you live on the country as a kid, it's kind of hard to get out to cities to model shows. We would just pick up what was at the local Kmart or Ames stores. The prices of the kits have gone up as well. I've read a lot of explanations as to why, but certain stores seem to mark up the kits a lot more than others.

I figured my first kit in 15 years would be one of my "dream cars." Not necessarily a Yenko, but I have always had a thing for the Chevy Novas from 69-72.Not sure why, but I guess it might have something to do with my dad having a Nova II when I was little. Though the Nova seems to share some of the same body lines of the Chevelle, you would never really see a Nova at the car shows as a kid. But Chevelles were a dime a dozen. I am also Pittsburgh anything. Steelers, Penguins, Pirates, even lived there a few years for college. And knowing that Don Yenko started in Canonsburg, south of Pittsburgh, I think it kind of drew me to the Yenko name and the Yenko Nova. Especially the the Nova's with the sYc badging.

I found a kit online and bought. My dream 69/70 Nova would be either black with white interior and rally stripes or white with black interior and rally stripes. But I opted for this kit to go with a bright red with a black and red interior. Since it's been so long since I built a kit, it took some time to remember and figure some things out. One thing I've always struggled with is body to frame fitting issues. And it's no different here. I still pay attention to some of the minor details, however I didn't go full bore with this like masking for two tone paint jobs, etc. I just wanted to get back into building again to see if I could still do it with my aging eyes, arthritis and waning patience. I am happy with how this turned out.

Ran into some issues while doing final assembly. Mainly, the rear frame sitting too deep into the body. I realized my eyes definitely need help and my arthritis gets in the way of fine touch painting.