chrisrope Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 (edited) Hi Since I decided to ditch a load of my aircraft kits and build mostly Muscle car kits, I thought I’d best start one. For this I picked probably the worst first, 1 of 3 Dodge Challengers I bought, of which there is no good kit available really, all have their faults The AMT 70 R/T has been out in many boxes, this is a standard one with no extra bits. The main problem with this is the roof. It’s marketed as either a convertible or hardtop and does neither correctly. I’ve gone the hardtop route which has required a bit of filler Not anywhere near perfect but as good as it gets. I have also added the front far too early but to get a clean join, I’ll have to force some engine bay parts in later on Colour wise, I think I’m going with yellow and black, I’ve sprayed up a spare charger shell to try some old aerosols as I can’t go out for more paint Think I will go with the yellow and black bonnet but this one won’t be showroom finish. I’m thinking a rolling restoration, might leave a front wing in grey primer as if it’s been replaced, ratty but running. Once I’ve got the body pretty much sorted, I’ll start on the rest of it. Typical AMT, a box of loose bits More soon as I have some more days off soon Cheers Chris Edited April 29, 2020 by chrisrope 8 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang1989 Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Looking forward to this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeroenS Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 I'm in. Looks like you have enough to last you for some time 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisrope Posted April 9, 2020 Author Share Posted April 9, 2020 Smallest of updates. I don’t have any Hemi-Orange for the engine so good old Humbrol 18 for the block and heads. I’ll dirty it up later when I’ve painted the gearbox Bronze engine is the 58 Plymouth engine, building that up as a side project so I can look at making the correct air filters for ‘Christine’ 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisrope Posted April 9, 2020 Author Share Posted April 9, 2020 (edited) So, with a second spare Charger shell, I thought I’d try another can of paint I’ve had for a year or two. Halfords VW Mars Red over grey primer The red over grey tones down the brightness. I liked it so grabbed the Challenger. Definitely not anything near a real Mopar colour but should hopefully look cool with the black bonnet and shaker intake. Now just need to resist temptation and leave it alone for a few days Edited April 9, 2020 by chrisrope 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang1989 Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 Good color and great coverage. Can't wait to see it all wet sanded and cleared! It's gonna look great!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisrope Posted April 12, 2020 Author Share Posted April 12, 2020 Never tried this wet sanding topcoat on a model before. So a couple of YouTube videos later and a practice on the Charger shell I bit the bullet with some fine grit from a car headlamp restoration kit. No progress pictures of that but it came out well. I then shot it with many fine misted coats of clear lacquer throughout the day. I left it overnight and took these pictures in this morning’s sunshine This will need the lightest of cutting back which I’ll do in a few days time 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiny Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 Looks as though you've got a good basis for the sanding there. I don't know if you have any micromesh (pads are better than sheets), but going from 6000 to 12,000 will really give you a smooth finish. Just be careful not to burn through the paint and you'll see a big improvement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisrope Posted April 15, 2020 Author Share Posted April 15, 2020 After trying to get a good black finish on the bonnet (and failing), I’ve decided to colour match it to the rest of the car. It didn’t look right anyway and just looked like an odd replacement bonnet. I also didn’t like the moulded on bonnet pins so I shaved them off, filled the tiny scratches and reprimed ready for the red. Hopefully get the red on today and a few other little bits done on the interior 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisrope Posted April 16, 2020 Author Share Posted April 16, 2020 Sooooo.....turns out the aerosol clear lacquer I used is pretty much garbage. Probably ok for stuff where you just spray it on and leave it but for this purpose requiring a wet sand, it’s not great. I pretty much ruined it trying to get it cut back but it’s all a learning curve having never done any of this before with aircraft builds. It’s now sitting in an oven cleaner bath ready to go again Think I’ll go back to using trusty floor polish for clear coating 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KonaDawg Posted April 18, 2020 Share Posted April 18, 2020 Was never a fan of muscle cars but they are slowly growing on me. Thanks for sharing and inspiring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang1989 Posted April 18, 2020 Share Posted April 18, 2020 Sorry for the misfortune on the clear. Chris I pretty much use Testors Lacquer decanted from the spray can and airbrushed onto the body and then after cureout and the wet sanding process I'll decant Testors Wet Look clear and shoot that through an airbrush. I get near perfect results every time. If you're interested I can share my technique with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisrope Posted April 22, 2020 Author Share Posted April 22, 2020 Back to the start. 2 baths in different oven cleaners wouldn’t budge any of the paint or primer. Had to go with some aggressive sanding to get the paint to move, now back at a reasonably bare shell again. I’ve had to apply some more filler on the roof joins which I’ll sort tomorrow and hopefully get some colour back on. I’ve run out of grey primer so I’ll have to do a white or black base coat. It will live again 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 Shame about the finish. It looks very nice in the pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six97s Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 6 hours ago, chrisrope said: Back to the start. 2 baths in different oven cleaners wouldn’t budge any of the paint or primer. Had to go with some aggressive sanding to get the paint to move, now back at a reasonably bare shell again. I’ve had to apply some more filler on the roof joins which I’ll sort tomorrow and hopefully get some colour back on. I’ve run out of grey primer so I’ll have to do a white or black base coat. It will live again Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) will shift Halfords paint more readily than oven cleaner or brake fluid. If you can scuff the colour coats to expose some primer, it'll work quicker. I usually need a toothbrush for stubborn areas regardless. It's a pity there's never been a really good kit of the Challenger. The old MPC annual had the most accurate body, but those are expensive even for a glue bomb. The AMT is probably next best, other than the roof being a bit too curved. The Monogram T/A isn't bad, but the sides appear too deep, especially the doors. The more recent Revell-Monogram diecast conversion is awful, I wouldn't give that house room... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisrope Posted April 22, 2020 Author Share Posted April 22, 2020 3 minutes ago, Six97s said: Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) will shift Halfords paint It's a pity there's never been a really good kit of the Challenger. The old MPC annual had the most accurate body, but those are expensive even for a glue bomb. The AMT is probably next best, other than the roof being a bit too curved. The Monogram T/A isn't bad, but the sides appear too deep, especially the doors. The more recent Revell-Monogram diecast conversion is awful, I wouldn't give that house room... I need to get some of this cleaning IPA, I usually just get the drinking one A decent 1/25 Challenger is sorely needed. This AMT isn’t bad but roof is wrong for a coupe and a convertible so does both wrong. The Monogram (and Revell rebox) is 1/24 so is noticeably bigger next to a 1/25. I actually have a later Revell kit too, it’s a bit slab sided which is a shame as it’s otherwise ok-ish detail wise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisrope Posted April 22, 2020 Author Share Posted April 22, 2020 37 minutes ago, Pete in Lincs said: Shame about the finish. It looks very nice in the pictures. I was annoyed but it was mostly my fault. Hopefully I can get it back to where it was 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiny Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 Such a shame this all went the shape of a pear, I thought we were on course to finish our Challengers around the same time (give or take). I'd second IPA for paint stripping (make sure it's the 99.9% stuff though). Only problem is that for some strange reason people seem to have bought it all up for sanitising reasons. 😷 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang1989 Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 2 hours ago, chrisrope said: I was annoyed but it was mostly my fault. Hopefully I can get it back to where it was You sound determined enough to make just that happen Chris. Looking forward to the recovery. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisrope Posted April 25, 2020 Author Share Posted April 25, 2020 Back in primer Took some more filler to smooth out some scratches I put in the plastic. I thought about leaving it in the sort of satin black of the primer just to get it finished but I think it needs a colour. It’s only black as I’ve run out of grey primer 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan R Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 Shame about the paint. I have used Fairy Power Spray to remove Halfords' paint before. Smells a bit gross, but does the job. Who would have thought that a detergent was strong enough to strip paint! Cheers, Alan. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six97s Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 3 hours ago, Alan R said: Shame about the paint. I have used Fairy Power Spray to remove Halfords' paint before. Smells a bit gross, but does the job. Who would have thought that a detergent was strong enough to strip paint! Cheers, Alan. The original Fairy Power Spray worked well. Unfortunately, it was reformulated a couple of years ago (presumably to make it "safer" to use) and you might as well try Fairy liquid as the new stuff. :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six97s Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 On 25/04/2020 at 18:50, chrisrope said: Back in primer Took some more filler to smooth out some scratches I put in the plastic. I thought about leaving it in the sort of satin black of the primer just to get it finished but I think it needs a colour. It’s only black as I’ve run out of grey primer That looks good in black. I used to see a black '70 Challenger at Long Marston in the late '80s... now you've got me thinking about looking for an AMT kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan R Posted April 27, 2020 Share Posted April 27, 2020 20 hours ago, Six97s said: The original Fairy Power Spray worked well. Unfortunately, it was reformulated a couple of years ago (presumably to make it "safer" to use) and you might as well try Fairy liquid as the new stuff. 😕 That's a shame! It was about the only think that I could find that removed Halfords' paint without damaging the plastic... Cheers, Alan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted April 27, 2020 Share Posted April 27, 2020 Speaking of paint, and knowing that you like a Charger, here's what I rediscovered in the attic the other day. I wondered where it had gone! I got this as a wreck about 25 years ago at a car boot sale when I was at Scampton. It's the ERTL General Lee with a metal bodyshell. New wheels & quarter bumpers from spares, I made a hood from aluminium, and I got the paint bay to spray it. So, it's Red arrows red! Slight thread hijack but worth it, I think. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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