Neddy Posted July 17, 2022 Share Posted July 17, 2022 (edited) This will be my next big project, one which I've been saving (savouring?) for a while and looking forward to starting now I feel I have the confidence to make a half decent job of it. I have no idea of it's vintage other than it's pretty old and I remember it first being launched back in the late 1960s or early 70s. I bought it as a previously owned kit from Kingkit who check and guarantee complete - as you'll see from the photos they've been pretty thorough about it too... The box simply says "Made in U.S.A. by THE ERTL COMPANY, Dyersville, Iowa" with a part no. of #6722. It has obviously been inspected and carefully re-packed - this is what greeted me when I first opened the box... Each package carefully heat-sealed and it all looks to be in excellent condition... I must admit I'm impressed by Kingkit, this is far better packaged than most new kits I've bought. I've seen one of these (I think) already built on this forum, to an amazingly high standard which I have no hope of equaling, but it will serve not only as a spur to do my best but an unashamed crib if I hit problems! The body colour will be Tamiya TS-53, a beautiful rich dark metallic blue, with interior colours yet to be decided but I have white and light grey Humbrol satin paints in stock, plus a Revell Lufthansa Blue satin acrylic which has just arrived and looks promising. This won't be a quick build as I want to take my time, savour the experience and put as much into it as I'm capable of, so updates may be few and far between but I'll try and make it interesting. Edited July 17, 2022 by Neddy Korrekting misspellin 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six97s Posted July 17, 2022 Share Posted July 17, 2022 (edited) Yours is a mid '80s reissue. I think it first came out in the late '70s; I have a Matchbox/AMT one from c. 1982. There are a few niggles, especially the excessively raked windscreen, but it builds up easily. Edited July 17, 2022 by Six97s 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neddy Posted July 17, 2022 Author Share Posted July 17, 2022 (edited) Thanks for the interesting information regarding the kit's history - and the reassurance! I find it impossible to keep track of all the takeovers, mergers and buyouts that occurred in the kit manufacturing world during the last half of the 20th century to the point where I haven't a clue who owns what, who built which, where or what the heck happened to them. Edited July 17, 2022 by Neddy Second thoughts - the fingers were running ahead of the brain. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Timmy Posted July 17, 2022 Share Posted July 17, 2022 I built one of these waaaaayyyy back in the stone age . The windshield is a bit off, and I seem to recall having issues with the tires/rims not wanting to fit. But, What you get when your done is TOTALLY worth it ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vesa Jussila Posted July 17, 2022 Share Posted July 17, 2022 I am following this! I have my popcorn ready. I remember I was dreaming this kit in Helsinki when I was kid. It was Tietonikkari shop that is still there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiny Posted July 17, 2022 Share Posted July 17, 2022 Good choice on the paint colour - I used that one on the XJ-S and never regretted it. The flake size is very fine so it doesn't give you that oversized flake look you see on some metallic cars, even under the camera. Not wanting to tell you how to suck eggs, but being metallic make sure you clear coat it before polishing or you'll spoil the finish. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neddy Posted July 17, 2022 Author Share Posted July 17, 2022 Thanks people, thoughts and advice appreciated as always. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neddy Posted July 26, 2022 Author Share Posted July 26, 2022 Well, the longest journey starts with a single step and I've just bitten the bullet and commenced the build. First job was to re-bag it in clear bags to make finding parts easier as quite a few are loose having become detached from the sprues. I was pleased to note that the PVC tubing supplied for ignition wiring and radiator hoses is much nearer the correct scale diameters than the previous AMT 1:16th scale (Ford Thunderbird) build which had to be discarded in favour of garden tying wire. Also pleased to note the old-fashioned instructions are much more comprehensive than more recent evolutions in that they have quite verbose and detailed written descriptions of each stage in addition to the excellent diagrams - a rarity it seems these days. Basic engine assembly... ...I'm going for the custom engine build, hence the twin carb option on the intake manifold. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neddy Posted July 27, 2022 Author Share Posted July 27, 2022 (edited) Partially painted prior to continuing engine assembly... Edited July 27, 2022 by Neddy 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six97s Posted July 27, 2022 Share Posted July 27, 2022 I was going to say, ignore the instructions to paint it blue... Ford engines were black at that time. Still, if you're going custom, anything goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neddy Posted July 27, 2022 Author Share Posted July 27, 2022 Indeed! Having checked many images and found a bewildering array of different colours used I decided to go my own way having come to the conclusion that there won't be a 260 or 289 small-block still surviving that hasn't been rebuilt at least once and that engine builders tend to use their own choice of colours anyway. This is Tamiya X-13 Metallic Blue acrylic which I settled on simply because it looks good on a short engine. The transmission colour is again a Tamiya acrylic, X-10 metallic gunmetal, as I think silver is a bit too bright to give a realistic look to a large hunk of dirty oily metal. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted July 27, 2022 Share Posted July 27, 2022 Hi Neddy. On my way back from Chinon, where I visit the Royal Fortress, an important place in the tormented history of the English and the French, I had the pleasure to see exactly the same Ford Mustang, same year, same colour. Unfortunately, I couldn't take any pictures, because I was driving. ` But what I noticed and I'm sure of, is that the real car has a lower ground clearance than the model you're building (It's a 1964 one, imho). If this may help you... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neddy Posted July 28, 2022 Author Share Posted July 28, 2022 Interesting point, thanks! I'll bear that in mind when I get to that stage of the build and compare it's stance with online pictures. Adjusting the ground clearance won't be a trivial operation but worth it to get the look right. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neddy Posted July 29, 2022 Author Share Posted July 29, 2022 (edited) Progress and a confession - you may laugh, it is permitted! Having posted the previous pic it occurred to me that the colours had come out darker than expected. I then realised I'd made a rookie error. Prior to painting I'd stirred both colours thoroughly but what I SHOULD have done is shaken the bottles vigorously instead. Having done so I repainted the engine and the colours are totally different, much more as I intended them to be. So remember folks, if you're using Tamiya acrylic paints, think 007 - shaken, not stirred... Edited July 29, 2022 by Neddy 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted July 29, 2022 Share Posted July 29, 2022 2 hours ago, Neddy said: Progress and a confession - you may laugh, it is permitted! Having posted the previous pic it occurred to me that the colours had come out darker than expected. I then realised I'd made a rookie error. Prior to painting I'd stirred both colours thoroughly but what I SHOULD have done is shaken the bottles vigorously instead. Having done so I repainted the engine and the colours are totally different, much more as I intended them to be. So remember folks, if you're using Tamiya acrylic paints, think 007 - shaken, not stirred... Gorgeous painting job and superb colors, love it 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neddy Posted August 7, 2022 Author Share Posted August 7, 2022 (edited) Engine now complete apart from exhaust manifolds, plumbing etc. EDIT: I've tidied up the wiring and posted new pics as the first attempt was a tad scrofulous. Edited August 13, 2022 by Neddy Refreshed images to save embarassment! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neddy Posted August 13, 2022 Author Share Posted August 13, 2022 Having successfully completed the wiring I realised I'd left some retaining threads visible and failed to tighten and tidy the plug leads leaving a functional but distinctly scruffy appearance. I've now tidied everything up a bit, hence the refreshed images above. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted August 13, 2022 Share Posted August 13, 2022 On 8/7/2022 at 7:14 PM, Neddy said: Engine now complete apart from exhaust manifolds, plumbing etc. EDIT: I've tidied up the wiring and posted new pics as the first attempt was a tad scrofulous. Very clean work, Neddy I love it (already said but I can't resist to repeat !) Just a constructive critic if you permit: the blades of the fan are too thick imho, and it would have been interesting to slim them down, at least on one side... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neddy Posted August 13, 2022 Author Share Posted August 13, 2022 You're dead right, I only noticed it in the close-up photos. I reckon I can take a file or an emery board to the blades before I go any further. Thanks! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neddy Posted August 14, 2022 Author Share Posted August 14, 2022 (edited) @CrazyCrank ...and five very scary minutes with a Dremel and a drum sander bit has halved the thickness and shaped them a little more. Using a full-size mains-driven Dremel on something that small is a bit like trying to trim your fingernails with an angle grinder. Edited August 14, 2022 by Neddy 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 2 hours ago, Neddy said: @CrazyCrank ...and five very scary minutes with a Dremel and a drum sander bit has halved the thickness and shaped them a little more. Using a full-size mains-driven Dremel on something that small is a bit like trying to trim your fingernails with an angle grinder. now it’s perfect 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fnick Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 That is so much better! Worth the scary 5 minutes imho! Nick 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neddy Posted August 19, 2022 Author Share Posted August 19, 2022 (edited) Engine now complete I'm pressing on slowly. Next up for attention is the running gear, starting with the tyres. The moulding is pretty dire - the treads are quite good but the mould alignment is off, meaning there's not only a rib of moulding flash round the centre of the tread but the two halves of the moulding (and therefore the tyre) were misaligned. As you'll see from the before (right) and after (left) pic below, it took a fair bit of work with an emery board* to get them trued up and at all realistic-looking... (*I really must buy some of my own before Mrs Neddy notices they're going missing...) Edited August 19, 2022 by Neddy 3 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiny Posted August 19, 2022 Share Posted August 19, 2022 Another suggestion shamelessly plagiarised from someone on here (may have been @galaxyg but my memory is hazy there) is to mount the tyre on a drill and spin it up against sandpaper (or emery board). Much quicker and miles more suitable for the lazy person 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neddy Posted August 19, 2022 Author Share Posted August 19, 2022 That's something I used to do to bed-in tyres for use on slot-racing cars I was building whilst still in single figures. Mounting these on a suitable shaft would be a tad tricky at this early stage (the wheels aren't assembled yet) but it's a very effective method. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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