TooOld Posted December 18, 2016 Posted December 18, 2016 (edited) After being absent for more than a year I finally have one on my bench ! I picked up this Little Deuce last November with plans to restore it back to original form . Disassembly was about as expected with the only casualties being one exhaust manifold and the front axle . It took two days and a couple of trips to the purple pond to get the parts to this point . Some of the paint is being really stubborn . First order of business is to replace the broken bumper mounts . I used a part from a reissue as a pattern and traced the shape onto some plastic . After some grinding with a Dremel I used a small file to fine tune the shape of the mounts . Also some notches were filed in the ends of the frame . Here's the new bumper mounts glued in place . To be continued . . . Edited February 8, 2020 by TooOld
Snake45 Posted December 18, 2016 Posted December 18, 2016 Nice work! I LOVE this kinda stuff! Drive on!
Pete L. Posted December 18, 2016 Posted December 18, 2016 Nice work on one of my favorite kits of all time. Can't wait to see more !
1930fordpickup Posted December 18, 2016 Posted December 18, 2016 This is going to be off the chart when you get her done. I wish that the grill would end up back in this kit soon.
oldnslow Posted December 18, 2016 Posted December 18, 2016 I just picked up a glue bomb too , will be watching this.
TooOld Posted December 18, 2016 Author Posted December 18, 2016 Thanks much guys ! Even though I have spare parts from a couple of later reissues the plan is to use all original parts , making what's needed instead of replacing them .
Psychographic Posted December 18, 2016 Posted December 18, 2016 It's about time I got to see you working on something! Looking good Bob.
D. Battista Posted December 18, 2016 Posted December 18, 2016 I think old box art builds are Cool...! Good luck on a very cool subject...! Keeping it original makes it that much better....
TooOld Posted December 18, 2016 Author Posted December 18, 2016 (edited) The remaining paint basically flaked right off and then everything was cleaned and prepped for paint . Two coats of Duplicolor White Primer . . . . . . followed by two coats of Tamiya Bright Red . It will get cleared after the decals are applied . Edited February 8, 2020 by TooOld
junkyardjeff Posted December 19, 2016 Posted December 19, 2016 I am suprised it did not come molded in red like the big version,I have the 70s black version that I need to rebuild.
TooOld Posted December 19, 2016 Author Posted December 19, 2016 (edited) On 12/18/2016 at 10:23 PM, junkyardjeff said: I am suprised it did not come molded in red like the big version,I have the 70s black version that I need to rebuild. Who knows why it's not molded in red . As much as I hate kits molded in different colors , these old Monogram kits look great when the plastic is polished and cleared . I have another Little Deuce that was built up white . . . just doesn't look right to me . Edited February 8, 2020 by TooOld
TooOld Posted December 19, 2016 Author Posted December 19, 2016 (edited) Next up is to repair the front axle . Both stubs are broken off and the spring is missing where it glues to the chassis . I'm using the spare axle for reference to get the width right . The center of the spring is replaced with a small block of plastic . Nothing fancy , it's just adds a little support and it won't be seen after the axle is installed. Adding poseable steering is a snap on these kits , just reshape the ends of the axle and drill them to accept a straight pin . Then I like to use a solid block of plastic to cut the knuckle from , but they could be made with 3 separate pieces glued together . After the final shape is achieved it gets drilled and a stub axle made from .062" rod is glued in place . The result should be an axle with the same track as the stock axle . Unforunately this one ended up a bit too wide so I need to redrill the axle and make new knuckles . . . and the one on the left could better . More to come . . . Edited February 8, 2020 by TooOld
GMCMAN52 Posted December 19, 2016 Posted December 19, 2016 nice save, thanks for the info on the frt axle. will keep an eye on your progress
Snake45 Posted December 20, 2016 Posted December 20, 2016 There's just something about bringing an old basket case back from the dead, isn't there? I have a shelf full of unbuilt, new-tech Corvette kits, but I'm spending most of my modeling time these days trying to breathe new life into a bunch of old original AMT glue bombs. I don't know why. I don't worry about it anymore. I just enjoy it. Model on! 1
TooOld Posted December 20, 2016 Author Posted December 20, 2016 (edited) Thanks guys ! The original headlight lenses are glued in pretty good and will be ruined when I get them out so I grabbed the lenses from the Blue Bandito kit , they are the exact same lenses ! After drilling a hole and applying some pressure the lenses popped right out . Instead of using the Blue Bandito lenses I decided to cast my own . I used some mold putty to make a quicky mold , and some clear casting resin to make the lenses . Once completely dry the flashing is easy to remove . Edited February 8, 2020 by TooOld
TooOld Posted December 20, 2016 Author Posted December 20, 2016 (edited) After clearing the original decals they went on without a hitch . They did need to soak for about 5 minutes each before they would release from the paper ! They were followed by two coats of TS-13 . Edited February 8, 2020 by TooOld
TooOld Posted December 21, 2016 Author Posted December 21, 2016 There's just something about bringing an old basket case back from the dead, isn't there? I have a shelf full of unbuilt, new-tech Corvette kits, but I'm spending most of my modeling time these days trying to breathe new life into a bunch of old original AMT glue bombs. I don't know why. I don't worry about it anymore. I just enjoy it. Model on! You are absolutely right ! I've always enjoyed super detailing my builds , but lately I've come to enjoy rebuilding old glue bombs even more !
TooOld Posted December 21, 2016 Author Posted December 21, 2016 (edited) Suspension installed . Nothing fancy here . . . completely box stock , except for sanding and grooving the slicks . And with the engine set in place . Edited February 8, 2020 by TooOld
geemoney Posted December 21, 2016 Posted December 21, 2016 excellent restoration!!!!help me to remember:little deuceson of fordthe black "early iron" editionthe yellow one with the chevy and wire wheelsyes, no?
afx Posted December 21, 2016 Posted December 21, 2016 Nice work Bob. This and the Blue Beetle may be my all time favorite kits.
junkyardjeff Posted December 22, 2016 Posted December 22, 2016 After seeing this I might have to rebuild my 70s version into the 60s little deuce,that is the first older Monogram that I seen molded in white and in my 40 plus years of building I never got one until I got a 90s kit.
TooOld Posted December 22, 2016 Author Posted December 22, 2016 excellent restoration!!!!help me to remember:little deuceson of fordthe black "early iron" editionthe yellow one with the chevy and wire wheelsyes, no? And the Classic Cruiser with a Blue car on the box .
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