1970 Plymouth 'Cuda

[ModelcarJR]

Beautiful day to paint today; not too hot, not too cold. A little windy but I've built a windbreak on my patio and paint when there is a lull. So, today I painted one of my favorite Revell subjects, a 1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda. Only had a little more than half a can of Hemi Orange (same as Tor-Red) so I gave the body and related parts one session of painting, two coats back and forth on each unpainted surface and it covered well! Then I added two sessions of Krylon clear lacquer using the same method. Everything worked out great! I'll only have to rub it out a little and it will be ready for foil. In prep work I did sand down the fender flares that stick out too much but that's about it for prep other than washing and priming. I really need to paint some additional bodies before the weather turns. Thanks for looking! 

[NOBLNG]

Looking good! I’ve done one of these, it is a nice kit.

[slusher]

Great color jr. I will be following along...

[mrmike]

Ok JR!  If I didn't know better, I would say that you are building my '70 'Cuda 440+6!  Looking good and, of course, it will be finished before mine!

[Dann Tier]

My favorite muscle car of all time!....its looking GREAT!!!!

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Greg, Carl, Mike and Dann. I appreciate your comments! Actually, this is my 5th 70 "Cuda; one convertible, one AAR 'Cuda and two others in B5 Blue and Plum Crazy. Its a great kit and I don't even notice the error in the distributor since I normally use pre-wired distributors. 

I have temporarily halted this build in order to do some painting on other kits while the weather is nice. Here's a mock up of the body for Al Unser Jr's 1989 Valvoline March Indy Car that Emerson Fittipaldi booted out of the third tum into the short shute wall while going on to win the Indy 500. ( I think that's right, I misplaced my record book, but I seem to remember that it happened right in front of me sitting in K Stand). The blue is darker than shown on camera. I used Krylon Forever Blue short shot. Oh, and the interior in the 'Cuda will be tan! Thanks for looking! ?

Edited November 17, 2020 by ModelcarJR

[TooOld]

Your paint looks great ,  looking forward to seeing some more progress !

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Bob! I appreciate your comment! 

Finished painting the rest of the parts for the 'Cuda and rubbed out the body. Even managed to rub out the hood without removing paint form the darts. Tomorrow, I'll start the foil process and then the interior. Thanks for looking!

 

[slusher]

Very sharp and smooth finish Jr, you rubbed it out great.. I remember you did one in dark green with 440 decals in white when I was on scale auto. I hope I remember right.

[Bills72sj]

Very nice. Following.

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Carl and Bill! I appreciate your comments! Carl, I think that was the one in B-5 Blue that I put a 440 in with the white decals. Once I find it I will post it here. 

I feel like I haven't done much today but maybe that's because there was so much taping to do. painted the taillight panel and also prepped and made a masking tape vinyl top for a 66 Olds 442 W-30. I will paint it red tomorrow to get another body done while the weather is nice. Thanks for looking! 

[slusher]

Jr you can post finished cars under glass section more seem to look there..

[ModelcarJR]

OK, thanks, Carl!

Painted the 66 Olds today and I am almost finished with the foil on the "Cuda.  Thanks for looking! ?

[ModelcarJR]

Finished the interior today. I didn't have the wood grain decal as I had borrowed it for another build so I used the black decal on the dash along with the white-faced gauges. The white gauges have much better registration and  are a bit more modern. The tan color is Krylon Khaki and unfortunately it is gloss so I had to dull it down a bit with some dullcote. its actually more dull than in the photos. Thanks for looking! ?

[slusher]

Real nice color Jr....

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Carl! I appreciate your comment! 

I've been working on another body trying to get it painted before winter sets in since I have to paint outside.. Intending to paint it black, I decanted some Testors black lacquer into a jar for airbrush since it doesn't come out well from a can. That worked out well and the paint looked nice but not glossy since its lacquer. I thought then I could decant some Wet Look clear and apply it with an airbrush. But that didn't work out so well. It was still dull. So I grabbed the can and gave it a few passes which seemed to gloss up but was a little bumpy. So I have been working the afternoon to rub it out and it is starting to pay off. I goofed up the hood so its in the Super Clean pool. The right side and front haven't been touched yet with sanding cloth or Scratch X.  Before painting I also puttied up the grill panel to get rid of the glue seam.  I haven't finished yet but here are a few photos.  Thanks for looking! ?

 

[ModelcarJR]

Finished the engine today complete with plug wires and fuel line. The plug wires also use  PE wire looms glued to the valve covers on each side. The fuel line is made of wire from the boot material in the Morgan pre-wired distributors package. I made a horseshoe piece for the two carburators and then glued the remainder to the fuel pump, wound it up next to the block, bent and cut it to make a glue joint in the middle of the horseshoe going to the carbs. After the super glue dried, I painted the joint brass and flatteded it a bit. A three-way brass fuel line fitting if you will. 

[slusher]

Nice Hemi Jr...

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Carl! I appreciate your comment!

Its on wheels and went together pretty well! I really like the inner fender liners mounted on the interior as it makes the assembly process much easier. Engine compartment is done and its a tight fit. I had to use some aftermarket material for the top radiator hose because the MAD distributor is bigger and is in the way for the kit part.I had to re-route the spark plug wires to fit the battery in place.  Still have to add the windshhield wiper fluid bottle but AI'll wait until daylight to paint it. I just used the kit rally wheels and painted the wheel part steel and left the centers and the rims chrome. I've added BF Goodrich decals from the AAR 'Cuda kit. The interior is in very nicely and the wheel stance looks OK. Now just the rest of the hardware and this one will be done. I'll post some photos of all 4 'Cudas I have completed once I get this one done. Thanks for looking and Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

 

 

[ModelcarJR]

I have finished another 70 'Cuda! This makes the fourth one in different styles. Its a very nice kit and I didn't have a lot of problems building them. Still raining today so no outdoor pics. Here are a few pics of the most recently completed one along with group shots of all 4. The plum crazy one with the shaker hood was built in 2014 and is a 1st place winner in Factory Stock. Unfortunately, it has lost a right side mirror somewhere along the line. The B5 Blue one is a 440 with elastomeric bumpers built in 2017 and also a 1st place winner in Factory Stock. The AAR 'Cuda in Sublime Green and this build were completed in 2020 and haven't made it to a contest because of Covid. All have detailed engines. By the way, the 1st picture with the hood open has a little help - can you see it? Thanks for looking! ?

Edited November 28, 2020 by ModelcarJR

[bisc63]

Engine and bay look especially nice. What stands out to me is the realistic scale thickness and sag of the plug wires; something not always captured. Nicely done!

[Misha]

I heartily agree with Rusty above, having the wiring have the right look goes a long way in offering an accurate rendering. It often is a deciding factor between amazing scale engine bays. Great job John, congrats on your build! Cheers Misha

[Bills72sj]

Very fine result indeed. I recommend you continue to expand your rainbow of E-bodies.

http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/147689-4-dodge-challengers-batch-built/

 

[slusher]

Another very sharp Mopar in your stable, Jr!

[Dann Tier]

Outstanding builds there!!!