johnyrotten Posted October 15, 2024 Author Share Posted October 15, 2024 It's a hardtop now. Looks so much better. Had to clean my bench, and put up some more paint storage, but managed to put in a bit of bodywork. There was a nice line of flash down the peak of both rear fenders, I don't want to roll that over. There's a few low spots, but it's looking good. Did a bit of scribing around the doors and tried to get a little depth on the trim. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted October 15, 2024 Share Posted October 15, 2024 Nice work on the changeover! It will look great once you finish working it in and get some paint on it. David G. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyrotten Posted October 17, 2024 Author Share Posted October 17, 2024 I have one of those rare days off of work(dentist appointment, yay me), so got a bit more done, jumped around a bit this morning. Brushed a wash over the exhaust, touched up some previous work. I didn't like the alternator floating out in space, looked empty to me, so I built the bracket from some .020 sheet. Copied it from a pic I found online, there seems to be a few different styles depending on options. I'm going to do the same for the power steering pump. It just looks bare to me. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted October 18, 2024 Share Posted October 18, 2024 It always amazes me what a good blackwash and some highlighting can do, it looks great John! David G. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyrotten Posted October 23, 2024 Author Share Posted October 23, 2024 Bit more work done tonight, made the non-existent power steering bracket, touched up some paint and got the engine ready to finish up, not really thrilled with the carbs, so l left them off for now. Making that braket was a challenge, there's no real good images, and things aren't exactly in the right place/shape one this engine. I basically connected the dots, and made an approximation of what should be there. I also put up some pics of the opened door handles, that was a fun first time. Driver's sides a bit thin, It can stay that way, it's fragile. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted October 24, 2024 Share Posted October 24, 2024 Nice work on the accessory brackets John. I do that once in a while, though not as often as I used to. The door handles came out quite well too. David G. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopherMcGinnis Posted October 24, 2024 Share Posted October 24, 2024 Beautiful details! You must have the patience of a saint. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyrotten Posted October 24, 2024 Author Share Posted October 24, 2024 3 hours ago, TopherMcGinnis said: Beautiful details! You must have the patience of a saint. At times. Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPL-ACE Posted October 25, 2024 Share Posted October 25, 2024 Your work is coming along nicely John. I especially like the engine. Your attention to detail is fantastic. I also like to scratch build accessories. It is the little things that can make a model stand out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bainford Posted October 25, 2024 Share Posted October 25, 2024 Very nice work here, John. Clean and tidy. Nice work on the hardtop conversion. It's hard to believe how much better the car looks as a hardtop. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted October 25, 2024 Share Posted October 25, 2024 Looking great, very sharp engine, nice clean wotk! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyrotten Posted October 25, 2024 Author Share Posted October 25, 2024 17 hours ago, Bainford said: Very nice work here, John. Clean and tidy. Nice work on the hardtop conversion. It's hard to believe how much better the car looks as a hardtop. I definitely agree, funny how some window frames and what-not change the look. It really is the little things I suppose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyrotten Posted October 27, 2024 Author Share Posted October 27, 2024 So the kit's distributor has tadpole syndrome, grew legs and hopped away. I robbed this one from another kit, and tried my hand at wiring one up. First time doing this, if it doesn't work out I'll probably get a pre-wired. I don't currently have any pin drill bits small enough to pull off a real nice one, so I improvised. Drilled a hole down the center, and ran all nine out of there. This is .020 styrene, that may turn out to be a mistake, we'll see. I also opened the ends of the exhaust, that's black sharpie so I have a contrast to see what I'm doing. If anyone has suggestions on the distributor, I'm all ears. Thanks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOBLNG Posted October 28, 2024 Share Posted October 28, 2024 (edited) 12 hours ago, johnyrotten said: So the kit's distributor has tadpole syndrome, grew legs and hopped away. I robbed this one from another kit, and tried my hand at wiring one up. First time doing this, if it doesn't work out I'll probably get a pre-wired. I don't currently have any pin drill bits small enough to pull off a real nice one, so I improvised. Drilled a hole down the center, and ran all nine out of there. This is .020 styrene, that may turn out to be a mistake, we'll see. I also opened the ends of the exhaust, that's black sharpie so I have a contrast to see what I'm doing. If anyone has suggestions on the distributor, I'm all ears. Thanks. I don’t think you will get that styrene to lay down to properly look like plug wires. I would either get a pre-wired one or get some actual wire. I use 30 gage (.020”) wire wrapping wire….still technically a tad large, but It looks ok in my eye. Good work on the exhaust tips…it is tough drilling those sharply angled tips. Edited October 28, 2024 by NOBLNG 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyrotten Posted October 28, 2024 Author Share Posted October 28, 2024 (edited) 4 hours ago, NOBLNG said: I don’t think you will get that styrene to lay down to properly look like plug wires. I would either get a pre-wired one or get some actual wire. I use 30 gage (.020”) wire wrapping wire….still technically a tad large, but It looks ok in my eye. Good work on the exhaust tips…it is tough drilling those sharply angled tips. That's exactly what I was thinking, it's more if an experiment, this is the first one I've ever wired. I've got some 32? Gauge wire i could try, it seemed small to me, but at this scale everything is. Thanks for compliment on the exhaust, that was fun to do. Edited October 28, 2024 by johnyrotten Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldTrucker Posted October 28, 2024 Share Posted October 28, 2024 Looking good. I built this kit on it's first release and it is a really nice kit as is and you are just showing what it could be beyond the box! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyrotten Posted October 28, 2024 Author Share Posted October 28, 2024 57 minutes ago, OldTrucker said: Looking good. I built this kit on it's first release and it is a really nice kit as is and you are just showing what it could be beyond the box! Thank you. I'm here to try and contribute and share in the hobby, there are a tremendous amount of extremely talented individuals here, and a very supportive group as a whole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyrotten Posted October 28, 2024 Author Share Posted October 28, 2024 Had to change gears tonight, the distributor deal can take a back seat for now. Touched up one paint on some parts, and did I mock-up to check ride height and get some inspiration. Got the hood fitting correct as far as height, but it has a slight warp diagonally. I also have to adress where the body meets the front of the frame, seems to be holding itself up a bit. It pretty much has all the same issues NOBLNG pointed out in their build. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bills72sj Posted October 29, 2024 Share Posted October 29, 2024 Great looking build so far. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyrotten Posted November 5, 2024 Author Share Posted November 5, 2024 Back at it after feeling beat up, got bit by a tick. Anyway, managed to build plug wires, and get half the engine wired. I have to remake one of the wire guides, didn't like the way it was fitting. Let me know what you all think. thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted November 5, 2024 Share Posted November 5, 2024 Welcome back John, I'm glad you're feeling better. Nice progress on the engine. Based on the color, is that a 455? David G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyrotten Posted November 5, 2024 Author Share Posted November 5, 2024 1 hour ago, David G. said: Welcome back John, I'm glad you're feeling better. Nice progress on the engine. Based on the color, is that a 455? David G. Thanks, lyme isn't fun, and im a "tough it out" kinda guy, but antibiotics help. According to a quick search, the kit has the 389. I'm going off a few different pictures I've found online, to try and keep thing "correct". Also, I've chosen to use only cheap craft paint, so that's as close as I can mix up myself by eye. It definitely would be picked apart at Mecum or Pebble Beach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyrotten Posted November 12, 2024 Author Share Posted November 12, 2024 (edited) Some more progress, got the plugs wired, made some of the plumbing on the passenger side of the engine. Turns out the pictures I'm using for reference are actually a 421 out if a Bonneville swapped into a '64, not that it matters. These carbs aren't the most detailed, I had to dress then up some how. Fit up some different tires to the stock wheels, I really need to find a matching set, but I got the look and rake where I want it. Got a bit of street sleeper look going, I think. Edited November 12, 2024 by johnyrotten Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted November 12, 2024 Share Posted November 12, 2024 Nice additions to the engine John. I'm glad to see that you also added a bracket for the alternator. It's amazing how many times I see builders add plug wires, fuel lines and throttle springs but leave the alternator out there just hanging from the fanbelt. You have a good looking stance on the car too. It looks like you have "big & littles" on it but it's in the rubber, not the rims. That's a good way to do it. David G. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOBLNG Posted November 12, 2024 Share Posted November 12, 2024 Great detailing on the engine! The plug wires look right now.? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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