Good morning all!

Been fooling around with a few things; touch up paint on the body's underside, "seaming" the back window, and playing with the side windows. The kit supplied windows don't fit fer chit, so.....here's an idea I came up with (windshield will be stock):

This is the "second" draft window...I need to come up with a good "master" so it'll fit properly. This one is close...I'm also playing with the idea of putting some very thin strip inside for the windows to rest against. The problem I've found so far, is that the blue sheet is like acetate...regular glue won't stick to it. I do have some Weld-On 3 for acrylic...so that may work.

Your thoughts?

Mike

The blue window looks pretty cool. Excellent idea.

Just a thought.......... why not tint the windows using the "old school" method of the using the certain teastors paint that sat for some time.......... (IIRC it was some of the metallic colors in the 1/4 oz jars)

OR the transparent paints from Tamiya

Interesting idea Matt about the "tint" paints (kind of like Future dyed with food coloring). I've got a sheet of the blue acetate, so there's plenty to get the windows "right." I did add a thin strip to the inside at the top of the window (whick will blend in well enough with the interior) and I added another strip to the each side of the cabin tub.

Once I clean it up a little, the windows should fit nicely and be able to rest against these "tabs" at the top and bottom. I'll probably paint the part that shows (from the outside) flat black....to replicate the rubber that's traditionally visible on car windows. Anything else visible will be painted to match the interior (the French Dark Blue-Gray).

Mike

Assembly of the body, cabin, frame, and panels has begun. I've got a couple of clamps holding the back of the frame in place as the glue dries and the pair of tweezers are holding the front pan in position (glue has only been applied to that edge):






Mike

One more with the rear pan in place:

Once the front and rear underside pans are totally dry, I'll pull out the sanding stick, smooth things down a bit, and probably need a little bit of filler. Then, for the most part, it'll be ready for paint. (Finally! ) Kind of looks like poo right now, but once the pans and body are "melded," it'll be sharp.

Mike

Yep, been busy today (between the Deora and A-40). Once I get the pans/body lines clean (you can see the Tamiya white filler), and after the paint, I intend to use a couple of the Aber PE Air Conditioning vents (reviewed here on ModelGeek) to cover the air intakes (see picture). I'll also, based on "limitations" of the body and exhaust, cut/drill out an opening for the exhaust pipes in the side of the body just in front of the rear tire and just above the bottom edge of the body panel (again, see picture).....more "customizations!"


Oh, the rims and tires are on there for "looks" only!

Mike

Mike - nice update. The blue drive train looks good. Body work is coming alone nicely too.

Couple of shots of the underside's body pans in an "almost finished state." There's going to be a lot of masking and covering up areas before I shoot the exterior colors:

Front -

Rear -

Driver's side/front -


Mike

Rough opening for the exhaust. It'll get smoothed out and I need to "repair" the part just inside (of the frame) where I had to cut it down to get the pipes to fit through:

Mike

The exhaust is looking really nice - nice double opening.

The exhaust looks pretty cool Mike. Excellent job.

Thanks guys. I really do think once I've got some "real" paint on the Deora, the pipes will really (figuatively) stick out!

I've done some additional clean up on the lower body pans and reprimed them. There's still a couple of areas that need a tad more filler and a final prime:

Like my masking job? What a pain. I'll leave it all on there until I've shot the body's metallic blue. I'm certain there will be areas of the undercarriage that will need some touch up with the metallic black after the blue is sprayed.

As a side note, I had to do some work on my compressor. That's now done so I'll be pulling the airbrush out real soon.

Mike

p.s. Less than 30 days to go guys!!

OMGGG!!! (Oh My Good Golly Gosh!!!),

First paint on the body! And, just to let you know how bad a "brain lapse" can be, I just mixed a half bottle of my ACRYLIC Arctic Metallic Blue with freakin' ENAMEL thinner. Hmmm...tossed!

Once I realized I had this lovely Faux Pas, I mixed the PROPER thinner into the remaining paint. And, my friends, low and behold!:

First Coat!



Mind you, I did the Tonneau for S's and G's... You can see some of the "stuff" that was attached that'll need a serious wet sand to get 'er proper.

Me'sa stoked.

Mike

Upper view, 3/4:



Mike

WooHoo!!

Good morning all!

Second color is on (along with masking tape! ).


Mike

Paint's cured. Paneling in the garage is just about done (have one piece to redo and one (with sheet rock) to install. You know how guys have a "Man-Room??" I'ma gunna have me a garage! Wood shop, fridge, cabinets, benchs....Now, where's that 56" LCD TV???

Okay, so I'm a wuss....almost afraid to pull the masking tape off..............................................

Mike

Oh my, oh my! Pulled the masking tape. I was soooo worried about how it'd come out. Und, Vwaalaa!! Sooooooo happy. Tamiya masking tape ROCKS....no pulling of any paint:


Less than a week!! I can do it! Si! Gloss coat upcoming!!

Mike

The paintjob turned out great Mike. Excellent choice of colors.



It sure does. Expensive, but well worth the cost.

Fantastic color scheme the blue is brilliant.
This gets better and better all the time.

Jesper, Scott....thanks for the comments on the paint colors. The lower body blue is MM acrylic and the top is a MM flat enamel. I was going to shoot the gloss coat this morning, but I only have DullCote. I'm hoping that Hobby Town is open later this morning....

I'm kind of stuck on the Deora until I get the gloss. I don't want to do anything to the underside (touch up paint, install the wheels, create the steering linkage) until the roof is protected. Nor can I add the headlights, mirrors, and tail light bar until the paint is finalized.

Yikes....only six days left.

Mike

Hey all...going to have to request a short extension. I fell UP the steps this weekend and managed to do some injury to my shin, thigh, arm, and cheek.

To finalize the Deora, I need to hit the body with one or two more coats of gloss, finish the blue windows, install the exhaust, install the steering and wheels, and add the lights, mirrors, and "cross saber" decal.

Mike

Me too. I still have a fair amount of work to do.
Only one car in the gallery, so perhaps we are not the only ones

Best wishes for a speedy recovery Mike

I'm hoping my extension has been approved!

And, my very first post to AutoModeler.com!! Woooohooooo!

Okay...I wasn't too happy with the gloss coat I shot....so, feeling up to doin' some additional "shootin'," I decided to shoot the Deora's body with Future. Whoaaaa....does that stuff give a nice gloss coat!

This picture doesn't quite give the "gist" of it, but it really looks good:

I also shot the windscreen frame and instead of "dippin'" the windshield, I sprayed it. Lookin' gooooood!

Once it's dried I'll probably need to do a wee bit 'o cleanup and she'll be done.

Gettin' stoked again! It's just about done!

Mike

p.s. Pulled the tape off the front end and see a "few minutes" of touch up paint. Soon my friends...soon.