It's easy mate. Just go to the "settings" tab in the top right corner, then "modify profile" and scroll down to the box in the image below and paste in my link.


Cheers, D

D,
Thanks for the help. As you can see it worked like a charm.

Joel

Hi guys,

It's good to see so many of you are so far into this! Gabriel, it looks like you'll be done by the end of the week!

Not me - instead, started the project by cutting up the GTR body, so the "nose" and "tail" will be removable. I'll keep it taped together for a while, as some of the parts are thin, and I don't want anything to snap off. As you can see in the pic below, the McLaren longtail sure looks "long", but comparing it to the Ferrari, it's about the same length. The Ferrari is actually something of a long "nose" with the front wheels set back more than those of the McLaren - interesting from a design point of view.



The McLaren will have a fully removable nose and tail, rather than the smaller front hatch and "fixed" tail on the Ferrari. BTW, the Ferrari has operable doors, characteristically similar to those on the GTR. They are a lot of work to get right, and in the end I think too much work for what they're worth (the connections are weak, and you can't see much with them opened), so, the McLaren's doors will be closed.

Happy model building -

Cheers,
Nick

Nick,
Sure sounds like you're pulling out all the stops on this one. Should be a real stunner when she's done. BTW, I'm pretty sure that you know that both of those long tails were for LeMans. Are you going to be doing the Gulf team colors?

As for my build, well, I actually opened the box to see what's inside. An earlier Tamiya F1 kit, but it's the 2nd edition, not the 1st as it was molded in 2004. Will be doing more then my usual detailing but nothing like you've been doing.

Joel

Parts clean-up and sub-assemblies has started on the '55 Chevy Pro Sportsman.



I use a Ceramic Blade scraper to tidy up the fine mould lines on the delicate parts. It is similar size and shape to an Xacto blade, but without the razor sharp cutting edge, so the risk of damaging the parts with my Neanderthal fists is reduced, plus I end up with less war wounds and blood stains! I find that the resulting finish on the plastic parts is a bit smoother as well, plus it keeps my Xacto sharper for longer for the actual cutting tasks.



The muppet mould engineer at Revell who decided to put ejector pins right in the middle of those coil springs is off my Christmas list. Permanently!

Diff and wheelie bar assembly completed and ready for primer.



Cheers, D

Glad to see you got started Damian, Question where do you get those blades.

Thanks Robert, it feels good to get some work done on this one!

I got the scraper from a local stockist here called Scale Modellers Supply. They are a small (husband and wife) team, the owner is a friend of mine. They make a great range of lacquer paints as well. There is an agent in Florida called USA Gundam Store, but I'm not sure if they carry the scrapers.

Cheers, D

D,
Great start.

I'm also intrigued by that scraper. I'll see if the Florida USA Gundam Store has them, and what else that they may carry. I"m putting together a fairly large supply order from Sprue Brothers as I'm starting to run out of all sorts of basics from Mig paints for hand painting to #11 blades and the list just goes on.

Nice start. I'm at that very stage now of cut parts off their sprue trees.

Joel

Nick, I am basically "out of work" on this build. All parts are painted safe for the windows frames. The only thing holding me back it's the slow speed of enamels drying.
Intrigued to see you starting yet another ambitious projects. Following it up.

D., clean start up. Yes, that blade will be a very useful thing here in Caribbean because doesn't rust. The carbon steel ones are turning black in two days and fully rusty in one week. Stainless steel ones are hard to find and three times as expensive as the carbon steel ones, and far less strong.

UPDATE
The front end finished. The "strange" colours you see there are live testing my candies. Alclad candies.


The assembly was a little fiddly - three hands required - but the result is pleasing and looks sophisticated.


Underside view. Convincing enough rendition of suspension / steering mechanisms


The dash board was another fiddly bit. The kit doesn't offer decals and I sourced them in my spares box. The rimes were picked up with Vallejo Air Aluminum:


I had no intention to do heat metal effects in this build, but some younger modeller requested a demo and here we go:


Finally the enamel paint was dry enough to tolerate sanding, and I eliminated all pimples and orange peel I could find:


I found an weak paint spot and I sand it back to the primer:


The only remaining things to do are installing the rear suspension and the drive shaft, as well as finishing the body. Tomorrow a second coat of orange coat will follow.

Gabriel

Looking great Gabriel.

Going back to the thought of flex piping on the exhaust, that is called header wrap. It is a fabric covering wrapped around the header pipes to keep the heat in and away from everything else. It is usually in black, silver or a tan color. I didn't see it in the pictures at the time, but remembered it from the text of the question about it. Seeing it in these pictures reminded me of it.

Just got shipping confirmation of the paints from Gravity, should be here Friday.

Thank you, David! It's good to know, for further references. I'm pretty close to open a new box for this GB and i'ts going to be another NASCAR.

UPDATE
The rear suspension and the drive shaft added, together with the exhaust. All good fit - no issues to report with this kit.


The wheels added only for fitment check.


The usual touch-ups needed, then a clear coat will follow as shield for washes:


Stance check:


... and pretty much the build phase is done. Painting and light weathering, and the the dreaded decalling, still on to-do list.
Also the decals on the tires. I'll try to print some, but I'm not sure my yellow printed on clear will show on the black. Still thinking...

Gabriel

Gabriel, barely 1 week in and you are almost across the line already, and the work looking great! The Alclad Candy worked very nicely for the heat staining, are you happy with the product? At this pace you can finish 20+ kits during the Group Build!

Nick, great to see you making a start on the McLaren, it will make a very nice pair with the Ferrari on display!

I have finished trimming and cleaning up the white parts on my build and test dry fitted a few of the cage parts to the floor pan. Everything seems to be spot on at this stage so next step is primer and paint. I have a few of the chrome parts soaking in oven cleaner to strip the chrome as my reference shots tell me that there wasn't much actual chrome on the original.

Stay safe and keep up the good work folks.

Cheers, D

Thanks! Well, Jesper was right! As soon I've got rid of that Ferrari, any other kit is a walk in the park. Even an AMT! I'm joking here - this AMT was completely trouble free and helped a lot with my speed. I dare say it was the best AMT ever to fall into my hands. The Chrysler 300C I did a while ago was also good, but I feel this one has the edge.
I had no intention to do any heat staining in the first place, but some beginner modeller asked for a demo and I did it on what I had at my hand It turned out good and decided to keep it that way. Yes: Alclads Candy are very homogeneous, very clear and they spray excellent right out from the bottle. The downside is that they dry very slowly. The suspension cross-member and the suspension springs I sprayed the night before, yet 24 hours later they still felt tacky and under heavy handling they have a tendency to wipe off. I need to test them on wider surfaces and with appropriate drying time for a full statement on these.




Well, I hope not. I love modelling, but every day I spend at home it's a day without income. However, I have planned at least 2 other builds for this GB (one more NASCAR right away, maybe in a couple of days from now) and I keep one in reserve - depending on my available time after the incoming week and a half.

Stay safe!
Gabriel

David,
I do remember the use of Thermal heat wrap for headers, but it's a wrap like a bandage, not a fixable type hose. Nassar teams really struggle with managing the exhaust header heat issues that use to make the metal floor under the driver literally red hot. That's why they started using the insulating paint.

I'm assuming that it's more of a case over zealous molding so it looks out of scale. Here's what it looks like installed on a header:



It's also the 1st time I can recall seeing it in model form.

Glad to see that your Gravity order is on the way. Please let us know when it arrives. I'm betting 3 days.

Joel

Gabriel,
From what I see in your pictures, your build is certainly up to your usual high standards. Chassis, interior with Roll cage, engine bay all have achieved your build standards for sure. My only issue is why the Metallic Blue shock member? It does add a little extra to the engine compartment for sure. And the bottom of the chassis with the heat stained exhaust really looks the part.

As for your paint job, I'm really impressed. Looks smooth as silk with a super shine. To bad about that one area on the front of the hood that you had to take back to the primer coat. I'm sure that you'll get it perfect with the re-paint. And then it's decal time. I can't wait.

Joel

All,

F1.com is streaming the 1997 F1 final race between Schumacher and Villeneuve at 18:00UTC today.

David,
Thanks for the heads up. Will be watching it for sure.

Joel

Gabriel, your NASCAR is really progressing nicely. I really like it.

Jim

Managed to get some more work done on the '57 Gasser today. The engine & frame are both finished. I like how the engine came out:




I think the frame came out nicely, but there is a little "tweak" in it that hopefully will come out when I glue it to the chassis pan. At least it came out when I test fit it, but I know that once glue is applied, all bets are off. I used BMF on the front axle to give it a chrome look, but if I build this kit again, I think I'd use a different approach.


The wheels & tires are just "posed" in this shot to get an overall look. Just noticed that I forgot to paint the rear radius rods silver. Oh well.


Jim

Nice work James, yep this is a really nice kit over all.

Time for an update, got a lot done on the engine, still a lot more to do.

Made all three blower pulleys on the lathe as well as the valve cover breathers, drilled out the front of the blower hat and sculpted in the holes for the butterflies, on the back of the super charger i made a bracket for the fuel lines.

Last pic shows the lathe and the engine for scale.

Wow!! you guys are really cooking! Gabriel almost done already, Damian - nice work on the rear end! and Jim and Robert - two motorheads fast at work! Robert, the lathe looks like a great tool to have, those pulleys sure look the part.

I'm still fooling around with evergreen on the GTR, boxing/detailing body and monocoque parts.

Stay well gents,
Nick

James,
You're making great progress for sure.

I do like the Ford Blue on the big block which really makes it look a few extra rungs on the ladder. Excellent choice.

Chassis looks darn good as well. Is the twist you're concerned about in the rear? I'm with you that gluing and clamping should take care of it.

As for the mockup, I'd say it's pretty darn impressive.

Joel

Robert,
I'm just blown away at your millwork on the lathe. All those parts look perfect. Nice job on drilling out the 3 holes for the butterflies in the Blower hat. They all look exactly the same, same horizontal line, and same depth.

Joel

Thank goodness this isn't a competition, I'd have to take up knitting right now.
Mine's barely out of the box, Gabriel is nearly finished, these guys are knocking out finely turned pulleys and valves and the chassis is divine. All hope is lost.