That workbench gives me nightmares. 
I'm nearing final assembly on the Galaxie. The only way to attach the one piece front suspension is with a giant blob of super glue. And OMG does this car have a lot of chrome that needs to be painted on the body shell. I think my next build needs to be a pickup so I can recover.
I couldn't decide what to build next, so I started a Monogram Davey Allison T-Bird and a Nunu M6 GT3. I'm trying liquid mask to make it a little easier to paint the molded-in detail in the BMW cockpit.
In reply to BenB :
Watching with interest. The interior details / masking in particular. So many black anodized aluminum boxes in every modern car.
TurnerX19 said:While waiting for another coat of not covering white to cure on the Mustang I broke out the pre started kit I alluded to earlier. Helps it was during a yellow flag period at the 24hour....I have about an hour this decade into this. I think I shot the green on the body in spring 1987, but that is not certain, it was before 1991. There was for a long time a built up Dino V6 and transaxle lingering in this box, but I have a better use for that, and a couple more hours and this will be cute next to the Kei cars.
Now there's a Heller kit I have never seen before.
Anyone got a hot tip for removing a bit of silver paint from my Tamiya clear top coat? I must have had some on a finger and have an unwanted silver mark on my C pillar. 
TurnerX19 and Snowdoggie, I love the 4CV and the 910. Can we see the body of the 910?
In reply to ddavidv :
Fine rubbing compound works well to abrade mild paint off top of Tamiya lacquers. And other lacquers, I had several black finger prints on the 4CV after doing the window gaskets. Almost every model I have posted has needed the technique.
The Galaxie is one of those kits builds where you muddle through the middle of the build, entirely 'meh' about the whole experience, and then get to the not-quite-final-assembly and realize it is looking really good. 
My 'wrong' paint color really pops, and the endless hand-painted chrome has really brought out the details.
Random: I own Bare Metal Foil, but haven't elected to use it on the last few builds. I guess messing with it just isn't fun for me. I've decided it only looks marginally better than bright silver paint, and my hands are still steady enough to paint the trim on.
I should have completion photos in a few days.
In reply to ddavidv :
I too have parked my Bare Metal foil for most. Not due to the process, but Molotow chrome pens look even better. The process for me now is about equal, still fiddly. I do use masking for a long body highlight trim. Also the pens loose their perfect shine long before they're empty in my use, your Galaxie might challenge that. The finish remains chrome bright in the cabinet, some are now 5 years on with no dulling. Bare Metal at 30 years is starting to tarnish a little.
I literally rubbed the silver booger on my C pillar with some polish and it disappeared, so that's a win. I also discovered I put the ill-fitting front suspension part on backwards...which may have something to do with the poor fit. So took that off. The engine mounting is non-existent; it seems to rely solely on a glue contact on the transmission to hold the entire thing in. Final assembly is turning into a bit of a faff. Not a kit I'll ever want to show the underside of anyway as there is almost no detail.
Yup, definitely need my next one to not be an AMT annual reissue.
So, I may have been the OP of this thread, but I'm not going to be done in Jan. I got the chassis finished, but had to wait to scrounge up some gift cards etc. to get the paint and some other bits. I started trimming the shell, but the tools I had weren't up to it, so I've just got some polycarbonate/lexan cutting tools from Amazon along with the paint, and things will progress in February!
My two are still in primer, waiting for paint. Been a little busy around here lately. Hopefully I can finish them in February.
In reply to BenB :
How about we make this January-ish build thread, or the late winter build thread!
My Mustang will not be complete this month. I can't rectify the paint issues while the rally car wing is occupying the paint room. The Renault probably will though. More pics later. Interesting engineering to anchor the windows to the inner panels before gluing them into the shell. So far I rate it as one of Heller's very best.
I'll have mine done, but this doesn't rate as a contest like we used to have. Just motivation to get your stuff done. Let's keep rolling into next month.
My Galaxie is looking good (I know, I know...photos) but final assembly is a E36 M3show. It doesn't apparently want to be glued where it clearly should be, as the front is in the body too high and the air cleaner won't fit under the hood. At the back, the floorpan is below the rear bumper. So today I get to unglue it and try again.
Well, it's mostly done. I still want to stick some license plates on it and figure out how to attach the body to the chassis. Right now it is just 'floating'.
I'll make one of my review videos in a few days that will show it much better. The color is much more 'ruby' than the washed out photos suggest. I went with the mags (Keystones?) because I didn't care for the factory wheel covers. The kit is a hot mess in multiple ways. A 7 litre should have a wood steering wheel and chrome air cleaner; this has neither. It has a manual trans but only one pedal on the floor. The mold lines are so faint on the driver side you can't even see the fuel door. The engine won't sit level because it fouls on the solid metal axle. And on, and on.
I'm leaning toward doing the Revell early Bronco next as a recovery.
TurnerX19 said:While waiting for another coat of not covering white to cure on the Mustang I broke out the pre started kit I alluded to earlier. Helps it was during a yellow flag period at the 24hour....I have about an hour this decade into this. I think I shot the green on the body in spring 1987, but that is not certain, it was before 1991. There was for a long time a built up Dino V6 and transaxle lingering in this box, but I have a better use for that, and a couple more hours and this will be cute next to the Kei cars.
That's a LOT of detail for a 1:24. That looks like a great kit.
In reply to A 401 CJ :
I wish it was as good as it looks. Heller always makes some error on an English or German subject, but the native French subjects are accurate, Usually. This really does the body shell and interior to perfection for a second series 4CV. with blinkers. The box art depicts a first series car with six trim strips and semaphore trafficators. Then there are the wipers. First series cars park left, 2nd series park right, and then they depict them only as the blade rubber molded to the windshield. I have a batch of street rod accessory photo etch wipers that will provide the arms with much too shiny a finish for the no chrome ethos of French post war austerity. Progress has been advanced during yellow flag periods at Bathurst.
Note the force required to overcome warpage at body mounting time a few hours ago. I'm not sure the warps are entirely Heller's fault, this has bounced around some unstable environments during moves the last 4 decades. I will probably finish this later today, besides the wipers I am adding no parts that were not in the box.
Adrian_Thompson (Forum Supporter) said:TurnerX19 and Snowdoggie, I love the 4CV and the 910. Can we see the body of the 910?
Here's the body. I will post more when I take it out of the plastic.
Engine is almost done.
Other assemblies going together.
And the next one to come off the shelf after the Porsche is done...
Wow! Renault did not debond when I pulled the rubber band.
Just came in here to say no progress has been made on any builds at my house since th 1/12 Vette was completed. But I'm giving a lot of thought to the next build if that counts!
We have a complete Renault 4CV deluxe second series. The deluxe has a windup window on the drivers side. Standard models have sliders on both sides. I was scratching my head looking for the passenger side winder knob.....Not there. It presents really well, but was an awkward build. Poor instructions say to build all the accessories onto the engine, but then it won't go up into the hole. The rear license tag holds the engine cover on, and nothing holds the frunk lid. It is only a little larger than the Cappucino it has been parked with.
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