SCALE MODEL :: CURRENT PROJECT :: 66 El Camino™

When it was introduced in 1959, the half-car, half-truck El Camino™ was based on the full-size Chevy platform. By the time it moved to the Chevelle™ platform in '64 it was becoming downright muscular. For 1966, the El Camino™ was available with the big block 396 c.i. engine, making it a truck that could do any job in a hurry!

Okay, with that said…

It has been a number of years since I “attempted” a scale model to any detail.  Recently I attended a scale model swap meet and contest where my brother-in-law (Ed Powell) and his son had several of their models in the contest.  After looking around, it sparked an interest I haven’t had in a great many years.

Talking to Ed off and on again through the past several month I have decided to build a unit classed for the “Out of the Box” or “Box Stock”.  Now, for the gear heads out there, the Box Stock is not your classic version of a box stock vehicle, it is a version of the model build without anything outside what is provided in the kit, the exception being paint and putty.

Walking through the contest brought to light the detail packages that were available and the variety was mind boggling to say the least, first thoughts, and the industry has really sprung a leak with options since I last really got into this.  Looking through the box stock class the one detail that stood out in light of the limited options in the class were the paint jobs on the models.  Everything I looked at was driven by paint job, paint job, paint detail!

This being my first project in a great number of years, yes, will go slow.  As above, details in paint will be the zenith of this project even if it means a repaint to reach the detail level I am looking for.  My plan is to follow the progression of this project here with regular updates as the project progresses.

Hope you will join me!

08/03/08
Spent the day disassembling the flight simulator cabinet which "used" to be my racing sim during the years I ran OVSRL racing league. This sim cabinet was rather large and hasn't been used in a couple of year, possibly more, so I elected to use the area for storage of some lumber as well as more space for my paint booth which I built several years ago.

I plan to post a few pictures of the paint booth within the next few days, or as soon as I can get the stand built for the unit. The paint booth was built based on a couple of commercial units that are available on the market. It actually cost considerably less and I managed to upgrade the vacuum within the cabinet spending a bit extra on a sealed squirrel cage fan to produce a better suction catching a bit more over spray in the filter. The plan of a new unit however is in the works. I would like to build a new unit with bottom suction versus the rear suction so as the over spray falls it will be trapped then filtered to clean the exhaust air. In either case, the filtered air is then carried through flexible dryer duct and exhausted outside of the house, no worries of inhaling the fumes.

08/16/08

Started selecting the paint selection for this project today. Now if I may qualify this, I like to have all items at hand when I begin a project, any project. It is a small design flaw in self. Wanting this project to complete as I wish, the need for the proper paints is paramount.

I have also completed rewiring the paint boot, installed a new outside vent for the house and set in place the duct work to the vent. In testing the airflow in the booth I couldn't be more satisfied, the air flow is quite enough to prevent overspray and fume build up while not so powerful that ambient air dust will be pulled into the area of the model or parts being painted. In previous tests during the build process, painting proved to go very well. Completing a model I was extremely satisfied with the finish on the model.

08/24/08

Ran a couple of paint tests today. The two part lacquer system is really nice however; I am having a disappointing time with the results I had from the Acryl paint and the air gun but plan to switch nozzles on the air gun and try with the higher flow nozzle.

I am working with the Acryl enamel again today to test the thinner and thinning the paint. This should help with the higher flow nozzle when applying the paint.

06/30/09