Finally started my test bed project today, the above Quaker State, Jack Sprague # 24 Craftsman Truck Series truck.

As explained in my main project which I hope to eventually place in a contest, it has been a great number of years since I last built or attempted to build a scale model of any type other than a little tinker time with my model railroad. My goal is to complete this unit with much the same affect and result I wish to have with my El Camino. A lot of the techniques I will be using I have never used before thus, this will be a learning project for me, and a BIG one at that.

The assembly steps will be detailed on this page as I complete them which I hope won't take TOO long.

06/30/09
Today I completed my first attempt at some Model Master, Metalizer application (Aluminum) and sealer. All went much better than expected. The Model Master metalizer went on very smooth and without fuss to include air brush cleaning. The finish of the metalizer is awesome.

Working with the gold Model Master (Acryl) paint was a different story. I found it a bit difficult to adjust the thinning although after working with it, next time I most likely will not thin the gold or silver, they are rather thin to begin with.

There are a couple of items I will be fixing in the above assembly however, I am satisfied with my first use of the metalizer.

07/03/09
Back again for the next installment. After fixing a couple of details on the transmission, reapplying the metalizer and sealing I moved on to the next step adding the top end details to the engine block.

There were a couple of items on the top end I didn't care for but proceeded, we are looking for out of the box here, not absolute flawless. One of the items I had an issue with was the breather cap, although it was mostly due to not having the best glue for the task, there was nothing more than a flattened spot on the valve cover to place this piece. In most cases there are normally holes for these items however, with the plated parts, made this a much more difficult task than it should have been.

I added a few "paint" details as I went which I hope to show in the next batch of photos. Not the best results in the world but, practice makes perfect. As I have said, it has been years since I last attempted a scale model with any detail at all.

As you can see above, on some details I need a magnifying hood, some details are just too small to see these days however, I think the results are good enough for a learning experience. Mostly I am after the air brush work here and with the main body paint. With the metalizers you can really tell the difference between the aluminum and the steel parts which is a detail I really like.

07/06/09
Finished step # 2 today and onward to the third step. As you can see below details are falling into place although not the best work on the market I still like it and learned a few things in the process.

In step 3 I am working with the headers which in most kits is obvious, it usually follows the engine assembly. I started by removing the pipe sections from the sprue and filed the seams that were showing from the molding process. This was a bit tedious to say the least but the finished result makes for MUCH better end product. Once this was complete and the parts cleaned I glued them together making the full header units. The collector tubes where all four tubes join together had some seams which didn't look too uniform so I placed some putty around them to fill these seams in to later file smooth.

After the application of the burnt metal metalizer and sealer I did notice some seam lines that, when still white, could not be seen (another fine use for a hooded magnifier!! I am seeing a major difference between air brush work and hand painted parts, there just isn't any comparison in the vast improvement that the air brush makes over a hand laden brush.

07/08/09
Started working the belt and pully system for the engine today. As stated above I did good to a degree and have the right tools for painting them but I was still missing the magnified hood! I broke down and ordered one for about $40 some dollars. There are multiple versions of lenses that come with it and will update with details on how well they do.

PHOTO ( VISOR)

07/11/09
I stepped back while waiting for some painted parts to dry to the oil pan. In looking at the oil pan it appeared to me that the stainless bolts were missing, chances of them being painted are slim, maybe anodized, but not painted. With that I went back and applied a touch of steel to them. They do stand out but it is a little difficult to see them in the image below.

07/12/09
Finished Step one today and assembled with the belt section I mentioned above. Not the best work in the world but hey, I'm trying and learning.

Started working on Step 2 this afternoon. Taking the main chassis for a bath and then a bit of primer. Using a lacquer gray primer it went on very smooth and set up very well. which as seen below is in fine shape for a bit of color

Working with the above chassis today was not as easy as I had thought, yes...I admit it, I wasn't really ready for it! Enamels are one thing but working with the lacquers was a bit different and I had difficulties getting it mixed wet enough to lay on as I wished. I also had a bit of difficulty with the tips for my air brush. I have multiple tips for various purposes and they work well but with the lacquer, different ball game indeed. I am going to work next to wet sand the Light Ghost Gray I applied today which probably will take some time to get right.

07/24/09
Put to the wet sand side of life today. Took a couple of hours of down time and worked on the hood. I found a few spots that were a bit high and worked them down. As some may know, this actually works back through the paint and into the primer, Yes, I shot another coat of paint once I cleaned it up. The second coat looks VERY good (at least to me that is). Not being an expert at this, I really can't tell you how it "should" look but to my eyes, it's good enough to be a learning event!

07/25/09
Applied a fresh coat of clear to the chassis today. Not much detail to show here so I didn't bother taking another photo of this section.

Purchased a new air gun today. I have worked a while with the Aztek set I have which I have always liked for the varied tips and the ease of changing them to suite different needs but the unit has a small flaw as far as I see it. They state it is one of the easiest guns on the market to clean...BULL !...You can never get it clean enough. After switching through several modes with it you will find that the action needle will stick after it sits over night. The gun can't be taken apart so of course you can't get to the fine parts within the gun. Paint builds up on these parts which can be rather frustrating when you are ready to spray and can't because you have to free the action needle.

I purchased the Badger 155 Anthem, Dual Action gun and after spraying some clear then followed that with a coat of green on the hood, this gun ROCKS. And needless to say, it is all stainless, comes completely apart and is VERY easy to clean.

What little dirt specs that are seen in the hood below will be long gone in my next installment for this piece of work. Next after the paint cures I will move on to the next application of wet sanding then, as I hope, on to polish to a nice shine.

Sanded down the body today to prep for primer. The body of course had a good number is items that really should have been fixed and were, this took a bit longer than I had expected. Shot the first coat of primer as below...

07/26/09
Worked a bit of small detail on the firewall. Not alot of detail here to work with yet and based on the instructions, there won't be.

Shot a second coat of clear on the chassis today. It will pass for me on this build. Below are a few of the details on the chassis but there aren't many in this kit.

And, Finally, Step 2 is complete as shown below with firewall attached.

07/27/09
Started wet sanding the hood to it's final polish. Yes, it could be better however, being a learning experience I think it is good enough for now. I have posted a couple of snap shots below...

07/31/09
Continuing on with the roll cage parts I have seem to run into a problem I'm not real sure how to resolve but am investigating. It seems that regardless what paint I spray it is coming out a dull finish when it dries. I have a good range of humidity or the lack of that is and temps around 72 to 74 degrees.

08/08/09
Worked with a bit of air flow adjustments on the compressor today. Shooting an insignia red which I should have no issue getting a gloss finish. Not really satisfied yet on the flow. Plan later to work on a bit of thinning here in a short and update of flow.

Continuing today I set in place the first of the roll cage and started the foam cushions on the driver side and rear roll cage

08/09/09
Working on the rear roll cage now on the padding. This is gonna be a real treat! There are a BUNCH of these LOL.

02/10/2010
Taken just a few to get back to working on the old model here due to other outstanding items (like working on the house!). Several steps have been completed so I am posting several picks below for these.

A few anodized bolts can be seen in the view above although a little on the blurred side. They are a bit hard to see with the eye unless you magnify them.

02/14/2010
Finally getting to brass tacks here! I have managed to get a bit more done before running out of (pre-imposed) time. Finally mounted the engine in the frame but not without a couple of issues. Headers always seem to be an issue save the 4 small contact points they always have. One broke away which meant a simple fix but still a frustration.