1970 AAR Cuda

So with the Daytona put aside for a bit, while I   think about it some more I got stuck into a much simpler build to keep my mojo going.
This is a kit I acquired from a good mate recently. It's the old Revell - Monogram '90s kit, it's been started and was done well, so I decided to carry on the build and basically build it stock as an AAR ....... well nearly stock.
The only major mods were tubbing the rear end and fitting some nice meaty rears. I used the rear tyres from the MPC Daytona kit and fit the kit Rallye wheels to them.
I tried to keep the chassis mods as simple as possible, I just cut and moved the rear tubs inboard as well as the leaf springs, that's about it. The only pitfall of that was the tubs now clashed with the rear seat/tub. So with some crafty Dremel work and black paint, and all fits well now, the only evidence is the corners of the rear seats.
It's painted Windsor blue using Duplicolor acrylic.



Tubbed chassis ready for paint ..

Paint ..

Rear seat mods to accept the bigger tubs.


I've reshot a nice wet coat in the engine bay ...


I've detailed the rear tailpan and grille with some satin black and clear colours ...



The wheels and tyres are stock up front and the rears were modified to suit the wide tyres, I went the gaudy look and painted the white lettering on the tyres ...




The engine had been started but looks way different now.
Then ...

Now ...




And the interior squirted ... black ..


Nearly at the point of putting this sucker together already!   See, I can build fairly quickly .... if I don't fiddle with things
TJ

Terrific work so far TJ...'specially all that engine detail mate!

Wow.....That would have to be a damned record for you Bro.
Weeks, not months/years.
Top Notch fella.

You do nice work!!!!

What a superb looking paint job mate, real sweet.

That engine detail is spot on too buddy..

Nice, neat tub works, looks just right with more rubber under the ass.

Thanks guys, it's coming along well ....
Why you ask? What's going on you say, "this guy takes months to build normally".
Well I've just had two weeks off work (before the travelling sh!t storm starts again) so I've spent a few solid days at the bench to get this done ... and I'm not doing anything stupid (read: big stupid engines that don't fit ie;Daytona).

The interior is done now, might do seat belts yet, not sure, and the chassis is together too so this is very close to closing up. Torturing myself with BMF tonight ..wish me luck!




So that's if for now, see how far I get by Sunday night, should have an update by then

That interior looks sweet mate, as for BMF, you'll shit it in i reckon...   It's modelers therapy..  

I can tell this is gonna look killer!! Glad I am not the only one that dreads BMF!

Coming along nice.

A 70CUDAbyTJ. What can I say? Built right when built by the expert!

Thanks guys.
Don't know about the expert bit Csaba, thanks mate.

Don't worry, I know.

This is a sweet build, very nice!!

Thanks Tim,
Ok ............ good news;
I went with seatbelts and they don't look too bad, they're black dress ribbon soaked in white glue and cut down to correct width with MCG photo-etch buckles


Decals went on well also, although they are from a different version of this kit and the rear sections don't match the hip shape very well, too bad they're on now;


The bad news ...........
I wanted to put on a clear coat to help seal the decals and BMF, I used Tamiya Acrylic clear, then the trouble started...


Looks like a reaction to some polish residue, even though I had washed it with warm soapy water .. twice! Bro Antwon reckons I should have cleaned it with prepsol first whoops my bad!
So the plan is to clean it with prep-sol first, then sand back the clear and clean again and re-coat with clear. The saving grace is the fish eyes are predominantly on the roof and boot lid, so I won't be touching the sides and decals ......again, wish me luck

Ouch... Looks like my Challenger looked after the first clear coat. See, the 'Cuda deep inside is really a CHALLENGE-r. Fingers X-ed!

Oh it's a Challenge all right!
If your Chally is anything like this I understand how frustrated you are mate.

I've had to mask and re-shoot some colour on the roof and boot because I'd cut through the colour in a couple of spots while sanding off the offending clear. This is the blue off the gun,

Next is to clear the whole lot again. So much for a simple build.

Yep, these little mfsb's like to fight their builders... 'I can feel the weight'.
I had to re-shoot both front fenders and both doors on mine. But, you know, it's 'right there in your hands'.

Nice save mate, being a second clear coat saved the day i reckon, i've had stuff ups like this a few times,
good thing it's only paint..

What grade of paper due you use for a sand back like this? Looks like a great save to me!!

OK, so I used 1200 for the cut back of the clear back to the original blue, but I went through on a couple of edges and had to repair the roof and boot with blue.
That last photo is the 'repair' blue off the gun and now I'm in the middle of the clear coats, one coat a day, light rub and 'clean' in between each.

"But, you know, it's 'right there in your hands'.   
Thanks Csaba, I know where you're coming from there mate

Righto, I'm happy with this now. Clear is done, used 2000 up to 12000 paper and then polished, that's it no more, I suck at painting, this is as good as I get.
There's a couple of issues with the rear decals at the hips where I tried to adjust them to fit the profile better, and after having to mask them for the repair, there was a little bit of lifting of the decals at those hip points when taking the tape off, anyway what you see is what you get ....





BMF next and then put this sucker together ...
TJ

Wow. I wish I could paint this bad... but mine is so much worse!
BTW your laminate idea saved my build, update soon.

Csaba, I'm sure you're paint isn't too bad mate
I'm looking forward to an update for sure

I know I sounded critical of my finished product but I am actually happy with how it came out, I guess I meant the amount of work it took to get there, I always seem to have hassles when I paint, should have been easier than that.

Thats coming along real nice, with the issues you had with paint this is looking sweet.