Rosco's Patrol Car 1978 Dodge Monaco NEW Progress 1-15-2017

Thanks AM!!!!! Much appreciated! Yeah a lot does go a long ways, BUT as jam packed as those cars were under the hood, I got a lot yet to cough up! As they had a lot goin in what seems every direction, I HOPE I have at least half that in-place, as I'm not sure what else I can add!

So yeah, you are right a little goes a long ways till you have to have it everywhere....

Much appreciated! Thanks for lookin'!!!!

So for all those following along..... I got to looking at the grille, to see what it needed as far as the flat black "shadowing" and got a damn good look at the headlights too, (WOW, are those terrible!) I got right into adding that flat black "shadowing" to the grille.

I got that done and drying and went right to the headlights to add "something" as they are really bad..... Specially for my liking anyway! I went to painting the "backing Testors "Flat Aluminum" to give them something, to look like the real thing! Let that sit to dry, and got to looking at what I had for wire to make some sort of "lip" that on the real thing was "black".... And from what it is, I have "black" wire, sure, but I needed a way to "shape" it also! So while the Flat Aluminum paint was drying with the flat black on the grille I took some measurements to make some sort of "form" to wrap the wire around the same diameter as the headlights.....

Not the best, but "something". next question I was asking myself, was how I was going to fasten those wire rings for the headlights to the headlight parts! Because they're chrome, ANY "CA" type glue was out..... SO back to another thought I recently done, that clear glass glue? I used it to make "lens" on my '68 Roadrunner, so why wouldn't it work for this? SO I gave it a try....

Not bad, not great, but slightly better then what the box-stock parts were! I plan to add a little at a time to build up a "lens" on all 4 places, as that glue takes a little while to dry, so.... A little at a time till that ring has almost equal lens thickness over the box-stock parts molded-in parts!
I then, sat that all aside to dry, and cure, and got to looking at the rear tail lights too. they too needed a little added to them, by looking up pics of the real thing online I found that the centers had a clear area, and the inner-most part of that read tail light lens, was actually Turn Signal Amber! I painted that silver center area with Testors "Chrome" and then went on to do the same for the inner-most area too, only to then be coated over with Testors Turn Signal Amber to represent what the real car had!
I let that dry for a bit, and then did some work on another model I have almost done too, till those lens were dry, only to then go back and cut them loose of the sprue, to then take a Sharpie Paint marker and add that black ring around the edge of the red tail light lens, left to dry for a bit, and then took that same Clear Glass Glue from Testors, that I been making lens with, to glue the tail light lens right into place on the rear bumper seen here:

While I was at it, I went ahead and painted the turn signals that are in the front bumper too!

Looks pretty good, not the best, in any case, but slightly better then what the kit came with! I'm pretty pleased so-far with this, I think it could be better but given what the kit came with & parts at hand and materials used, its not all that bad! Thats it for now! Thanks for following along, comments are always welcome, enjoyed & encouraged! Stayed tuned, more to come as things are done or while I'm doing them!

Back to this one a little bit! I got the taillight lens in-place on the rear bumper and painted in the turn signals on the front bumper the license plates were next! AGAIN I find that the plate decals are either to big for location on bumper, OR the bumper "area" for the plate, has a "ridge" that the plate decal simply will not lay flat or fit correctly. So be me, I went and done the same thing as I have in the past, grab some .020th of an inch thick styrene, make the plastic sheet the size to fit the bumper, AND the decal plate, and off to painting it to be "aluminum" on its edges and when dry, decal applied and let to dry for 24 hours, and then clear coated and allowed to dry, and then in-place they went!
And this is how that all turned out:

Added to the car as it would have been in the show. I wanted everything as close to what was in the show as possible. Sadly, because of how many cars they used, there were A LOT of little things used in some cases, that be on one car but not on the next. so that part of it is difficult.... BUT I think the plates were not one of those things that changed very often (specially the rear plate), I'm not sure about the Rebel Flag plate! BUT its the "Dukes"...... SO the "Rebel" it was!
Thats it for now! More to come as I get the next bit done and able to get pics! Thanks for following along comments welcome! ~ENJOY

Well a little time has passed as I been going on and on around the house with different things (I hate it when life things get in the way!) But it happens you deal with it and go on... ANYWAY in the middle of all that I actually got a little done on this build. As I had gone and put a lot in to another I got real close done too, and then theres a 3rd on involved too! BUT building as I am, I'm getting things going on each of the 3 of them and this one happened to come up next!
So in my last update, I got the taillight lens detail-painted and in-place and then installed onto the rear bumper, and then prior to that got the grille ready as well as the headlights and got the 2 license plates onto their own "plate" as decals and those got to be added to place on each bumper.
So with all that setting and ready I had to give the body yet one more shot of Gloss Lacquer Clear Coat and hopefully that was thee last it needed and it was! SO once that was dry to be handled by hand, I began looking and adding the waiting parts!

I got the headlights in-place, as well as the 2 part grille! (I would NOT mind finding a silver-ish/chrome lettering for the word "DODGE" pn the driver side lower grille) Theres a location for it but not "embossed" into the plastic enough to "highlight" it so.... Thats OK MAYBE before the cars considered "done" I'll locate something!


Front bumper headlights & Grille sections look pretty good (the best I can get them to be considering the issues with the parts and detail that MPC/Round 2 didn't add to the molds!) So I'm happy with what ya see, as there really isn't much more I can do to physically make it any better, without a total re-designing of parts..... And sadly, I think I've "re-designed" enough to make this kit look good! Its hard to make a silk purse out of a Sow's Ear!
Stay tuned.... More to follow these very short messages! Thanks for following along, ~ENJOY!

Now right back to it..... The front bumper is in-place, as well as the headlight bezels and grille sections, so checking the body to get it ready for everything that it will either be getting for details OR need painting and finish work.... Looks GREAT as-is so, I thought I'd get to drilling the holes for the roof strobe light. (assembly of the roof strobe was a bit of a challenge!) WOW does NOTHING to it fit right too! So I got the roof of the car drilled for mounting the Strobe light to it....

I sort of followed the kits indents from inside the car starting out with a really small drill bit and "step Drilling" up till the holes were 1. Centered side-to-side with the light bar, and 2. fit just tight enough a little pressure was added to the light bar to pull it down once glued and the roof would make that "pulling force" all by its own nature of the curvature of it. (to make the light bar seem somewhat "flat" and level on the roof, as it was slightly upwardly arched.)

Not to shabby! I'm pleased how that all turned out with a little bit of thought and some skill machine work. As I wasn't 100% sure that the holes dimpled inside the car was accurately placed for the light bar up top.... PLUS having to drill through a PERFECT finish and not ruin it was a concern too (I use ALL brand new drill bits for that very reason!) -Then being only used twice, put them back in there package! As the ones I have out thats been used, aren't "bad" I just wanted that sharp new edge to cut and not possibly mar that finish!
So with that, I'm gearing up and getting the gut fortitude to go about the BMF (I second guess myself on that stuff, I don't think I'm all that good at it) BUT, I also know, the more I use it, the better I'll get and lets face it, I got my share of models to add it too that are sitting and waiting to get that close to being finished so..... So then, BMF it is comming right up! -Stay Tuned! Comments always welcome, Thanks for looking!

So getting that inspiration up to do the BMF.....

WELL then.....

I got the BMF one the whole car, (took a bit over my night-owl ways) and got it all done! And once it was done, I added the light bar to the roof, to stay!

Not to bad!!! The light bar centered out well with how I drill the holes for mounting it....





I have to say, I'm surprised! That the BMF turned out as good as it did as I've said I don't think I'm all that good with it, BUT it did turn out pretty good on this one with very little error on my part, (It could be better if I had better prepped the body BEFORE I painted it), but thats my own fault from the very beginning, BUT thats OK as it really doesn't look all that bad! I am surprised! And pleased at the same time!
I left the rear bumper OFF the body till all the parts for the interior are in-place and the interior tub is in-place, so that when I go to put the frame under the body, (something's telling me) that I am gonna have an issue mounting the rear portion of the frame and to leave that rear bumper OFF the body, will grant me the space needed to get inside there, to add any type of "mount" to hold both the frame to the body and vice-versa.... As we ALL know this kits "fitting" issues, are horrific but the fitting of the frame is probably THEE WORST I've seen on ANY model so far! (I honestly do not believe the frame in this kit is actually "made" for this kit!) In fact, I think that single one frame is used for several other models as it signifies a section on the back of it to be removed for another model (I can't recall it right now as I am not close by the instructions sheet) BUT, I know its not just for this kit!
So I thought it be smart to leave the rear bumper off till I'm ready to mount the frame just in case I need to get in there to make some sort of mount to hold the body up off the frame a little to get that factory spacing for the wheels and wheel openings in the back as if mounted right out of the box, it look like a low-rider!
Thats it for now! More to come as I get things done! As always Comments always welcome, and I appreciate the following of my builds! ~ENJOY!

NICE detail work on that front end mate, it looks GREAT !!!
The whole build is coming together very nicely John, keep at it mate..

Thanks Dale! I tell ya this kit is one of the worst ones I've built yet..... Detail-wise, fit-wise, you name it..... WOWZERS! I sure do pity the person that buys one for their "first" model to assemble! It'll chase 'em away from building!

Ohh I am keeping right at it, I can see and smell the smoke rolling off the rear tires of this one headed for the display case base!!!!! LOL

So I was procrastinatin' the BMF, and it turned out great, so once all that was done I got right into adding the window glass!!!! Just to get this body as close done as possible. As I have a few details to finish up for the interior OR that would have been added to the body too!
But the glass turned out great!

Windshield.

Drivers side rear window glass. (kinda hard to see its so clear!)

Rear window glass.

Passenger side rear window glass....
I'm pleased with everything on the body so far, considering the trouble I had with the white paint originally! This one is coming right along!!!! This is all I've gotten done on this one in the short time from my last post till now, But, more will come! Thanks for following along, comments appreciated & welcome, ENJOY!

Well every little bit counts, right? I got to looking at the interior to this car, a few things needed addressed, and added! In fact, what I had addressed was the cars interior from what I could see in different video clips there as we all know was several cars used to make the TV series, and I seen one car to have a gray interior, BUT found SEVERAL cars, to have the "common" tan interior, and when I began this model back when I returned to the hobby, I went with the gray interior that I had seen Granted, for all I know at this point (I can't find that video now as it was on youtube) and to that, I looked this all up in 2013!!! SO. and I wasn't "signed" for it to remember what video's I looked at! Dummy me! Thats a learned lesson I can tell ya!
ANYWAY, I choose the less common interior not knowing if that was in the '78 Dodge Monaco, or the other Dodge Police Interceptors that was used in filming the show! SO, that means its either right, or its wrong, either way its to late to go back and change it now! So onward I went! I did NOT add the lights in the back of the car, that was to be mounted to what looks ot be the tops of the back seat! Just, I didn't see them being there, and I plugged the holes and painted the plugs to match.
Onward again, in the interior, I seen a lot needed done when I first started this model, and lost a little interest due to the lack of correct details, but the one thing they should have included in the interior, more then all the guns they include (how many times did ya actually see ole Rosco, pull his pistol? OR have a long rifle, or even shot gun in his hand in the TV series!? WELL what they could have switched in interior details was the one thing he a LOT had with him in the car?
Anyone?
How about Flash!? Rosco's Dog? SURE enough, nothing in this kit, BUT Paul, helped me out with such a detail! I just didn't know one was made, and to that to be a Basset Hound too! SO I would up making a mold of this Dog to use in possibly other builds! Naturally, it in those builds will be painted differently but I made it as close as I could get it to look like Flash!


Sitting on a stick so that I can handle it for painting all the different colors seen here UN-painted, to show that its one of my resin castings! Anyone need one for their own Rosco's police Interceptor build, PM me on it! I have extras made up! (This mold is over a year old now I do believe) and I'm just now, getting around using one of them for myself!

Gotthe "white" on Flash's face.... A LONG ways to go and a LOT of color variations too.. and now its goes out the window! As the time passed, and the paint added, I FAILED to get pics of the stages..... So heres how that all turned out:

Painting the doggy, was fun, interesting, and in some cases a PIMA!!!! LOL BUT I managed to do it, and its not the best, but its also not the worst..... BUT, I am happy with it, plus, its on the inside of a car interior, so truly seeing it isn't going to show all its imperfections! However thats OK, I'm good with how it turned out!
Thats all for now! I am waiting for the body to dry as the interior is in it to stay, and will sit till I know I can handle it from all the clamps holding things together....
With that, I have some more details to get onto the frame while that dries anyway! Its getting close to the finished car! YAY! Thats for looking. following along, and as always Comments welcome and appreciated! ~ENJOY!

COOL details mate, that dog tops the interior off just nicely mate.

Thanks Dale!!! Yeah, in the TV Series, ole Rosco' had his Dog with him alot and I thought why not? I'm always adding some crazy in the interiors of my builds, and this time well its not so crazy as ole Flash, was part of the shows "Cast" so.... And seen a lot in the front seat of Rosco's Police Cruiser! SO I added him to the mix!

I ALSO think I'm gonna add one more detail to the interior which was Rosco's "Secret" Diary that he wrote in a lot and shown several times as he sat in the car, and was kept in the glove box. WELL I'm gonna add it I think in the interior somewhere, maybe somewhere on the seat? I dunno yet, I know I am going to add it tho!

Unbelievable detail going on, awesome work!

Thanks Tim! I appreciate it! Yeah, I'm a wild detailer (at least what I can design and make myself (I don't buy a lot of the fiddly photo etch parts) but, I don't think I do to badly with it.....

This one is SO CLOSE to the Display Case base, right now its NOT funny. it'll be done but I have some minor extra details to add to the frame before it goes under the car! And I have to finish up the hood and a little wire placement under the hood! Stay tuned!

So that everyone knows, this weekend was kinda the plan to finish 2 models (or so I thought) till a rather large box was found at my door step on Saturday then the finishing of the 2 models went right out the window! BUT that didn't stop me up to that point! LOL I worked like a madman on Thursday & Friday and Friday night till the wee hours of the morning on one of them! As the other hung to dry! The one to hang to dry, was this one! I got that interior mounted into the body, and "hung" it up out of the way overhead with several clamps on it.... So.... And this is how that all turned out:

Dang that looks GREAT! I'm so pleased with the looks and how well this model has came along, a far cry from what it once was!

Looks GREAT with no camera flash too! Which a lot of times I find the camera flash changes how things look, it could be that the car is while as well.... I'm not sure, I just know that it looks great under any lighting as you can see!

Other side looks great!


Couple shots of "Flash" through the window....with and without the flash of the camera! I'm pleased with this and all the efforts I've put into it! Not to shabby for a model that asks for a lot to be desired of within!
Over-all I'm happy with how this one has turned out!!!! Was trying kit, to say the very least, and I still have a little ways to go on it, but its coming along! (I question how the body is gonna set on the frame), and how the 2 sub-assemblies are going to mount together in the end, I remain optimistic on that one! (a lot of changes with body mounting was changed along the way in order to "seek" a factory height car), because as the kit was OOB it would have looked like a low-rider police car, as it was! The frame sat so high up in the body, that it was a 1/4 of a REAL inch up, which sunk the wheels into the wheel wells WAY TO FAR! so I had to bring the frame down out of the body, from the underside of the interior tub. Hopefully in the end, what I did works out for the best and not makes it impossible to mount and look right the frame to the body! -We'll see!
Thanks for following along, Stay tuned more to come as things get completed, or while they're being completed!!! ~Enjoy!

That really looks great mate, all those little details just set it apart i think.
MAGNIFICENT WORK .. by the way, what was in the box??

-Thanks Dale..... Much appreciated!!!! Go check yer e-mail my friend!

Hemi wrote:-Thanks Dale..... Much appreciated!!!! Go check yer e-mail my friend!

Nothing yet mate..

Should be now! -Took a bit to send it off (My server has been slow the past 2 days), I think its got something to do with the weather we got!

Hemi wrote:Should be now! -Took a bit to send it off (My server has been slow the past 2 days), I think its got something to do with the weather we got!

You mean all that snow??? got it too mate.

Yeah the storm has got some wind with it and the wind seems to effect my internet connection all the time when the wind is strong!

You got snow too? WTF I thought it was summer for you there!?

Well its been awhile since I've done an update on this build, so without further ado.... We'll get right to it huh? Yeah why not!
Well in the last update, was getting "Flash" painted, and in-place on the passenger seat, NOW that interior being in the body, I actually got the frame in-place too! Have a look:

As you can see by the pic, I got the A/C compressor line going in, with the pointed out fitting to it. It in this pic is just "posed" as I have to drill the hole and shape the line to the A/C compressor!


In these pics you can see that A/C line on-plce to stay!!!!!
Then I got to make and fit the line from the A/C compressor to the firewall, this line has a bit more to it then just a line and fitting... As you're about to see!

In-place, and to the firewall!

To the firewall it went! If you look close, just below the heater hose lines in the firewall to the heater core, you can see that black line going up into the lower portion of the heater core....
To this point, there is only one "wire" to place.... The Horn wire! And thats coming too!

Seen here, you notice the "gap" that needs sheet filing. This is the difference in how the frame fits the body! Its a quarter of an inch (ral 1:1 1/4 inch) off! Thats how far, I had to raise the body on the frame, to make the car sit factory height! As if I had monted it as the kit went together, it would have looked like a low rider!

Once I get the filler sheet in-place, and painted to match the car, it will look pretty good! I'm pleased so far, with the outcome of work done, I just have to slide the frame forward just a tad to get it to fit tightly to the back sides of the inner fenders and then glued to "stay"..... Thats to follow!

Frame is slide forward, to stay, and the Horn wire in-place, so now all that under the hood detail is DONE, all the wires in-place, all the hoses made and also in-place, and for pic sake, I put the Air Cleaner on just for kicks..... I have yet to make those fillers for the tops of the inner fenders, and then glued in-place and finish painted, I added a "lip" for the hood to sit on when its on as well, (just like the real 1:1 would have!) I've stopped on this for a short time as I have to figure out where the Antenna might be if only one and or find if there may have been 2 of them due to it being a Police Car, I want to be sure and add them as they would have been in the TV series!!!
Stay tuned, More will follow as things are done! The END is NEAR!!!!!
As always, comments welcome! ENJOY

you're detail crazy arent you ? lol Awesome work man

doorslammerfan wrote:you're detail crazy arent you ? lol Awesome work man

LOL I sure am!!!!! I love the detailing aspect of the builds... and as you know, this one really needed help! Thanks man, much appreciated!!!! It is however fighting me every step of the way..... But, I'm winning so far!