ScottsGT

It certainly has run the cost of cars up. As mentioned before, I was a bodyman back in the ‘80’s. I kind of ignored the past profession as I worked on my retirement plans in my new career. When the “new” S550 Mustang came out in 2015 I was seeing internet postings of new Mustangs heading to the boneyard with what looked like minor damage because of the cost to repair exceeded the value. Of..A..New…Car. WTH? So I started looking into it. S550 “cage” built for safety is 13 different types of metals. Let’s say the A pillar or B pillar (door opening) gets damaged. Back in my day we could easily cut out the damaged area and splice in the new repair panel. Not anymore. Requirements now are the entire panel must be replaced and ANY associated damage it’s welded to has to be replaced and not straightened because it’s already done it’s job and probably won’t work again if needed. Ok, to get to that A/B pillar panel you have to get a few things out of the way. 1). Front, rear and side glass. And these always break coming out because they’re no longer just glass, but bonded strength of the chassis. 2). Roof skin 3). Quarter panel- has to come off, new QP required because they don’t unbolt 4). fender which means the front bumper cover assembly comes off. 5). trunk lid and hood. At least they bolt on. EDIT: 6). Also have to pull off the door and associated wiring harness that goes through the A pillar When Ford brought out the all aluminum trucks, the first one documented with major repairs was a team effort between the bodyshop, Ford engineers and a welding machine company and suppliers like 3M. Total cost for the repair exceeded the cost of the truck. If I remember correctly, it was $80,000 plus to repair, but written off as research by Ford. New welding equipment was designed for these repairs as was bonding agents. The truck spent over a year in the shop. Ford gave the owner another truck to drive in the meantime. Of course all above I’d paraphrased because it was an article I read many years ago.

Yea, mine is a bit tight at the bottom at the wing root area. I had to force it down to fit. When I get serious I’m going to put it in some hot water to try and relax the resin in place.

This just showed up in the mail. Of course I get the butt chewing because it looked like a kit and not a book on the Amazon photo. And her one track mind thinking everything is a model kit. I figure when I order the kit I’ll just tell her she chewed my ass for it already so I might as well enjoy it!

Wow! You have been up and down the road with that one a few times. Remember the suspension issues with the ‘79 when it was first released? Easy to roll over. Ford knew this was a problem, did nothing about it. Typical Ford. Right now they are under investigation by the NTSB since they have more recalls than any other mfgr. My brothers college buddy is now a paraplegic because of this. Car went off the road, flipped and he was thrown through the sunroof and his back hit the rear spoiler and severed his spine. He’s now an attorney and a judge.

Please define “turd.” Now of course I mean in the use of it with your car, not what a turd really is. Slow? Just handle bad? Yea, keep in mind it’s one of those “old cars” that will never be as nice and ride as nice as your S550 did. But there’s a bit of nostalgia to those old go cart suspensions. Sometimes a good stock suspension with just a set of progressive springs and quality shocks and struts is all a car needs. My old ‘95 convertible had Eibach progressives and the blue kokico struts and rode like a dream.

What’s up with those fenders? Are they some kind of wide body fenders? Or home made wide body? Load that front end up with Steeda goodies. Fox bodies are some really nice cars done right. Well worth putting the money into.

Okay, it just got real. One tiny spot where the yellow tape is at to cure then sand and it’s primer time! Well, after more taping things off. Close up of where I’ve sanded the RAM panels flatter. I did a lot of image searching today and found a pretty good one that showed the tape sitting a little proud of the surface along with all the gaps and what look like rivet holes. I guess fasteners of some kind. Once I prime and sand a few time they will be a little less obvious.

To quote a popular comedy skit… YOU DONE MESSED UP, A-A Ron! Whaaaat? Two open kits on my bench at the same time?! Okay, just kidding. Got bored watching sprue goo dry and wanted to see how the Barracuda Cast nose fit. It’s going to take a little work it looks like. Put back aside for now. Not sure if next up, but a good chance. I’m also eying one of my HKM B-25 kits. Or a Blue Angels build. Either a Phantom or the Hornet.

This thing is wearing me down! Back many, many moons ago (1980’s) I was a paint and bodyman. We had a terminology we used in the body shop business. If a car was getting an all over paint job and the customer wanted it right, we removed all dings and dents. The bodyman was told to do a “walk around” which meant if you saw it, you fixed it before sending off to paint. You walked around every square inch inspecting and repairing. If it came back to you from paint with spots of masking tape revealing areas you missed, the boss wasn’t happy. I’ve walked around this damned F-35 three times now and I keep finding tiny boogers I missed over and over. But hey, we keep pressing on. Right? I thought this was a really nice kit when I opened the box the first time. It’s not too bad, but it’s no shake and bake kit for sure. Tires are a friggin’ joke. Looks like someone let the air out to piss off the pilot. Reskit replacements are on the way now. I looked online at real F-35 tires. These are so far off it’s unbelievable. Just too flat looking.

I will add, I softened the RAM lines a little using various grits of sanding sticks. Discovered not only are they raised, but also have a higher center or bulged very slightly. Hoping this makes them a little less obvious.

I’m at that “snails pace” of progress now. Filling, seams, sanding, refilling, gap work, sunk in areas, etc… Nothing exciting going on here.

Eli, time to start researching for the J/K coming. That’s the kit I’m getting.

But starting to look like something other than a pile of parts.

Ugh….more gaps. But once again, sprue goo to the rescue! I should have stole this idea and had it patented.

34 year restoration. And I thought I was slow with my Mustang.

It is for built kits. I’m just anxious to see it there!

Man that’s awesome! I have the same kit, but I’m going with the Barracuda Studios yellow 49 with the tiger head on the cowl. Now you know as soon as I open the box and see all the parts my first question will be “How in the hell did John do this in 4 days?” Ill be lucky to do it in 4 weeks.

WooHoo! There’s a spot for this build over on the Fisher built kits thread. Keep it going.

Now I see why Kopeckey makes replacements for all these parts. PITA with the seam locations. taped off one line at a time and filled with sprue goo.

Larger scales for failing eyesight is an oxymoron. They just throw more tiny details in they can’t do with smaller scales. Im finding that I’m using my OptiVisor more than ever now.

My cats response to this… https://youtube.com/shorts/I_GOz6_FgDk?si=zCWFlhh22H9_3TkP

All in, around $8000 for an Armortek. I’ll put it on my Christmas wish list. (I have a better chance of getting the blonde for Christmas than an $8000 toy tank)

Seriously! There was a tank in that video? Yea, he would ride that one! (The tank, not the blonde).

Not 1/12. I think the 2 1/2 yo could stop it in its tracks. But that airsoft system. Yea, I’m thinking it would be fun with the Canada Geese we have around here that keep pooping in my yard.