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Post by mrmike on Aug 5, 2019 8:26:26 GMT -7
This Superbird has been languishing on the shelf for a while. Time for a rebuild! New wheels and tires, wired engine, paint and decals, if I can find a new set of factory stock decals.    I kept on looking over the Superbird and things started to fall off...with a little pushing and shoving! The interior and glass are out.  I found a set of Rallye wheels and wider tires in my parts box!  This is dust turning to dirt! I'll break this down and wash everything!  More to come... |
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Post by mmthrax on Aug 5, 2019 10:43:23 GMT -7
This should be good.
I had the same model back in '87.
Gave it to a friend who worked at the Dodge dealer and they put it on display in the parts dept. Who knows what happened to it?
Looking forward to this rebuild.
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Post by leon on Aug 5, 2019 13:12:43 GMT -7
Looks like a cool re build Mike! Do you have a color picked out?
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Post by mrmike on Aug 5, 2019 18:25:07 GMT -7
A friend of mine is a car collector and he has an unrestored, original Superbird in Vitamin C Orange. I have a new can of Model Master Hemi Orange Lacquer (same color) that I'll use with a black interior. My friend's car has a white interior with white "Plymouth" on the side and a black vinyl top.
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Post by Deano on Aug 6, 2019 2:11:33 GMT -7
The orange and white colour combo sounds sweet.
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Post by mustang1989 on Aug 6, 2019 7:09:35 GMT -7
Good ol' Superbird build. This should be fun to watch.  |
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Post by mrmike on Aug 6, 2019 14:28:39 GMT -7
Thanks Deano and Joe! I've got to get this Superbird into the bath! Then mold line cleanup, primer and paint! Plus, I have a set of Keith Marks decals coming from a friend!
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Post by mrmike on Aug 8, 2019 7:28:42 GMT -7
Since the chrome plating on the rear bumper was flaking off, I decided to strip the rest of the plating and I found Petty Blue plastic under the chrome. I think this was the original plastic color on the body.  I have dismantled the engine and will strip the chrome from the carbs and alternator. I may leave the valve covers plated.  The rear suspension came off rather easily, but the front suspension was much more difficult and I broke off a couple of braces for the suspension. I used a couple pieces of styrene rod to replace them with.  More Superbird to come... |
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Post by mmthrax on Aug 8, 2019 8:09:14 GMT -7
I do enjoy these rebuilds of yours.  That is wild about the color fading. |
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Post by Deano on Aug 9, 2019 13:02:27 GMT -7
Popcorn%20and%20drink%20emoticon_zpsnbkzs8ys
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Post by stitchdup on Aug 9, 2019 13:42:16 GMT -7
Cool
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Post by mrmike on Aug 9, 2019 15:06:28 GMT -7
The Superbird got a bath this afternoon. I need to remove the "Plymouth" decals from the rear quarters and then its primertime!    More Superbird to come... |
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Post by mrmike on Aug 10, 2019 10:51:38 GMT -7
Well, it was bound to happen. I broke the center screen. I was in the process of gluing it all back together when I realized that I was missing a small piece.  I cut out a piece of photoetch screen and a piece of plain 0.020 styrene and superglued them together. When all was dry, I bent the piece slightly around the handle of a hobby knife.  Fits pretty good! A little more sanding and filing and it should be perfect. Just need to paint it flat black.  More Superbird to come... |
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Post by Deano on Aug 11, 2019 1:12:57 GMT -7
Replacement grill is neat.
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Post by mmthrax on Aug 12, 2019 7:41:35 GMT -7
Ditto what Deano said.
Looks better than before.
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Post by mrmike on Aug 12, 2019 13:53:32 GMT -7
Thanks Deano and Mark! After priming the chassis, I looked it over and discovered many sinkholes in the plastic.    At this point, I don't care. I am forging ahead with paint and assembly. More Superbird to come... |
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Post by mrmike on Aug 12, 2019 14:05:20 GMT -7
I removed the decals from the body using a combination of scotch tape and medium grit sandpaper. Now to clean up the rest of the body and prep for primer and paint.   I loosely covered the center of the chassis without burnishing it down and made a couple of quick passes with Testors Hemi Orange Lacquer. Not bad for a first time.  More Superbird to come... |
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Post by leon on Aug 12, 2019 14:18:12 GMT -7
Nice work on the replacement grill Mike! Chassis paint looks good.
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Post by mrmike on Aug 12, 2019 19:17:17 GMT -7
Thanks leon!
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Post by mrmike on Aug 15, 2019 15:10:15 GMT -7
Maybe not the clearest picture, but you can see the round styrene I added under the rear wing supports. When I removed them as part of deconstruction, I broke the pins. This is to replace them.  I drilled the cylinder heads for plug wires and them I painted the engine with Mopar Street Hemi Orange Engine Paint. I know, I usually do this procedure the other way around, so maybe there hope for me yet?   More Superbird to come... |
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Post by leon on Aug 15, 2019 17:45:38 GMT -7
Coming along nicely Mike!
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Post by mrmike on Aug 16, 2019 5:44:26 GMT -7
Thanks leon!
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Post by mmthrax on Aug 16, 2019 6:21:42 GMT -7
Looks like you're going to do a vinyl top.
Cool.
Carry on sir. Looking good.
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Post by mrmike on Aug 16, 2019 7:09:17 GMT -7
The vinyl top was standard on the Superbird. I think and I'm not sure, but it may have been to cover up something. I removed the exhaust from the rear axle and of course, I broke them in two. Using the chassis as a jig, I clamped the exhaust onto the chassis and glued the exhaust back together. When they have dried, I'll remove them and clean up and paint the glue joint.  I repainted the front suspension and added it to the chassis.  I cleaned up the rear axle and repainted it. I need to make a set of rear shocks and mounts since this kit doesn't include them.  More Superbird to come... |
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Post by mrmike on Aug 16, 2019 18:34:30 GMT -7
I sat down this evening with my Dremel Motor Tool and started grinding the excess plastic from the exhaust pipes to get them round and generally the same size. Then I mocked them up and applied a little more glue to help solidify the joints. Tomorrow, I'll repaint the exhaust system.  The 440 6-Barrel has been painted and wired. I'll detail the carbs and install the air filter when I have finished detailing that.  I wanted white letter tire markings, but I didn't have any. I remembered these yellow tire letters from my trips to NNL East and I cut them out, dipped them in water and applied them to the tires. Tomorrow, I'll coat them with flat clearcoat.  More Superbird to come... |
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Post by Deano on Aug 17, 2019 14:23:15 GMT -7
This is starting to come back together nicely!
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Post by lowlife on Aug 17, 2019 16:20:39 GMT -7
Looking good Mike, amazing what a wash has done to clean up that interior !
I'd like to rebuild some of mine, but I use super glue a lot and think I'd brake most of them getting them apart !
Love that orange they painted superbirds, as it the real car didn't make a big enough impact driving down the road !
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Post by mrmike on Aug 17, 2019 19:10:37 GMT -7
Thanks Deano and lowlife! I finally got my decals today from KWT. Thanks KWT!!!  I've been picking away at the interior. Still more detail to add.  The 440 6-Barrel is nearly done. I painted the air cleaner with Testors Competition Orange enamel paint and it is in the dehydrator until tomorrow. It should be dry by then.  More Superbird to come... |
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Post by leon on Aug 18, 2019 4:49:28 GMT -7
Making nice progress Mike!
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Post by mrmike on Aug 18, 2019 13:56:55 GMT -7
Thanks leon! I painted the Superbird this afternoon. Model Master Hemi Orange aka Mopar Tor-Red.    More Superbird to come... |
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