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Post by mrmike on Oct 26, 2020 11:19:06 GMT -7
My new project is the Moebius '71 Ford F100 Ranger XLT. This is a compromised kit being warped and Moebius was not willing to replace warped parts with new straight parts as I would have to buy them. The cab was warped and they would charge me for a new cab with no guarantee that the new parts would not be warped. I put the windshield into place in the cab with the hope that it would help remove the warp. It seems be working, but now that I have assembled the frame, that is warped as well. Moebius' excuse was that a modeler would be able to remove that warp. I'm a seasoned modeler with over 40 years of constant modeling under my belt and this is the first time that I have encountered a model company wouldn't stand behind their product. Moebius is now owned by Pegasus Hobbies and they told me to that they would replace one cab for free for my '72 F100 Sport Custom and I would have to buy the other for the '71 Ranger. I told them that they need bigger boxes so product would not be warped and they keep producing product for those smaller boxes. I simply will not buy any other Moebius products in the future. My kit is Kit #1208. I will be painting the body with Model Master Wimbledon White (roof and lower body) and Testors Gloss Orange (Competition Orange) (Mid-body). The engine will be wired and whitewall tires with the Explorer wheel covers.       More Ranger to come... |
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Post by stitchdup on Oct 26, 2020 12:00:52 GMT -7
Thats very poor of them to say that, its akin to a bank telling you to print your own money cos you'll be the one spending it. I haven't checked mine but I will be now
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Post by mrmike on Oct 27, 2020 7:16:22 GMT -7
Please do check your kits! If you can get a replacement for a bad part, go for it. If not, then tell them just how you feel!
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Post by mrmike on Oct 29, 2020 8:35:51 GMT -7
I had a story written for this build, but chose not to use for a build off with a friend. He had to pull out at the last minute, so I will insert the story starting with this post. The Story The old man walks into Boston Police Headquarters and he tells the desk sergeant that his wife is missing. The desk sergeant calls for a detective from Missing Persons to come down and talk to him. Since the man's wife has been missing for only a few hours, the Police will take a report and keep an eye out for her, but they really can't search for her until she has been missing for 24 hours. The detective walks back upstairs to Missing Persons and the old man becomes very frustrated and he cries out for help. McNally was in the process to turning in his Visitors Badge when the old man started cries out loud and he offered to help. The old man says he can't afford a private investigator and McNally tells him to not worry about the money and they would work something out later. The old man is Jesse Hawkins and his missing wife is named Rhonda and she went for her morning walk and never returned home. McNally asks about her route for walking and he will drive along looking for her on her route. Then he will search side streets and empty houses in his neighborhood. Jesse will call McNally if she does return or a ransom demand is made. The Build The engine and transmission has been assembled, but I have never seen a fuel pump like that. The instructions even show this design. I think I'll remove the bottom portion of the fuel pump.    McNally will return... |
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Post by pete on Oct 29, 2020 17:17:26 GMT -7
That fuel pump style was used by Ford till 71...The bottom portion is the fuel filter. Those round knobs shouldn't be there though. Probably artifacts left over from the molding process. (stuck ejector pins) LOL... I still have the tool for removing those filters... Bummer they wouldn't stand behind their product though. Gonna have to go check my sealed Mobius truck kits now...  |
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Post by mrmike on Oct 30, 2020 7:01:19 GMT -7
I seem to recall changing the fuel pump on my '63 Ford Galaxie 500 with a 352 CI V8 many years ago and the pump didn't have the filter potion below it. It did have an inline fuel filter. If I had my way, Moebius (Pegasus Hobbies) would go to a larger box for all of their part sprues and allow a longer time for the sprues to cool down! But, what do I know? I only packed boxes for a living...
If you have plans to build those Moebius trucks kits, check them now before it's too late! I can hear their excuse now..."I'm sorry sir, but we no longer stock that kit and parts are not available."
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Post by mrmike on Nov 2, 2020 9:16:45 GMT -7
The Story McNally drives around the neighborhood and has follows the route Rhonda takes everyday. He will drive her route and then he'll check the side streets for her. Rhonda is about 5' 4" tall, 100 Lbs., and 84 years old. He doesn't find her on his initial drive on her route. He stops and talks with people walking on the sidewalk and he even made a few friends with those owners dogs. He drives and he stops at an intersection and he could hear a dog barking, but it sounded far away. Then the barking stopped and McNally drove on following the route again. He calls Jesse and he asks if Rhonda had called or returned and Jesse replies no. He will keep looking and he starts searching the side streets. He doesn't find her on any of the side streets and he will start searching abandoned houses. The Build I assembled the rear bed and started with the tailgate. The inner gate didn't match the tailgate and I removed the mounting bar and sanded the inner gate smooth and it matched the tailgate better. The rest of the bed went together without any issues. It was time for a mockup to check for fit. Not bad! The left rear cab is still warped and if I push down on it, the cab and bed line up perfectly.    McNally will return... |
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Post by mrmike on Nov 7, 2020 18:50:27 GMT -7
The Story It was getting late and McNally was hungry. He stops at a convience store and he grabs a sandwich and a cup of coffee. He drives back to the route that Rhonda walked daily and he stops to eat and think. Suddenly, bright lights illuminate the interior of his car and the places his hands on the steering wheel and he waits for a cop to come to his window. The cop asks why he is there and McNally identifies himself and he says he is working. He is told to get out of the car and he is searched with the cop finding his SIG Sauer P227 in his shoulder holster. The cop asks about the gun and McNally tells him about all the permits he has for it. The cop takes the permits and his drivers license and hands them to his partner and tells her to run his name through the computer. A couple of moments later, Officer Westerfield comes back and says hi to McNally and that they had met last year when he bought her Jeep Grand Cherokee LTD V8 from her. McNally returns the greeting and he explains why he is there and what he is doing...searching for a missing person. The Build I painted and assembled more of the engine this afternoon. I got the wires installed on the distributor and will wire the engine. I might plumb the engine a little with a fuel line from the fuel pump to the carburetor and a line from the PCV Valve.    McNally will return... |
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Post by leon on Nov 8, 2020 6:19:03 GMT -7
Coming along nicely Mike!
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Post by mrmike on Nov 8, 2020 7:05:23 GMT -7
Thanks leon!
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Post by poet on Nov 8, 2020 14:49:18 GMT -7
Looking good!
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Post by mrmike on Nov 8, 2020 16:03:57 GMT -7
Thanks Dennis!
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Post by mrmike on Nov 13, 2020 19:27:26 GMT -7
The Story McNally tells the cops how he is searching for Rhonda Hawkins and shows them a picture of her and Off. Casey Westerfield says they will search for her as well between calls. McNally appreciates the extra help they can offer, even if it is a few minutes here and there. The two cops get another call and they must depart. McNally starts his search over again. The Build I finished the 390 CID engine this afternoon. I glued the fuel filter back on after wiring the engine and I added the air cleaner decal and a Fram decal to the oil filter.    McNally will return... |
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Post by leon on Nov 14, 2020 7:55:14 GMT -7
Engine looks good Mike!
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Post by mrmike on Nov 14, 2020 15:53:18 GMT -7
Thanks leon!
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Post by mrmike on Dec 1, 2020 15:29:25 GMT -7
I have been re-reading the instructions and staring at the box art and I have decided to change the tu-tone from the combination tu-tone to the deluxe tu-tone. The deluxe tu-tone is just two colors separated by the chrome strips in the center of the body. The color combo will remain the same with Wimbledon White on the bottom and Gloss Orange (Coral) on the top.
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Post by Deano on Dec 5, 2020 22:34:21 GMT -7
This is looking good Mike, shame about the warpage.
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Post by mrmike on Dec 6, 2020 15:10:18 GMT -7
Thanks Deano! It is a shame that there was warpage, but I'm moving ahead on my last ever Moebius kit.
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Post by mrmike on Dec 13, 2020 13:46:47 GMT -7
The Story McNally drives along on Shallotte St. and he hears the dog barking again and he stops and listens. The barking seems closer than it was earlier this afternoon. He continues driving and he looks up the driveway to a warehouse and he sees the dog that is barking and barking. McNally drives up to the barking dog and he stops just short of the warehouse corner and he gets out of his car and slowly walks over to the dog as he approaches the corner he sees a foot on the ground and he goes over to body. It is Rhonda Hawkins and she is unconscious, but alive! The Build I have painted the wheels with Model Master Wimbledon White and the chassis has been painted with Tamiya Semi Gloss Black.    McNally will return... |
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Post by mrmike on Dec 13, 2020 15:23:58 GMT -7
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Post by mrmike on Dec 15, 2020 10:24:33 GMT -7
The Story McNally calls 9-1-1 and requests an ambulance and the Police to come to the scene. He places his rolled-up jacket under Rhonda's head and he looks around the area for any clues and he doesn't see any in the dark. He looks the dog over who has since quieted down some and he gets his bottle of water and he finds an old hub cap and pours some of the water in and he tries to give some to Rhonda. He hears sirens coming and then an ambulance pulls up behind his car and stops. A short while later, a Police cruiser arrives. The Build The chassis is painted and assembled! The engine has been detailed and wired. The wheel covers have been painted with Model Master Gunmetal Metalizer and a silver Sharpie.    McNally will return... |
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Post by leon on Dec 15, 2020 14:23:17 GMT -7
Coming along nicely Mike!
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Post by mrmike on Dec 15, 2020 15:16:50 GMT -7
Thanks leon! The whitewall tires need to be touched up a bit.
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Post by mrmike on Dec 19, 2020 10:18:29 GMT -7
The Story McNally calls 9-1-1 and requests an ambulance and the Police immediately to the old warehouse at the end of Shallotte St. He places his rolled up jacket under her head and he looks for something to put water in for the abandoned dog and he finds an old hubcap. The dog laps up all the water and McNally pours some more into the hubcap and he tries to give some to Rhonda. The ambulance and the Police arrive and he stands out of the way so they can work on her. The abandoned dog will be picked up by Animal Control per McNally's request and he also calls Jesse to tell him that he found his wife. The Build Paint was flying today as I painted the interior door panels, dash, hood, cab and bed with Testors Competition Orange Enamel aka Coral. This should look great with the W'imbeldon White that I had masked over. I am not a fan of enamel spray paint, but this is an older can that I got from a fellow CPMC member and it has plenty of pigment in it.    McNally will return... |
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Post by Deano on Dec 24, 2020 2:14:30 GMT -7
I hope McNally was offering Rhonda water out of his bottle not the hubcap   |
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Post by mrmike on Dec 24, 2020 6:08:39 GMT -7
I would certainly hope so, too!  In my mind, the hubcap was wiped down with a piece of clean cloth for the dog. |
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Post by mrmike on Dec 25, 2020 12:24:56 GMT -7
The Story Rhonda is transported to the Hospital and McNally calls Jesse that he found her and he would be over to his house to take him to the Hospital. In the Hospital ER, Jesse is allowed to see Rhonda for a moment after the doctors and nurses tend to Rhonda's wounds. Jesse wants to stay with Rhonda, but the ER doctor says it would be best that he leave, get some rest at home and return tomorrow. McNally returns Jesse home to get some rest and he can go to the Hospital in the morning. The Build I am allowing the painted body to gas out before doing anymore work to it. I had to do a mockup to see what it would look like. The engine compartment needs to be painted black. I started painting the interior in prep for assembly.    McNally will return... |
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Post by mrmike on Dec 27, 2020 10:24:02 GMT -7
The Story The next morning, Jesse finds McNally at the Animal Shelter where the abandoned dog was taken to. He finds McNally clipping the dog's nails and he wonders why McNally was there. It is something he likes to do every once in a while and so he came in to give the dog a bath and some grooming. Jesse asks McNally how much he owes him for finding his wife and the Boston PI asks for $1 and nothing else. Jesse was willing to pay him more, but McNally wants only $1 for finding Jesse's wife, Rhonda. The Build Last night I took a chance and did something I have never done. I put a lacquer over enamel paint and there was no bubbling or crazing! Now for those who don't know...you never put a lacquer paint over enamel paint, but it can be done if you put lacquer paint down first and then add an enamel paint afterwards. I figured that with the enamel paint has been drying for 2 weeks, it would accept the lacquer paint without a problem since it was dry and not tacky to the touch. This morning, I detailed the side panels and assembled the interior.    McNally will return... |
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Post by pete on Dec 27, 2020 10:50:42 GMT -7
Nice to see this one coming together Mike!! Looks great and the color combo is perfect.
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Post by stitchdup on Dec 28, 2020 5:51:58 GMT -7
Great progress Mike, I like the choises you've made regarding the interior and colours
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In my mind, the hubcap was wiped down with a piece of clean cloth for the dog.