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Post by mrmike on Jan 18, 2021 7:26:41 GMT -7
My newest project is a car that has not been seen since Season 7 Episode 15 of the long running TV series NCIS. The Challenger has only been seen a couple of times with its last appearance in the Season 7 episode "Jack-Knife". This Challenger has a 426 Hemi engine, rear deck wing spoiler, Rallye wheels and blackwall tires. There is very little known about this car, so I am using some creative license building this. The Challenger was first seen near the end of Season 6 Episode 4 Heartland. I am using the AMT/ERTL kit #6466 for this build and I am replacing the shaker hood with the dual scoop hood, much of the chrome since it looks like it was dragged through sand before being chrome plated and I am using the Revell 426 Hemi from the recent issue '70 Hemi 'Cuda, Rallye wheels and a rear deck wing spoiler from my parts box. I sanded off the texture on the roof and glued it on. I assembled the 426 Hemi engine and mocked it up to the chassis for a prefect fit. The body will be painted with Tamiya TS-16 Yellow with a black interior and the engine will be painted with Mopar Street Hemi Orange Engine Paint. The decals will be a combination of the kit decals and Keith Marks decals.    More NCIS to come... |
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Post by leon on Jan 18, 2021 13:55:59 GMT -7
This is going to be nice Mike! Really like that show.
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Post by mrmike on Jan 18, 2021 14:59:14 GMT -7
Thanks leon! I had this kit and I wondered what to do with it, especially with a shaker hood scoop. I had watched an episode of NCIS on USA network called Jack-Knife and I knew what and how to build the Challenger as. I knew I had the extra parts in the parts box that I needed and I can make this one. I have my suspicions about the 1:1 car used. The first one used in Heartland has the 426 Hemi scripts on the hood and the one used in Jack-Knife does not and the paint is a different shade of yellow. I got out my Bondo Glazing and Spot Putty and I puttied the roof joints. Then I got out the rear deck wing spoiler and assembled the stanchions to the spoiler and set it aside to dry.    More NCIS to come... |
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Post by DeeCee on Jan 19, 2021 1:20:24 GMT -7
You sure do have a lot of projects on the go Mike, watching as always.  |
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Post by mrmike on Jan 19, 2021 7:50:54 GMT -7
You are correct, Dale! I had started this last Sunday during my Club's Build-A-Thon, so I decided to post it up.
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Post by Deano on Jan 21, 2021 23:52:48 GMT -7
Nice project Mike, did Gibbs drive this car in the show?
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Post by mrmike on Jan 22, 2021 6:35:52 GMT -7
Yes, he did in Heartland. Season 6 Episode 15.  |
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Post by mrmike on Jan 22, 2021 9:28:11 GMT -7
After letting the Bondo dry for several days, I started sanding this morning. More sanding is needed to remove the sanding marks from a 120 grit sanding stick and then a coat of primer.    More NCIS to come... |
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Post by mrmike on Jan 23, 2021 7:07:20 GMT -7
It was suggested that I remove the rain gutter moldings while I sanded the texture off the roof and replace the moldings with thin strips of styrene. I started knowing that I didn't have enough .010 X .030 strips for all the windows in the Challenger. A trip to the Hobby Emporium in on the adjenda for today to get some supplies.    More NCIS to come... |
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Post by mustang1989 on Jan 23, 2021 9:06:24 GMT -7
Wow!! Lotsa surgery goin' on here. Looks great so far Mike!!! Looking forward to the next installment with the strips.
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Post by mrmike on Jan 25, 2021 8:33:19 GMT -7
Thanks Joe! Armed with my new package of 0.10 X .030 Evergreen styrene, I added new moldings to the windows of the AMT '70 Challenger. A little more sanding and the body will be ready for primer    More NCIS to come... |
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Post by leon on Jan 25, 2021 17:27:21 GMT -7
Really nice work on the moldings Mike!
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Post by mrmike on Jan 26, 2021 9:08:28 GMT -7
Thanks leon! This was my first time doing something like this and I am fairly happy with the outcome. A little more sanding and it is on to primer.
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Post by mustang1989 on Jan 27, 2021 8:42:07 GMT -7
That DOES look good Mike! Looking forward to seeing what all that's gonna look like under a primer coat.
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Post by mrmike on Jan 27, 2021 14:32:54 GMT -7
Thanks Joe! Some final tweaking and yes, primer!
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Post by mmthrax on Jan 28, 2021 12:04:27 GMT -7
Hmm. Not familiar with this kit. I guess it was made as a convertible. Looks like you are doing a good job with the molding details. I'm digging the fabbing.  Carry on sir. |
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Post by mrmike on Jan 29, 2021 7:05:54 GMT -7
Thanks Mark! Yes, this kit is originally a convertible with the option of a hardtop that is included with the kit. I am using the hardtop and sanding off the vinyl roof texture and window moldings. Some kits have the shaker hood scoop and others have the dual scoop hood. I took the dual scoop hood from my previously built AMT '70 Challenger R/T and replaced it with the shaker hood and scoop.
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Post by mrmike on Feb 9, 2021 8:40:42 GMT -7
I added the front suspension to determine what clearances would be needed. Since I am using a Revell 426 Hemi, the AMT chassis would need to be clearanced for something. Something being the front of the oil pan and the oil filter. I went a little too far clearancing the K member and I removed part of the front sway bar. I'll replace it when I can find a piece or round stock the same size as the sway bar.    More NCIS to come... |
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Post by mrmike on Feb 12, 2021 8:04:33 GMT -7
A little time spent on Gibbs '71 Challenger Hemi R/T. The front and rear suspension has been painted with Tamiya TS-29 Semi Glosss Black and you can see the piece I addedon the left side of the front sway bar. It's close enough for me! I painted the exhaust system with Model Master Aluminium Spray and after a few days of drying, a coat of Model Master Acryl Semi Gloss Clear. The exhaust tips were painted with Alclad II Gloss Black Base in prep for some Alclad II Chrome. On the chassis, I added a piece of 1 1/2" wide painters tape and I'll spray directly from above some Tamiya TS-16 Yellow for overspray.    More NCIS to come... |
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Post by mrmike on Feb 12, 2021 15:07:31 GMT -7
I got the chassis and engine mostly assembled. I have to wire the engine, distributor and the ignition coil. I placed the engine in the chassis and I expected the engine mounts to interfere with the exhaust headers. Behind the right side header is a tab on the engine that is supposed to fit into the slot on the engine mount. I'll clearance the engine mount until the tab fits into the slot.    More NCIS to come... |
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Post by mrmike on Feb 13, 2021 9:23:38 GMT -7
I clearanced the engine mount for the right exhaust header and I clearanced the left engine mount a little just for the Hell of it. I then paint detailed the mounts and the upper A arms.    More NCIS to come... |
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Post by mrmike on Feb 15, 2021 13:09:35 GMT -7
I decided to strip the hood since I didn't like how the primer coat went down on it. I also decided to strip the from valance panel, too. I painted the interior bucket and the interior pieces with Tamiya TS-29 Semi Gloss Black. Now for some detailing!    NCIS will continue... |
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Post by mrmike on Feb 16, 2021 14:00:57 GMT -7
I have detailed and assembled the interior.    NCIS will continue... |
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Post by leon on Feb 16, 2021 15:02:09 GMT -7
Interior looks good Mike! Really like your wood grain effects.
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Post by mustang1989 on Feb 17, 2021 5:19:03 GMT -7
Progress is looking great Mike. A little trick you can try on that exhaust to add effects to it is to take some ground up black pastel and then lightly dry brush it onto the headers. Kind of gives them more of a realistic/ slightly worn look to them. Give it a shot and see what you think. I do this to all of my headers that are painted a metallic color. Here's the ones on my Maverick build.  |
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Post by mrmike on Feb 17, 2021 7:14:29 GMT -7
Thanks leon and Joe!
Joe, that is a good idea! I may have to try that on my next build.
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Post by pete on Feb 20, 2021 13:18:36 GMT -7
This is coming along nicely Mike. Love the interior.
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Post by mrmike on Feb 20, 2021 14:19:17 GMT -7
Thanks pete! The interior was rather easy to do. I spent more time detailing the dash than actually assembling the interior.
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Post by mrmike on Mar 1, 2021 12:37:10 GMT -7
After leaving the front panel and the hood in 91% alcohol for over a week, I washed them this morning with Dawn Dish Detergent. The alcohol did its job of removing the old paint. Now to primer and paint them both after a good sanding.    Momre NCIS to come... |
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Post by mrmike on Mar 14, 2021 14:08:00 GMT -7
Been working on the C pillars of the Challenger roof today. Still needs more work. I also primered the hood and front valance.    More NCIS to come... |
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