Andrew D Charger Chaser Posted August 24, 2017 Report Share Posted August 24, 2017 Photos to be posted soon. I wanted to put everything I could into the ultimate build, and this one took me about three years of on-and-off work. Seriously. MY G.L. BUILD PHILOSOPHY My main criticism of most GL builds is that they are 'way too immaculate to be an in-use back-roads racing car driven by good-ol-boys on a farm. They always look...well, sterilized comes to mind. Absolutely gorgeous, like they're going for the trophy at a car show, with a car that's never driven except on and off a trailer. Not this one!! -Interior: Agree with many that the darker brown "saddle" color of the earlier series looks better, but a darker interior will hide most great detail. So, cliche though it is, I went with the light tan. HOWEVER I weathered it plenty, with very stained floor carpeting, and some wear on the seats. Scratchbuilt items are a CB radio and a detailed, padded-looking roll bar with tape around the padding. -Engine Bay: Despite most builds painting the engine bay interior orange, indicating a total engine-out restoration, the actual "Hero" Generals had their engine bays hastily painted black around the engine. This would also fit with the storyline of the original color being black. Additionally, I sanded out all the molded on wiring and scratchbuilt the entire engine wiring and detail. When you see these photos you may be shocked. I know I am....not eager to do this again, although it was worth it!! -Underside: Dark primer gray with orange overspray indicating a home-done paint job. Lots wear and some general rusting, with a ton of dust and dirt oversprayed. So much more involved in this build, but those are some of the basic philosophies I followed on this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew D Charger Chaser Posted August 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2017 Engine and Engine bay. Replaced Fan belt pullys and belt with aftermarket. Sanded out most detail in engine bay for an insane scratchbuilding job. Rollman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rollman Posted August 24, 2017 Report Share Posted August 24, 2017 Nice! It looks like it will fire up if you turn the key. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew D Charger Chaser Posted August 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2017 Thanks! Here, the windshield and other window glass has been tinted with future and food coloring: Scratchbuilt Roll Bar has been made to look like it's padded with tape holding on the padding: And, the interior, including Photoetched steering wheel spokes, scratchbult CB radio, heavily stained flocking for carpeting: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HossC Posted August 24, 2017 Report Share Posted August 24, 2017 You have a great eye for detail, Andrew. I'm looking forward to seeing this build progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boss JD Hogg Posted August 24, 2017 Report Share Posted August 24, 2017 Excellent job Andrew! What paint/color did you spray the body? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerDuke Posted August 24, 2017 Report Share Posted August 24, 2017 As soon as I saw this I started work on inventing a machine like the one on "Honey I shrunk the kids". I just want to jump in it. Amazing work Andrew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew D Charger Chaser Posted August 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2017 11 hours ago, HossC said: You have a great eye for detail, Andrew. I'm looking forward to seeing this build progress. Any chance you could change your text color in the post above? - it's almost impossible to read (for me anyway). Thanks Hoss! Unfortunately I'm not able to go back and edit posts once I log out and come back...not sure if that's just me or the way the boards are set up.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew D Charger Chaser Posted August 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2017 9 hours ago, Boss JD Hogg said: Excellent job Andrew! What paint/color did you spray the body? Thanks Boss! Chevy '70 Orange Flame from Scalefinishes.com Really looks the part, better than what the photos show. Perfect color! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew D Charger Chaser Posted August 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2017 4 hours ago, RogerDuke said: As soon as I saw this I started work on inventing a machine like the one on "Honey I shrunk the kids". I just want to jump in it. Amazing work Andrew. LOL...nice!!! Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew D Charger Chaser Posted August 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2017 (edited) Next batch here. Soaked all the bumper/grill bits in bleach to remove the chrome. Cleaned up the imperfections on both, and removed the grill from its surround. Used the same passenger-side grill section from another kit to use on the left side since no Charger emblem should be there. Refinished with Alclad II on the bumpers and trim, flat aluminum on the grill tunnels, lots of drybrushing etc on the grill once sprayed flat black, and semigloss on the middle sections where the non-headlight sections are. Scratchbuilt narrow-style push bar. Edited August 25, 2017 by Andrew D Charger Chaser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew D Charger Chaser Posted August 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2017 And, y'all are gonna LOVE this one: totally scratchbuilt Dixie Horn! Not sure if anyone else has done this; if they have, I've never seen it. And here it is installed on the front of the radiator: Hobie Hartkins 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerDuke Posted August 25, 2017 Report Share Posted August 25, 2017 This might end up being the best 1/25 General Lee on the planet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew D Charger Chaser Posted August 26, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2017 Thanks Roger! Here's the chassis, suspension and exhaust, weathered with wear 'n' tear, and even some rust at appropriate places. Much of it will be covered/disguised by the road dust to be sprayed on last. Once installed, the edges received some orange overspray, indicating a home-done paint job. The wheel hubs are from the old MPC General Lee kit. Chrome removed with bleach, then heavily sanded on the rear until the five openings were actually opened as they should be. Then primed, sprayed flat black, and detailed with aluminum paint. Not chrome. Those bits are shiny, but not quite chrome, with the possible exception of the lug nuts.Tires sanded with fine sandpaper and fine steel wool to remove the shiny vinyl "toy" look. And, even the CB antenna; scratchbuilt styrene base, with a bit of High "E" metal guitar string. Roth Potter and Hobie Hartkins 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boss JD Hogg Posted August 29, 2017 Report Share Posted August 29, 2017 Real nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobie Hartkins Posted August 29, 2017 Report Share Posted August 29, 2017 WOW! That is fantastic!! Your eye for detail is unbelievable!! ( I wish I could do stuff like that!) Meanwhile, over at the used car lot .....I have a Pepsi Max in front of me....think I'll take a taste....you never waste a taste....! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerDuke Posted August 30, 2017 Report Share Posted August 30, 2017 I just showed my wife the last picture here. She didn't believe it wasn't a real car until I showed her the rest of the pictures. This car is a work of art. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew D Charger Chaser Posted August 30, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2017 Thanks, very kind of all of you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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