What Have I Done?????

[Lady_Railfan]

:eek: I think I've made a BIG mistake! I should have done some research at Bob's bookstore (http://www.railroadbookstore.com/) before I started this, but hey, impulse buys fuel the economy, right?

I mentioned in another thread that I recently bought a 1929 Ford Motel A Roadster kit to build for Gramma, who owns the F&CGR. She was whining that she needs wheels to get to the county seat to go shopping. Well, let me tell you, this ain't anything like assembling Piko buildings!

First of all, there are about a million parts. Well, OK, several dozen maybe. But they all need to be painted before I can even start assembling them. So here's what I've done so far:

1. Read all the instructions as, uh, instructed.
2. Separated all the required parts from the sprues and bagged them by assembly step number for Steps 1-10. What made this especially fun (?) was that the kit also contains alternative parts for a souped-up hot-rod version --- not quite Gramma's style --- but added to my confusion.
3. Separated all the parts that need to be painted black from bags 1-5.
4. Built a "paint booth" from an old vacuum cleaner box. (see picture)
5. Painted the engine parts black.
6. Painted the wheel hubs and wheel covers red (the body color --- required for Step 2), 'cause Gramma's a hip ol' gal and wants a car that people will notice.
7. By then it was 5:00 p.m., so I fixed a martini.

Once the paint dries, I shall assemble Steps 1-5.

To be continued....

[leghome]

Ahhhhh!!!! the fun of modeling. I have done several similar things in the past. I just finished reassembling two Atlas N-Scale B23-7's that I painted 2 1/2 years ago. Luckily I had purchased another one that I had not disassembled so I did have a blueprint to follow for reassembly. WHEW!!!!!
Another one of those round tuit projects.

[AmtrakFan]

What fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mushroom2]

:
7. By then it was 5:00 p.m., so I fixed a martini.
Hey, was that in the instructions or are you kitbashing already? :D :D :D :D

[CBCNSfan]

are you kitbashing already Don't know about kit bashing but up here we call it bashing them back. :D
Now after a few Martini's it would be surprising to see what old grandma would be driving :D
Yes it's surprising the things we plan to do and don't. When I bashed the MLW RS18 together I had planned on writing the procedure down. However I didn't and I'm reluctant to start the next conversion. Ah! well maybe I'll start at step 7 and work back, curious though how many times should step 7 be repeated before choosing another step? :D
Cheers Willis

[Lady_Railfan]

...curious though how many times should step 7 be repeated before choosing another step? "Repeat as necessary" is my motto. :D

Ed, if it's not in the instructions, it should be!

Willis, it's always my intention to make "how'd you do that" notes. Trouble is, even when I remember, I can never find the notes when I need them again. :eek:

[CBCNSfan]

I can never find the notes when I need them again.
Hmm I guess I had the right idea by not writing the notes, saves time for step 7 :D
Cheers Willis

[Lady_Railfan]

Well, it's official. Building model cars from kits is NOT appropriate for novices who tend to be obsessive-compulsive perfectionists. But I'm also stubborn, so I'm gonna finish the &^%$ thing if it kills me --- or TH does me in first. :eek:

I'm through Step 6 (of 10), and everything is painted now. I've added the rear bumpers and completed the subassemblies for the interior (which includes the pedals, hand brake, and gearshift), plus the dashboard and windshield.

The box says this kit is appropriate for 10-year-olds. I'm gonna find me one of those before I build my next one. :D

[CBCNSfan]

The box says this kit is appropriate for 10-year-olds. Well now they could be right. I remember when we had a club that some of the older generation gave their Athearn Blue Box locos to the younger ones (7 to 10) to put the handrails on :D
I'm through Step 6 (of 10),
Well then it's time for step 7 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/nibbs/7166dea5.gif Anyway it looks like it's coming along just fine, nice job so far :D
Cheers Willis

[Lady_Railfan]

No, I didn't hit it with a brick! And since it was only lunchtime, I didn't resort to Step 7, either. But The Husband has been given strict orders to have me committed if I even suggest doing another one of these. Particularly since I just discovered the world of diecast!

The trucks in the background arrived yesterday from LSOL. They're actually coin banks, and I was pleasantly surprised at the quality, not to mention the price. They cost under $20 for both of them, including shipping.

The car and the trucks are all 1:24. I used the macro setting for the pic, and that distorted the sizes a bit. The wheel bases are actually identical.

[mushroom2]

Hey those look nice. And being banks you can hide your money there. Who'd ever think of putting your fortune on a train layout?...Wait a minute, I just looked at the engines in my closet :D :D :D

[Old 97]

The car looks as though it's coming along well claudia.
Keep the photos coming. :)

[CBCNSfan]

Hi Claudia, well I have to agree the die cast vehicles are handsome indeed, and certainly worth every penny. However I believe no matter what when you finish building the (grandma's auto) kit you'll be more proud and fond of it than anything you purchase pre-made. Just a thought :D
Cheers Willis

[Lady_Railfan]

Actually, it is finished except for some touchup where errant glue dissolved the paint. Maybe in time, looking at it won't be so painful. ;)

[CBCNSfan]

Maybe in time, looking at it won't be so painful. Well how abut a photo of it so we can share the pain :D
Cheers Willis

[Lady_Railfan]

:D See Post #10. THAT'S the car. Guess my message wasn't too clear. :D

[CBCNSfan]

LOL so that sharp looking roadster is not diecast, and it's grandma's :D why do you have pain looking at that? It's so sharp I believe everyone thought it was a diecast. Claudia You did a real nice job of building it, be proud and have a #7 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/nibbs/f32f908a.gif

Cheers Willis

[mushroom2]

Oh that turned out real nice Claudia. Now you have one under your belt, you're ready for more of the same. It only gets easier (especially after a couple of step 7's under your belt :D :D :D :D :D )