115 replies to this topic

[nostalgic]

Smokin build, Jairus!

And a fantastic how-to, well above my skills of course, but still great to see how its done!

[Jairus]

Thank you, George, and let me be the first to say:

WELCOME TO SLOTBLOG!!!

[Jim T]

Jairus,

Great job! I remember buying that Car Model magaine at the mall hobby shop when I was 11. I was very impressed with the paint on the Gilbert car, very cool to see the step by step process you posted. But you're missing the very slinky Cher-ish female from the article! Are you planning to include any replicas of her?

JT

[nostalgic]

Thanks, Jairus.
(So much for sneaking in under the cover of darkness... )

[Jairus]

G,
I think your secret is safe. Not many people read this thread any more.

[nostalgic]

You're just going to have to show a little more flesh, Jairus! (not yours)

[Jairus]

Yeah, I was thinking about that...

[dc-65x]

Not many people read this thread any more.

I feel you, Jairus. I'm thankful for the handfull of people who respond to my threads.
Please keep posting... or at least send me the pictures of you progress. I'm enjoying it very much.

Thanks,

[Edo]

Not many people read this thread any more.

What do you mean by that, J.?
What you're doing is well read by many people on the couple of forums where you've posted it.
So are dc-65x's posts here.
You guys do not get depressed, OK? We want you right awake and productive!
Bye now,
Edo

[Cheater]

Yeah, Jairus, I don't know why you'd think folks aren't reading this thread. Are you plotting the viewship counts or something?

If you're asuming from the lack of posts by others to this topic, may I suggest that they are perhaps like me: simply speechless at the incredible craftsmanship you're displaying.

[Noose]

JW - taking the time and effort to this was amazing. Heck... I barely have enough time to paint them! What I hope folks really appreciate is the amount of effort that goes in to painting bodies, let alone the supplies.

[Larry LS]

Don't worry, Jairus, people are reading. Be somewhat thankful that most are not posting some little tidbit item or joking around as many do on extended posts during projects. That makes it hard to get back to what you were doing with any continuity.

I think most are stunned or being polite about interrupting your work for a change. I know my jaw has dropped a bit every day. I know I will never match that kind of work. Keep up the good work!!!!

[GT40]

Jairus,

Your work is superb! Thanks for showing us amateurs how it's done! It's hard enough for me just to build or paint, much less photograph and document it step by step. It IS appreciated!

[endbelldrive]

Hi J,

I've been crazy busy looking for an eight-track player and some of that blue tape... because you got me all excited about body painting. Gotta go...

[newso]

Jarius,

I'm mostly a "lurker", when I see some of the superb work on this forum I often feel I have nothing to contribute. However I look forward to seeing updates from people like yourself; they are always interesting and the level of workmanship and attention to detail is something I can only aspire to.

I'm new to the airbrush thing, in the past I used rattle cans, so your Sundance article, in particular, is just the best.

Keep 'em coming mate, they are very much appreciated!

[Ron Hershman]

Jairus, we are all looking over your shoulder as you work and are trying to be as quiet a possible. We don't want to disturb a master craftsman at work.

[Jairus]

Gold Leaf lettering

The original Kirby body as painted by Ted "Sundance" Coates sported real gold leaf numbers. Or so I have been told, as I have not yet seen the original car. However, it seemed logical based on the photos. So after searching out gold leaf I set about learning how it is attached and the process. Of course my first few attemps were feeble at best. Most of the gold ended up stuck to my fingers or the various tools used. However, shown are some of the materials and tools required for this step if you want to do it the right way!!!



The glue is something I have had since 1980 and the product is still good! It was originally manufactured for this purpose but I bought it for attaching metal foil, the kind that used to wrap around Hershey bars, to model cars. Back then most side trim and chrome window trim was cast into the body. To make it look realistic many modelers either painted it silver or glued foil and trimmed with an X-Acto blade. In a big city like Chicago, LA, or Atlanta I figure that gold leaf and the required glue should be easier to find. Here in Backwater Salem, OR, NOBODY had the old leaf or the glue except a nice guy by the name of Sam. Sam works for a great sign shop here in Salem called Campbell Signs. If you are in the Salem area and looking for a sign, call Rick at Campbell Signs and say Jairus sent you! Thanks again for the gold leaf Sam!!!



The glue is brushed into the area where the gold leaf is to be applied and allowed to dry.


Then a portion of the gold leaf is placed on the glue and pressed into place. Since the glue is pressure sensitive the gold is NOT going to come off NOW and it holds like the dickens!
It will however scratch just like the paint, so no sharp tools!


The next step is my invention, as some of the body paint is thin and excess gold leaf sort of shows through if light is below. I like things neat so I trim off the excess and remove carefully with a pair of tweezers.


A strip of packing tape is cut into a square and applied over the backside of the gold leaf to protect it from damage. This may be overkill but the weight of a one inch square of tape is not going to hurt that much.


It's hard to capture the beauty of real 24k gold lettering but that's what this looks like and IS!


To be continued, as we put on the wings next...

[Jairus]

Adding the wing fences

The wing fences are part of this build although I would hazard a guess that the car would handle just fine without them due to the weight and wedge shape of the body. However, since this is what they were doing in 1972-73, I will, too.

The painted body, some assorted tools along with the wing pattern and some .010 Lexan are needed.


The pattern if used directly out of the magazine will not only make reading the magazine difficult later. It is also unfortunately not symmetrical!


I scanned the image and then dropped a flopped image over the first to prove my point.


So... taking one side and copying it over the other, we now have a mirror image. The difference between the left and the right is the angle of the rear spoiler only. Here is a corrected and accurate pattern.


The cut-out Lexan is folded and then set over the body to ensure a correct fit. IT FITS PERFECTLY!!!!


Now it's time to attach the wing to the body, but first let's visit my "Swingline Slot Car Stapler". The front portion of the "mandrel" is cut away so it does not get into the way when stapling close to the inside edges of the body.




One thing to be carefull about is not squeezing the stapler real hard at this point. If you do, the staple points will come back around and through the body again, leaving a sharp point and more holes, something we do NOT want! This is a KORRECT staple!


And now the car is winged! BUT IT'S NOT A WING CAR! (in my humble opinion) Time out for a Vodka martini.


To be continued...

[TSR]

Jairus,
You are doing a very nice job. For the staples, the top pros flattened them with a pair of parallel pliers after installation. Of course the ONLY staples used were the miniature Swingline applied with the special miniature stapler with the bottom jaw ground right to the anvil.
I wonder if they still make those nowadays...

[Jairus]

Wow, thank you, Philippe!

I have one of those mini-Swingline staplers too but no staples for it. They are still being made, and made in "America" to boot!

[Cheater]

Jairus, I almost posted the exact same advice, believe it or not.

I bought a Rapid 51 stapler and a box of staples years ago, as that's what the slot car folks sell in lieu of the Swingline mini. Still have most of the original box of staples...

You want me to tell you what else you can use those staples for on a wing car, besides attaching the wings?

[Jairus]

OK, what?

[Bill from NH]

Staple in the interior?

[Cheater]

Not even close...

Jairus ain't the only one who can tease!

[Bill from NH]

The film industry uses it as a splicer. You might be teasing but my answer is also correct. Just ask Ron Hershman.

Did you know those Rapid 51 staplers can be bought online for about 40% of what Parma sells them for? And you still have some of the original box of staples left because you bought a box of 5000.