Another VPJ Viceroy Lola!

[SteveG]

Hi all!

It's 2AM and I'm up looking at the body of my Lola T332 kit from Silver City, in order to think about the best way to mask off the white I just painted in order apply the brilliant red that these Viceroy cars had back in the day.

The gloss white came out beautifully. It has a couple of small imperfections that only I can see. No drips, runs or other major defects. But this is the first resin model I've painted, so I'm happy. I did the painting with spray cans as I've been using them for almost 50 years. I have my own system of spraying time between coats, room temp, paint temp and application techniques that I've developed over those long years.

I've also finished the engine and trans assembly, all brush painted (No silly putty for me. Lol.) and attached the pre-wired distributor and plug wires.

I don't think this model will look much different than some of the other Viceroy Lola's posted here but without the ultra attention to detail of some of them as I'm not that skilled. As soon I figure out how to post some pics I'll post them. Cheers.

[SteveG]

Hello all,

I'm sorry to leave you hanging but I suffered a nasty hand injury soon after starting this build. It took a long time to heal and precluded me from doing any more on this WIP. I'm back to full mobility now and finished up the engine build with rear suspension last week.
I had to do a bit of re-engineering to the transmission to make a more stable platform to hang the uprights, radius rods, A arms and other suspension components on. I'll post some photos this week explaining all. Thanks for your patience. Stay tuned.

[kyledehart5]

Sorry to hear about your injury, but I'm glad its healed up. Look forward to the updates!

[SteveG]

Dec 26, 2023 11:43:51 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Sorry to hear about your injury, but I'm glad its healed up. Look forward to the updates!

Thanks so much for your kind words! I'm having a problem uploading my pics to imageshack. I'm not sure if the problem is my phone, my PC or just me. I'm taking them to my son's house later and hopefully my grandson can help me out. He does these things in his sleep. 

[kyledehart5]

Dec 26, 2023 12:45:24 GMT -5 SteveG said:

Dec 26, 2023 11:43:51 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Sorry to hear about your injury, but I'm glad its healed up. Look forward to the updates!

Thanks so much for your kind words! I'm having a problem uploading my pics to imageshack. I'm not sure if the problem is my phone, my PC or just me. I'm taking them to my son's house later and hopefully my grandson can help me out. He does these things in his sleep. 

I use Imgur!! You might try that if image shack isn’t cooperating.

[SteveG]

Dec 26, 2023 12:51:41 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Dec 26, 2023 12:45:24 GMT -5 SteveG said:

Thanks so much for your kind words! I'm having a problem uploading my pics to imageshack. I'm not sure if the problem is my phone, my PC or just me. I'm taking them to my son's house later and hopefully my grandson can help me out. He does these things in his sleep. 

I use Imgur!! You might try that if image shack isn’t cooperating.

If this doesn't work then Imgur it is!

[SteveG]

Ok, the problem is the phone. I cannot upload individual photos or even attach them to send a text. I get a prompt that says media conversion failure. Unbelievably, I can upload a collage of the pics(!) I was able to get one uploaded on Imgur. It will have to do for now. Now to post that image here. I'm having no luck. Any suggestions?

[pntmachine]

Steve, Calvin posted in a thread how to post from Imgur. I am usually on my IPad and just manually type the first img bracket [img/] then go to Imgur and right click the photo and hit the “copy link” then paste it behind first bracket then type ending bracket [/img] right behind the pasted link. Hope this helps.

[SteveG]

Ok, it worked! Whew! Simple really, I was just getting a bit flustered and not paying close attention to Calvin's post. Many thanks to Kyledehart and pntmachine for their time and help.

I found that the lower A arms, drive shafts and uprights were too fragile when glued into place, so I drilled out a through hole horizontally through the disc brakes and transmission and inserted a piece of stainless steel rod through the trans which replaces the resin driveshafts. I drilled out an oversized hole in the metal uprights and glued the ends of the stainless rod to each and later attached the A arms and other suspension parts to the uprights. The collage above shows an early mock up and later of me playing with the length of the stainless rod to get a proper track width, and checking the fit of the drilled uprights (Bottom). I lost some detail but I'd rather have a strong platform to hold everything together. The finished result is the top photo, sans painting of the suspension parts. I lost a small piece of radius(?) rod of about a 2mm on the upper bracket due to a weak casting, but will replace it with a piece of styrene rod.  Also included is a pic of the painted body which is ready to be masked and painted red.

[hurtubise56]

Great start on this, looks like you've got things well in hand! Good luck on your masking, my least favorite part of modeling, for sure.

[Art Laski]

Great start, Steve! I love the T332. I'm looking forward to following along.

[kyledehart5]

Really looking good!! Great start!

[SteveG]

Dec 27, 2023 16:35:54 GMT -5 hurtubise56 said:

Great start on this, looks like you've got things well in hand! Good luck on your masking, my least favorite part of modeling, for sure.

Thanks so much Mr. H! It's good to see ol' Herk remembered. I saw him try to qualify his front engine Mallard at Indy in either '76 or '77. He didn't make the field but the entire crowd was rooting for him. He was an incredible driver prior to his horrible injuries and always a crowd favorite.

[SteveG]

Dec 27, 2023 19:45:51 GMT -5 Art Laski said:

Great start, Steve! I love the T332. I'm looking forward to following along.

Thanks so much Art! Your build and a "deleted" member's Lolas were the inspiration for me to do this build. I don't have anywhere near your detailing skills but I'll be happy with a nice clean looking build when it's done. I've always loved these cars.

While I have you here, I'm intrigued with the triangular airbox on your model. Did you get this from SilverCity or did you modify the rectangular airbox that comes with the kit? I have the latter.

[SteveG]

Btw, this is the most difficult model that I'll be masking as I mostly make sedan bodied cars and the occasional AMT Indycar. I use Tamiya masking tape. Is there any better brands that someone can suggest, or is Tamiya at the top of the heap? I need all the help I can get. Lol. Thanks.

[Art Laski]

Dec 28, 2023 8:36:45 GMT -5 SteveG said:

Dec 27, 2023 19:45:51 GMT -5 Art Laski said:

Great start, Steve! I love the T332. I'm looking forward to following along.

Thanks so much Art! You'res. and a "deleted" member's Lolas were the inspiration for me to do this build. I don't have anywhere near your detailing skills but I'll be happy with a nice clean looking build when it's done. I've always loved these cars.

While I have you here, I'm intrigued with the triangular airbox on your model. Did you get this from SilverCity or did you modify the rectangular airbox that comes with the kit? I have the latter.

Steve, that was an option Silver city offered. As far as detail, I went overboard, because I thought it was a great platform to do so, but a good clean build will look awesome just the same. I used Tamiya tape on mine, and my Mongoose too. It's about the best there is. I try to just get a light first coat at the edge to keep it from bleeding.

[SteveG]

Dec 28, 2023 12:45:06 GMT -5 Art Laski said:

Dec 28, 2023 8:36:45 GMT -5 SteveG said:

Thanks so much Art! You'res. and a "deleted" member's Lolas were the inspiration for me to do this build. I don't have anywhere near your detailing skills but I'll be happy with a nice clean looking build when it's done. I've always loved these cars.

While I have you here, I'm intrigued with the triangular airbox on your model. Did you get this from SilverCity or did you modify the rectangular airbox that comes with the kit? I have the latter.

Steve, that was option Silver city offered. As far as detail, I went overboard, because I thought it was a great platform to do so, but a good clean build will look awesome just the same. I used Tamiya tape on mine, and my Mongoose too. It's about the best there is. I try to just get a light first coat at the edge to keep it from bleeding.

Thanks Art. I will contact Kevin and see if he can print me up one if he doesn't have any in stock. Thanks for the tip on the Tamiya tape and and a light first coat on the masking job. Much appreciated.

[SteveG]

The completed solid axel engine and trans, sans velocity stacks and a small piece of styrene rod to replace the missing top link. 

[pntmachine]

It’s looking fantastic Steve. I also use tamiya tape and like it. I also use FBS fine line tape. It’s a vinyl fine line tape that is thin so it doesn’t leave an edge and seals really well. I use the orange and you can see it slightly get darker when it seals off. I also shoot a light coat of a compatible clear to seal of the edges and let that dry well. Can’t wait to see this color scheme.
www.cftapes.com/collections/fbs-tapes

[SteveG]

Dec 29, 2023 10:04:46 GMT -5 pntmachine said:

It’s looking fantastic Steve. I also use tamiya tape and like it. I also use FBS fine line tape. It’s a vinyl fine line tape that is thin so it doesn’t leave an edge and seals really well. I use the orange and you can see it slightly get darker when it seals off. I also shoot a light coat of a compatible clear to seal of the edges and let that dry well. Can’t wait to see this color scheme.
www.cftapes.com/collections/fbs-tapes

Thanks Mr. Pnt. I'm looking online for the FBS tape as we speak. Happy New Year to you and all the other modelers!

[arcticwolf]

Dec 29, 2023 10:04:46 GMT -5 pntmachine said:

It’s looking fantastic Steve. I also use tamiya tape and like it. I also use FBS fine line tape. It’s a vinyl fine line tape that is thin so it doesn’t leave an edge and seals really well. I use the orange and you can see it slightly get darker when it seals off. I also shoot a light coat of a compatible clear to seal of the edges and let that dry well. Can’t wait to see this color scheme.
www.cftapes.com/collections/fbs-tapes

That's the technique I settled on also. Paint first colour, let cure, one coat of clear, let cure. Mask off using Tamiya tape - the yellow stuff is better than their white vinyl stuff - making sure edges are as sealed as possible. Apply one coat of clear as any bleed through will be clear and will just disappear on the underlying clear coat, and it will seal the edge of the tape. Apply second colour of paint. After de-masking, clear coat the whole thing.

I apply decals after the clear coat, they seem to work better, then re-clear over them, 2 thin coats.

[SteveG]

Dec 29, 2023 18:24:04 GMT -5 arcticwolf said:

Dec 29, 2023 10:04:46 GMT -5 pntmachine said:

It’s looking fantastic Steve. I also use tamiya tape and like it. I also use FBS fine line tape. It’s a vinyl fine line tape that is thin so it doesn’t leave an edge and seals really well. I use the orange and you can see it slightly get darker when it seals off. I also shoot a light coat of a compatible clear to seal of the edges and let that dry well. Can’t wait to see this color scheme.
www.cftapes.com/collections/fbs-tapes

That's the technique I settled on also. Paint first colour, let cure, one coat of clear, let cure. Mask off using Tamiya tape - the yellow stuff is better than their white vinyl stuff - making sure edges are as sealed as possible. Apply one coat of clear as any bleed through will be clear and will just disappear on the underlying clear coat, and it will seal the edge of the tape. Apply second colour of paint. After de-masking, clear coat the whole thing.

I apply decals after the clear coat, they seem to work better, then re-clear over them, 2 thin coats.

This is the first I've heard of an extra step applying clear. So to recap, apply basic color, cure, then apply clear. Mask off, apply clear again. Let cure and then apply contrasting color. Cure and apply clear. Correct? I paint with enamel so this will be lengthy process. But it might be worth it.

[arcticwolf]

Dec 29, 2023 18:56:45 GMT -5 SteveG said:

Dec 29, 2023 18:24:04 GMT -5 arcticwolf said:

That's the technique I settled on also. Paint first colour, let cure, one coat of clear, let cure. Mask off using Tamiya tape - the yellow stuff is better than their white vinyl stuff - making sure edges are as sealed as possible. Apply one coat of clear as any bleed through will be clear and will just disappear on the underlying clear coat, and it will seal the edge of the tape. Apply second colour of paint. After de-masking, clear coat the whole thing.

I apply decals after the clear coat, they seem to work better, then re-clear over them, 2 thin coats.

This is the first I've heard of an extra step applying clear. So to recap, apply basic color, cure, then apply clear. Mask off, apply clear again. Let cure and then apply contrasting color. Cure and apply clear. Correct? I paint with enamel so this will be lengthy process. But it might be worth it.

Yes, you got the order correct, but............enamel?  Yikes, it might take you 2 years to paint something!

I use Tamiya acrylics and some automotive polyurethanes that cure in a few days. I do like enamels for detail painting.

[SteveG]

Dec 30, 2023 10:43:32 GMT -5 arcticwolf said:

Dec 29, 2023 18:56:45 GMT -5 SteveG said:

This is the first I've heard of an extra step applying clear. So to recap, apply basic color, cure, then apply clear. Mask off, apply clear again. Let cure and then apply contrasting color. Cure and apply clear. Correct? I paint with enamel so this will be lengthy process. But it might be worth it.

Yes, you got the order correct, but............enamel?  Yikes, it might take you 2 years to paint something!

I use Tamiya acrylics and some automotive polyurethanes that cure in a few days. I do like enamels for detail painting.

Nothing looks better on car bodies than enamels. Only lacquer. Without the intermittent clear coats, it would take me about 3 weeks to finish it off, so I have to think about this. The basic color is already applied and cured, so enamel it is. Perhaps I can skip the second clear application. The first clear coat should seal in the edges.

[SteveG]

Rats! More media conversion problems with my phone today. A very intermittent problem, so I can't upload the photo of the windscreen I butchered with a slip of the Exacto knife. Kevin has one he'll send me along with the Viceroy airbox. He's an absolute godsend and I'm becoming quite a fan of his.

[Art Laski]

Dec 30, 2023 11:22:15 GMT -5 SteveG said:

Rats! More media conversion problems with my phone today. A very intermittent problem, so I can't upload the photo of the windscreen I butchered with a slip of the Exacto knife. Kevin has one he'll send me along with the Viceroy airbox. He's an absolute godsend and I'm becoming quite a fan of his.

Steve, this is my method for handling the windscreens, maybe it can help you. I try to cut it with small scissors close to the line, but not on it. then I take a sanding stick and sand down to the edge, test fitting along the way until it fits as good as I can get it. You have a lot more control than with an Xacto blade. Hope this helps.

[SteveG]

Dec 30, 2023 12:19:27 GMT -5 Art Laski said:

Dec 30, 2023 11:22:15 GMT -5 SteveG said:

Rats! More media conversion problems with my phone today. A very intermittent problem, so I can't upload the photo of the windscreen I butchered with a slip of the Exacto knife. Kevin has one he'll send me along with the Viceroy airbox. He's an absolute godsend and I'm becoming quite a fan of his.

Steve, this is my method for handling the windscreens, maybe it can help you. I try to cut it with small scissors close to the line, but not on it. then I take a sanding stick and sand down to the edge, test fitting along the way until it fits as good as I can get it. You have a lot more control than with an Xacto blade. Hope this helps.

Thanks Art, as I have no desire to use the knife again. I will give your method a try when I receive the new windscreen. Thanks again.

[SteveG]

Just a quick update. I got the body masked and applied a light coat of clear. This masking was not without its dramas but came out fine. I'll explain all with some pics in a day or so, so again stay tuned.

[kyledehart5]

Sounds like you’re moving right along! Look forward to seeing some more photos!

[SteveG]

Dec 31, 2023 18:17:10 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Sounds like you’re moving right along! Look forward to seeing some more photos!

Thanks Kyle. I've got some family members stopping over later today, so I'll borrow one of their phones for a few minutes.