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Post by ira on Mar 10, 2014 8:39:11 GMT -6
WORKING THE BUBBLE!Here is the Top in place after a little Sanding with Foam Sanding Boards.  I trimmed the front edge of the Cockpit off round to match the Bubble Top. Then I sanded the back an side edges flat.  Here is the fit at this point. More Filling and Fitting is necessary, but it's almost a Perfect Fit.  More Coming... 
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Post by ira on Mar 11, 2014 8:41:16 GMT -6
NICE & TIGHT!I needed to add a little wedge shape of plastic on each side to fill the big gaps.  That made a big difference.  A little more sanding and fitting and I have a Real Nice fit on the Bubble. I will be adding a little putty later to fill and little gaps I missed.  More Coming...
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Post by mykturk on Mar 11, 2014 11:00:45 GMT -6
Sweet!
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Post by ira on Mar 12, 2014 8:24:23 GMT -6
Wow Ira, I have no idea where you're going with this one -I look forward to every new post ! Glad you are enjoying the Frog... |
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Post by ira on Mar 15, 2014 12:51:50 GMT -6
THE FROG'S UNDERBELLY!I am going to get the Underside ready for a Belly Pan. I'll be using Plastic Strips and Sheet Plastic to finish the bottom.  First I cut 2 strips to fit and glued them the sides as shown. Then I used a Foam Sanding Board to even them out.  Then I added 2 more strips to the front as shown.  More Coming...
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Post by ira on Mar 16, 2014 9:11:32 GMT -6
AXLE SLOT!I started filling in the Rear Axle Indentation. I cut a long thin plastic strip to fit and then glued it in the inside of the rear pan as shown. I also added the 2 small strips on the sides.  Next I cut out the plastic section for the base of the Axle Slot. I just fit in place I didn't glue it in yet. I'll probably glue it after the engine is in place.  Next I added the 2 thin strips on the ends of the Axle Slot.  More Coming...
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Post by ira on Mar 17, 2014 8:31:18 GMT -6
FROG BELLY PAN!I started the Belly Pan by tracing the shape on a piece of plastic. Then I cut it out.  It took a little cutting and fitting to get a perfect fit. I added a strip of plastic on the end to close the gap in the Rear Axle Slot.  Then I added a plastic strip on the front inside to support the Belly Pan.  More Coming...
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Post by ira on Mar 18, 2014 9:15:40 GMT -6
FROG BELLY!The underside fabrication is done!  Next I'll spread a little more putty on the rough spots.  More Coming...
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Post by ira on Mar 20, 2014 8:27:57 GMT -6
Thanks Michael!
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Post by ira on Mar 20, 2014 8:50:36 GMT -6
FRAME RAILS and ARM RESTS!I cut some Evergreen Square Tubing to use as Frame Rails for the Frog.  I glued sections of the Tubing in the sides of the Interior and Engine Compartment. The Interior Tubing will also serve as Arm Rests for the Driver.  Here is the Under View.  I added another section of Tubing behind the seat and between the Frame Rails.  More Coming...
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Post by ira on Mar 21, 2014 8:56:26 GMT -6
MUSTANG FROG?I cut the transmission off the Mustang Engine so it would fit in the Engine Compartment. The transmission will be replaced with a transaxle from a Ferrari later.  The Engine will mount on top of the Plastic Part that covers the "Axle Slot". I added enough strips of plastic to get the Engine height right.  Here is the Engine mock-up. I will probably raise it up just a little bit more later.  More Coming...
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Post by Mysterion on Mar 21, 2014 12:00:48 GMT -6
Did you plan to use that bubble from the start or did you find it during the build? It's cool how well it fits.
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Post by ira on Mar 21, 2014 16:30:06 GMT -6
IN THE DRIVERS SEAT!These are seats from a Ferrari. I am using one for the Frog. I sanded some of the bottom away to make it lower. Then I bent back the seat a little.  This driver is from a Formula One Car. I needed to cut the backs of the drivers knees to relax his legs a bit.  Here is the fit in the seat.  Here is a mock-up with the Seat and Driver in place.  More Coming...
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Post by ira on Mar 22, 2014 7:53:23 GMT -6
THE CENTER DIVIDE!I decided to split the rear grill area. First I cut a triangular piece to fit the rear opening.  Then I glued it in place.  Under View.  More Coming...
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Post by ira on Mar 22, 2014 8:48:08 GMT -6
Did you plan to use that bubble from the start or did you find it during the build? It's cool how well it fits. I found the bubble top during the build... |
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Post by ira on Mar 23, 2014 9:36:27 GMT -6
FROG BONE!I decided to add a Ridge down the middle of the Frog to make the shape more Frog-like. I used half round Plastic Strip and Zap-A-Gap-Green Label for the Back Bone. I started by marking the Center Line all the way around the Frog. Then I glued the end of a Strip in place as shown.  I continued gluing a little at a time, when it dried I went on a little further. The Plastic Strip is pretty flexible, so I was able to wrap it around the front end as shown.  Next I added some Strip to the Belly Pan.  More Coming...
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Post by ira on Mar 23, 2014 13:04:13 GMT -6
MORE BONE!I glued down the end of the Strip on the rear hood. I work with about an inch at a time, it's pretty easy that way.  Then I glued some more and bent the Plastic Strip around and over the Center Divider. Then I glue the last part to the rear pan.  Here is a photo showing the full strip on the underside.  More Coming...
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Post by ira on Mar 24, 2014 8:45:37 GMT -6
FERRARI INSIDE! I found 2 Ferrari Testarossa Door Panels in the parts box. Looks like, with a little fitting and cutting, they will be a good fit for the Frog!  I cut a little off the bottoms of the Door Panels and they fit!  Here is the drivers Door Panel in place. I had to add a small plastic strip to the back of the Panel to get a good fit.  Here are both Panels glued in place with the driver there for a test fit.  More Coming...
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Post by ira on Mar 24, 2014 11:46:05 GMT -6
DASHING!I cut down the Gran Turismo dashboard to fit the Frog. Then I sanded off the raised gauges. I'll replace the gauges with a digital display later.  With a little more cutting it fits!  More Coming...
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Post by ira on Mar 25, 2014 10:40:14 GMT -6
FROG BASE!I am making a Display Base for the Fire Frog. This plastic base is from a Sea Quest Submarine Model. The Frog will be elevated above the base with 1/8th inch Acrylic Rod. This Acrylic Rod is almost Invisible! It will fit into the Square Tubing, mounted inside of the Frog.  Then I drilled a hole in the Frame Rail for the Acrylic Rod. I located the mounting hole as near to the Center of the Frog as possible.  Next I glued a length of Square Tubing over the Hole in the Frame Rail. Then I cut a little square piece of plastic and glued it on top of the Tubing.  More Coming...
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Post by ira on Mar 25, 2014 12:24:36 GMT -6
CLEAR ROD!
I drilled a hole through the Bell Pan that lined up with the Frame Rail Hole and the Square Tube. The Clear Acrylic Rod fits through here.  Instead of suspending the Frog Parallel with the Base. I decided to position the Frog on a Wild Angle. I drilled a hole and fit the Clear Rod in place.  Then I glued the Rod against the inside of the Base.  More Coming...
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Post by ira on Mar 25, 2014 13:14:34 GMT -6
FLYING FROGS!!!Here is the mock-up of Fire Frog flying off a Jump, over the Rocks!  Here is another angle.  There goes the Frog! The Fire Frog will be displayed both ways, Flying through the air or on its Big Wide Tires on the Ground.  More Coming...
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Post by ira on Mar 27, 2014 9:08:21 GMT -6
PRIME TIME!Here is the Frog with a couple coats of Dupli-Color Filler/Primer. This Primer hides a lot of flaws. Did a little more sanding, looks pretty smooth...  I re-scribed the door lines. I use a Needle Scribe first, then a larger scribe. I gently pull the Scribes in the lines and go over the lines several times. I used a Number 11 X-Acto blade to cut New Lines were necessary.  Just a little more putty and sanding, and the Frog will be ready some Green!  More Coming...
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Post by ira on Mar 28, 2014 17:33:19 GMT -6
PAINTED BLACK!I sprayed the Frog with Black Primer. I am going to use Black as a base for the Metallic Green.  I almost left the Frog Black, it looks pretty good that way.  More Coming...
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Post by ira on Mar 29, 2014 8:31:43 GMT -6
FIRE AND ICE!I painted the Fire Frog with Testors Lime Ice Spray Paint.  I really like this Green Paint over the Black, much more dramatic then spraying over lighter colors.  I found a couple sets of these Slixx Flame Decals. I think they will be perfect for the Fire Frog!  More Coming...
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Post by ira on Mar 29, 2014 14:27:42 GMT -6
HOT FROG!Here is the Fire Frog with the decals in place!  ANTI-GRAVITY GENERATORS!The Vents in the bottom front and rear are the outlets for the Anti-Gravity Generators. The A-G Generators help the Fire Frog make higher jumps and softer landings.  More Coming...
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Post by knarf on Mar 30, 2014 6:51:18 GMT -6
this is looking awesome Ira, excellent color choice  i'll have to rmember to try that color over black next time around. |
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Post by ira on Mar 30, 2014 8:34:51 GMT -6
NEW WHEELS!I took a while but I found a set of Mags to replace the flat Moonscope Rims. These Mags are from the AMT Silhouette Kit. I had to remove about an 1/16 inch from the inner rims to fit the Mags in the Moonscope Tires. I removed the chrome from the Mags and painted the Wheels with Model Masters Magnesium.  Here are the Silhouette Wheels mounted in the Moonscope Tires.  More Coming...
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Post by ira on Mar 31, 2014 11:11:16 GMT -6
WATER BASE!I applied a couple coats of Testors Wet Look Clear Lacquer and let it dry. Then I hand painted the Interior with Vallejo's "Brown Sand" Acrylic Paint. I use water base paints here because when I make mistakes I can wipe them right off. I also painted the Engine Compartment with Vallejo's Flat Black. This photo shows how well the one coat of Vallejo Paint covers over flat black and very shiny Green.  More Coming...
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Post by donculley on Mar 31, 2014 14:53:55 GMT -6
NEW WHEELS!I took a while but I found a set of Mags to replace the flat Moonscope Rims. These Mags are from the AMT Silhouette Kit. I had to remove about an 1/16 inch from the inner rims to fit the Mags in the Moonscope Tires. I removed the chrome from the Mags and painted the Wheels with Model Masters Magnesium. Here are the Silhouette Wheels mounted in the Moonscope Tires. More Coming... I was wondering if this baby was going to have wheels when I saw that clear rod . Those wheels are going to look great on it ! |
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i'll have to rmember to try that color over black next time around.