Completed works for 2008
Last year was all NASCAR. This year I plan on jumping on some other racing series. I should have a bike, some rally, some drag, and probably a couple NASCARs in there too. Just for good measure. :)

2002 #8 No Bull Budweiser Monte Carlo
This is what's been keeping me busy lately. I've been wanting to build a Dale Jr. car for a long time. When I started researching the No Bull cars, I had to do Jr's Talladega 2002 winner. I'm actually building 2 at the same time. One will be for my collection and one will be sold on eBay to keep my modeling wallet on tap. (The second one is the 2002 Daytona 500 version and much more "out of the box".)
I started out by giving the body a new nose. I cut up the original and pulled it out, then I smeared on some Tamiya epoxy putty to smooth it out. I sanded it smooth with the "pointed" beak and added an air dam.
I meant to take a couple progress pics of getting that MC hood to fit better, but I didn't. Basically there is a big gap on the passenger side in the front corner where the hood meets the fender and above the headlight where the hood meets the body. I sanded the entire left side of the hood down so I could put a piece of strip in there. I also put a piece of strip above the headlight on the hood. Once sanded and primered, it will look WAY better than out of the box. I also sanded the hood pins off. They will be replaced by some much better looking photo etched pins.
I also added new angled side skirts and a new rear spoiler. I'll add spoiler bolts and some other details after paint.
For the seat, I just stole that out of a newer kit and dressed it up with some leg bolsters and padding with a couple phot etched bolts, then threw on a few decals. I'll add the belts next.
The engine got some pretty basic treatment: satin black, Metalizer titanium, chrome, aluminum, and magnesium. Then I added the valve cover decals.

I primed the body with Tamiya's fine white primer. I then masked the greenhouse pillars and painted the body Tamiya TS49 from the can. Then I masked again for the white lines and airbrushed on some TS14 (black). I think the white stripes came out really well. Another ode to Tamiya tape's masking abilities.
I also detailed out the wheels and tires. To the interior I added new ducting made from wire wrapped around a screw and covered in BMF. I will add my own window net. I added a seat from a newer Revell kit as well as a speedway exhaust from Modern-Motorsports.

Decal time. Starting to shape up. I need to add a couple details to the body, windows and interior, then this one is done.

Finished this one up. Decals went on like a dream (though they were stuck on the backing paper pretty good at times). I used Tamiya Paints and polish. I topped it off with a JWTBM No Bull #8 and the spoiler is Microscale trim film.

2002 #8 Budweiser Monte Carlo - Daytona 500 version
Here is the second version. This is the Daytona 500 version with the black trunk lid (and no "No Bull" markings). This was a lot more of a basic build. I used Slixx decals, Tamiya paint, and some small additions here and there.

1981 #13 Carolina Tools Thunderbird
I am building this one as a joint build with my #21 Purolator Thunderbird. That one is now complete, and this one is pretty close. I need to wet sand the primer coat, maybe primer again, then lay down some thin coats of white, then decals.

Finito!! Excellent decals by Dave Van. My first time using Alps printed decals. I must say "Not bad", but I don't think it gets much easier than decalling a brick! :) Wheels are Tamiya Racing Green.

2004 Mark Martin Viagra Taurus
I'll be starting on this one shortly. Body is primed, chassis is primed, detail parts are painted. Mark won in this scheme. It's a pretty cool "reverse" scheme that Viagra ran.

Very little body prep. I sanded the front grill off, and left the front spoiler bolts. I was hoping it would add some character, but I think it just looks sloppy instead. I still have a few things to do on the body, then finish up the chassis, and we're done.

Threw the chassis together and viola!! I finished this one up in no time. I think it sorta looks like it too. It was good to get back on track and build something, but my skills deteriorated significantly... On to the Cyclone! That one is getting my creative juices flowing. :)

2004 Matt Kenseth Smirnoff Ice Taurus
I'll be starting to build this one shortly. Body is primed, chassis is primed, detail parts are painted. I think this is one of the coolest looking recent schemes. I love the colors together. Pretty simple, but cool.

Finally got some paint and decals on this one too. Paint went on nice. A little crazing on the hood. I'm not really doing much about it though. :) I actually tried Future again for clear. It is OK, but I'm not that big of a fan. The key thing I like about it is that I can clearcoat my body inside when the little one is in the house!!

The black doesn't really pop on this one like I was hoping. There is a little bit of crazing on the hood too. All in all, a subpar build on my part. With mistakes come some sort of knowledge though. I will not make those mistakes again. (And I won't rebuild this one!) :)

1972 David Pearson Mercury Cyclone
I've been working on this one lately. I have the rib on the hood, blank tail panel, and most of the parts cleaned up. I need to get some primer on the body, then I can start painting. Pictures soon...

I have a little more done than pics show, but not much. I'm working on the chassis, engine, and body now. I have the fuel filler moved. I also filled in the back panel. That was a pain to do. I will do it different next time.

Chassis work is happening now. I painted the chassis with primer grey, then spattered the black and white on there for contrast (I'm 99% sure the real one only has a white spatter). The cage was painted separately semi gloss black. I'll need to paint the front hoop as well as adding some other interior details, then I can mate the body for the stance and wheel well cuts.

Added some more chassis details and cleaned up the fuel filler area. Now the cap will go in the recess I created.
The tires are now decided on and decalled. I was originally going to go with the wider Blue Streaks, but as you can see, they are quite a bit wider and wouldn't fit without a headache, so I'm going with Polar Lights wheels AND tires. They look pretty good too. :)

I think the basics on the chassis are complete. I still need to tie up a couple loose ends, but overall, its complete.
I have the first coat of paint on the body and the stance is looking pretty good. Now I'll mask off, paint the gold, then clear red, then pearl clear... I can't wait to see it.

Complete. Put the final polish on it last night. I added a little BMF to the rear bumper and the door handle cover. Aluminum tubing for exhaust pipes, embossing metal for rear window straps and tri color paint. I ended up using the Yesterday's 21's and some small contingencies, but Powerslide for the Purolator markings. I liked the color and size better. All in all, a pretty fun build.

2000 Bobby Labonte Interstate Frankenstein Grand Prix
I started all three of these at the same time. These 2 Pro Finish kits will be basically box stockers with some added detail. Slixx decals for the flames and JWTBM for the Frank scheme.

The basic decaling is done. I have the chassis mostly just in paint. I've been doing a little detail painting here and there too. I need to assemble those, then mock up the stance, then I can add windows, wheels/tires, etc...

Little polishing and touch ups, and it is complete. The spoiler decal was a pain, so I did what I could. I'm not 100% happy with it, but will try to do better next time.
Of course, I realize AFTER taking the final pics that the winshield clips are missing. I'll add those before I sell it! :)

1998 Bobby Labonte Hot Rod FLAMES Grand Prix
I started all three of these at the same time. These 2 Pro Finish kits will be basically box stockers with some added detail. Slixx decals for the flames and JWTBM for the Frank scheme.

The basic decaling on both is done. I have the chassis at the same point which is mostly just in paint. I've been doing a little detail painting here and there too. I need to assemble those, then mock up the stance, then I can add windows, wheels/tires, etc...

Overall, a pretty cool build. The front decal was not near as bad as I had envisioned. It went on pretty thick, but Solvaset softened it fast. A couple pricks with a pin here and there and a couple slits with the Exacto, and it was laying down nice.
Good to get a couple box stockers done to raise the 2008 stats. :)