1954 Chris-Craft Commander Express by mtdoramike - Dumas - RADIO - 36"

[mtdoramike]

OK, I covered the parts in two thin layers of the black backer paint. Then one thin layer of mirrror chrome spray paint. I will give a couple more thin layers of the chrome.   

[Nirvana]

Mike,

Where did you find the two sprays?

I need the chrome for my boat.

Looking very nice!

 

[mtdoramike]

https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Mirror-Chrome-Aerosol-Paint/dp/B0015H1FGA/ref=sr_1_1/132-7879930-8102943?ie=UTF8&qid=1493118985&sr=8-1&keywords=spaz+stix+mirror+chrome

 

Here u go, Amazon has it for like $5.99 a can plus shipping, I paid like $12.00 for the can of mirror chrome from a not so local hobby shop. You will also neeed the black backer paint as well. There is a how to video on You Tube using the Spaz stix spray, which is where I saw it and liked the finish they got with it.

 

mike  

[donrobinson]

looks pretty darn good

[mtdoramike]

[mtdoramike]

This is with a second thin layer of mirror chrome aand then aa light buffing with a buffing wheel and my rotary tool. My opinionn is, for the cheap price, of a spray on finish, you can't beat. But to me, it looks more like a nickel finish rather than a chrome finish.

[Nirvana]

But so much better than the original finish. 

[mtdoramike]

oh yes, so much better.

[mtdoramike]

[CDW]

How much weight do you estimate the interior fiberglass added? Not that weight matters so much here, like it does on a flying model or similar. Without fiberglass and resin, a model boat might not be very seaworthy.  

[mtdoramike]

i would guess about 1/2 pound at least, you can tell the added weight  i'm working on the front deck now, before covering the hull. 

[mtdoramike]

[mtdoramike]

Talk about a hobby being hazardous to your health, while using a rotary tool to get the profile of the nose right on the Commander, the power cord got hooked up under a cutting board that I use on top of my work table. I pulled on the power cord, which pulled the cutting board off of the table and onto my foot, breaking my big toe. So that took care of my hobby work for a few days.

 

mike 

[donrobinson]

Not sure if I should hit the like button or not.

[CDW]

Wow, Mike. Bum deal.

Hope you heal up soon, but I know a broken toe is going to be a real hassle to say the least. 

 

[mtdoramike]

[mtdoramike]

I bought these plastic strips from my local hobby lobby store in their train section. I will use these as caulking strips in between the planking strips. for the decks.

 

mike

[mtdoramike]

[mtdoramike]

I started the front decking. Starting to look pretty good.

[mtdoramike]

[CDW]

The white styrene strips really simulate the caulking well. Looks great!

[mtdoramike]

Thanks, some that have built this model in the past that used the same size caulking wished they would have used a thicker caulking material. But I believe this size is the more scale look. If it were bigger, it wouldn't look right, kind of like ceramic tile laid with a 1 inch grout line. 

[Shiphile]

Oh yea, nice, very very clean precise building.  I spent many years and a wad of cash building RC Race Boats.  You know the saying.....speed =$.  Know this well.

This builds into one beautiful Cruiser.

Looking forward to more.

Rick

[mtdoramike]

Thanks Rick

[mtdoramike]

starting on the cabin while waiting on a nice day to start the outside hull glassing.

[mtdoramike]

 

 

I decided to bite the bullit this morning and glass the outer hull. I use one sheet and made a few relief cuts on the sides and at the bow. I folded over the relief cut at the bow,which also gave double protection at the nose.  

[CDW]

Going to look super! Getting a much better idea of the size of this model sitting next to a chair. She's big.

[mtdoramike]

[mtdoramike]

First coat of resin on the bow and stern sections. Now, sand, sand and more sanding between coats, which will total three coats of resin.

[mtdoramike]