Okay, so I’ve been obsessed with classic muscle cars lately, and the 1968 Ford GT500 Shelby? Forget about it. Pure beauty. I decided I had to build a model of one. It seemed daunting at first, but hey, gotta start somewhere, right?
The Hunt Begins
First things first, I needed the kit. I scoured the internet, looking at different brands and reviews. Finally, I found a decent-looking one – not too expensive, not too cheap. Ordered it, and the waiting game began.
Unboxing and Panic
When the box finally arrived, I was like a kid on Christmas. I ripped it open, and… wow. So many tiny pieces! I’m talking hundreds. I felt a little wave of panic. “What have I gotten myself into?” But, deep breath, I laid everything out on my workbench, organized (sort of) by part type.
The Build – Step by Step (Mostly)
- Chassis First: Started with the chassis. That seemed like the logical place to begin, right? Lots of fiddly bits, gluing and clamping. My fingers were covered in glue by the end of this part.
- Engine Time: Next up, the engine. This was actually pretty cool, putting all those little cylinders and things together. It started to look like a real engine! I even added some extra detail with some metallic paint I had lying around.
- Body Work Blues: The body… ugh. This was the hardest part. Getting the panels to fit together perfectly? Not easy. I spent hours sanding and filling gaps. I even had to use some putty in a couple of places. Messy, but necessary.
- Paint Job: I wanted that classic dark green look to my build, after spending a lot of time looking at pictures, I finally got it.
- Detail and finishing: Putting the interior was time taking, but very important part of the build, It turned out good at the end.
The Final Product
After many, many hours, and a few near-disasters (don’t ask about the time I almost glued the hood shut), it was done. My 1968 Ford GT500 Shelby. It’s not perfect, far from it. There are a few flaws here and there, but you know what? I built it. And I’m pretty darn proud of it. It’s sitting on my shelf now, looking awesome. Time to start planning the next build… maybe a ’69 Mustang Boss 429?