2010 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee

My new project and the return of McNally, Boston PI.  The story is titled Starting Over.  No one in this story related to any one living or deceased.

The Build
I am using Lindberg's Charger SRT8 Super Bee kit #73065 and will be painted with Model Master Hemi Orange Lacquer with a black/grey interior.




The Story
Walking out of Court with his attorney Charlotte Rothmann, McNally has paid a fine for refusing to answer the Judge's directive.  Charlie was able to get the jail sentence changed to a fine and McNally has plenty of money in his savings account to cover the check.  But, Charlie didn't want to talk to the Boston PI for some reason and she got into her Caddy STS-V and drove away.  At home, McNally looks at the mail and he finds an envelope in the mail that contains a letter and a check for his services.  He'll insert the letter with the file and cash the check, but the file seems to be missing some details and he decides to follow up on the case.
The case involved a man checking to see if any other heirs to his family farm estate were still alive.  Whelton, Mass. is a small farming community with a town hall with a Police and Fire Departments, a couple of stores and a diner that serves breakfast all day.  At the farm, he gets out of his Challenger SRT8 and walks towards the farm house and suddenly automatic gunfire erupts from somewhere accross the street and he takes cover a large boulder near the front porch.  Now the gunfire seems to be concentrating on his Challenger, shooting out the windows and the tires.  The car body is full of bullet holes and three of the tires are flat.
The automatic gunfire stops, probably to reload and McNally runs to the front door of the farm house and kicks the door open and he takes refuge inside to wait out the assassin.

McNally will return...

The Story
Night time has come and it has gotten dark out as McNally slips out the back door and he creeps along closely towards the ground.  As he ducks behind several massive trees, there is no return fire from the other side of the road.  Maybe the assassin has left the area to avoid capture, but McNally will never know.  As he walks up the road, a Whelton Police Cruiser comes along and McNally flags the driver down.  Officer Tim Reilly asks who he is and why he is out here.  McNally says he was attacked by automatic gunfire earlier in the afternoon at the Dundy Homestead and he escaped under the cover of darkness.

Due to the late hour, McNally's Challenger will be picked up in the morning and Officer Reilly will give McNally a lift back into town.  There are no motels in this town so Tim offers the use of an empty cell at the Police Station for McNally to spend the night.  In the morning, he leaves the cell with a folded up blanket on the pillow and he heads over to the Diner across the street for breakfast.  The Police Chief walks over to get a cup of coffee and to talk to McNally.  The Chief squeezes into the booth with his large gut when McNally offered him a seat at his booth by the windows looking out on the street.

The Build
The basic engine and transmission were assembled and painted.  Mopar Street Hemi Orange for the engine block and Tamiya Chrome Silver for the transmission.

The body parts and chassis were assembled and awaiting Model Master White Primer.




McNally will return...

Cool, a narrative to accompany the build! 

More than just a narrative, an actual story!

The Story
The cop was the Police Chief of Whelton and he was neither very forthcoming with information or holding back.  McNally finished his breakfast and was sipping his coffee when the Chief offered to drive McNally out to the farmstead to look at his car.  He will also look for any other clues that he could find.  At the farmstead, McNally goes across the street and up the small hill loooking for the gun nest.  He sifts through the leaves and pine needles and he finds a shell casing buried under the leaves.
The Chief tells McNally that he'll call for a flat bed wrecker to tow his Challenger back to town and then make arrangements to get the Challenger back to Boston.  When the wrecker arrives, the Chief goes over to talk to the driver and McNally digs a bullet out of the door frame of the farmhouse and he sticks it into his pocket and doesn't tell the Chief what he had found.  His gut is telling him that he shouldn't trust the Chief.

The Build
I got the Charger into  a coat of Testors White Lacquer Primer on the body and Tamiya Grey Primer on the chassis.  I'll let this dry, some sanding and then a coating of Model Master Hemi Orange.




McNally will return...

The Story
Upon his return to Boston, McNally stops at the BPD Forensics Lab and talks to Technician Robert Parken.  He asks if Bob can looks for prints and anything else about the bullet and the shell casing that he has.  Bob asks if these pieces are connected to a current BPD case and McNally tells him that they are not.  Looking at McNally in the eye, Bob asks, "What's in it for me?"  "My gracing the hallowed Halls of Forensics is not enough?"  Bob replies, "Nope!  I'll look at it when I get a chance.  Right now, I'm very busy."
McNally goes upstairs to talk with his friend Lt. Det. Adam Troy.  He tells Adam about the pieces he has in Forensics and if Adam could influence the techs to take a quick look at them.  Adam replies that they are rather busy and it could take a while before they can be looked at.  Boston Police Dept. cases come first and he will talk to the techs.

The Build
There is a splitter/spoiler that is not used on this kit.  I decided to add it to the front fasca.


The Hemi engine is coming along.  I've got a lot of parts painted and drying.

McNally will return...

The Story
McNally leaves BPD Headquarters and heads for the T Bus Stop.  He takes the bus to Vic's Sales & Service to see if Vic has another ride for him.  He tells Vic about his Challenger getting shot up and that the car is undriveable and probably junk.  After looking through his computer inventory, all he has are small and medium size sedan econoboxes.  He will look through the New England area for another car for his friend.
McNally returns home to get his Father's '57 Ford Custom 300 out of the garage and his cellphone rings.  It's Vic saying that he found a 2010 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee and does McNally want to see it.  He says yes and when can he see the car.  Vic says the car will be at the dealership early tomorrow afternoon as it is currently in Hyannis, Ma.  McNally will see Vic tomorrow at 2:00 PM.

The Build
I got the Hemi complete with the exception of touchups and decals.

The Hemi in the chassis.

What are these?  These were X'd out on the instruction sheet.  They are Super Bees for the front fenders!  I chromed them and will try to paint them yellow and black when they are dry.

McNally will return...

The Story
That following afternoon, McNally arrives at Vic's Sales & Service in his father's '57 Ford 300 aka Spearmint.  He and Vic walk down to the garage to check out the Charger Super Bee that is parked in one of the service bays.  Hemi Orange with black graphics, black interior with a Hemi engine, full power, A/C, and an automatic transmission.  This car has only 62,000 miles on the clock and it looks brand new.  "A little bright for sleuthing, don't ya think," says McNally with a smile on his face.
Vic smiles and he says, "It should be faster than a speeding bullet."  Vic slaps a magnetic dealer plate on the car and McNally takes it out for a spin.  Acceleration is simular to the Challenger even though its a larger car and stopping and handling is very good.  He drives the Charger Super Bee back to Vic's and he parks it in the same service bay.  "I'll take it," he tells Vic and they both go up to Vic's office to discuss terms.

The Build
I painted the Charger Super Bee this afternoon with Model Master Hemi Orange Lacquer.  Thank you
Rust-oleum for the three cans you sent when I ask for one!



McNally will return...

The orange is looking good, Mike. It's too bad they didn't make a decal for the fender mounted bee.

I just compared the kit decals with the Super Bees from the kit and they are not the same size.  The kit decals are a bit larger than the Super Bees so I may try and see if draping the decal over the part may make a difference.  If that doesn't work, I can either use the decal alone or paint the Super Bees with a fine brush and my magnifier.

The car is a bit modern for this geezers taste but you are doing a grand job Mike.

Excellent progress! That body colour is very cool and the engine turned out great.

Thanks Skid and Kats! I really like this Charger! It is a little something modern with a touch of old school added to it. Besides, I am finding it difficult adding a story to something really old.

The Story
McNally finishes installing the plates on his new Charger Super Bee.  He goes inside the house to start his supper and he sits down at the kitchen table to eat.  Part way his meal and the door bell rings and when he opens the front door, Lt. Det. Adam Troy is standing there.  "Got a beer?"  He invites Adam in and he grabs a Sam Adams Light from the fridge for Adam.  
McNally pulls the bottle cap off and hands the beer to Adam who says, "Trade ya!"  Adam hands him the Forensics report to McNally who sits at the table and reads it.  The bullet and casing are a match to being fired from the same type of gun...an assault rifle possibly a Colt AR 15, 7.62X15 147 grain copper jacketed bullet and the casing is the same type.   Adam takes big sips of the beer as McNally is reading the report and he says, "I'm happy to get you these Forensic reports and such, but I can't do this all the time.  Don't make a habit out of it."  McNally replies, "Thank you Adam, I really appreciate this!"

The Build
I decided to go a different route on lowering the rear suspension by sanding the bottom of the rear differential and opening the mounting holes wider.  This brought the rear suspension down about 1/16th inch.  I have to watch how low I go with this so I don't bottom out the tire on the wheel well.

I am using a piece of photoetch for the grille, so I space out the grille with some pieces of sheet styrene to make up for the thickness of the kit grille insert.

My photoetch grille insert painted with Testors Flat Black Lacquer and shaped to fit the grille cover.

McNally will return...

The Story
McNally goes back into the house and into his office to look at the file again.  He remembers when he had stopped at Paul Dundy’s house to question him about the old farmhouse.  He remembers seeing a business card on the kitchen table from a gun shop that had silhouettes of a rifle and a handgun on it.   What gun shop?
He sits back in his chair and thinks.  It was a gun shop near Boston.  Bell something or was it Bull?  No, Bulverde Guns and Firing Range!  He looks up the number and the address for the gun shop and writes it down.
The computer lists a website and that the business had closed over 30 minutes ago at 7 PM.  He’ll stop and pay them a visit in the morning.  For now, he will peruse the website which really didn’t do anything for him for a few minutes.

The Build
This has been something I have been comtemplating for a few days.  This afternoon, I got brave and took out my cordless Dremel and small round grinding but and removed the backing for the lower grille and brake ducts.  I think it came out pretty good!


I still have more of the P/E mesh from the grille to use.

McNally will return...

The Story
Sitting in his new Charger Super Bee across the street from Belverde Guns and Firing Range, McNally watches the goings on.  He observes a BMW X3 being driven by Paul Dundy stop in front of the gun shop.  He gets out with a soft rifle case and walks into the gun shop.  Fifteen minutes later, Dundy walks out and get into his BMW and he drives away.  
McNally drives across the street and stops in font of the gun shop, gets out and goes inside.  He approaches the Service Counter and a man asks if he can help him.  McNally says that the slide on his SIG Sauer P227 is sticking and the serviceman looks at it, works the action several times and he finds nothing wrong with it.  McNally says okay and he is told to bring the gun back if it happens again.  McNally notices the AR 15 sitting on the on the counter behind him and asks about it.
The serviceman says that the owner wanted the rifle made full auto and the owner was told that they don't do that kind of work by law, just repairs and cleanings.  McNally thanks the serviceman for his time and he leaves the shop.  McNally gets into the Charger and leaves and he places a call to a friend at the ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms).

The Build
I started back on the Charger Super Bee with some detail painting of the body and chassis using Tamiya X-18 Semi Gloss Black.


I started adding the exhaust shields to the chassis.

McNally will return...

The Story
After several minutes and phone menus, McNally finally reaches his friend Jesse Lee.  He asks if the ATF was still doing random checks of firing ranges and gun shops.  He is told yes and McNally asks if Belverde Gun Shop was due.  Jesse says yes and he puts McNally on hold to ask his supervisor about making a random check of the shop.  He comes back and asks if McNally was busy that afternoon.
With everyone dressed in armor and armed, the raid of Belverde Gun Shop and Firing Range goes forth.  With several agents examining files and records, Jesse and McNally check the repair shop and Dundy's AR 15 is found in the back room in the process of being made full auto.  The ATF closes the shop and arrest the owner, several employees and the repair technician.

The Build
The chassis is complete minus the wheels and tires.



Next up is the interior.
McNally will return...

The Story
McNally follows Paul Dundy from his house to a pub in Charlestown where Dundy spends about an hour inside having some liquid encouragement.  Dundy comes out and gets into his BMW and he drives away with McNally not too far behind him.  He follows him to Dardenville St. where McNally lives and he watches Dundy drive down the street and stops by the side of the street near his house.  McNally parks his Charger Super Bee at the top of the street and he walks down the sidewalk to his house just as Dundy goes around the corner to the back of the house.  At the corner of the house, he peeks around the corner and watches Paul jimmy the lock on the back door and enters the house.
McNally pulls his SIG Sauer P227 from his shoulder holster and enters the house and switches on the kitchen lights.  "Freeze or I'll shoot!" and Dundy turns around holdin a Israeli Arms Desert Eagle and he aims the big gun at McNally and McNally shoots him.  He runs over to Dundy and kicks the Desert Eagle away from him and feels for a pulse.  No pulse and he checks Dundy's neck and wrist for one.  He pulls out his cellphone and dial 9-1-1.

The Build
I have this part on the sprue without any number tag and I had wondered what it was or where it went.  The part number for the inlet on the hood is no. 184, but it is not listed on the part sprue.  I had concluded that it went to the Super Bee hood and was the air inlet.  This instruction sheet and part sprues is totally messed up!  

Using some slow curing Super Glue, I added the grilles to the hollowed out front clip.
McNally will return...

Excellent progress! The mesh really adds to the look and the development of the details is coming along superbly.

Thanks Kats!

The Story
Metro Emergency 9-1-1, what is your emergency?
My name is McNally at 152 Dardenville St. in Charlestown.  I just shot an intruder in my house.  Send Police and an ambulance!
Sir, Are you injuried?
No.  I am not.
Please stay on the line with me until the Police and ambulance have arrived.

The Build
I painted the rear bumper with Model Master Hemi Orange Lacquer.  Somehow, the side of the rear bumper didn't get enough paint to cover it.  As usual, I forgot to paint the side mirrors.  Oops!



McNally will return...

The Story
Lt. Det. Adam Troy stops at McNally's house when he got the call of a shooting there.  As he steps around the deceased on the living room floor, he notes the Israeli Arms Desert Eagle lying on the floor near the sofa and he walks around to McNally's office just around the corner.  McNally looks up at Adam as he enters the office and the printer behind McNally is spitting out a couple of pages of a statement for Adam and then he procedes to tell Adam what had happened.  McNally's former client is now dead and he is still no closer to solving this case of who was shooting at him and why Dundy want to kill him.

The Build
I added the decals for the instrument panel and after they had dried, I used a bit of Tamiya X-22 Clear for lenses.  I fired up the paintbooth and painted the interior seats and console.



McNally will return...

The Story
Almost a month has gone by as McNally has stopped by at the Law Office of Charlotte Rothmann, Esq. Charlie's assistant Mandi lets him in to Charlie's office as she is sitting at her desk typing a closing argument on her computer. He hands Charlie the background check on her client and he turns to walk out of her office. Charlie says, "You're not going to say hi to me? You mad at me about something?" McNally replies, "I could say the same about you. You have said anything to me in about a month." Charlie gets up from her desk and goes over to the Boston PI and says, "I'm sorry. I thought that maybe you were mad at me. Maybe we have mixed signals or something here." McNally says, "Since you got me out of that jam with the Judge, we haven't spoken to each other. I'm sorry, too if I did anything wrong to you." Charlie says, "We are good. Now get outta here, I've got a lot of work to do." Charlie hugs McNally and shoos him away as she sits back down at her desk and continues typing her closing argument.

The Build
I have completed the interior, complete with some paint detailing.



McNally will return...

The Story
It's Adam's day off from work and he stops by McNally's house for lunch with the Boston PI. They are sitting out on the back deck enjoying sandwiches and a beer when McNally hears the doorbell ring on the front door. He looks through the slider to the open front door and he sees a cop standing there in a uniform that is not of the Boston Police Department. Adam watches as McNally goes to the front door. "I'm Sgt. Bricker of the Whelton Police. Are you Mr. McNally?" McNally calls Adam to the front door as Sgt. Bricker says for him to come outside as he has a warrant for McNally's arrest. Adam ID's himself and asks to see the warrant, which Sgt. Bricker doesn't have on him and he wants McNally to step outside. Adam tells Sgt. Bricker that he is not following procedure for an out-of-town arrest and he has no BPD backup. Bricker goes for his sidearm as Adam goes for his Glock and McNally forces the screen door into the Whelton cop and tackles him on the front porch and he and Adam get the Whelton cop cuffed. Adam calls for backup and McNally searches the cop finding an unlicensed .22 pistol tucked in Bricker's boot. This wasn't an arrest, it was an assassination attempt!

The Build
I went to apply the decals to the rear truck lid and noticed that the decal covers the entire lid, plus I tore the decal.
I looked the the box and and saw the correct blackout for the trunk lid which I reproduced with Tamiya Masking Tape and Tamiya XF-1 Flat Black paint.
I cut out the Charger and the SRT8 scripts from the Charger decal and applied them to the trunk lid along with a Dodge Ram decal from the decal sheet.
So far, there is no silvering around the decals which is a good thing.
McNally will return...

The Story
McNally is sitting in Lt. Det. Adam Troy's office finishing his statement on the arrest at his house of Whelton Police Sergeant Bricker when Chief Richard Alden walks to Adam's door and knocks on the door frame. He asks about the arrest and tells of the possible implications this could have on relations between the two Departments. The State District Attorney will want to know the facts of the case and there is the possibility of lawsuits from both sides. The Chief is informed of the evidence found including the unregistered .22 caliber revolver that was found inside of Bricker's boot and the lack of a warrant for McNally's arrest. The evidence points to an assassination attempt of the Boston PI.
Chief Alden asks how Lt. Troy just happened to be at McNally's house. Adam cites that he was on his day off and he was invited to lunch at McNally's house. He had two small pulls on a bottle of beer, lots of potato chips and celery and carrots before he started eating his sandwich. He was far from being considered drunk or the least bit intoxicated and he will take a breathalyzer test if needed. McNally and Troy are then informed that the Massachusetts State Police had arrested most of the Whelton Police Department with a couple of Whelton PD officers remaining on the job since they were cleared of any wrong doing. But, the Police Chief is missing.

The Build
The decals have been applied and I will clearcoat the body the a day or two. I got the Charger decaled and I polished the rear deck spoiler and the side view mirrors.

The mirrors will need to be detailed with Tamiya X-18 Semi Gloss Black paint.
McNally will return...