mvadrag

You guys have some nice set ups! I have a hobby room in my basement for modeling and art stuff. Most equipment and supplies are in the tool chest. Models are stored in an extended closet with shelves. The drafting table is where I work, though now the set up is for model pictures. It gets messy when things are in full swing. I constantly clean and put away so I have room to work. The stash:

These two survive from high school, I graduated in 1974. First is my version of a MPC Bruce Larson USA-1 Vega pro stock. Paint is yellowed Testors white enamel out of the can. Updated with some bare metal foil in the 80's. Next up is AMT's Old Pro 1972 Nova. Updated with a tall resin cowl induction hood about ten years ago when I scored five cowl induction hoods for $10 at a model show.

It sure is. The old MPC Malco Mustang was just wrong. Box art looked like a '67, but the plastic came out '65 or '66. The new issue has addressed that problem, but I have a stash of old built kits.

Jumping ahead: the blue painted chassis was going to be too much work to clean up and add wheel wells. I transferred measurements from it to a damaged unpainted chassis from the box of parts (right side), compare to stock chassis on left. I also built wheel tubs using a technique AmericanMuscleFan described in his detailed builds using a large half inch socket and laminated sheets of .020 styrene. I added coil spring supports to the chassis and rear axle using Evergreen plastic tube. The plastic stubs are to help decide spring length required. Here is the new chassis under the body for a fit check. Still have to figure out modifying the old roll cage (I plan to use as much of the old kit parts as I can).

To determine how much I had to cut out of the chassis to fit the MPC slicks I used an old painted chassis from that box of parts. Used the back of a no. 11 blade to scribe along the wheel well to cut loose the inside edge. Then I measured and cut the chassis pan to fit the slicks. I found a rear axle I could narrow to see how things fit.

Hi all, I have been playing around with a box with two Malco Mustangs from the way back and falling apart. One body went in the dunk tank and then I started mocking up a stance with MPC dragster wheels and slicks (these are out of an old Garlits car). Looks like this: Here is the box of old parts I will work with. The front fender unit and the body really don't line up very well in this example. The red one in the box fits up better, but I already stripped the mockup body so I will make it work. I may just glue the fenders to the body to keep everything lined up and keep things simple so I can finish sooner than later. Here you see I glued some tabs to the body to line up the front fenders. I have also sanded the tops of the fenders up front to taper them. These old bodies had almost square front edges.

I am trying for a more modern stance for MPC's old Malco Gasser Mustang with the wheels and tires tucked inside the lowered body. I still want the zoomies coming out under the front fenders like the gasser.

With the release of the new AMT Time Machine Chevelle, an enterprising modeler can make the hard to find Olds F-85 funny car. The Chevelle and Olds share the same chassis (the interior tub is a pinch wider than the Chevy II version). You have to alter the Olds convertible wheelbase to fit the chassis. This is an original (restoration?), but not completely out of box. Front wheels are wrong for this.

I have one of these, 1981 vintage Night Stalker. Black plastic... yuck! I like what you are doing with this, should come out cool lookin'. I'll watch this progress.

I found this in my stash.

That's the way I watched Fastest in America, too. My wife didn't want to see Street Outlaws two nights in a row, so I DVR'd the Tuesday night shows to watch later. I fast forwarded through the "getting A to B" stuff and all the JJ talking to the girls about strategy looking for the burn outs, then I would watch the races to see who won. On the End Game episodes, it is interesting that only JJ focused on getting his Chevy II out to grudge race, where the rest of them were about building the car. I laughed at JJ building the engine on the garage floor, and replacing the bearings and rings without showing them measuring anything. Lots of editing? The Chevy II looked more sleeper white with primer spots and chrome than the final clear coated primer with blacked out trim.

Wow wee and holy smokes... this is fantastic. Incredible micro machining!!

I will keep coming back to this one. I want to see how it turns out. Good start. I need to see how you fit the hemi. I gave up on converting the AMT '65 altered wheel base to stock. Body work troubles again...

I am calling this restoration complete. There are a few boo-boos in my body work and the scoop is not permanently attached, but it is way better than with what I started. It will now go in my display case instead of hidden in the model closet. When I set up for photos, I will clean it up and post in the Under Glass section. Maybe I should silver sharpie the lock and logo...

Had to sneak in a preview of final assembly. Still have to attach the grilles, headlights, the polished old glass, and the interior panels. Getting close to the end.