1320wayne Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 (edited) Here is my next new/old project. I purchased this kit as a partial builtup at a swap meet four or five years ago for a song. That's where the thin coats of red, white and blue came from. As soon as I bought this I tore it apart and then started pondering where to go with it. What I came up with is a mixture of modern and retro custom van ideas. Two years ago I finally pulled it out of the box again and started with a mockup of my ideas. The following pics. are what the body looked like when I bought the kit and how it looks mocked up on the tire and wheel choice, Pegasus Halibrands. Then I started cutting and taped the doors in place as gull wing style to see how it would look. Then the model went back in the box. Edited November 17, 2008 by 1320wayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1320wayne Posted November 10, 2008 Author Share Posted November 10, 2008 When I pulled the kit back out about a month ago I decided that it was time to get back into this one. From there I was able to get the side and rear doors hinged in place and working. The front doors will eventually be hinged suicide style just to change things up a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1320wayne Posted November 10, 2008 Author Share Posted November 10, 2008 (edited) So the next area that I decided to work on is the grill area. I started by drilling out the chrome plated headlights to make room for new headlight rings and clear lenses. By the way, this will have working head and taillights. Then I cut out the grill inserts and left the horizontal bars. This area will be replaced with screen mesh. More updates will be coming soon. Edited November 10, 2008 by 1320wayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 (edited) man your doin some serious work to this thing, i likes. i gotta find some custom van parts for mine and get back on it Edited November 10, 2008 by Spike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JamesDE Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 THis thing is going to be sick. I like the idea of lighting up the head and tail lights. Are you keeping those rims for it or going with something bigger? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 I like this, can you show us how you did the doors? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooltoys1 Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 OH MAN, THAT IS COOL! I remember my Grandpa having a 74 Tradesman. He smacked a deer head on and it pushed the motor past the driver seat. cool build, ill be watchin this one close. Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 Ooooohhhhhhhhhhhh.........cool project, can't wait to see it done! OH MAN, THAT IS COOL! I remember my Grandpa having a 74 Tradesman. He smacked a deer head on and it pushed the motor past the driver seat. cool build, ill be watchin this one close. Jay Well, that was only a couple feet though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 heres a mockup of my van Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1320wayne Posted November 10, 2008 Author Share Posted November 10, 2008 THis thing is going to be sick. I like the idea of lighting up the head and tail lights. Are you keeping those rims for it or going with something bigger? I'm not too keen on the really large tires and wheels. They look good on some subjects but not this. I am sticking with these. They are the perfect size for this project. Thanks for looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOTH KUSTOMS Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 Kewl man! I've been thinking of getting a van kit, and doing the same thing only with split gull wing door's, so I'm gonna be watching this build, I gotta see whare you take this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randx0 Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 I've got a similar build going except mines a ford. you're off to a great start Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stump Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 Great start Wayne.. Knowing your ability with plastic and a sharp #11, I'm going to keep track of this one...it's gonna be wild. cheers Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djway3474 Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 That is going to be very cool. I have been picking up some Vans myself for some ideas I have going. I had a van back in the day and so did my best friend. Oh the mamories LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilsdropshop1 Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 love it love it!!!!! can't wait to see it finished Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James W Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 I like the stance and wheels in the first picture too. Groovy Man. How about an LCD TV in back and a Zip lock baggie for a water bed? I had a couple Dodge van kits as a kid. I'd like to find a Ford version. AMT Vampire Van I think it was. How are things in Florida? We're having typical November wind and rain this week in Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modellpularn Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Cool van, man! I built a much reworked AMT Chevy van 30 years ago. I did the same opening of the side door. The front doors were a bit special, at least on the passenger side, since it's got that thin strip between the side door. The Dodge is better in that area. I ended up gluing a partition wall as reinforcement, but cut an opening in the middle. The rest of the interior was scratchbuilt, with a bed, and lots of stuff. Very detailed I might add! Too bad I don't have many pics of it, 'cus it was stolen from a hobby shop I used to work in..... Well, good luck with your project! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1320wayne Posted November 13, 2008 Author Share Posted November 13, 2008 (edited) I like this, can you show us how you did the doors? Let me answer this question first. Here are a couple of pics. of what the door mechanics looks like. I started by cutting the individual doors from the body and then glueing them together to form one door. Next was to glue the tops of the doors back into place and create new door lines that extended into the top of the van. I created two hinges for the sides of the door out of styrene and then a hinge frame out of square evergreen stock. I was then able to drill and tap holes on each side for the 00.90 brass screws to attach the doors to the hinge block. A little shaping for clearance and the doors opened perfectly. By using the brass screws I was able to tighten them just enough to give the right amount of tension to allow the doors to remain open without a door prop. Edited November 13, 2008 by 1320wayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1320wayne Posted November 13, 2008 Author Share Posted November 13, 2008 Now for the next update. The chassis was next and what I did was to sub frame the front of the chassis from the transmission crossmember forward. I cut away the kit chassis and added the front chassis from an AMT 71 Duster. As well, the rear suspension has also been used from the AMT Duster kit. I am using brake rotor and calipers from an Aoshima wheel kit. The four leaf spring shackle attachments have been upgraded with Grandt line bolt head details. The chassis has been painted with Testors Pearl Purple and the rear suspension has been added. Next will be to add the paint detail for the front suspension. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1320wayne Posted November 13, 2008 Author Share Posted November 13, 2008 Oh, and I guess I have given away what the main color of the van will be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelguy( jeff) Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 that is so cool i have about 8 van kits now and guess what guys vanning is not dead there is a world of vans and vanners out there www.vannin.com www.vcvc2.com iam a member on both these site and theres more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1320wayne Posted November 17, 2008 Author Share Posted November 17, 2008 Here are a few more updated pics. The chassis has been painted and the front and rear suspensions are in place along with the tires and wheels. Still plenty of underside detail to add but the basic work is done. And I was also able to get the hood hinged and working. More to come! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudy Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 I dig the Van! And the wheels are PERFECT! Too small my rearend! I have not seen any vans as of late. Who makes a current van kit? I am in a wheelchair and would like to build an older ford or dodge flat-front van with custom wheelchair lift! (model and 1:1) Keep up the good work! Rudy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 AWSOME work. i dig the challenger front subframe and k-frame conversion! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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