Preston Posted March 12, 2017 Posted March 12, 2017 (edited) Basically a box stock build of the AMT Gremlin X drag racer version. I cut out the grill opening and used a photoetched grill instead of the kit supplied part. I didn't like the way the drag version of the leaf springs looked so I used the street leaf springs and built my own shackles. The front axle passes through the engine block/oil pan, so I filled the hole in the engine and cut the axle into stubs to mount the front wheels separately. The front chin spoiler did not have a good way of mounting it under the bumper properly, so I built a shelf that fit into the space under the bumper to mount the spoiler so it sits in the right spot. The kit did not have a master cylinder represented, so I added one from the parts box. The backs of the wheels had a toy like appearance, so I added some brake drum backing plates from the parts box that I drilled out to fit over the wheel bosses. The chrome roof spoiler didn't have sufficient mounts, so I cut small pieces from sheet styrene for that. Kit supplied headlights were chrome, so I carefully sanded off the 'lens' portion and replaced them with parts box clear lenses. The blue tinted quarter windows were used and black flocking for the carpet was used. Bare metal foil for trim and photoetched door locks, and I added parts box side mirrors. I used a combo of the kit supplied decals to finish the look I wanted of a custom drag-show car. I scratch built the exhaust, but this is the one area I will be changing. The kit supplied drag headers hang way too low. I cut and shortened them as much as possible without destroying the realistic look, but the entire system still hangs too low. I recently learned how to scratch build headers using solder, so I will be removing the exhaust system and using this build as my first experiment making my own headers. Otherwise I really liked the outcome. Body color is Testors custom gold metal flake straight out of the rattle can. Interior is a dark silver/grey. Edited March 12, 2017 by Preston
shoopdog Posted March 12, 2017 Posted March 12, 2017 Very nice looking Gremlin. I've built two of these and they are a fun build.
Preston Posted March 12, 2017 Author Posted March 12, 2017 Very nice looking Gremlin. I've built two of these and they are a fun build.Thanks, it was a fun build even with the issues.I am glad I decided to attach the nose to the body before painting as opposed to the instructions to attach in final assembly. The bumpers were tricky to line up as the epoxy set.
Krazy Rick Posted March 12, 2017 Posted March 12, 2017 That turned out great !! - to me, the pipes look fine; there's still clearance.
6bblbird Posted March 12, 2017 Posted March 12, 2017 I like it! Well assembled and clean! What did you use to wrap the roll bar?WF
donb Posted March 12, 2017 Posted March 12, 2017 That turned out great !! - to me, the pipes look fine; there's still clearance.I agree!
Preston Posted March 12, 2017 Author Posted March 12, 2017 That turned out great !! - to me, the pipes look fine; there's still clearance.Thanks!
Preston Posted March 12, 2017 Author Posted March 12, 2017 I like it! Well assembled and clean! What did you use to wrap the roll bar?WFI just painted the padding that's engraved on the roll bar Tamiya acrylic semi-gloss black. It did end up looking a lot like real padding.
AC Norton Posted March 12, 2017 Posted March 12, 2017 (edited) ......very fresh and different approach on this build....both strip/ and show car...I like that. I myself have been working on this same kit off and on for quite sometime, but as usual for me these days, one build ends up being overshadowed by the other,,,lol..........and I had to correct several area's of this kit that are pretty lax, as you did also. Nice to see one built the way you have, using mostly kit part's, but upgrading everything so nicely......you mention possibly changing exhaust component's that you aren't pleased with on your car,,,,, a set of shorter glass pack's would do the job here,,, both the latest issue AMT 70 Impala and the new MPC 69 Barracuda contain very nice set's,,,,just a thought... thanks for sharing with us, maybe I'll get back to my Gremlin now,,, well, just maybe..lol..lol...........the Ace... Edited March 13, 2017 by AC Norton text
PARTSMARTY Posted March 13, 2017 Posted March 13, 2017 I absolutely love it-so cool-I have the gremlin yet to build !!!
tedd60 Posted March 14, 2017 Posted March 14, 2017 Great build. Right on down to the E brake cable.This is a car I wish they would build in 1/18.
Preston Posted March 17, 2017 Author Posted March 17, 2017 Great build. Right on down to the E brake cable.This is a car I wish they would build in 1/18.The e-brake cable is actually part of the chassis tooling. The lighting made it look highlighted, I guess.
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