moparfarmer Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 On 1/11/2020 at 12:10 PM, AmericanMuscleFan said: Hello All! Following the requests of some fellow members I will start a new threads of some of my completed models starting by the most recent. On this thread I will present my drag version of a ’70 Plymouth Hemi GTX 1/25 scale. I started making plastic models as a youngster in the mid seventies so I just build 1/25 scale and not 1/24 since they were not existing back then. I also want to be able to put my models side by side and don’t want to see any unrealistic proportions between them (I’m kind of purist…). I will go in outline because there are too many details to list and must save my time for my current project (remaining pictures should speak by them self). Using a promo JoHan body, I open-up the hood and trunk with a panel scriber and the back of an Xacto blade. I reproduced all the shapes and reinforcements with various thickness of styrene strips based on pictures found on internet. I also thinned the hood on my milling to make it more realistic. It was roughly 0.080’’ thick without detail since it was molded shut on the promo body. I grafted the underhood section of a newer Revell ’69 Charger Pro Modeler body since it was a perfect match for this project. I also used the floor pan because the JoHan original one was not acceptable for this kind of build. I removed the molded in gas tank and reconstructed the trunk floor with Evergreen styrene sheets. I also tried to recreate all the trunk’s details and embossings of the real car using references found on internet. On the interior, I salvaged the dash of the Charger but I was forced to create all the door panels using styrene (the cup style of the GTX promo was useless and the Charger was too different). I also used thin aluminum sheets to create a drag car interior. I pushed the realism by recreating the instrument cluster gauges with a professional drawing software (Adobe Illustrator). I found pictures of the gauges on internet and used them as template on my computer to exactly recreate them and print in high resolution (2400 DPI) on negative film (pretty crazy…). I also machined all bezels around the gauges, all dash knobs and a radio delete plate (a lot of hours spent in the interior). I machined all the engine components including the block mostly with 6061-T6 aluminum and some brass parts including the oil pan. The Dominator carb itself took me probably 80 hours to build and counts more than 50 parts including the bolts from RB Motion and Scale Hardware. The transmission is a Liberty 4 speed from Futurattraction and I machined a mounting plate for the shifter. I also machined the rear end housing, the Dana 60 cover and a full functional drive shaft including the yokes. I machined my own set of American Racing slot mag wheels with aluminum and they are mounted on wheel hubs with threaded studs and nuts from Scale Hardware. I made all direction components and rods with brass tubes, aluminum rods and RB Motion rod ends. I made the radiator including upper and lower tanks (machined) and photo etch mesh grille (we can see through). Plumbing and wiring as well plus a mirror finish EK2 Go Mango paint job with black accents. Hand made front grille support and machined headlight bezels along with front flashers and rear backup lights bezels. All glasses are made with 0.010’’ clear Evergreen styrene and embedded to the body shell for a more in scale look. Bare Metal done on all body trims including the GTX logo on the side rear fenders. The list can go on and on for hours so take the time to check every pics and judge by yourself… I surprise myself by finding details that I forgot when I look at it after some time on the shelf! I spent around 2000 hours (I’m slower than a turtle…) on a 5 years span working on and off from early 2013 to May 2018 on this build. Unfortunately, I lost most of the construction pictures after a computer crash during an OS update but you should have a good idea with the remaining pics posted. I just taken new pics of the completed model but I really think that they can’t do justice like seen in person. I will be more precautious in the future with frequent backup on USB key as I currently do for the ’64 D100 Pickup I’m building. Dana rear housing in progress Gas tank in milling vise Gas tank final Valve covers unpolished Engine block in progress Engine block front view details Intake in progress Water pump in progress Oil pan installed Spinles and brake calipers Engine exploded view Engine final. The blurry part near the headers is the clutch linkage Engine front details Alternator and brackets closer view. Resin Liberty transmission, aluminum support and aluminum Bellhousing I hand drilled all the holes (around 1000) in the honeycomb pattern promo grille using a 0.018’’ drill bit (I know I’m crazy…). Fuel pump, brass straps for gas tank and hand made housing stoppers Cool can, electric gaz pump, Optima battery and kill switch (you can see some of the trunk floor details) Dash bezels and knobs Cluster gauges installed (I put a flashlight behind to show all the gauges details) Interior in progress Interior with dash and panels in place (hand made Tuff steering wheel) Interior back panel details (all aluminum) Front bumper details including brackets Final view Final view showing mag wheels and wheelie bar Under view front Under view back Front grill details Engine bay final Trunk view final Front bumper closer view GO AWAY..Holy BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH that is a remarkable piece of work..Its almost the real deal..Pit methanol in it and go..FANTASTIC workmanship... 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Mattilacken Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 Holy CR**P! Thats some nice details! Awesome machining work there! What an inspiration! And if you would have taken the pictures with an other background it would have been mistaken for the real deal! Even brackets for bumper with screws... insane! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragonhawk1066 Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 (edited) This is without a doubt the most incredibly realistic replica that I have seen. The details and machine work on something of this scale is truly amazing. You win model building!!! P.S. This should also be in Under Glass, as I don't know how many folks don't look under this category. I myself only look here every great once in a while. This deserves to be seen by as many eyes as possible. Edited January 15, 2020 by Dragonhawk1066 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2zwudz Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 What kind of a milking machine do you have??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geno Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 Wow, if I hadn't seen the pics I'd think I was looking at a real 1:1 GTX. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2zwudz Posted January 19, 2020 Share Posted January 19, 2020 Holy smokes!!!! That is excellent!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bills72sj Posted January 19, 2020 Share Posted January 19, 2020 On 1/14/2020 at 4:23 PM, Dragonhawk1066 said: This is without a doubt the most incredibly realistic replica that I have seen. The details and machine work on something of this scale is truly amazing. You win model building!!! I agree. This is the most amazing 1:25th scale I have EVER seen. The carb and the transmission blow me away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LL3 Model Worx Posted January 19, 2020 Share Posted January 19, 2020 Dear God! Well... that takes the cake! Hands down the craziest and most masterful 1/24 model car I've ever seen! This brings me both immense satisfaction and sadness knowing I'll never put something like that on my shelf...ever! Kudos to you Francis! This is truly amazing work, so glad you shared! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LL3 Model Worx Posted January 19, 2020 Share Posted January 19, 2020 On 1/15/2020 at 5:22 PM, 2zwudz said: What kind of a milking machine do you have??? I'm thinking it was one of these... I had to lol!! But seriously the man is what did it, not the machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanMuscleFan Posted January 20, 2020 Author Share Posted January 20, 2020 Hello All, It's strange, I was sure I replied to your comments last week but I no longer see my post, I'm used to doing it regularly out of respect for all of those who take the time to comment on my work but maybe I'm getting old... Philippe, Scott, Luke, Wayne, Anton, Gene, Mark, Bill: Thanks for your kinds words, they keep me plenty motivated to continue! Craig: Thanks too for your comments and suggestion about moving the thread to "Under Glass". I strated a new topic there with the same name hoping that all visitors will check the pictures in the original thread. Leroy: Just as a precision, it's 1/25 scale (JoHan body shell) and you're not false with the funny picture (milking machine) since I think Sherline is the cream of tooling for hobbyists. I hope I haven't forgotten anyone! Cheers, Francis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scalper Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 Wow I am speechless . great amazing work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belugawrx Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 Beautiful Build Francis !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanMuscleFan Posted January 22, 2020 Author Share Posted January 22, 2020 Hello Andre and Bruce! Many thanks for your kind comments and visiting my thread. Cheers, Francis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangebird22 Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 (edited) HOLY CR*P!!! That is on another level altogether. Does that engine actually RUN? ? Edited January 22, 2020 by strangebird22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanMuscleFan Posted January 23, 2020 Author Share Posted January 23, 2020 Hello Terry, Thanks for the complements, however, I have not yet attained the skill level required to operate the engine lol Cheers, Francis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ctmodeler Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 On 1/11/2020 at 3:37 PM, Oldschool4x4 said: H E L L I quit.......................................... Me too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanMuscleFan Posted January 28, 2020 Author Share Posted January 28, 2020 Hi Kenneth, please don't quit, it supposed to motivate you and not the opposite...lol Cheers, Francis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cardz Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 And I thought i put a lot of time detailing my favorite cars. Wow, this is just beyond anything I've ever seen. Amazing workmanship. Everything looks just perfect and authentic. So very impressed!! Amazing work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYLIBUD Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 Great work.Love the engine and interior. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2zwudz Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 (edited) Francis what did you use for your alternator belt and what tooling did you use to put the radius on the edges of the fuel cell? thanks Edited January 29, 2020 by 2zwudz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 This is outstanding. Much more work than I'd ever contemplate for a model car of my own, but still very, very cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanMuscleFan Posted January 29, 2020 Author Share Posted January 29, 2020 Hello All, Pat: Thanks for the compliments, I always try to make parts the most realistic I can so at the end it must look like the real thing to reach my goal! Ron: Thanks for the compliment however I must admit that interiors are the areas that I hate the most to build... but I'm really happy of the results! Mark: I did use a 0.093" corner rounding end mill and finished the hard way with a small file, sand paper and a lot of elbow grease! Kevin: Thanks for visiting my thread and your good words! Unfortunately i'ts not the famous Roadrunner but it's little brother... LOL Cheers, Francis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 4 hours ago, AmericanMuscleFan said: Kevin: Thanks for visiting my thread and your good words! Unfortunately i'ts not the famous Roadrunner but it's little brother... LOL Cheers, Francis They're all good with me; Roadrunner, GTX, Cuda, Challenger, Duster, Swinger, Charger. In fact, Mopar didn't make anything that I didn't like back then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanMuscleFan Posted January 29, 2020 Author Share Posted January 29, 2020 Hello again Kevin, I'm with you about Mopar, they are all good to me, even these old truck (D100) are in my tastes...LOL Mark: Sorry I oversight your first question for the alternator belt... it's a wristwatch's back cover gasket. Hope it help, Francis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gasser59 Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 1 hour ago, AmericanMuscleFan said: Sorry I oversight your first question for the alternator belt... it's a wristwatch's back cover gasket. That's brilliant!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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