Jump to content
Model Cars Magazine Forum

AMT 1963 Impala - Advanced Custom Version


Impalow

Recommended Posts

41 minutes ago, espo said:

Great looking seats and I like the seating arrangement. I don't know how you would represent this, but maybe a "Heads Up" instrumentation like a Fighter Jet or and old Pontiac Grand Prix or something like that.  

Ya know what... that's a fantastic idea...  from some quick research it looks like they were using heads up displays in military and commercial jets in the 1970s..   hmmmm... military surplus HUD... now to try and figure what that looks like..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have not checked in on this thread in some time, and with this social distance quarantining, I am finally getting some time to catch up online.

Not only has this taken a very different turn that I expected, but the work you are doing and engineering is excellent.

Just a thought, when it comes time for your clear record, you may be able to use your silhouette to lightly cut the grooves in the record..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Impalow said:

Ya know what... that's a fantastic idea...  from some quick research it looks like they were using heads up displays in military and commercial jets in the 1970s..   hmmmm... military surplus HUD... now to try and figure what that looks like..

What made me think of it was a late '90's Grand Prix GTP that we had. The speedo was all that the dash thru up on the windshield. I know Detroit and GM specifically has offered this feature on other cars since then. I always thought it was a great feature since you never had to take your eyes off the road to read your instruments. I have only seen pictures of this technology in fighter aircraft and this could be a good way to solve your instrument issue and it would be in keeping with this build. Some others have forwarded you some places to look to help accomplish this.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You guys are fantastic!   I actually combined a couple of the ideas here...  since the vehicle needs to stay 70s period correct, i made the “projector” for the HUD into a tube style tv, in a housing with some traditional gauges on the front all mounted on a swing arm... the cutter made the HUD pattern perfect on some .020 styrene, I cant wait to try it on some clear...  all scratchbuilt, still needs some clean up... but I like it!!!

thank you all for the help getting over that little hurdle!!   
 

3E5B759D-6F2C-4A96-8585-DDD72BB90B51.jpeg

249B7C08-B364-43F2-8DB4-D27837D1DFC3.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, Impalow said:

You guys are fantastic!   I actually combined a couple of the ideas here...  since the vehicle needs to stay 70s period correct, i made the “projector” for the HUD into a tube style tv, in a housing with some traditional gauges on the front all mounted on a swing arm... the cutter made the HUD pattern perfect on some .020 styrene, I cant wait to try it on some clear...  all scratchbuilt, still needs some clean up... but I like it!!!

thank you all for the help getting over that little hurdle!!   
 

3E5B759D-6F2C-4A96-8585-DDD72BB90B51.jpeg

249B7C08-B364-43F2-8DB4-D27837D1DFC3.jpeg

WoW!

That is litterally importing fighter plane technology in a car! Just as was the obsession of the big three back then.

The spirit of Harley Earl lives on!

CT

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow, I somehow just came upon this build.  What you are doing is excellent scratchbuilding work.  I am going to steal some of your ideas.  I have an extra Falcon Ranchero body I have cut and slipped forward, added some extra kit custom pieces to; body has not been extended.  Right now it is in the "to get to pile", this build may inspire me to move it forward.

MegaHP7800x397.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks guys!! That Falcon is awesome!  Im really enjoying all the non traditional stuff I get to do on this one... its crazy fun!!

I did a better mockup and added the control levers... they are made from some edgeglow acrylic rod,  commonly used in gun sites.   Just some trim to add in here and its on to the ramps. 
 

50C76745-EFA0-4702-B7BA-7B36A47CA240.jpeg

9DA37AD0-CD20-4704-91F6-DA0BE7195BD8.jpeg

1EB9E533-2366-433E-9A8E-E1F8471012A7.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Thanks guys!   I kinda fell off on the updates with this between all of the strangeness from the COVID19 quarantine, 1:1 cars and currently being in the process of selling my house and moving (picked a great time to do that after 13 years? huh?)

Anyway I have been making slow progress in my spare time.. and its really taken yet another spiral into craziness here are some photo updates from the last couple months.

I did some detail work on the engines, I used HO scale train dynamic cooling fans to add some detail to the fans... these are the 48" ones from Cannon & Company and really are spectacular. Then I turned pulleys on the lathe for the belt system, ill make the belt out of some electrical tape.

IMG_E2753.thumb.JPG.bafecdee9a5d5f2d2b24dfc065ab661e.JPGIMG_E2785.JPG.e7d89c23d5c479c964c1dc0c3a106e4e.JPGIMG_E2786.JPG.e450fdda6c4b681065b12937b9cde2f8.JPG

Then I needed to finish up the ramps and filling the open areas of the rear body as well as scratch-building a new rear bumper.

IMG_E2825.thumb.JPG.1dd95d99d1d6831b67ce524cc80b55d7.JPG

Then I lost it and decided to put a lithium battery compartment into the tool box and add working LED lighting elements.IMG_E2827.thumb.JPG.ab9e1f40f3c396fe0894b84373deee02.JPG

IMG_E2828.thumb.JPG.cd8658ab024528863dbd888592115a35.JPG

I found evans designs website and ordered up several LEDS, connectors and battery holders.... Ive decided to use 3 color fade 3mm LEDs to have a colorbar style headlight, some cool white random flickering leds behind the TV's and finally some tiny little red leds on the swing up taillight/gate.  Here are some Mockup Videos!

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I took a small lathe pass on the inside of the tires to open them up to more of 15" than a 14".... then added some 1/24 scale wheel lips to the Scenes Unlimited Wheels..Subtle change but this helps give it more of the 70's showrod look.

IMG_2795.thumb.JPG.99935b4fdfd12809578bb5fb5a20966d.JPGIMG_2791.thumb.JPG.ab8bf1cc6412c51f41cec561fb22c77c.JPGIMG_2793.thumb.JPG.531fc9895b30351efaa5644e28367158.JPG

IMG_2792.thumb.JPG.d9b31f44cefdea63e5134fa2b7f45977.JPG

Finally I got the chassis in the 2-stage Splash Paints Mazda Soul Red Basecoat.... it looks a lot like a vintage candy apple red but sprays a bit easier... however just a bit easier, there were a lot of nooks and crannies in this chassis and the candy top coat was a challenge... its not perfect but it is just a chassis. ? 

IMG_E2853.thumb.JPG.d69b144b3e2bc800c1f3c02b58376b9a.JPG

Edited by Impalow
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 3/30/2020 at 8:15 AM, Impalow said:

Thanks 

I did a better mockup and added the control levers... they are made from some edgeglow acrylic rod,  commonly used in gun sites.  

 

1EB9E533-2366-433E-9A8E-E1F8471012A7.jpeg

They remind me of lite brite pegs. ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's an incredible and well crafted project Eric!  Your attention to details is out of the ordinary I would say.  I was dealing with the idea for quite a few time making the instrument panel illuminated using a LED with a small button cell hidden somewhere on one of my build and your fabrication of that feature is simply flawless.  A piece of art in the making sir!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...