Lobo2me Posted January 7, 2023 Share Posted January 7, 2023 My apologies in advance for this long post… This was, by far, the most challenging and fun model I’ve ever created, and it was a real stretch for my “rattle can” modeling skills. I never had “weathered” a rust bucket or built that many Rat Rods. For inspiration, I cruise the internet looking at SEMA Battle of the Builders entries, Ridler award candidates, and car show showstoppers searching for a project to grow and stretch my imagination and improve my modeling skills. When a particular ride jumps out at me, I have to build it. A couple of months ago, I came across Chris Walker’s Hulk Camino. What a cool rat rod! The 800 HP reimagined ‘59 El Camino was one of the most menacing vehicles I’d ever seen. It would be a tough challenge, and I knew I’d have to take a deep dive into the parts bin. Body mods are extensive, and the hand-rubbed patina courtesy of Mother Nature is so ugly; it’s beautiful! And another nice thing about close-up photos is that the closer you get, the more pronounced the flaws, some intended, some not, but all appropriate for this model. The body was shortened and channeled, the hood widened, and the roof narrowed, then moved rearward about three scale feet. It looks like it could have just rolled out of Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s design studio. Of course, my version had to have a supercharged HEMI, whitewall fronts, pie crust slicks, and NOS. And why not make it a dually? And I had to name it El Kabong after Quick Draw McGraw’s crime-fighting alter-ego. And, no, I wasn’t influenced by that high school smoking apparatus. I get as much of a kick out of figuring out how to engineer and fabricate complicated replicas as I do from showing off the finished product. Photos of Hulk Camino and an AMT ’59 El Camino kit were great places to start. Donor Kits: · 1959 El Camino, AMT – body & glass · 1938 Custom Ford Van, Lindberg – chassis & front suspension · Tony Nancy Hall of Fame Dragster set, Revell – 426 HEMI engine & rear differential Major Mods: Exterior: · Roof chopped, narrowed & repositioned rearward · T-Tops (driver access) opened & hinged · Windshield & Rear window narrowed (split) · Body channeled & slammed · Hood widened, reshaped & extended & front fenders, tilt-hood · Wheel openings moved & reshaped Interior: · Bomber seats (resin) · Seatbelts (masking tape w/ PE buckles) · Floor, door, and undercarriage panels (styrene diamond plate) · Rollbar (scratch-built styrene rod) · Fire Extinguisher (scratch-built styrene rod) Engine: · Hemi (Tony Nancy – dragster) · Plug Wires & Plumbing · Blower pully & belt · Nos bottle · Side pipes Chassis: · 1938 Custom Ford Van Ford - Lindberg · Posable Steering (scratch-built) · Rear end & suspension narrowed (scratch-built) · Coil-Overs (scratch-built) · Dually Tires / Wheels · Front clip, rear box sections, and roll bar (scratch-built) · Driveshaft tunnel & brace (scratch-built) Finish: · Weathering - First attempt at creating a rust bucket. Devised a “hybrid” rust technique using Elmer’s glue and salt in the following order; 1. Prepped body and applied Mr. Surfacer 1000 primer (gray) 2. Created rust damage and holes with various Dremel tools and picks 3. Sprayed body (inside and out) with red oxide primer 4. Highlighted holes and rust damage using various shades of brown and rust colors 5. Applied Elmer’s glue and salt to major seams and around body panels, holes, spots, and damaged areas 6. Sprayed body sections Dark Green and Tamiya Coral Blue through vignettes and masks 7. Removed glue & salt with a toothbrush and x-fine sandpaper 8. Applied custom decals 9. Applied Dullcote to the entire body Paint: · Red-Oxide Primer (Ace Hardware) · Gray Primer (Mr. Surfacer 1000) · Dark Green (Tamiya TS-91) · Corral Blue (Tamiya TS-41) · Semi-gloss Bright Gun Metal (Tamiya TS-100) · Dark Gun Metal (Tamiya TS-42) · Bare Metal (Tamiya TS-12) · Dullcote (Testors #1250) · MetalicFinish Chrome (Rust-Oleum) · Metallic Silver (Testors) · Gloss Red (Testors) · Flat Black (Testors) · Gloss Black (Testors) · Flat Bronze (Testors) · Flat Rust (Testors) · Flat Lt. Brown (Testors) · Flat Zinc Chromate (Testors) · Flat Yellow (Testors) · Flat Black (Testors) · Molotow Chrome – pen · Bare Metal Foil · Ink Jet decals (mascot and dash) 5 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullybeef Posted January 7, 2023 Share Posted January 7, 2023 Now that is a cool hot rod! The details are endless. Well done sir well done. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kah puts Posted January 7, 2023 Share Posted January 7, 2023 Wait, what was that. Something just slapped me up side my head 🛎 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobraman Posted January 7, 2023 Share Posted January 7, 2023 Way cool custom , great job ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modelbuilder Mark Posted January 7, 2023 Share Posted January 7, 2023 Kewl project 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lobo2me Posted January 7, 2023 Author Share Posted January 7, 2023 1 hour ago, Bullybeef said: Now that is a cool hot rod! The details are endless. Well done sir well done. Thanks....it was a fun one. Now what...???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Street Rod Posted January 7, 2023 Share Posted January 7, 2023 Way cool! I really like the custom mods, and if this is your first attempt at weathering, I’d say you’re off to a good start! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatout Posted January 7, 2023 Share Posted January 7, 2023 Very creative and crazy cool!😎😎😎😎😎 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisR Posted January 7, 2023 Share Posted January 7, 2023 COOL!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Nunes Posted January 7, 2023 Share Posted January 7, 2023 What an imagination! Way up there on the Cool factor. The nitrous set up made me chuckle! 😳😀 Well done. 👍 Joe 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatz4u Posted January 7, 2023 Share Posted January 7, 2023 Steve, I thought some of my stuff was ratted out, yours' puts mine to shame...my 1/25th hat's off to you sir, very well done.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve H Posted January 7, 2023 Share Posted January 7, 2023 Excellent build Steve. I love these types of builds, no rules, just some rusty sheet metal and big horsepower. Very well executed !! Cheers, Steve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phildaupho Posted January 7, 2023 Share Posted January 7, 2023 Far out man !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lobo2me Posted January 7, 2023 Author Share Posted January 7, 2023 5 hours ago, Steve H said: Excellent build Steve. I love these types of builds, no rules, just some rusty sheet metal and big horsepower. Very well executed !! Cheers, Steve Roger that Steve....thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lobo2me Posted January 7, 2023 Author Share Posted January 7, 2023 6 hours ago, thatz4u said: Steve, I thought some of my stuff was ratted out, yours' puts mine to shame...my 1/25th hat's off to you sir, very well done.... Hi...this isn't a competition so don't sell yourself short. It was just a fun wild and wacky build. Now I'm really lost on what to do next. Have to sort back through the parts graveyard and see if anything pops out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slotto Posted January 8, 2023 Share Posted January 8, 2023 Wow that's cool! Tons of details Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bills72sj Posted January 8, 2023 Share Posted January 8, 2023 Very impressive. Good job expanding your skillset. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koellefornia Kid Posted January 8, 2023 Share Posted January 8, 2023 Awesome! Great custom work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beamerman Posted January 8, 2023 Share Posted January 8, 2023 Outstanding! Really wild! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted January 8, 2023 Share Posted January 8, 2023 Looks like you nailed the look of your subject. I have seen several 1:1 vehicles done in this style and yours has really captured that look as well as the finishes and all the small details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ybsluos Posted January 10, 2023 Share Posted January 10, 2023 Unreal Steve…This is sick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KWT Posted January 10, 2023 Share Posted January 10, 2023 Very interesting... I dig it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horrorshow Posted January 10, 2023 Share Posted January 10, 2023 Great build!!! Lots of imagination Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre Rivard Posted January 10, 2023 Share Posted January 10, 2023 A_M_A_Z_I_N_G !!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bainford Posted January 10, 2023 Share Posted January 10, 2023 Very cool creation. Lots of imagination on display, here. Very nicely done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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