Gramps46 Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 (edited) * I goofed on the date, it was April 1966. This project is to convert an 1/25 MPC Ford J Car with a clear body to the car as it appeared at Le Mans in April 1966 for the trials. The major changes to the MPC kit besides paint was to convert the rear panel to a new configuration. It was here that I noticed the different taillight and other changes to the rear panel. From the parts box came some new wide taillights to be mounted on a raised area. I use Bondo Surface Putty after trying Tamiya and Miliput putty and finding the Bondo works best for me. Then added a border abound the taillights and transmission and exhaust pipe opening. I also decided to tone down the mag wheels by spraying them with aluminum and applying Tamiya Smoke (thanks Rich) to the center fins. I also decided to leave the chassis the way it is since to repaint everything would mean disassembling all the pieces. The original builder used the box art for the chassis. Edited March 14, 2023 by Gramps46 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobraman Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 Nice work on correcting the rear panel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Van Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 Cool project!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1959scudetto Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 2 hours ago, cobraman said: Nice work on correcting the rear panel. x 2: this version looks much better than the kit's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absmiami Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 well done - you're rare $250.00 rare MPC kit is now worth - what ??? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 Always interesting to see different renditions of the (in)famous J-car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vamach1 Posted March 14, 2023 Share Posted March 14, 2023 (edited) Great start on a kit that you rarely see built due to how scarce they are. Edited March 14, 2023 by vamach1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre Rivard Posted March 14, 2023 Share Posted March 14, 2023 Wonderful project Gary. Folowing this one with great interest. The J car and GT40 mkIV are holy grail race cars for me. Short of having yet these to build it is a delight to see you show the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len Woodruff Posted March 14, 2023 Share Posted March 14, 2023 Its amazing they were able to change he bodies on the J car into the Mark IV so fast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gramps46 Posted March 14, 2023 Author Share Posted March 14, 2023 6 minutes ago, Len Woodruff said: Its amazing they were able to change he bodies on the J car into the Mark IV so fast Len My mistake on the date which I have now changed. Kar Kraft who built the J Car in 1966 and the MK IVs in 1967 had a year to make the change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len Woodruff Posted March 14, 2023 Share Posted March 14, 2023 2 hours ago, Gramps46 said: Len My mistake on the date which I have now changed. Kar Kraft who built the J Car in 1966 and the MK IVs in 1967 had a year to make the change. My bad too on the dates. That was a year before the debute of the Mark IV, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vamach1 Posted March 14, 2023 Share Posted March 14, 2023 20 hours ago, absmiami said: well done - you're rare $250.00 rare MPC kit is now worth - what ??? https://www.ebay.com/itm/255993358407?hash=item3b9a64a847:g:gi0AAOSwMvtj~Eqr&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAwF%2Bcm74vJIzOLEuuTHzNzUAlunMAd6XDuGXiWPS8R2zQjSJt5axTg2s5N0TGO86hYeyYXcfA7iccRc0%2BybR9IQgBsOtK6u9rVJ3D5xP3nt6p7yLkSalfSHas2lqXjdGPNzcWlZnkCXqE1wQbadK0g%2FDgr7%2FR7yJ%2Bc4l6KFv9qmOC5y1rCPfVo6vwtT5qqVdZXKfNwe%2FGNKacLj2cLtINctvkysE2Tz2us4sWljG1wRW7vlsKLPZ%2BDtlAVG%2FHumsLOQ%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR5yaz5DcYQ If anyone every wanted one at a pretty reasonable price here is your chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gramps46 Posted March 14, 2023 Author Share Posted March 14, 2023 8 minutes ago, vamach1 said: https://www.ebay.com/itm/255993358407?hash=item3b9a64a847:g:gi0AAOSwMvtj~Eqr&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAwF%2Bcm74vJIzOLEuuTHzNzUAlunMAd6XDuGXiWPS8R2zQjSJt5axTg2s5N0TGO86hYeyYXcfA7iccRc0%2BybR9IQgBsOtK6u9rVJ3D5xP3nt6p7yLkSalfSHas2lqXjdGPNzcWlZnkCXqE1wQbadK0g%2FDgr7%2FR7yJ%2Bc4l6KFv9qmOC5y1rCPfVo6vwtT5qqVdZXKfNwe%2FGNKacLj2cLtINctvkysE2Tz2us4sWljG1wRW7vlsKLPZ%2BDtlAVG%2FHumsLOQ%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR5yaz5DcYQ If anyone every wanted one at a pretty reasonable price here is your chance. Hah! Saw that one last night and was tempted but don't really need another one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted March 14, 2023 Share Posted March 14, 2023 (edited) 29 minutes ago, vamach1 said: ...If anyone every wanted one at a pretty reasonable price here is your chance. 19 minutes ago, Gramps46 said: Hah! Saw that one last night and was tempted but don't really need another one. You just gotta love that "looks to be complete" in the listing. There's no wheels, no exhaust system, apparently no chrome tree whatsoever (which includes much of the suspension, the gearbox, radiator, etc.). What a deal. Edited March 14, 2023 by Ace-Garageguy CLARITY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vamach1 Posted March 14, 2023 Share Posted March 14, 2023 10 minutes ago, Gramps46 said: Hah! Saw that one last night and was tempted but don't really need another one. I would have bought it if I had not built one already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vamach1 Posted March 14, 2023 Share Posted March 14, 2023 (edited) 21 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said: You just gotta love that "looks to be complete" in the listing. There's no wheels, no exhaust system, apparently no chrome tree whatsoever. What a deal. Good points and as always buyer beware on Ebay. It would take someone that had a spare MPC MKIV kit to complete it since those kits share a lot of common parts including the complete suspension. Even the Hard Castle & McCormick Coyote would probably suffice as a donor kit but I would have to dig mine out to be sure. The clear body of the J-car kit is the one thing that has never been copied or reissued so seeing just that for sale is unusual. If someone is serious about buying this one on Ebay I probably have all the “missing” parts they would need for trade. I have no connection with the Ebay seller. Edited March 14, 2023 by vamach1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vamach1 Posted March 14, 2023 Share Posted March 14, 2023 For reference MKIV and J-car kits. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vamach1 Posted March 14, 2023 Share Posted March 14, 2023 This one sold for $113 which isn’t bad assuming it was all there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted March 14, 2023 Share Posted March 14, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, vamach1 said: ...The clear body of the J-car kit is the one thing that has never been copied or reissued so seeing just that for sale is unusual... Yeah, I considered buying it for the body to restore a built-up, but as I have a complete virgin kit, I'll save the money and just paint the resto all over. EDIT: Ummm...oops. Kinda looks like we're hijacking Gramps's guild thread. Sorry. Edited March 14, 2023 by Ace-Garageguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Chernosky Posted March 14, 2023 Share Posted March 14, 2023 Gary....thanks for putting this up as a WIP. I will be following closely as I have one of these in my stash (untouched) Never thought the price would go so high but as per usual, I don't care since I had always planned to build it anyway. This WIP may be just the incentive so thanks again Gary for the post and the plug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gramps46 Posted March 14, 2023 Author Share Posted March 14, 2023 I am enjoying the inputs. Keep them coming 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre Rivard Posted March 14, 2023 Share Posted March 14, 2023 This is fun stuff guys...and somewhere in the middle of all these exchanges Gary is gonna build a car! 🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1959scudetto Posted March 14, 2023 Share Posted March 14, 2023 Always an inspiration - keep on building, Gary ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vamach1 Posted March 14, 2023 Share Posted March 14, 2023 1 hour ago, Pierre Rivard said: This is fun stuff guys...and somewhere in the middle of all these exchanges Gary is gonna build a car! 🤣 Oh yes Gary will build a car and it will be awesome. In the mean time he will get a laugh (I hope) from the back and forth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gramps46 Posted March 15, 2023 Author Share Posted March 15, 2023 (edited) I was able to get the tail into white primer and ready for the final coat of white. Wait, I was going to open the vents first above the taillights. Now on to the spoiler and buff out the glue marks in the side windows which are glued in very solidly. Edited March 15, 2023 by Gramps46 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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