RancheroSteve Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 (edited) Yes, a rather odd vehicle, but it has a certain period charm for me. Â I'm starting with this dusty specimen: Â Â Â I've got it dis-assembled and cleaned up - starting to figure out how it all needs to go back together (with a bit of added accuracy). I'll post some "in progress" shots tomorrow. Edited January 19, 2017 by RancheroSteve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Pretty cool resto project, and an important car in the history of hot-rodding. Here's a link to a short article about the real car, for those who don't recognize it. http://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/2012/08/30/another-look-at-tex-smiths-hot-rod-xr6/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kucaba Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 YUP! Got a couple complete kits of that and a whole slew of parts. Now how can I replicate that In 1/16th? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantacmet Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Styling wise I love the front end not so crazy about the back end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Cool project.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PappyD340 Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 NICE!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooOld Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Sure don't see one of those every day ! The styling was cutting edge in it's day . I'm looking forward to your restoration ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Very cool Steve! And after your Deora, I know you will build this one to original perfection! And it's great to see the 1:1 survives today! And a bit of trivia. Back in the early 1960s Chrysler shipped a 1:1 slant six engine to Revell to use as reference in creating their large scale slant six engine. Once they were finished with it, it just was sitting in a corner of Jim Keeler's office. Tex Smith visited Revell and mentioned that he was working on this XR6 (then unnamed) rod and didn't know what type of engine to put in it. Jim pointed over to the slant 6 and said he should put it in his rod. Done! So the engine in Tex Smith's XR6 is the actual engine that Revell used to engineer the big Slant 6 kit. And irony that the car was later kitted by their competition AMT! And it's been said that XR6 stands for EX-Revell 6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davewilly Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 I am not sure I have ever seen a kit in person. only pictures..Its a kit I would like to have (or a built up to redo like you are doing) So I will be watching to see how yours turns out. I think its a pretty neat car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Most Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 I am so jealous... I'll be watching this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RancheroSteve Posted November 21, 2013 Author Share Posted November 21, 2013 Thanks for the interest, guys. I don't think I'll be going quite as crazy on this one as I did with the Deora (that project took WAAY too long). It helps that it's generally a more accurate kit to begin with, although there are a few things that need fixing (more on that later). After getting the thing apart (and breaking a few parts), here's an overview of where I am so far: The frame and engine cleaned up. I made new mounts for the rear coil-overs, repaired one engine mount and the transmission tailshaft, made a radiator mount and made new axle tubes. Most of this was necessitated by the brittle plastic and excess glue, but it was also a chance to add a bit more detail. The kit tail section of the body is split in a non-prototypical way and leaves an ugly seam. Guessing here about how the real car goes together, I've separated the belly pan at the rear axle and joined it to the tail, allowing me to glue the tail section together and putty the seam. The interior tub is far too shallow and looks toy-like. I realized there's a lot of unused room between the floor and the frame rails, so I cut the floor out and I'm extending the depth of the interior. I'll make a new floor and extend the sides and console down to meet it. Some more random parts. Some of these will need upgrading or replacing. Finally, a shout-out to Bob Kremer, who sent me this bag of parts a few years ago - exactly what was missing from the glue bomb, and without which this project wouldn't be happening. More to come - thanks for watching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kucaba Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 If you run into a snag in this build, send me a message! I like what your doing and would like to see it done. Will you paint like the 1:1? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RancheroSteve Posted November 22, 2013 Author Share Posted November 22, 2013 Roger: I'm not sure how it escaped my notice, but I didn't know about this car either until I saw it at the Petersen Museum a few years back, then of course I found out about the model and had to track one down. Mike: thanks for the encouragement. I'm going to try to correct some of the inaccuracies in the nose, and add a few details here & there, but otherwise just try to do a decent "out of the box" build. I haven't quite figured out the paint yet, although I did pick up a can of Duplicolor Red Metalflake that looks fairly close; still need to test it though. Maybe over an orange undercoat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slantasaurus Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Very cool Steve! And after your Deora, I know you will build this one to original perfection! And it's great to see the 1:1 survives today! And a bit of trivia. Back in the early 1960s Chrysler shipped a 1:1 slant six engine to Revell to use as reference in creating their large scale slant six engine. Once they were finished with it, it just was sitting in a corner of Jim Keeler's office. Tex Smith visited Revell and mentioned that he was working on this XR6 (then unnamed) rod and didn't know what type of engine to put in it. Jim pointed over to the slant 6 and said he should put it in his rod. Done! So the engine in Tex Smith's XR6 is the actual engine that Revell used to engineer the big Slant 6 kit. And irony that the car was later kitted by their competition AMT! And it's been said that XR6 stands for EX-Revell 6. Tom, I have to take issue with your history of the XR6, here is a link to an article written by Tex recounting the history of the XR6. http://www.streetrodderweb.com/milestones/0302sr_xr6_hot_rod_project_car/http://www.streetrodderweb.com/milestones/0302sr_xr6_hot_rod_project_car/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustbucket82 Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 All I need is a set of rear wheels, then my mint unbuilt will be started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisBcritter Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Doesn't the AMT Custom Parts Pack reissue have a set of those wheels? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Tom, I have to take issue with your history of the XR6, here is a link to an article written by Tex recounting the history of the XR6. http://www.streetrodderweb.com/milestones/0302sr_xr6_hot_rod_project_car/http://www.streetrodderweb.com/milestones/0302sr_xr6_hot_rod_project_car/ Great pictorial article written by the guy who actually built the car. I remember following parts of the build in Hot Rod back when, and much of it was used as reference material in 'how-to' articles in other Petersen publications. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geemoney Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 were those wheels on the tognotti car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 were those wheels on the tognotti car? If you mean Tognitti's King T, it had similar centers, but they had wood spoke overlays to simulate the 'artillery' look, and are represented as such in the kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 (edited) Doesn't the AMT Custom Parts Pack reissue have a set of those wheels? The AMT parts pack wheels are the same diameter as the kit rear wheels, but are 4-bolt, while the kit rear wheels are 5. The parts-pack version also has some raised-edge rib detail on the spokes that's not present on the XR-6 kit wheels. EDIT: Sorry...didn't see that you had already posted comparison pix. Edited December 4, 2013 by Ace-Garageguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RancheroSteve Posted December 4, 2013 Author Share Posted December 4, 2013 I was planning to use the Parts Pack wheels on my build - the originals have a bad case of tire melt damage. I haven't decided yet if the bolt issue is worth fixing; it's probably not a detail most people would notice or care too much about. It looks like the knock-offs are slightly different, too. Hmm, looks like the front wheels that came off the glue bomb are four bolt - what gives? And another shot of the Parts Pack wheel: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RancheroSteve Posted December 4, 2013 Author Share Posted December 4, 2013 Oh, I see - fronts are four bolt, rears are five. Duh . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slantasaurus Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 The front suspension used a VW torsion bar set up, hence the 4 bolt pattern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbwelda Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 if you need wheels pm me as I may have an extra set. I started out like you, had bought two early bulds, one never painted and the other a decent but faded/dulled red color. then I found a used bunch of parts and then a complete kit, so I was ready to start on this as a winter project...its great to see this thread and the progress you are making. nice call on lowering the floor and cutting the belly pan, the belly pan at least I had already wondered what to do but that lowering the floor part is a great idea! I am always kinda torn about the fenders, they have that funky kool vintage look but I don't really like them, but I can appreciate for what they are...kinda like a Honda "Dream", squarish, flat. I would use them just to keep accurate I suppose, and I do really dig the assymetrical body and nice choice of powerplant. check out my thread on a build of tognottis king t for an indepth look at the kit wheels there http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=58494 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RancheroSteve Posted December 5, 2013 Author Share Posted December 5, 2013 (PM sent - thanks!) Great work on the King T and the Wild Dream! I'm trying to go as reasonably accurate and correct on this one as I can, but I also have another XR-6 (very cleanly started but incomplete) that came with the box. I figured one day I'll do it as a updated/custom XR-6, maybe with a modern six cylinder, wider tires and no fenders . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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