ChrisBcritter

It took some doing... It's not in the pictures, but I got a second good used windshield for the brown one. Ended up using the new modded resin wheelcovers because the originals are a bit undersized, plus two had sink marks in their centers (very common with these), and the Jo-Han ones have the little ribs around the center done right. Any suggestions for a source of a good Mopar 2-barrel carb for the stock one?

I'd always wanted to tackle a Revell '62 Chrysler Newport convertible, just because it's not often seen built up - probably since the Jo-Han kit was so much more crisply done. A couple years ago I got started with this second issue translucent metalflake purple example, which I got in a trade with the late Tom Piagari: Not too bad, but I wanted stock wheels and the engine was just a block, a crookedly-glued intake manifold, and the broken lower half of a supercharger drive belt. So I started looking for a parts car... ...and this turned up. Nearly complete including the engine (but custom finned valve covers) and stock wheels/wheelcovers. Probably sat in a stack of other cars; note the sagging torsion bars and windshield plus the tire marks on the front fenders. Figured there was enough here to make one good car. And then I spotted this... Near mint original body; the windshield frame was all there. The wheels started turning... I could now get two complete cars since the parts car was mostly good underneath the skin. So I decided to build the brown one as a stocker and the purple one as a mild custom, keeping the mags. Well, in for a penny... Of course, I still lacked one top boot and now one of the purple car's taillights had gone AWOL, so... I picked up this junker. It also had a good interior, so I could cut the front seat out and make it separate to make detailing the interior easier. So put 'em together blow 'em apart and whadda ya got: This one's engine has a Jo-han fan, belts, and generator, plus resin valve covers, exhaust manifolds, and Torqueflite (Revell put a three-speed stick behind the engine, and NO pedals at all, so whatever). Will probably use a single four-barrel and aftermarket air cleaner and switch to dual exhaust. The other also gets a Torqueflite and valve covers (shortened 1/16") from the MPC '65 Dodge which I used for casting masters, a Jo-Han air cleaner (the Revell one was wrong; it's for a 318 poly) and the new correct resin wheelcovers I made from modified Jo-Han covers. A bit hard to see, but I removed the front fender trim and re-aligned it so it doesn't curve upward. The chassis; I did a bunch of repairs on the brown one, and the purple one's torsion bars are upside down and interfere with the engine. I think I have a fix. I had to add about 1/16" of CA to the top corner of the left rear fender to get the taillight to fit, and fill the gaps at the front edges of both. Now they fit way better - will do the same with the other car. So that's where I am now - more to come. Thanks for looking!

So, so clean - keep giving us what to shoot for!

I have parts curing in the molds; got the last one done and the pot pressurized just as the resin was beginning to heat up and kick. I had to slice the trans mold in a couple places to get the master out, but I stuck a ring cut from a paper cup around the mold to get it tight. Fun discovery #2: If the torsion bars in that chassis had been installed per directions instead of upside down, it wouldn't have that problem, nitwit . (Original builder's fault, but geez...) I think I have a fix for it - bevel and countersink the stub axles, and cross my fingers.

Just sell it in a two-pack with the Visible Lung kit.

And kinda funky!

hours choosing fabrics

I think so, or adjacent to them - it was on a rack on the wall with various other similar boxes, near the T-shirts; this size fits inside the pressure pot I have.

Box art isn't quite right; it's not cab-forward (the doors don't cut into the wheel wells). It looks more like this:

or an Amphicar

Love, love, love seeing these, Paul! Thanks for sharing 'em.

Turned out well, Gareth - glad I could help!

Got some molds poured and in the pressure pot today for the Newport: Torqueflite , modified valve covers, and exhaust manifolds for the 361 V-8. Had enough rubber left to also mold a set of '61 Dodge wheelcovers (from the original '49 Ford kit), and one each '57 Plymouth promo and '59 Dodge Royal Lancer (from the AMT '62 Imperial), and a Revell Mercedes 190 SL tire half. That tray box I got today was well worth the money for moldmaking. Also scrounged a set of Jo-Han belts, fan, alternator and correct air cleaner, so with the stuff I'll be casting I'll have two nearly complete engines - just need carbs and distributors. Made another fun discovery: If the engine is installed per directions, it won't fit in the chassis because the ends of the front stub axles hit it. Honestly it's like I have to re-engineer EVERYTHING on these two Chryslers just to get them assembled... Paging Steven Guthmiller: You ever tackle one of these?

About a year or two ago they discounted all kits at 30% - IIRC it was around Christmas.

Me too - got the above '55 and the '65 Fairlane today on special at HL, plus I picked up this little tray box: The smaller compartments in the top tray are about 1 5/16" x 2 3/4" x 5/8" deep, perfect for pouring molds for small parts. The left compartment is about double that width; plenty of room for a set of wheelcovers. The bottom compartments are about 1 1/2" x 4" by 1 1/2 deep, enough for bumper/grille molds; only $3-something with the coupon.

Went to Deerfield and Niles this morning; nobody was Hoovering up kits like when they were on $7.49 clearance, and neither cashier had heard about the discount (both remarked they'd never seen kits on sale like that). I'm guessing there isn't quite the profit margin for resellers, maybe?

Only problem is that those wheelcovers are sized to replace the outer rims of the stock Model A wire wheels, which are much larger than a 1/25 15" wheel. AMT made covers like these that are the correct size as custom parts in some of their early '60s kits. I know the '60 Buick had them:

I think I've turned into the '62 Chrysler version of our friend Cobraman: So I spot this thing on eBay last night - original issue with correct interior, wide whitewalls, wire axles and chassis screws; minus the hood, opening bid $35 - and add it to my watch list to see how the bids go. This morning in my email I get one of those "private offers" for 42% off, in other words cheeeeep; and, well... The original builder got a bit sticky-fingered installing the left skirt : So anyway, I swear this is the last '62 Chrysler - Revell, Jo-Han, or even Atlantis (?) - I'm buying.

Great, thanks!

so, no Godzilla?

So, so clean! Nice to see it in a color that doesn't end in "...Firemist" for a change! How bad was the damage you had to fix?

Beautiful job, Paul! You must have been so tempted to make molds from it. Did you start with a built kit or unbuilt?

Looks good now that it's been de-Pinked! Tom, could you do me a favor and measure the width of the sun visors? I'm restoring a promo that had a broken windshield; I got the frame and glass from a reissue funny car but I have to scratchbuild the visors: Thanks and good luck with it!

So with the GM license settled, I guess we'll see the Vega and Camaro first?

Bravo, Nigel! As for me, I sawed off the other '62 Newport's intake manifold, trimmed the flash and refitted it properly to the block - then sawed the block and trans lengthwise through its original seam to realign the halves before I glue it together and cut off the 3-speed trans... well, I see I've put everybody sound asleep now, so off to bed for me too.