RancheroSteve

I built one a few years back (sorry, no photos at the moment). Yes, it's fairly terrible, but the only 1/24 scale 905 available. Too bad Tamiya didn't do this car! I've got another one in the box - I suspect if I ever get around to building it, I'll do it curbside and glue the body together as it's nearly impossible to get the panels to fit right.

Wow, that's too bad - it was a really great resource. Fotki announced a little while back that they were going to be closing "free" accounts.

This is going to be very cool! I saw Milt win the Trans Am race at Lime Rock in '73 in a Porsche Carrera.

Yep, but it doesn't look easy! Witness Mike Alexander going through the contortions back in '67: By my guesstimate, Mike was about 5'6", and it looks pretty cramped.

Nice build, Steven! Yes, I'm liking the idea of doing something like that with the roof section.

The wheels are from the AMT "Black Force", a custom '38 Ford - part of a series of snap kits released some years back. http://www.modelroundup.com/v/vspfiles/photos/AMT-30009-2.jpg And thanks, espo - I appreciate the thoughtful opinions.

I don't know if you read the comments (click on the photo), but one of them says, "Al Davis Jr owned the Deora, . . . it was snoozing in his Moorestown garage." [Not too far from you if I'm not mistaken, Tom?] So that kind of implies to me that the Deora wasn't so much "lost" as just out of sight for a while. A little history from when it was auctioned in 2009: "After the first year's lease was up, Chrysler arranged to lease the Deora for a second year. They requested a new look for 1968, so it was repainted in Lime Green Pearl. After the second year, Chrysler did not renew its lease. The Deora was sold to Al Davis, a noted custom car enthusiast. Davis passed away in 1970. His son, Al Jr., stored the car for a while, then took it on the show circuit in 1982 and won a Championship. In 1998, the Deora was taken out of storage and re-restored to resemble its 1967 appearance. The Alexanders hadn't kept the paint formula, so it's believed the present color is a little "greener" than the original gold. The born-again Deora wowed 'em once again in 2002 at the 50th Anniversary of the Detroit Autorama, when it starred in a display of famous Alexander Brothers customs. Many people couldn't believe this car had been built over 40 years ago. It's still that good." The rest of the detailed article is worth reading and seems pretty accurate: http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/05/unique-1965-dodge-deora-concept-going-up-for-auction/

Like I said, I've never seen any indication that there was more than one "original style" Deora. I know the car went through several owners and was painted a dark purple/blue with a tan interior at one time - yes, as bad as it sounds! The main difference in the restored car is in the interior - a different upholstery pattern and the absence of the center console, which came from some early 60s Ford product, if memory serves. Mike A told me it was lost, and I guess they chose not to replace it. Here's a cool photo I found on Flickr - posted by a guy who says he did bodywork on it. He's in New Jersey. Note also that the hubcaps are off in this photo and the wheels resemble the original kit chrome reverse units.

As far as I know there's only one original Deora. But the nameplate thing is strange - I asked Mike Alexander and he didn't know. Looking at vintage photos of the car when it first appeared in magazines, the nameplates just say "Deora" without the "II". Below, a crop from Rod & Custom September '67: My guess is that it was a restoration thing - maybe they had to make new nameplates and decided to add the "II"?

Good to know - I was wondering myself. I think I have some of that stuff around - just never thought of using for this purpose. Glad to see you doing this one, John - I'm sure it's going to be fantastic!

Here's a link to some shots I took of the restored Deora a few year ago: http://public.fotki.com/Roullier/cars_cars_cars/deora/ There are a few differences between the restored car and the original - mostly in the interior.

Good to see this one back with the original artwork and parts! The kit is inaccurate in all kinds of ways, but still very cool. I tried to build a more faithful version a few years ago - created the peak on the nose, changed the grille and headlights, created decals, put a lot of work into the interior and made a bed cover. When I met Mike Alexander at The Petersen, he told me he thought the color on the Hot Wheels version was the closest he'd seen, so I tried to match that.

I'm not usually much of a fan of ultra-modern rolling stock on older cars myself, but with the futuristic styling of the Phoenix, it kinda feels right. Thanks for all the input - I'm now wondering about a primer or black suede finish on the body, painted insert (white or red?) and roof (white or red?). I'll be foiling the trim of course. I just placed my order with Modelhaus for new tailights, so I'll probably wait for those to arrive before I finalize the body work, just to make sure everything fits right before painting. The interior isn't going to be too much - it's a basic and very shallow tub (plus dashboard and steering wheel), but I can get going on that. I've got an idea or two . . .

Thanks for the input, guys. The scripts were there, but I've already removed them. I had to order a few parts (glass and steering wheel) from Modelhaus when I first got the kit, now looking at the tailights I can see that they won't do - time to place another order.

Starting a new one. Resin of unknown origin - a copy of the JoHan kit - bought on EBay a few years back. A very clean, thin casting - maybe almost too thin, because after sitting in the box for a couple of years, it was all warped when I pulled it out recently. After some hot water and some bending, I got it back into shape. Trying out this wheel/tire combo (from the Black Force) - what do you think? I'm thinking of painting the body red to match the wheels - maybe with a pearl white roof.

A McLaren 12C pulling out of a parking lot while I was waiting for the light:

A friend of mine recently picked up this well-used Trail 110.

True, Bill. I thought I was pretty close on the body contours when I put this down, but when I got back to it I noticed that the corners were way too rounded. Closer now, I think. I'm looking at this as a long-term project - more ambitious than most of what I've done before - but something that will be cool and unusual when it's done.

Finally getting back to it - I haven't given up! Lots of building up with plastic, brass and putty; some tearing down, and lots of sanding. Getting pretty close on the body shape I think. I'll start trying to fit a chassis together soon.

I'm sure you'll do something great with it, John! I think I had this one! Was there only one version of the HD drag bike?

I guess I can take it as a measure of improvement in my skills that people are now discussing scale paint appearance in regards to my models. Ironically, one of the other things I have on the bench is the XR-6 show rod - with its noticeably large flake, which I want to replicate. Sometimes it depends on the subject, maybe?

Thanks Harry, but just to respond: there is an inside rear view mirror (hard to see in the photos, maybe) and I think part of the out-of-scale flake effect might be due to the Tamiya pearl clear on top of the DupliColor paint, but so noted.

Gorgeous period color photos: http://mashable.com/2015/10/04/drag-race/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-retronaut-link#KE0qprHwskqB

Thanks to everyone for the compliments. Like most of my builds, there are a few things I wish had turned out slightly better (that's what keeps us going, right?), but overall I'm pretty pleased with this one. And I got it done in near record time (for me anyway). DrKerry, thanks for providing the inspirational basis for a very enjoyable build!

Finished! See "Under Glass" topic: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/106437-1962-pontiac-el-ponchomino/