swede70

Greetings, This was some material cast to help facilitate repair work and especially delicate paint work across my Javelin Trans-Am projects. In essence I could be called a masking coward given if I can break something up to do things mindlessly and cleanly - that's what I'll do! From top left, a '68-'69 standard shift boot (to be combined with the Hurst shift lever for RKE/JRT entries), plus a '70 Penske hand laid fiberglass fresh air/intake housing. The second row depicts an AMC Model 20 rear end (just half given I have a small supply of third members shared with the Dana 60 SC/Rambler tool), a '70-'72 passenger's footwell sited battery box less mounting structure, and a reasonably clean transmission crossmember given these are often glue burned on rebuilders. The bottom row is made up of a broken up standard ram air system intended to better facilitate paint work for having a separate base (two are seen upside down and scrubbed of the topside detail), plus a separate seal, air filter element and air filter lid (something that might be chromed). Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings... On the topic front stated I do the same thing, hence some parallels there, while I scratch build cages for like-themed models in 1:25th and 1:18th. Happy to help (as in instruction and guidance), while some contributions to other threads would likely tap what I and others have related before without overdoing things. There is no definitive approach, but rather just whatever assemblage of insights and techniques that deliver results in total. Seen below would be a '69 Jo-Han Javelin RKE/JRT effort with a scratch built cage fashioned from plastic tube with a brass wire core, plus a pair of images from a 1:18th GMP '67 Penske Trans-Am Camaro project that needed help. No holes were drilled into the interior base, with nothing strictly tugged, pulled or squashed. PM me only if you'd wish to. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70 (a reference then to the late Swede Savage)

Thanks everyone for the input and enthusiasm both... I was shopping for Smooth-On tire resin options earlier today as this was posted, while as an alternate approach I'd never used Tamiya's TS-82 Rubber Black aerosol to contemplate the qualities of such. If all fails on the scale rubber/flexible material front, then I could just do four pairs of suitably filed and shaped halves to come up with what is witnessed below. I'll likely mark off small sections of what's seen to apply various clear coats, but also for applying/trying diluted Armor All, Vinylex, and any other products or combinations that come to mind. Note that the tire half seen is the first example pulled from the urethane mold seen higher up on this thread and was filled with the usual junk, covered with mold release, etc. I also hadn't sanded off the raised sidewall line or filed away any material from within, although most will agree the paint is pretty good stuff as would be expected of Tamiya and all they do. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Thanks for your interest... I'm not versed concerning the small range of American-tooled and produced 1:12th kits done to this time, although I do have some pie crust sidewall tires that I half-imagined were 1957 Chevrolet issue. Helpful was the purchase at an area toy show of a bag of all the 1:12th wheels and tires someone had ever purchased and had done little with (o.k. - like I should talk!), while some '57 Chevrolet full wheel covers were included inside the same. No Japanese stuff, although I doubt the Otaki range would strictly have offered up anything spot-on for what I needed. The same can be said for the current (at least when this message was posted) Shapeways 3D-printed range which trends towards Pro Street and super low profile stuff not strictly desired from this quarter. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings... For still further hacking and sanding the tire project comes closer to final as witnessed in these mock up photos. The raised sidewall red or goldline ridge (intended then on the earlier Corvette tool) was laboriously scrubbed out, while note that the intended width of the revised tire is coming into focus. The mockup for ride height and track could scarcely be less sophisticated (too low, and a bit wide on each score), but otherwise fairly decent. Thanks for your review of this post. Mike K./Swede70

...while if it would be of any interest, what follows is a review of a paint mask worked up to accurately apply 1:1 restoration spray paint to the stamp steel wheels even as the as-delivered kit pieces have the trim caps and rings cast in place. A COX 'Big Bertha' model rocket nose cone was cut apart to come up with the shapes needed, while the rest is mostly made up of thin painter's plastic sheet, tape, and some plastic for a dust-free masking frame. It's reliable as can be witnessed further up this thread, and not terrifically expensive to make. The 'Big Bertha' kit (less solid propellant engine) was had for a heady $7.99... Top of same with some small brass rods to hold the center trim cap mask firmly in place. ...as viewed from the bottom. The nose cone has a rounded base that was trimmed to come up with the extra and unexpected shape to accommodate the raised profile of the wheel trim cap. While no glue is used to secure the mask in place even as a small frame was worked up to hold the plastic sheet evenly across the face of the set up. Low-tech then, and reliable for operation. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, Planned long ago but needless to say delayed for execution, these would be some tire modification images consistent with coming up with a stock appearance. The wafer-thin Corvette tires seemed salvageable in terms of tread detail, but less beguiling given how thin the section is. Also, the raised presumed redline or goldline sidewall detail needed to go, while anything that I might do to improve the fit or tweak in terms of the rims used was something started when this project was current. A brief run through then... Just indicative of what's sought, with reference to the sidewall profile and tread width... ...seen above is the initial tire mold needed to capture most of the tread as well as the best sidewall detail. ...the tread 'crown' on the 1:12th kit tire is pushed back a bit, a factor that will help to disguise the fact that I've combined two castings to effectively widen my scale vehicular footwear. Tamiya black panel line wash was used on the trim cap faces, while very delicate Tamiya cotton swabs were used to clean excess paint hand applied to the fluting on the sides. ...both the stock wheel 'face' as well as wheel back has been carefully countersunk and centered, this usually a problem with regards to ensuring the hollow vinyl tires look appropriate when otherwise employed. ...while waiting quietly in the wings, these would be my most current multi-piece wheels with separately rendered trim caps and rings. Note the small gap existing between the trim ring bases and the center stamping, while the trim caps now ride a bit 'proud' too. Thanks for your review of this post. Mike K./Swede70

A very nice and clean effort as is your trademark. It's a relief for some new manufacturers to arrive on the scene in the form of Model Car Group, KK and others consistent with affording us some product that isn't strictly going to stop the hobby dead for being too pricey. Even so and even if, I'm certain your period club racer collection of carefully thought out and executed builds numbers more than 100. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70

Thanks everyone for the guidance and photos. I'll likely search for some parted out scraps along the lines suggested and proceed from there. Thanks again... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, I'm trying to work up assemblies for what will be a '71 Penske as well as a '72-season Roy Woods Racing Javelin Trans Am racer very slowly building - a pair then. Not being versed concerning what's been accurately tooled across the range of contemporary road racing as well as NASCAR kits, to say little of what might availed across the cottage/aftermarket scene, I was hoping someone looking on could make suggestions if knowledge exists. Basically the setup is a Weavers Bros. dry sump system with the expected stacked scavenge and pressure pumps, the toothed belt Gilmer drives up front, combined with a modified stamped steel pan adapted to suit. The oil tank is sited essentially inside the firewall, while it's assumed that most of what is seen I'll have to make up from scratch. ...a '72-season RWR Javelin Trans-Am dry sump Trans-Am mill resting on a pallet. Note the interesting 'box' intake manifold... ...viewed from below, the pump assemblies and robust mounting bracket. Mike Eisenberg image. ...test fit into the unrestored chassis, seen from below again. This is also a M. Eisenberg image. ...predating the Penske Matador effort, seen is a stock stamped steel oil pan modified for employment with the dry sump oiling system. M. Eisenberg photo. ...while these would be my '70 to '72-season Trans Am Javelins awaiting their fates. The '70 spied further back will make use of a wet sump design, likely an early-season Aviaid model. Just wrapping up then, if some really excellent toothed belt and drive system parts existed in another tool consistent with making both better and shorter work of things, I'd be most appreciative of whatever guidance might be availed. Yes - I do have the AMT Penske Matador kit which has it's points but isn't earth shattering in this regard. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings... A favorite would be the BMW E9 platform produced from '68 to '75. This would include the 2800 CS, the 3.0 CS and CSi as well as the 3.0 and 3.3 CSL models. Body by Karmann Coachworks, while the funniest thing I've read concerning their handiwork is that Karmann invented rust - then licensed the process to the Italians! ...ignore the museum identification applied to the end of the front fenders above the beltline trim which looks strange indeed. Chamonix (White) isn't a terrific color for this car, although these were amongst the best images I could find for a short search. Yes - Mikey likes it! Mike K./Swede70

Greetings... This would be a Jo-Han '70 Penske Javelin front bumper project brought back online for some recent developments. The promo bumper 'features' a prominent cast-in license plate with the word 'JAVELIN' spelled out, whereas the Donohue Trans-Am release is plain, albeit unperforated as the 1:1 stock bumper would otherwise have an opening that would afford a bit of airflow back to the radiator. Additionally, it seems Penske Racing did some modest cutting and reshaping of their own, hence coming up with an accurate opening takes a bit of work. ...the topic at '70 Mid-Ohio, the photo sadly unattributed. The extended tabs used to attach a license plate within the space of the cut out in the front bumper along the top have been trimmed and removed versus stock. A small debris screen is very likely there as well. Given I should cast this for some plating reverses experienced as of late, some other changes will feature. Note that the cast-in headlamp detail has been filed out even as the raised headlamp rings remain in place. Otherwise one is compelled to use the too high standard Jo-Han fill panels/overlays, hence something subtle this. Seeing things through, it'll be my aim to remove the front turn indicators to allow the Jo-Han fill panel inserts to reliably fit flush, while also be readily removable for pressing from behind. As-delivered, the Jo-Han parts 'ride high' and prove tedious to remove and reset even when sanded flush. Hopefully all will be better soon. Thanks... ...while noticed to the right would be some cast resin U-joints and a scratch built passenger footwell-sited battery box intended to be replicated, cast and spread across my Penske and Roy Woods Racing/American Racing Associates builds. May things come right. Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, Long forgotten, for some material sourcing a bit of attention is paid to this build. I'd wanted to find 1:1 vinyl interior restoration spray paint in the appropriate '69 yellow hue and eventually found what was needed from a first generation Camaro specialist known as Heartbeat City. About $30 a can, but it's definitively the right stuff and covers well. I did this quick on a spare panel simply to determine if I could trust the stuff... Also sourced was license plate artwork done a computer and printed onto paper. It doesn't sound like much, although I really doubt I could have afforded myself the results achieved by Michael Hanson at Best Model Car Parts who was very flexible and accommodating consistent with turning out what was needed. Notice all the font is right, while all the associated peculiarities of a press pool car/manufacturers plate of the period were accurately captured. Nice stuff most certainly... ...likely the best front licence plate view from M. Lamm's The Great Camaro. ...what was sent me by Michael Hanson and very nice indeed. And lastly, having two front bumpers in hand, it was my opinion that the Endura bumper ends seemed a touch taller as contrasted to the chromed iteration, while the slightly rounded corner contour along the top back ends wear the stamping blends into the front panel work needed subtle reshaping to capture more or less accurately. Not a complete success, but seen below is what I came up with. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Thank you both for the leads and ideas consistent with getting me where I want to be. I'll be doing some further research on the pattern and count per inch to firm up what I'll require, and then proceed to shop for designs that might be reduced and printed on decal paper. Thanks again... Mike K./Swede70

Greeetings, Searching for suppliers and likely leads consistent with doing what's necessary on a 1:12th '69 Camaro Z/28 featuring a yellow interior with yellow and black patterned houndstooth inserts. I finally sourced 1:1 vinyl interior paint from a supplier, but alas haven't yet turned up decals to pull this off. Guidance sought then. Kind thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Thanks... Looking largely consistent, the '72 RWR Javelin is also up on wheels w/cage after filing and fitting the red plastic late dashboard seen further up this thread. Forward one-third then... ...the wheel arch contour is different, while this example wears a '71-'72 grille/front bumper assembly less bumper guards if nothing more. At least it looks pretty honest. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings... For bending a lot of material and tossing out copious amounts of the same, a pair of roll cages take form for my '71 Penske as well as my '72 Roy Woods Racing Trans-Am Javelins. In particular, I wished to integrate my scratch built cages with the cut outs patterned into the '70 Jo-Han Trans-Am Javelin dash design for the bars stretching from the main hoop, down behind each A-pillar, and finally to the floor on either side. Using a Jo-Han '70 Donohue Trans-Am Javelin as an alignment buck, the new cages were fabricated, while two redesigned '71-'74 Jo-Han/AMT-boxed annual kit dashboards were isolated with the intent of filing them to accept whatever was worked up for use of the earlier design when in position inside the interior casting. ...this would actually be the '72 interior and chassis awaiting work consistent with filing out the late dash design to mate/mesh with the forward most roll cage members. Note how the roll cage bars neatly parallel the edges of the kit glass... ...back to my '71 Penske Javelin, no real effort was made to work up a proper seat mount here, hence it's at the wrong level and leans back far too much. Matters to be sorted then, while the '73 front bumper/grille is just something temporarily employed for mock up purposes and will vanish soon enough... ...happily the A-pillar roll cage members are largely invisible... ...trying to keep beneath the lip of the instrument panel surround on the late dash design, most everything fits and/or aligns. Certainly it's better than living with an incorrect '70 dash afforded across the entire range of Jo-Han/AMT-boxed Trans-Am Javelin releases of old. Thanks for your review of this post. Mike K./Swede70

...while in short, this would be my '72 Roy Woods Racing Javelin Trans-Am taking shape to the extent that I've removed select trim and have recontoured the wheel arch openings to match period photos. Subtle stuff, not particularly exciting in sum, while sobering it is to notice where kit part prices have gone in recent times. Finding another '71- '74 dashboard (or much of anything Jo-Han Javelin related) isn't work for the timid. Thanks... ...a fuzzy press kit image communicating the basics. ...and looking a bit pallid given the bumpers (across projects really) are being prepped for chrome plating. The bottom surfaces are a bit rough, while the ends of each 'stamping' front and rear needed light work lest they stand out for all the wrong reasons. Another front spoiler has been fabricated to situate here, although it's literally out of sight when this image was captured. Mike K./Swede70

Thanks for the interest expressed... After much mulling, I finally removed the Racemark seat I'd work up for my late-season '70 Penske Javelin and created a two-piece mold to reproduce it. The thought of working up at least two additional examples from what would have been at least four additional AMT Penske Matador seats plus all the extra effort to flesh out all the required elements in terms of the extended base, the lip elements along most edges and the better integrated headrest struck me as troublesome, hence the old work was refined before making a mold. Other things done include the careful removal of the cast-in seat belt harness, and putty work to integrate all the delicate lip detail. Further, the new headrest was hollowed out from behind to suggest hand laid fiberglass with slightly thicker edge detail to match the lip elements added to the back rest and extending to the integrated armrest profile as seen. I don't know why I hesitated to create a mold for all the work done up to this point across the seat, but delay I most certainly did... Noticed further below is one of the first usable examples from the mold which has proven tricky to fill and vent, although clean examples now issue forth. Spied to the right supporting the Racemark design is my default early '70-season Jo-Han Penske Javelin choice of the moment, something found within the AMT '37 Chevrolet release. For reviewing things, it doesn't seem that Peter Revson's car was ever strictly updated with the Racemark design right across the '70 season which seems odd. At least I can proceed with the '71 and '72 roll cage fabrication given what rests within is now less of a mystery. Thanks... ...the 1:1 seat installed in Mark Donohue's '70 Penske Javelin from mid-season. K. Ludvigsen image. ...sans seat mount, hence delicately poised for a photo as witnessed. Mike K./Swede70

Neat Quartzo Porsches certainly. From here the decal work looks pretty good, while I'm hoping most of it's intact and settled on each surface. I still suffer nightmares of decal wrangling and decal repair on these when found, memories rooted in some of their E20 BMW 3-Series race releases. Cool discoveries and a fun collection theme there... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, Not wholly impressed with my first go at refinishing the amber tail light panel/insert on my Tonka/Polistil 959, here I've redone it after breaking the first attempt when I tried to remove the part from my build - ouch! Thought was given as to whether a Molotow paint pen could be used to bright up the back of the amber sections along the ends, while for mulling things it seemed worth a try to grind off the mounting pins (sort of an 'L' section when viewed head on) and generally clean up things from behind. ...as delivered then. ...first attempt with the sloppy reversing lamp effort on woeful view. The wheels look odd sans aerodynamic overlays later worked up and added, while the amber-color plastic retained for the turn indicators along the back seem pretty lifeless. Very much Kay-Bee Hobby toy aisle... Moving along, I painted the ends of the turn indicator segments/elements with Tamiya translucent orange aerosol, while a better white was chosen for the reversing lamp sections to aid matters. Enhanced control is witnessed in relation to the division of colors and tones used, and this helps on the quality front. Not so obviously toy-like now, and pretty much the work of a day. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Interesting and certainly I've never seen an example. Wish I could help in it's identification, neat score all the same. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70

Indeed I did. They've become somewhat more savvy in relation to monitoring eBay auction results and pricing accordingly, but stuff is priced instantly and turned quickly as you too have discovered. Thanks everyone for looking in and for your comments... Mike K./Swede70

Indeed - picked up at Great Lakes Hobby here in SE Michigan. Likewise, I was hesitant before to pick up the oddball 1:20 Tamiya F1 scale Revell Creative Masters 1965 GT350, not being certain quite what to make of it. I missed purchasing a boxless example at Great Lakes for $50 some time back, although I was afforded the chance to inspect what seemed a good tool. On another subject, eventually I pulled the trigger and found a 1:24th WIX Filter promotional 1965 Cobra 427 SC and was thrilled with that, hence maybe it didn't take much to lower my resistance to sourcing and purchasing the Revell model at some point. Odd that I'm not that huge a Shelby fan, although it's hard to walk past what seems obvious quality vs. price when seeing the WIX model up close in particular. Prices for all the above are all over the map. Yes - for some digging I now have a better appreciation of what other items were included with the signed FM GT350 - thanks! Mike K./Swede70

Greetings... Having picked up a reasonably cheap 1:20th Revell Creative Masters Shelby 1965 Shelby GT350 last year for under $40, today a 1:24th Franklin Mint iteration of the same topic was found for $39.95 at a local hobby shop. There are so many indifferently tooled Shelby GT350's that it's hard to sort out what's what, although these two seem about the best as mass market diecast go. Happily the photo etched wipers as well as the radio antenna are each intact, while no diecast rash was found even as the model needed a clean. No signature, but in essence good riddance given I'm no fan of autographed diecast models. Maybe it's rare given it's not signed? Ugh - C. Shelby would sign and/or affix his mug to anything. Thanks... ...top is the 'new' family member, riding high in the rear as I think this model generally does. EBay photos are usually taken to disguise this reality/fact. Notice my WIX Filter Cobra just in sight to the left... ...and just the 1:20th Revell Creative Masters iteration on the bottom again. Goodyear 'Blue Dots' were added to the tire sidewalls, and will likely be added to the Franklin Mint model just atop it given it calls out for such. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70