swede70

Greetings, There are dedicated Facebook group pages dedicated to 1:18th diecast project parts wants/requests that might generate greater interest. Those who modify such models tend to generate piles of spares, while some releases have reputations whereby many are parted and certain items are in high demand. It might happen too that a damaged model with the part or parts you require will be had for less given it's a dust bunny, bears obvious damage, hasn't a box, etc. I hope you are able to source that which you need... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings... Going through materials intended to allow the construction of a '71 Penske Javelin and later a '72 American Racing Associates/Roy Wood Racing Javelin, I hurriedly decided to put my '71 Penske project up on wheels. Other work performed was the reprofiling of each wheel arch opening as guided by period reference, the removal of all standard identifying crests, and the installation of a '71-'74 dashboard given all Jo-Han and AMT-badged Trans-Am Javelins come through with bare floors, albeit with a '70 dash. The body shell is a stripped restoration piece from a built '71 AMT Mark Donohue release, the chassis and interior being recent eBay acquisitions posted and sold by a period kit breaker - a new thing then. Even for brief work this '71 looks fairly convincing... ...this a Dave Friedman image captured at the '71 Lime Rock Trans-Am contest. Rules presumably required that the wheel arch profiles not be altered, although here one can clearly see that the rear opening has been elongated, slightly squared off and raised to terminate along the body side character line. The front wheel arch shape is also different versus stock, with the opening found rising atop the character line, and noticeably stretching along the base towards the nose of the car. ...the raised rocker panel trim will have to be scrubbed off, but the wheel arch recontour work is convincing enough. The twinned exhaust dumps required that the cut outs for the same be enlarged, while the rear tires are AMT AMC Penske Matador issue. Thanks for your review of this ever-evolving project thread. Mike K./Swede70

Small stuff this... I hadn't much success bending brass tube to replicate exhaust dumps, but here it wasn't much of a problem for the material used didn't quite crimp up as expected. Also seen are the pair of jack or lifting hard points seen along the rocker, while the retention straps holding the rear glass in place are set wider - whoopee! Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Thanks for the interest expressed and sustained... The '70-season Penske Javelins evolved across that year as racers do, while a comparison between the early season spec. and the later season would largely be restricted to minor details as contrasted to much larger changes concerning the shape of the body or flares in particular. Jimmy Flintstone (perhaps Mini Exotics originally) opted to do a late season car which unlike the as-delivered original Jo-Han '70 Mark Donohue Trans-Am Javelin release (C-105), represented a very early season car if not something speculative before such was actually raced. As usual, the Jo-Han race rendition combines parts that are first rate with those which are impressionistic but largely benign! Concerning what was mastered, a late season spec. Penske Javelin wouldn't have cut outs to refuel the car along either quarter panel, but instead a single spot to do so perforating through the structure near the base of the deck lid and cutting through the bottom of the rear spoiler. Some engine updates would be discernible including a better functioning wet sump design for much trial and error, the front spoiler would be redesigned to include both aluminum structure and lexan lips along the bottom, while the polished lip Minilites seen briefly early on would be superseded by uniformly rough cast appearing Minilites in whatever magnesium alloy they used. Tall profile NASCAR tires - ungainly as they were to look upon, were found to be best to employ out back, while shorter profile and comparatively squat Super Modified tires - also from the Goodyear catalog, were eventually fitted up front. The almost elegant fine blue lines found on the sidewall of period Goodyear Blue Streak Sports Car Special were something that vanished from the scene as the year progressed - another tiny alteration then. ...Peter Revson, sans the Racemark seat described below (i.e. no headrest or extension for such is seen), although with the revised front spoiler, different tires, and fueling via the rear only. For whatever reason, the side numeral has gravitated upward, while the font suggests primitive digital readouts and the then topical Apollo program courtesy of NASA. Photo credit unknown, while perhaps the image was captured at Kent, WA '70. - Eventually Mark Donohue established other means to draw an income apart from Penske Racing and Goodyear, and one of these sidelines was his affiliation with a company called Racemark. One of their products was a then novel seat that was both tightly form fitting and extended well down the body to afford a measure of knee and leg support. Apparently Paul Van Valkenburgh designed such, later coauthor of Mark's excellent auto racing biography The Unfair Advantage from 1975. From mid season the distinctive Racemark seat with all the trimmings was installed in Mark's car, although it didn't seem to migrate to Peter Revson's #9 Penske Javelin. Other discreet changes would be picked up from race to race for close examination and comparison of period photos. Lastly, the presence on the vintage scene of a backdated engineering hack reflecting '71 season developments at Penske Racing confuses things if one is tempted to be guided by vintage racing photography, hence beware of this reality if accuracy is felt paramount. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings... Having sourced another interior bucket and bare Jo-Han Trans-Am Javelin chassis via eBay, here was some limited effort to put an early '70-season Penske Javelin back into play. Noticed will be the rudiments of a six-point roll cage, wheels and tires, carved out flush exterior door handles with resin replacements (done to facilitate off-body paintwork of the handles), and a rubber washer-rimmed Grant steering wheel installation. Mostly stuff I've done before in total, but looking comfortable given I know what to reach for. Thanks... ...in early-season form at Laguna Seca, descending down the Corkscrew... ...using the standard Jo-Han kit front spoiler, although the Jimmy Flintstone shell again features. No work has been performed underhood yet, while my last remaining SC/Rambler inner fender/wings will likely be stitched in. Many more bars need to be added to the roll cage taking form, although the major members are present, sized and aligned as required... ...front tires are stock kit Jo-Han/AMT period NASCAR issue, while the rears are Southern Motorsport vinyl '60's Goodyear NASCAR issue which come with very nice Goodyear Blue Streak blue lines and small white lettered Goodyear sidewall markings to match. The Minilite wheels are older cast resin items home brewed and made up of Jo-Han inner rim with MPC Chrysler Kit Car Clement five slot pressed steel wheel outer lips once again. The shell is among my oldest and evidences repair work for overzealous carving and shaping... ...looking a bit strange for not having a key hole through the rear spoiler, nevertheless it's how things were on the racers early season. The Jimmy Flintstone resin shell needed a patch atop the fuel inlet situated on the bottom center of the spoiler to backdate it slightly, while it looks fairly clean for a light putty application besides. Lastly, the Grant steering wheel noticed was sourced from a Hurst S/S '69 AMX release, with the ends of each spoke ground down to accommodate the quite small steering wheel rim reproduced with a bathroom plumbing washer. Just basic stuff at this point. Thanks for your review of this post. Mike K./Swede70

Just another material source this. Sometime ago I visited a larger party supply store and chanced across what might be termed table centerpieces featuring a fairly resilient foil. I paid maybe $5 to $7 for each centerpiece as shown, while I found the foil employed could be cut to shape somewhat easier for being stiffer than your usual packaging foil. I've used the material for 1:18 Wink multiple-element interior rear view mirrors, as well as for lending a bit of life to the back of a like-scale Porsche 959 tail light panel with success. Thanks... ...not quite a lifetime supply - but close! ...and just a length behind the now-tinted and formerly all-amber plastic tail light lense/unit on my Polistil Porsche 959. Mike K./Swede70

Hello... The cage is barely discerned for being painted and coaxed into the '67 Camaro. The exhaust dumps w/straps flesh out the exterior, although the engine is still out. Happily the steering column rests comfortably across the roll cage cross bar forward of it, while no interference is noted between the main hoop and the side quarter windows. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

...while this would be the well-known '69 Mission Bell 250 Trans-Am poster and program image. The photo was captured at the first race of the season held at Michigan International Speedway for the inaugural Wolverine Trans-Am, while note Mark's #6 is fitted out with red interior trim panels complete with the dash pad so-colored. Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, Thanks for the kind words. I have a few build threads here, although most are well buried under the volume of posts and threads others maintain. Consider clicking on my profile name and search for activity related to the following: 1968-69 1:25th RKE/JRT Javelin builds based on the Jo-Han tools 1967-69 1:18th GMP Penske Donohue Camaro work 1970 1:18th Chaparral Camaro based on the old ERTL tool 1970 1:18th Hwy. 61 Chrysler E-body Trans-Am work Various Pontiac projects including a 1:18th Sun Star-based '71-season 'Gray Ghost', a '70 T/G Firebird Trans Am, and finally, a '69 Titus/Ward Daytona 24HR class winner like yourself - For my own builds I'm usually pouring over the digital archives even as most of the images are reproduced in black and white as you've said. Most stuff is downloaded and dropped into the appropriate project file, while after a time this image and that reveals stuff I hadn't seen before. It's fun to glean information and transfer such into a scale representation of all that's been revealed, while every now and again someone like us will turn up insights that a current owner won't have tripped upon or known about. Although you likely know them well, the Dave Friedman Collection/Benson Ford Research Center, the Petersen Publishing/SAE Archive, the Revs/Stanford Digital Archive, and Getty Images are those online archives I frequent the most. Some are a challenge to access and find suitable material within, but all are of value. I wouldn't give up on the red interior angle for the '69 Penske Camaro given it's a real enough thing. The paint work would just be restricted to the side interior trim panels anyhow, while interior images reflecting the specification of things are common enough. If I can attach a few, I'll try. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Just some further revisions with the bars to the front subframe now equal length and angle, while a pair of bars stretch back from the main hoop and terminate at the top of the rear shock mounts. Pretty much ready to paint then. Thanks... ...while it comes out as a single piece. I only tack glued the main hoop and built things out from there. Mike K./Swede70

Very nicely done, while I like the colors chosen too. Neat Rudge knockoff wheels (or the conversion of the as-delivered Burago casting) that you've worked up. An old tool the Burago 300SL, although it's an honest one and happily it seems Continental tires they tooled for the Burago range and used almost indiscriminately were first intended for their MB 300SL. Your collection of period club racers must be massive by now. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70

Always very neat work and enviably trim and clean in appearance - thanks for sharing. Mike K./Swede70

Greetings... Just an update of the 1:18 GMP '67 Penske Trans-Am Camaro project given it's sprouted a roll cage. Hollow plastic tube with a brass wire core to help retain the shape and lends strength too. Happily no 1:18th scale drivers have thus far been hurt operating my conversions both minor and major. Thanks... ...with rear quarter windows recently added, some chrome trim for leading edge of the same, plus new front wheel bearing dust caps and rear axle ends pressed home into the center of the ARE/TT wheels. Without an engine at this point, hence no exhaust dumps are seen. ...interior mock up with a spare shell (thank you so much ijb40!) in combination with a '69 dashboard, although now I have a '67-'68 dash to use on my model. Bars to otherwise tie the roll cage to the front subframe are absent. A strange design - almost as though it's missing two points from an otherwise sound four or maybe six-point cage. ...more of the same. ...while the passenger's side A-pillar to main hoop bar needs to be refabricated consistent with shortening it a bit. Note that it stretches further forward than it should forward of the cross bar/brace. With some additional bars added, albeit it's not complete. Mostly I'm going with period photos, while avoiding some diecast structural elements restricts what I can do. Pretty much the state of things now. The chassis is just a bare '69 model with inner fenders trimmed to allow for a top of the subframe mounted sway bar installation. Kind thanks for your review of this project update. Mike K./Swede 70

Greetings, The cars altered for specifications across the year, while the red interior door trim eventually gave way to those finished in black. The switch was timed roughly to coincide with the removal of the vinyl tops later in the '69 season. The #6 and #9 would be distinguished from the pits for different color spoilers, headlamp fill panels, and of course the numerals painted on (this before vinyl numerals became standard practice), while the red interior panels (or black) would be standard across team cars at any event entered. The interior color for the interior side panels, etc. wouldn't be more sophisticated than standard level trim '69 Camaro vinyl trim. Searching for '69 Camaro restorations optioned out with the red interior would turn up color references, hence you'd not be strictly reliant on period SCCA Trans-Am race reference materials to confirm such. Additionally, most reputable 1:1 restoration parts suppliers stock interior colors consistent with allowing on to refinish interior vinyl trim. Red would be one of the more common colors, and might prove the way to go given the sheen would reflect the finish desired apart and beyond having the right hue. Before the COVID-19 situation effectively shut down concours events nationwide, the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance organizers decided to honor Roger Penske at their 2020 event. A good gathering of restored Penske Camaro racers were on display, with one being debuted, and others rerestored with greater attention paid to accuracy, etc. The '69 Penske Camaro present there appeared better than it had before, and sported both a vinyl top and the red interior trim you'd wish to replicate. A great many people attended and took photos, while a bit of web searching would surely turn up large collections of event images even if they'd not strictly be tagged as '1969 Penske Camaro' when you'd mount a search for such. Good luck... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, Nothing major in terms of updates, although some additional parts have been cast/duplicated consistent with fleshing out this project and other GM Trans-Am projects quietly gathering steam. I'd like to source a Lane '67-'68 Firebird differential, reproduce the scattershield scratch built for my '71-season Gray Ghost Tempest, while Delco-Moraine brake calipers are now possible given I recently made a mold for such. I'm freshening up a trio of old GMP '67-'69 Trans-Am Camaro projects as well as nursing the ETRL-based '70 Chaparral Camaro project to life, hence anything of quality that can be spread across the builds carries me a bit closer to applying finishes and being done with these. Thanks for your interest. Mike K./Swede70

Looks like a very well engineered kit and pure pleasure to see to completion. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70

Neat addition and certainly a nice compliment to the recent first gen./Mark I Capri afforded us. I haven't picked up the first generation model, perhaps for being intimidated by the effort required to accurately paint the Rostyle wheels, although the availability of the late Capri at modest cost might prompt me to reconsider and gather both. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

A very leisurely update of this my '69 RKE/JRT Trans-Am Javelin project... Worried I'd waste my '69 bubble hood effort for applying a finish and misjudging things, recently I created a mold for the hood so that not much would be risked if things fell apart. Witnessed is the results of the effort, which is largely clean. Additional parts have been gathered to possible do a second '69-season team car, although at present they'll just be saved. A five-panel Wink interior mounted rear view mirror assembly is needed for both my '68 and '69 efforts, while it would be good to scratch build what is needed consistent with clearing the next tiny hurdle. Most of the really unpleasant fabrication is mercifully done. Fine pinstripe decals to accent the borders between the red/white/blue body color segments has been found from a German source via eBay, hence that problem too has been solved. Mostly good then. Thanks... The shifter assembly will be made up of the best Hurst shifter lever I can find combined with the round stock Jo-Han boot. Seen forward are some parts I'm contemplating for use. Just a view of the profile worked up on the hood bubble and how the surface profile is picked up along the contours of said bubble. It's mostly good and few surprises were in store for me when I first pulled it from the mold. Pretty content at this point... A little fuzzy this, although the pinstripe detail spoken of can be made out with a little effort. Notice the blue-to-white border has a thin vertical red pinstripe, while the white-to-red border has a blue vertical pinstripe. Fated to be tedious to perform, but thought important all the same... While this would be the Interdecal product offering, with an agreeable red iteration also obtainable. I should be o.k. then... Mike K./Swede70

It looks really nice... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, An almost forgotten used car from way back, for a time I had an '83 Plymouth Gran Fury A38 ex-police car. No great power even with the top-of-the-line 318 4BBL engine, the car nevertheless had considerable presence and was unquestionably fun to toss around. Not many models have been afforded to date, although for application some can be turned up. Seen is a small M-body homage made up of a modified Motor Max Diplomat in 1:24th diecast as well as a stray MM 1:43 iteration of the topic to the far left, the rest being quite good 1:43rd First Response releases. A local hobby shops processes many estates and trade-ins, hence a foursome of FP Diplomats were gathered unboxed for $5.99 each, so a feast of them as such things go. At the very least I could effect repairs on the silver Ohio State Highway Patrol example for swapping in intact antennas, while for being in Michigan, the presence of speed traps along I-75 crossing either border was a real enough hazard back in the day. Both the blue/violet Michigan SP livery as well as the silver Ohio liveries remain in use to the best of my knowledge. The larger 1:24th scale Motor Max model has replacement wheels and tires. These are in the form of 1:24th Monogram Goodyear GT black outline lettering tires mated to 3D-printed six-slot stamped steel police spec. wheels, the same rounded out with chromed 3D-printed ventilated police spec. hubcaps. Some other details are seen, likely to be explained across the space of a further thread addition. Sort of a save this given the light blue metallic Diplomat came through with full wheel covers with whitewalls, plus so-so decal work and a some hastily glued on parts that marred this surface and that. The white walls might gravitate to the taxi cab release given such a mix of parts is common to taxi fleets. The Fury seen just below is a Greenlight 'Another 48 HRS' release that comes through unmarked, complimenting the replacement ride situated just above. I'll probably pick up a spare 1:43rd case to dustproof the new addition, but in the main I like the fleet arrivals very much. The framed photo half-obscured contains an image of my beloved white on blue slicktop '83 Plymouth A38 then. 11 mpg (woo hoo!), and capable of a heady 113 mph if given enough patience and room both. Thanks for your review of this post. Mike K./Swede70

...and this just a quick look at the engine being built up, Some changes made include the addition of an oil fill/vent tube through the single 4BBL intake, the installation of a pair of resin Hwy. 61 old school 'Chevrolet' script '57 Bel Air stamped steel valve covers with the appropriate breathers w/tubes added, while a multi-piece front accessory drive helps facilitate necessary paintwork. A multi-part alternator assembly is coming, mostly so I can preserve detail on either end of the unit as well as be afforded a chance of replicating the tiny orangish brown band that cuts through the center of such. Notice that the transmission case has been filed down on the side to make way for a better detailed access cover, this sourced from a Lane '65 Chevelle Z16, while the cowl induction air cleaner noticed is from the Lane '67 Z/28 tool and further helps matters. Lastly, just in front of the header collector will be found a foursome of detailed plugs intended to be pressed into the center of each wheel assembly, with dust covers for the fronts, axle end detail for the rears. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, Small stuff, but for preparing some urethane molds, new parts allow for new activity and additions. Seen is a new stamped steel fuel tank halve set right side up, complete with fuel fill neck and slam-shut top. The tank is from a Lane '68 Firebird 400 H.O. and happily drops right in. Fuel pumps to come, while note everything less the body shell and opening panels has been resprayed semigloss black versus the '68 and later de riguer gray. Thanks... Marlboro, MD '67 where a rear axle less heat treat failed on Donohue's car. The special cheater rear spoiler (note the exaggerated lip profile) won't feature on my light overhaul of the GMP tool, although the photo is helpful to appreciate the fuel inlet setup run that year. A bit of a patchwork effect consistent with filling out the stripes as they run along the entire extent of the rear of the car. It's looks rather 'high school', albeit it's accurate as such things go. Just fitting and fettling the tank and inlet at this point, hence no paint is witnessed. Also notice that the usual retension straps for the rear screen aren't seen here as they are on the GMP #36 Daytona 24HR release of old. Clips need to be added, but for discreet parts substitution, a 'strapless' screen was found and swapped in. Not perfect in relation to the stripes, but acceptable from my perspective. At this point it seems more important to save the curved outline pinstripe around the main stripes along the fill panel versus anything else, hence I saved the standard GMP tampo prints applied here. The deck lid was replaced, with a solid variety cut through with the resultant hole filed to suggest an oval for clearance purposes when the trunk area is serviced. Tamiya TS-15 blue was used to refinish said lid, and happily the finish coexists well enough with the standard body shell paint hue. Lastly, the roundel offset to the right needs to be doubled up give the decal is more translucent than I'd desire. Something to remedy then... ...and just seeing things out, hoping nothing looks too amiss for leaning unnecessarily, for being too tall or short, or for failing to be centered properly. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

That looks really nice, quietly in-period and possessing considerable dignity. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, All the surface panel work less maybe the deck lid would be different, plus bumpers, grilles, etc., hence I myself wouldn't attempt it. The ERTL 1:18th '68-'69 would be a better basis for such given the '70 styling updates weren't wholly transformative. With a small assortment of junkyard ERTL AMX's, some experimentation could be done, although for careful disassembly and mulling of the qualities of the Replicarz '71-'72 Javelin/AMX release, I don't sense much utility of a mash of the former with the latter. I rather extend and flesh out the missing length of the ERTL AMX than bother with the Replicarz effort in full truth. Maybe harboring a minority view, the Replicarz Javelins strike me as generally well-tooled, although deeply flattered for being dazzlingly finished; i.e. the surface gloss helps one overlook otherwise so-so aspects of most other aspects of the tool. There is no raised chrome trim around the front and rear 'glass', surrounded as it is by photo-etched overlays, the 'glass' is just pliable clear sheet, while the chassis plate has little to recommend. Even the wheels and tires are a slight cheat, given some fudging is in evidence for using different diameter wheels front and rear to emphasize an aggressive look that shouldn't have been worked up in such a fashion. I'd thought for my money that I'd have a host of new assemblies to copy and spread across my other 1:18th scale Trans-Am builds, but in point of fact this hope just didn't materialize; i.e. I'm still clinging to my mostly GMP Trans-Am Camaro-sourced clones to flesh out my conversions. In sum, I'd just give the situation three or four more years, anticipating that Replicarz or TSM might take up the challenge given all the companies seem to be running out of intriguing topics to do. Mark Donohue interest is strong, while as I write this a 1:18th sealed resin Technomodel '71 McLaren F1 Penske Racing Canadian GP release (third place) just hit the shelves consistent with expanding collections so-themed. Mike K./Swede 70

Greetings... Here some AutoART interior parts have been introduced onto the Tonka/Polistil interior casting. I have most of the AA interior less door panels, while for first trying to hack and slash the entire AA interior tub to fit the T/P chassis and body, finally I decided just to steal select subassemblies to the T/P interior and avoid most of the fit issues. Flocking to come, other assemblies to be stolen soon. The dash board, the interior rear view mirror, the steering wheel plus column, and finally, the shifter and controls surrounding it make up the visible upgrades. Thanks... Not terrible - while the really cheap appearance the total assembly had before is mostly eradicated. The pedal assembly, safety belts plus flocking are to come. Nice seats, with carefully marked controls on each side and textured paint for the inserts as-delivered. Quality stuff, while a lot of the Tonka/Polistil dash mount structure was recycled to support the new AA dash assembly, saving time versus scratch building some other solution. ...and just proving (to myself largely) that it'll all fit. I'm unsure about clearance between the interior door panels (not present here) and the seats, although this was enough work for a day. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70