swede70

Looks really great - fine work. Mike K./Swede70

Minimal stuff - although work just the same... For cutting up my first AMT Gremlin tunnel ram intake and mating the remains to the scratch built intake flanges as they rest along the cylinder heads, it was noticed that I didn't have enough material along the ends of the individual intake runners for matters to join up cleanly. Happily someone on a FB AMT group page afforded me another AMT Gremlin Pro Stock intake which was handled differently for employing the stock flange material to extend each runner just a bit along the bottom, resulting in an overall tighter assembly. Further, more material was removed from upside down 'vee' formed beneath each intake runner stack consistent with affording room for the pair of oil breathers situated in-line, although these have yet to be sourced. Lastly, having ruined the outer profile of one of the fender end caps for too aggressive sanding and shaping, one was replaced. Somewhat slow as of late... Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Thanks - I'll explore the possibilities suggested. I could be saving work thus from the impressions gleaned here. Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, Neat project these will be. If it helps there's a diecast subpage on this same message board, while many a FB group page option exists even if vintage road racing topics (especially as they relate to diecast-based topics in 1:18th) are scarce everywhere. For doing the same, it will seem only a half-dozen enthusiasts active across boards are so-committed. I'll be looking on with interest... Mike K./Swede70

Just short notes consistent with suggestion minor alternate directions, with the appropriate technique being that which for any potential builder discovers best... Not absolutely necessary this, but a spare body and chassis to establish the tightest fit with the dash and plastic 'glass' installed helps a lot. I realize this isn't an option for all and that resources can sharply restrain ambitions in this regard - but it helps! A good supply of file cards and scissors to come up with initial shapes is advised - sort of what 1:1 fabricators would call CAD, or rather Cardboard Aided Design. Sometimes too I'll take fuzzy pipe cleaners to establish the rudiments of what will be required for multiple bends and angles I'll need to reproduce. If something is a scale replica of a period racer, definitely pile on the research. Some problems will 'go away' for careful analysis of why this team or that opted to do things in a particular fashion. This said, plastic model cars have thick floors and thick roofs, and this reality will impact how much carries over. Concerning materials, I don't use rod plastic, but rather employ plastic tube with a brass wire core inserted and glued within. Tubing collapse isn't a terrible problem if the wire chosen is appropriately sized, while sharp bends won't strictly disturb the shape of material both 'upstream' and 'downstream' of the bend. Ideally, the brass wire will be stiff enough to resist distortion along the lengths of material you'll wish to keep straight. Moving along, sometimes a brass 'core' can be used to site a particularly tough bar relative to another; i.e. drill a discreet hole in one, and factor in the reality that the brass core may have to be a bit longer to plug into it from the tube to be attached to it after properly filing and preparing a fishmouth contour or contours as required. As for bending, I have a small bread board that has a nail tapped into it; i.e. a mandrel bend in miniature. If a softer or rounder bend is called for, on occasion I may press some plastic rod into service in keeping with replicating the radius desired. Just to be consistent, even the tiniest bars will have a brass core on my efforts. Happily none of my scale drivers has thus far been hurt... For the use of a pointed tip Sharpie marker, I'll try to ink mark where the bend has to begin. It's an approximate process given it's all too easy to place a bend too high or low, while the angle and factoring in having extra material to trim to size both 'upstream' and 'downstream' again is important. With regards to matters related to symmetry and the battle to secure this quality, I always endeavor to do bars in matching pairs. Go in expecting to waste a fair amount of material for misjudging much; i.e. it's too short, it's too tall, it's asymmetrical, etc. When something is 91% of what you need but doubts linger, part of the satisfaction of scratch building is knowing that you can toss matters aside and start again without suffering huge guilt. I pretty much expect to fabricate each bar twice or three times over, while if I'm any better or more accurate, personally surprise is registered. Alignment of materials as they attach and as the glue sets can be a challenge, with the creation of a rudimentary fixture to hold this or that bar 'just so' sometimes required. Although basic, stacked audio cassette boxes and small scrap sheets of plastic with quickly made extensions of rectangular stock can serve very well, stabilized for the use of a discreet length of two of Tamiya tape holding everything securely to the table the total setup rests upon. Do allow things to properly setup and dry. No need then to court bitterness for trying to achieve too much, too soon. Concerning glue, again - nothing set in stone, but I like thick CA glue and typically touch in bends with additional applications combined with a dusting of a filler known as MicroBalloons. Residue removal and final shaping follows this. Your mileage may vary. Tax, title and license extra! Mike K./Swede70

Greetings and thanks for the interest... A little tedious, but I'm working up a proper intake given the IR or Independent Runner 'shorty' tunnel ram employed by Ronnie Kaplan Engineering on the team cars for most of the '69 season isn't an 'off the sprue' thing. Working with an AMT Gremlin Pro Stock tunnel ram (actually two examples in point of fact), each bundle of intake runners have been cut free of the bottom and side cylinder head flanges to open up and refine the shape these, while the flanges had to be scratch built and still require refinement to be complete. Mounting hardware should be within the realm of the possible to add with plastic hex rod, and faint stiffening structure may yet be added atop it. Altogether it's been a bit of drag to do. Thanks... ...this would be the FIA homologation image submitted to secure the legality of the intake the team ran in competition for most of the season. At other venues they'd revert back to the '68 spec. cross ram not unlike that seen run by Penske Racing on their ubiquitous Camaro entries. The pair of factory-blessed independents running the slightly revised '68 team cars ran the older cross ram manifolds throughout the '69 season. ...while this would be an actual '69 spec. RKE/JRT engine - out and likely expired at that. Note how the carburetor mounting platform has been milled down substantially, replaced if you will with a thinner metal platform with studs poking upward and through it. Oil venting on the design was primitive, with a pair of Cal Custom breathers situated inline atop the lifter galley area. John Dianna photograph. ...and my initial attempt to reproduce it. Other than the flanges below, nothing has been strictly glued in place. The complex carburetor linkage seen in the second photo may well be beyond me to replicate. And although just a spare mock up engine, notice the use of '69 SC/Rambler heads which are good to include given the inaccuracy of fitting the Gen. 1 heads to any intended Gen. 2 or 3 AMC build. An explosion proof bell housing is coming, already seen on my '68 but likely incorrect for use on the earlier project given a partial scattershield was fitted atop the transmission tunnel and is plainly visible from the interior. I have a mold for the same, although the flange detail will need to be added for attaching a thin and carefully shaped layer to the end of such. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, Although not a GT Spirit model, seen below is a Replicarz sealed resin 1:18th scale AMC Javelin Trans-Am car that would be very close in spirit to what you'd have in hand. Sealed resin models tend to have very thick material throughout which lends a sense of heft to them while also permitting the use of oftentimes ungainly and oversized screws (or perhaps just a screw) to hold the basic floor to the body shell. I suspect what you have in hand may just have the one screw, with the rest of the floor/chassis being held fast by unseen locating tabs further in. In my photo(s) notice that I took care not to damage the photo etch parts glued to the surface of the body and isolated the 'glass' the best I could. I wrapped a towel to support the hood and decklid ends and tried to maintain a small recess or dip in the material to drop the model into lest it shift when a screwdriver was used to remove those intimidating screws. Further, a very thin trash bag was overlaid onto the towel lest the towel tear away at the photo etch; i.e. this worked nicely, although a more modern topic taken up by GT Spirit many not strictly warrant this extra step. Back to construction philosophies and servicing something like this, other experiences can be shared. Know that within the space of an area automobilia store where I sometimes work, it's a fairly regular thing for use to be forced to disassemble almost the entire sweep of scales of modern sealed resin models to effect repairs given this or that has broken off or fallen away; i.e. the seat that rattles in the interior, the dashboard that has (literally) come unglued, etc. The impression is further gleaned that irrespective of box badging that would suggest otherwise, we feel we're looking at the work of the same company (or one of maybe three) again and again. In short, few surprises are discovered across this tool and that company with regards to how things are set up or attached beneath. And finally, just a brief note about windows on sealed resin models. A real weakness of many of the sealed resin topics are the windows; i.e. the wavy sheet acetate approximations of such that often look something less than convincing. They are easily marred, people will cover such with fingerprints, and polishing them up to disguise such mars proves difficult if not impossible. I suggest steering clear of ambitions to mask that which you see unless you've secured a damaged model for a very low price and are accepting of mistakes in exchange for developing a reliable technique. It's possible too that experimentation may be done on sealed resin topics in 1:43rd given the hurdles would largely be the same. Good luck! Mike K./Swede70

Nice photo choices/contributions AFX/J.C. One can set up quite a neat contrast between finishes for careful paint selection here. Although really hard to do, the vinyl tape stripes contrast a little with the flatter finish seen on the door numerals (topside too!) as well. As for the top, it seems the team had a dreadful time keeping the finish neat looking as it often appears blotchy in period photos. Little wonder the restored vehicle has an easier to care for semigloss finish applied to it. Mike K./Swede70

Looking very nice, with special reference to your flares which certainly impress. If it would save you a step or steps, go for a very flat finish on the top. I'll try to attach a period photo that might telegraph that the topic looked duller in period versus how the car appears at present. The spec. seen in the photo is from the '70 Mid-Ohio race date. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Thanks for the interest sustained... Slowly building up assemblies still incomplete, seen would be some bundles of parts consistent with making headway: ...noticed are two headlamp bezels featuring two lengths of trim to mate to any bumper I might modify where such detail has been filed out. The idea is that both examples will be duplicated in resin, with the best being employed on both sides upon determination of what might be possible. Also made out would be simple rocker panels made of plastic 'L' stock, a pair of Revell '69 Camaro radiator to fender braces, and finally, a fully fleshed out radiator and structure which locates it well back. The photoetched mesh is intended to overlay the radiator cooling matrix on either side... ...while this would be a small gathering of parts for a more fully fleshed out chassis. Seen are SC/Rambler rear leaf springs with spring eyes added forward and back, an AMC Model 20 differential (only available within the very old Jo-Han AMC Funny Car tools), Revell '69 Camaro U-joints, and shock absorbers plus mounts - again from the old Jo-Han Rambler. In relation to the front suspension, noticed will be modified Jo-Han '70 Rebel Machine upper control arms featuring a bottom ledge, attachment points w/bushings otherwise missing, and related parts in the form of coil spring mounts, etc. ...and basic, but some well worn used assemblies being employed to learn how to situate braces leading from the firewall to the suspension turrets up front. Delicate gussets are set to be added, although the length of the tubing and setting of the angles of such is required first. The third set of inner fenders seen here are fated to end up on an early-season '70 Penske Javelin. Thanks for reviewing this project update. Mike K./Swede70

On the last image, the Chevrolet seen appears to have a '69 front clip and doors, with '68 panel work further back. The four-door Oldsmobile is a scream. Fun images surely... Mike K./Swede70

That looks really nice. Love the wheel covers in particular. Mike K./Swede70

Neat topic and definitely unusual. Off to a strong start clearly. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70

Hello... For filing off the license plate detail, a gap remained atop it looking at the structure immediately behind it. Here I've scratch built a panel, reshaped the top of the rear valance panel somewhat, and have drilled a few discreet holes for good measure. The fuel inlet plug plus fill panel rests a touch high, but I think I'll leave it. This would be the topic seen at Michigan International Speedway at the first event in 1969, D. Friedman image. The bar stock hanging out is presumed to facilitate securing the car to a hauler, but looks rather deadly from here. ...fated to be scanned and shrunk, this would be a reproduction bumper sticker relating to a tepid period television advertisement that may be viewed via the link provided: ...necessarily imperfect, although in sum an improvement. ...and finally, a gap existed on the passenger's side between the bumper and the fender trim end cap that needed sorting. Here some material has been added to set matters right, while forward can be seen a pair of headlamp trim surrounds plus cast-in headlamps that may (may) be used to create mold to cast these items separately with an eye towards plating them apart and away from the body-colored bumper. The indented but not strictly punched out side marker panel detail on the fenders still needs to be scribed. Thanks for your review of my project update... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, Maybe minimal stuff, but some ideas too. Seen beneath are new cylindrical jacking points forward of each exhaust dump, while nice it is to note that the door bars of the roll cage incline downwards just a bit from the main hoop as they approach the dashboard; i.e. this was desired. Plastic 'L' stock will be used to flesh out the rocker panels as they blend into the floor, while I'll likely cut the 'L' stock into three separate elements on each side given I have no faith at all that I can cleanly mask the material to reflect the three-color R/W/B (or alternately, B/W/R!) paint pattern expected to be reproduced above. My skill base has limits, and sometimes discreet cheating to disguise the limits of what one can reasonably mask is o.k. Moving along, a spare interior shell plus firewall are being worked over to establish the dimensions of the stiffening bars that will tie in to the front suspension turrets, with holes cut clean through the firewall to allow me to slide each bar tightly into position for pushing them through diagonally. ...notice the discreet tabs connecting the base of the roll cage members to the A-pillar sheet metal (so to speak) situated outboard on either side. The brace seen ahead of the suspension turrets is just raw stock, although note how something like this will eventually help to shore up the fit of the underhood panel work. Also made out is a new fuel inlet handle made from what is termed a 'head pin', this having a fairly large and flat top that suits the purpose well enough. This area still needs a bit of work, while the fuel cell vent hasn't been fabricated yet. - Although it seems I'm close to paint, my fabrication work is only about 80% complete with reference to the chassis in particular. In sum, I want to be able to put all the parts in a dryer set on 'Tumble/No Heat' , and for the introduction of a little glue, I'd hope it to all but self-assemble sans glitches. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Wow - really beautiful. Something for the Can-Am crowd surely, while in various scales appropriate McLaren chassis await surely. Mike K./Swede70

It looks real nice - very trim. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70

Very clean - looking good... Mike K./Swede70

...and some gussets added to the '69 roll cage. Looking along the length of the roll cage member running parallel to the door, one is added forward and beneath, another back and above blending into the main hoop. Tabs tying in the A-pillar roll cage members to the A-pillars proper are also spied. Small stuff... The side interior trim panels have also been reshaped a bit to fit better - especially as they mate up with the rear wheel housings. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Thanks for the kind interest expressed again (and again)... Just evening out my Javelin builds, here the '68 receives the same hinge pocket removal work on the inner fenders/wings as the '69. Trimming and hand-fitting front glass to each build will prove to be tedious given there just isn't huge space looking back. I have spares, and '71 and later glass can work well enough if appropriately trimmed, although in sum I'm not looking forward to it. A five panel Wink rear view mirror should be fitted to each model, while I think I'll have to scratch build something. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Looking really nice. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70

Hello... Here I've labored to cleanly integrate the stock side panels to the bare Jo-Han '70 Trans-Am Javelin floor, with emphasis to ensure that the sides aren't any wider than the unmodified casting. Note how the top shoulders of the rear bulkhead are cut in consistent with tucking matters flush. Further, the dashboard has been drilled out to accommodate extensions of the roll cage stretching forward, while the dash rests just a bit higher and further back given repositioning was needed. Finally, plugs along the bottom of the interior door panel trim have been fashioned where the cast-in seats stretched upwards and obviated detail otherwise expected. Thanks... ...the small ramp structure seen on the floor towards the rear is intended to afford space for a differential cooler installed and serviced from below. ...noticed too are arm rest plugs after first filing out the faint cast-in detail mimicking such. The seat has been drilled out to allow seat belts to pass through the sides while a more elaborate seat mount will be fabricated for both the '69 and '68 Javelins. ...and small stuff, but the front suspension turrets have been reshaped somewhat to appear a bit softer around the top edges and filed to appear akin to half of an octagon. Again, my thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings... Needing material to tie-in front roll cage extensions to the firewall, noticed will be some material introduced into the corners of each footwell looking forward and across the top. The material added will also better support the side interior trim, while notice too that the cast-in pedals otherwise present have been carefully scrubbed out. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70