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

Though not a NASCAR 'head' so to speak, it would be a good use of your time to familiarize yourself with the best of the online digital image archives currently available. I wouldn't strictly expect detailed coverage of the earliest days of the series, although coming into the 1960's I believe you'd be well served for exploring what might be discovered. Consider exploring: The SAE/Petersen Publishing Archive The Revs/Stanford University Archive The Dave Friedman Collection/Benson Ford Research Center Each system has it's operational quirks, and it makes sense to scribble notes as well as copy website information to ensure that what is discovered remains accessible across repeated visits. Search terms that yield favorable results can also be plugged into search engines which can be chased in a systematic fashion. As to the digital archives related above, most will allow downloads with licensing restrictions, while for my builds I typically segregate all the information I may into discreet files. When something specific is being worked up, I'll copy select images to concentrate entirely on that aspect of a build; i.e. a roll cage. Good luck and hopefully others will chip in and elaborate further... Mike K./Swede70

Know that I greatly appreciate the continuing interest and good cheer demonstrated... The roll cage evolves a bit, while the '70-specific interior door trim always a feature of the Jo-Han and AMT-badged Javelin Trans-Am releases has been filed away to make room for a pair of '69 annual kit panels suitably modified. It's rather slow work for only a single bar may be added to the cage at any one time, although for removal of the side trim access is somewhat easier to the floor. ...barely made out, a small addition has added to the center element of the front spoiler lip so that it bows out and come to a slight peak along the front. ...and for the reference photo afforded, notice how the front spoiler appears to be a composite of elements when reviewed close. Jack Brady photo from '69 St. Jovite. ...back to the cage, I'll probably section in material to flesh out the firewall as it would help to more positively locate roll cage members tying into the overall structure. ...and seen here and there are Sharpie marker dots consistent with communicating where everything should go. Sharpie markers are your friends! Thanks again... Mike K./Swede70

Very nice indeed. They're proceeding along in fine style. Mike K./Swede70

Thanks again for the kind interest expressed... Here the basic dimensions of what stands at present as a six-point roll cage are locked in. It fits well, no additional room strictly exists to accommodate the design further upward or outward, while a host of additional bars and gussets will hopefully complete it. ...just a look forward into the interior of the topic, this a K. Ludvigsen image from Bridgehampton '69. Notice how the A-pillar bars bend down somewhat higher than expected and slightly forward of the dashboard. ...the bars terminating in the trunk area were removed and set a bit wider, while those bars forward of the main hoop are new. Once these basic dimensions are set, adding additional elements becomes a low-risk thing. ...sort of a sea of white plastic and resin, note the shape of the aforementioned A-pillar roll cage bars and how they will match the angle of the sheet metal (so to speak) set atop each in the next photo. ...so generally looking good. I'd add more photos to telegraph the fit achieved, although this aspect of the build will be telegraphed readily enough without resorting to overkill now. Kind thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Thanks everyone for looking in and affording words of encouragement... Wishing to start in with regards to under hood braces and such, I decided to cut out the SC/Rambler hood hinge pockets and patched in new material to blend back to the firewall to better allow me to do so. Discreetly made out will be the inclusion of a subtly shaped solid plastic rod atop the Jo-Han firewall to better plug gaps between it and the body proper (it helps), while the new oil injection port may also be seen added to aluminum rod that passes through the new cast resin valve cover featuring gussets to support such. Finallly, a CDI module has been added to the passenger's side footwell, and a lone fire extinguisher makes an appearance on the transmission tunnel - safety first, circa 1969! Apologies in the I didn't notice the fill panel seen forward wasn't centered! It's just resting in place, although things generally look tight. Much still needs to be added underhood, but at least I'll not be disguising horrid limitations of the platform. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Thanks for the continued interest... Indeed - the '68 and '69 Javelins are barely distinguishable, although one of the changes is the cross hair frame and offset target roundel found within the grille/grille shell as seen below. Noticed will be an effort to putty and final finish the turn indicator plugs, as well as fit the bumper attachment hardware done with slightly countersunk sequin pins. Four are seen from face-on, one each of the ends, and four more to 'secure' the back bumper. On the racers the bumpers were painted, while the hardware was on occasion left unpainted to form a slight visual contrast; i.e. all for the good. Moving along slowly, the small overlay panels on each end of the grille surround have been fabricated anew and evidence better control for shape, while the vent detail just back of the license plate indentation on the front bumper has been cut into the rare '69 bumper/grille/headlamp casting, the openings being rendered slightly smaller even as they might grow later. Along the back, the pair of Studio 27 photo etched grilles have been temporarily tacked in place, with the mesh size small enough to appear suitably discreet. Lastly, three respective dots of glue applied twice over along the edges of the headlamp fill panels help to reproduce the hardware attachment dimples made out in the reference photo seen further up this thread. I'm so slow! Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Very beautiful - they're looking great. Mike K./Swede70

Thanks for the continued interest and enthusiasm expressed... Minor stuff, but my recent round of resin casting yields up Jo-Han SC/Rambler exhaust tips that I could employ as abbreviated intake trumpets on the Holley 4500 carburetors seen on the model. Each trumpet needs to be worked over further consistent with subtly siamesing each to the other in turn, although minor trouble I'm encountering with the unmodified units witnessed is actually good news given that they should bump into each other ever so slightly. What are better known as 'Dominators' weren't actually afforded a trade name until the end of 1969 and formed a part of a Holley Carburetor/Colt Industries promotion where drag racing enthusiasts submitted possible names for the design, with the winner to be declared at the World Finals in December of that year. I've read that the fix was in and that the design was internally identified as the Dominator early on, but I have no further insight regarding the matter to share. Ford was closely involved in the development of the design consistent with supporting their semi-hemi NASCAR 429 mill and then-new Cleveland-head small block Trans-Am 302, while it was something of a coup for RKE/JRT to spirit away examples to fit to their Trans-Am racers. Further small additions include the remote oil filter mount situated upside down and evidencing an oversized filter, original application unknown. It looks odd in photos, although it better than approximates reality. The Jo-Han oil filter mount was cut from the front cover of the engine proper, while the needless second filter mount cast-in to the inaccurate Gen. 1 AMC engine block further back has been ground out and blended away. Seen forward is one of the new resin valve covers with the gussets surrounding the oil fill fitting cleanly reproduced from my earlier effort. I'll be able to drill such and insert a metal rod that will 'wear' a Detail Masters aluminum fitting that looks the part. Also noticed will be more concerted work on the bumpers, with a pin vise employed to drill out what would constitute the mounting points front head-on, the sides of the front bumper, as well as holes deemed necessary on the back stamping. The slightly indented 'flush' turn indicator plugs will be permanently set and blended with putty after masking each turn hole with Tamiya tape perforated with a hole punch to minimize smear, while notice too the new Studio 27 photo etch grill material that awaits fitting. ...and finally, another period image. Uncredited, it is part of the memory/photo collection for Ron Grable obituary/memorial that may be found online. Within a rather short span of time Ron Grable, Ronnie Kaplan and John Martin have all passed - sigh. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Nice work on the 'glass'. I've been thinking Novus 2 is too harsh and Novus 1 too tepid for words, while (again) Tamiya comes up with something that proves superior. If it might matter, sometimes I'll go over my clear plastic with a very wet application of Mequiar's Quik Wax which seems to help too. Indeed - I'm hoping our Michigan weather doesn't quickly morph into something terrible. Trimming my Jo-Han Javelin glass and fitting it tightly to the resin shell I'm using will be dreary work enough, although getting the front and rear screens in good enough condition to confidently use would help too! Kind regards... Mike K./Swede70

Very beautiful and well-controlled. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70

That looks great. Certainly a nice stance, intelligent and well-thought out upgrades throughout, while the color choice made will surely set it apart. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70