swede70

That looks very nice indeed. The Cordoba was a significant money maker for the Chrysler Corp. even as the economic situation of the company was sharply deteriorating during the period. Almost forgotten now, they sold a great many of them. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings and thanks for the interest displayed... For the use of lots of Tamiya masking tape and successive swipes of putty the hood bubble has been bonded and blended to the hood casting below. Putty can burn a surface and create additional work best avoided, hence only the seam and where the bead of putty would likely terminate top and bottom was left exposed before smearing what small amounts of filler were required. Generally it looks good, although work on the underside is needed to further tidy up matters. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Again - I really appreciate the kind notice... Although better and finer grade metal files will be required to ensure greater quality, an attempt to open up the front license plate area consistent with allowing a supply of scale air to reach the oil cooler using a spare '69 AMX bumper/grille/headlamp casting largely worked. I hope that sourcing better than average jeweler's files proves possible before working on the '69 Javelin SST bumper which is really no different than the '69 AMX; i.e. what differences exist between the two are restricted to the grill surround and related parts. I'm pondering cutting off the grill entire, although as can be seen nothing wears chrome plate but for the headlamp surrounds and maybe the inset and offset Javelin bull's-eye discreetly made out to the right. Should I do the headlamps and trim separately, or should I simply employ a Molotow pen and let matters be? Cutting everything apart might result in a cleaner build, although the effort may not translate into a tangibly better result. Notice too the three upraised areas denoting mounting hardware dimples along the edge of each headlamp fill cover. A pin vise and some plastic rod should make such possible. The smaller diagonal radiator support to fender braces just made out will be sourced from a Revell '69 Camaro via parts bundles that litter eBay. As seen from the cropped reference photo, the corners of each of the three openings don't seem especially sharp, although the cuts are clean enough. Oh - and although quite dark, a single high quality reference photo suggests the center vent on the air dam comes to a very discreet point akin to a shallow vee across the base of such. Here it looks almost flat across, hence I think I'll leave it alone... ...and just a fairly quick go of it with the aforementioned AMX spare; i.e. it's almost good enough. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Looks very clean and controlled. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70

Thanks for the kind interest... More stuff, mostly modest additions as well as a valve cover that can be cast and shared across builds. Most period Trans-Am entries had fittings that permitted fluids to be added under pressure - typically oil but also coolant. Towards the front of the valve cover in the reference photo can be seen such a fitting, while some gussets were added to ensure the addition wouldn't snap off if it were handled roughly. The detail is a characteristic RKE/JRT thing, and hence I felt it needed to be added. A turned aluminum fitting mated to some aluminum rod will flesh out the top, although the shape is mostly there. Also discerned with be trimmed exhaust dumps that are now flush and feature oblong openings, a new main roll hoop has been fabricated situated further back and leaning just a bit forward, and bars leading to the trunk and passing through the package shelf have likewise been added. Everything fits, everything is as close fitting as I could manage with what is still a thick shell. Plastic 'glass' will be fitted separately front and rear, hence no interference will be run for leaving material in that might otherwise join the two panels. The photo depicting the model head-on relates that the main hoop fits tightly, while the small grille surround ends have been redone and look a bit better. I don't have many roll cage images from '69, although the four or five I have will likely suffice. ...K. Ludvigsen image from '69 Bridgehampton, NY. Notice the gussets surrounding the fitting where oil might be injected under pressure. The remote oil filter mount is situated upside down and seems to run an oversized filter of some kind. Jo-Han SC/Rambler exhaust tips will be used to create the very short velocity stacks fitted to each carburetor venturi. ...still needing to be filed down a bit, although at least the new material is positioned appropriately. When cast the end result will be that much more rigid and amenable to final shaping. ...given the cast grille isn't anything special in terms of the egg crate pattern, it will likely be replaced with brass screen. The main hoop fits well... Hard to discern, but the exhaust dumps have been trimmed flat to match the contour of the rocker panels. The RKE/JRT rockers were often heavily stained at the end of any contest, hence no great effort was made here to ensure that the exits stretched out further than what is seen. The positioning of the main hoop is about right, while the tedious A-pillar bars will likely be worked up next concerning the cage. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Neat stance and very nice choice of scale footwear in particular. Looking very good... Mike K./Swede70

Thanks for the good will and continued expression of interest... Small but laborious stuff, for review of period photographs it appears that across '69 RKE/JRT didn't cut into the rocker panels to set the exhaust dumps further into the floor. All the Jo-Han Trans-Am Javelins have this feature cast-in to the body shell, while given I still have the shattered remains of one '70 Penske Jimmy Flintstone resin body, I fashions two plugs to clean up the rockers on my intended '69. The work is all but invisible, but such is my intent... Somewhat later in the season, with slightly different front flares. Not a high-resolution image this, but notice the uncut rocker panels... Early days for the underside of my model, with the plug work on the rockers faintly detectable. Further seen are some SC/Rambler springs and a pair of bottom shock absorber mounting points pulled from a pair of kits so that I can afford myself a staggered installation. An Aviaid-design extended wet sump pan was worked up, teamed with an early Jo-Han rendition of their oil pan when it still featured bolt detail on the mounting lip. Much of this is preliminary, and other things await. Thanks again... Mike K./Swede70

Some small refinements, although tedious enough to achieve... Here each cast-in flush door handle assembly has been drilled and filed out of the shell, with slightly lighter colored resin substitutes added for creation of a mold to reproduce such. The hope is that I can experiment apart and away from the model with finish options and not suffer unduly for trying to detail something already covered with layers of primer and paint. In addition, the RKE hood bubble needed some refinement before being bonded to the hood. Here I've addressed matters for adding material along the sides of the addition which could be filed and contoured comparatively straighter. The height across the rear in particular is less, and overall it's considerably cleaner. Finally, the recycled '68-'69 Javelin standard hood has been cut underneath in anticipation of gluing and blending the bubble to it. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, For trimming the chassis and fitting the part seen above, the air dam dropped right on. Thanks... The trimmed chassis with discreet additions... Mike K./Swede70

A bit hair-raising given I don't want to damage rare parts, here I've ground out the sides of the grille surround to accommodate the strange flat metal panels fitted to the racer. A pair of ignition wiring loom clips have been attached to each valve cover, while an offset wiper motor necessary to make room for the ram air system atop the abbreviated tunnel ram setup has been added. Hardly noticeable are pair of SC/Rambler shock absorbers poking through the front suspension turrets awaiting the fabrication of more structure to hold each fast. Finally, seen forward is the new front air dam w/ducts, a promo-issue radiator support/cross member base, as well as an oil cooler that awaits fitting. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Very well handled. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70

Looks beautiful - certainly an icon. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70

Looking very clean indeed. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70

Kind thanks for the sustained attention afforded... Rather tedious, but the raw outlines of the front air dam/duct system have been worked up. Some chassis work including the addition of a cast resin clone of promo tool only radiator support (the bottom of such anyhow) will be required to make room for the center duct. No - I'm not versed on the intricacies of the board concerning policy rooted in comment moderation - sorry! For collecting photos, the air dam/duct system always looked a bit raw. Three angled panels lead back to a flat wall in the center, while the ends bend back to a small degree with brake cooling ducts situated in a pair of segregated pockets. The oddly shaped panels noticed on the right and left ends of the grille surround will be fabricated soon... ...a little thick around the border walls, although some careful sanding and shaping will hopefully leave me with a usable assembly. Thanks for your review of this project update. Mike K./Swede70

My thanks again for the kind words and interest expressed... I've seen pictures of the '69 Javelin racer captured above, although I know very little about it. I think it's based in the U.K., but I can't claim to have pursued any leads consistent with filling out the history of such. Neat though, undoubtedly so. Thanks for uploading these... - Modest stuff and long delayed, at some point I wished to expand the base of the front wheel arch openings to reflect clearance issues encountered on such racing vehicles at full lock and a full compression/jounce. The top of the profile is stock, although heading towards the firewall the profile is pulled back. The front of the arch contour is expanded out a bit, although not so much as it is towards the rear. Although John Martin is obscuring the arch profile forward of the front tire, notice how the opening is pulled back rear of same... ...opened a touch forward too. Viewed head-on, the profile is even, although it appears a bit irregular viewed from the top given the presence of subtle flaring. ...and nothing huge, but the cast-in 'JAVELIN' rear license plate goes away even as I'll have to fill in a gap remaining atop the rear valance panel. Thanks for skimming this project update. Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, Trying if you will to reduce the mass of the hood bubble as per photos and for reasoned feedback afforded. Happily enough material exists beneath what I've worked up to allow such, hence no great issue. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, Mostly detail changes consistent with cleaning up past work, a replacement radiator support wider than the one used to date was substituted in, largely correcting the gory mismatch formerly seen with regards to how the front grille/bumper/fender end trim caps meshed with each front fender. Work is still needed, but at least it isn't embarrassing to contemplate now. Multiple careful applications of putty better blend the new rear flares to the shell, the front headlamps now have a convex shape versus flat fill panels as seen before, while the clumsy turn indicator overlays have given way to flush plugs. Also, the annual and promo issue 'JAVELIN' identification otherwise a feature of the front bumper license plate area has been scrubbed out entire. ...just a small study of the headlamps, covered and bulging out just a bit even as they're just non-functional silhouettes. The flush turn signal inserts are likewise seen, while other things noticeable would be the five panel Wink rear view mirror as well as the odd three duct air dam which is soon to come. The half-width sunshade is a fun detail in particular. Period SCCA Trans-Am cars look tough! As related above, better panel alignment, headlamp and turn signal fill panels redone, and no more 'JAVELIN' license plate i.d. I didn't have suitably sized solid plastic rod, so smaller plastic rod was mated to larger plastic tube to come up with what was required. For the new radiator support install and the dash board fit, the inner fender alignment has been thrown off and must be reset. Otherwise it's looking cleaner - especially the rear flares which received some light surface profile work as well. Difficult to make out, just behind the hood may be seen a pair of cast resin flush door handles which will replace the cast-in stuff on the shell. I'd rather finish the handles off of the shell versus covering them with layers of primer and paint, hoping to recover matters after the fact. Thanks for reviewing this project update. Mike K./Swede70

Those both look quite nice. Happy too to absorb a good customer relations/customer service tale given it offsets many tales of woe shared by others in relation to shipping gone wild, etc. Neat items surely. Mike K./Swede70

And with the assembled chassis without any adjustment to the rear track. It looks pretty decent. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, The flares reduced in shape and introduced into the shell I'll use for the '69 then. Some fine putty work and wheel arch shaping is still required, but mostly nice. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Thanks for the kind notice everyone, while just a bleached out fourth-generation Polish-American here; i.e. the handle name refers to one-time Dan Gurney protege David 'Swede' Savage and was reached for when I needed an eBay identity long ago. - ...the topic again, a bit scrunched prior to the start of the '69 season-ender at Riverside. Mike K./Swede70

Looking very clean. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70

Thanks for the kind interest expressed... Just further refinements as I start to tuck the flares into the shell. About 60% of the mass will be removed from each side before matters are declared done, although it's generally going smoothly. Given I'm going to overlay each onto a Jimmy Flintstone resin Trans-Am Javelin shell, I've substituted in my scrap example as I tighten things up. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Moving along... Here the four layers of sheet plastic have been glued together, while an initial effort has been made to arrive at a basic shape twice over. Seen in the background is a scrap 1968 Javelin SST promotional model that is being used as a fit surrogate until things are closer to what I desire for overall dimensions. The '69-specific flares look enormous now, but better too large than too small as filing down what is discerned isn't that difficult. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

No trouble David and thanks for your interest and reply... I picked up an Action Performance Chevrolet something or other at an area hobby shop as a trade-in for $14.95 and was doing nothing with it. I think the model dated back to maybe 2000-2005, but I'm not sure given only scraps of such remain. Indeed - no sidewall engravings are to be seen. Be alert that I effectively fried my first tires when I opted to remove the sidewall lettering given it's pretty stout stuff, while it might be good to dilute 100% acetone down to come up with something less hot than what I employed. Said sidewall letter seemed immovable for use of light duty nail polish remover, hence my first effort using something milder met with failure. I did have to boil water and immerse the wheels and tires within consistent with rendering the vinyl pliable enough to move. Later when I fit the wheels to the tires I decided to economize a bit and simply reused my original tire decal application. I took two bowls of water and added only enough to creep up to the top sidewall lest the water damage the decals, while know that enough heat spread through each tire to get the job done both front and rear. The IndyCals sheet was really inexpensive at $3 for two sets/sides, with shipping maybe $1. Happily I'm good to go for I ordered two sheets and will be ready when more Minilites arrive in maybe a month. The Legende Miniature Minilites received some outer edge reshaping, but I did nothing to turn them down to fit either the front or rear tires identified. The unseen rear lip of the front wheels was added to make things look complete, while some structure was added to the back rear centers to accommodate the axles I'd fabricated. The axle material settled upon was 2.5 mm brass wire, while nothing had to be carved out of the rearward axle recess on the resin chassis plate to ensure things sit evenly. All in all, it's pretty easy... Yes - somewhat underwhelmed with how the fade out center stripe on the hood came through. Even for having gathered a reasoned amount of research I wasn't familiar with the detail (i.e. the white to red fade), and yet I hovered over it upon delivery thinking that wow - this just isn't amazing even as it looks o.k. on low resolution web images. Earlier I was pondering the removal and replacement of the accessory decal 'stack' seen forward of either front wheel arch/housing, although I stopped given I didn't have equal or superior decals at the ready to replace what is seen. This understood, I still made an inspection of the decal work consistent with mulling the possibilities, and I fear the decal work has a clear coat atop it rendering it immovable. I'm still thinking about it and certainly the criticism is valid. As a low-risk project I might take a length of white decal stock and do a fade-to-red treatment atop it consistent with overlaying what Replicarz afforded us. Should I fail, the effort stays off of the model, although maybe it'll work? The rectangular shape would be no issue to cut, while the surface the decal image would rest upon is a flat as could be imagined. If anyone looking on has ideas on how to attack something like this, please feel free to contribute. Thanks... - Thanks Rex for the interest and the image... I suspect later this year I'll grab the '72 Geo. Follmer RWR release as you've captured above. I'm glad I wouldn't really have to attack the front spoiler, while nice too that they mastered the smaller of section A-pillar fresh air duct given scratch building something like that takes nerve and application. One of the new sets of Legende Miniature Minilites will be prepared for the '72-season winner, while I'll try to grab an Action Performance Ford-powered something or other consistent with grabbing suitable tires as well as all that might be taken from whatever iteration of a Cleveland Ford small block exists under the hood of such. I have a bunch of Welly/ACME '69 to '71-season BOSS 302 Trans-Am topics that beg for powertrain implants, and while I have worked up maybe 80% of what I need to do this for copying select parts of other tools in resin, some further parts and assemblies still need to be fabricated and/or gathered before I'm ready. Kind thanks... Mike K./Swede70