swede70

Greetings and thanks for the kind notice... Some indication of how I'll do the '69-specific rear flares. Traced four times over per-side, I'll carve out the resultant pucks from below to match the wheel opening contour, then sculpt the exterior profile before matching the side profile shape to the body itself. Seen is the remains of a junked Flintstone flared '70 Penske Javelin shell which will be carved out to accommodate whatever I work up. If I fail in my efforts, the folly of my attempt will be restricted to what is seen versus risking my evolving work. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

In the realm of the SC/Rambler, what would you need? I tend to go after the chassis - especially the rear suspension entire, etc. I'll 'double up' on the rear shock mounts to do a staggered installation on Javelin race projects, etc., while the rare funny car releases have a Model 20 rear end that can be substituted in versus the Dana iteration to help things again. In a manner of speaking, I'm trying to keep the model as 'Jo-Han' specific as possible in terms of tools and parts reached for. Oh - and the SC/Rambler cylinder heads are quite a bit better than the usual incorrect earlier Jo-Han AMC V8 issue even if the valve covers were updated and look the business... On another message board I responded to an SC/Rambler inquiry and sent along most of my Rambler-specific spares, while these days no Jo-Han parts or subassemblies however bad are strictly thrown away. At present I'm worked with glue burned and enamel paint-encrusted junk to square away what will emerge as reasoned inner fender/suspension turret detail better than the usual Rebel Machine implant - at least from the topside. I want something I can reproduce and spread across all my intended '68-'72 Trans-Am Javelin builds that isn't too reliant on rare spares. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

...and just a indication of the engine and underhood work intended to be performed, Seen is an AMT Gremlin Pro Stock tunnel ram with difficult to discern 3D-printed Holley 4500 carburetors, cut out front wheel arch shrouds, and a Jo-Han SC/Rambler shell waiting to go under the knife to help matters along. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, Needing a '69 RKE/JRT hood to clear the twin Holley 4500's beneath the blister, I was forced to make my own. Seen is a five-panel assemblage consistent with creating what was needed. It will have to be shrunk a bit for sanding, but better this versus having to add material. Notice too that the project is up on wheels. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, Just some further fabrication of the rear wheel arch resin dams, with care taken to keep all the joins and glue on the outside. I hope the fabrication of the walls for these proves the most tedious aspect of creating what I want. The bottom borders for the front wheel arches stands to be done next. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Thanks for the kind input... Oh goodness - I too have Audi Fox tales to tell, but rather in the iteration of the later Brazilian-made VW Fox which came from the same '72-'73 Audi 80 gene pool. Such a fragile front suspension with service items having to be replaced with mind bending regularity; i.e. strut bearings, brake pads, CV joints, etc. Heavy steering, although it shifted nicely given the atypical north to south engine and transaxle installation. I had two, while the styling (such as it was) suggested a self-propelled collapsible trailer that might go forwards or backwards at a moment's notice much like an armored car. Wildlife stood no chance against that profile either; i.e. anything unfortunate enough to be in my path would soon be rendered dead. I guess I was intent on having almost no vehicular fun for a period of years given I put 200K on each in succession. Oh - and did I mention the time resident skateboarders caved in the hood of my first example given it appeared to be a fetching hard-edged raised platform to slide across? True story this... And just on a related point, along with typing in 'Audi 80' as a diecast search term (excepting maybe a 1:43rd dealer promo from Schuco - perhaps?), I've found that some semi-promotional pieces can be turned up for chasing down items from VW do Brasil. Even just typing in 'VW diecast Brazil' will unearth some fun oddities otherwise lost within the ocean of eBay listings harboring such, while as can be seen, I now have my VW Fox shrine to worship at. This and repeated viewing of the film 'Blame it on Rio' which is aswim with Brazilian-made VW's is the secret of my enviably even temperament. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Excellent. The closest I came to experiencing a CS was to test drive a car that was listed for sale locally some years back. It was a '73 Bavaria in Ceylon Gold with a 4-speed, lost in you will in the back lot of a new car dealership. I remember driving in traffic and being side-by-side with other people driving contemporary iterations of the marque and wondering why on earth didn't they take notice of this rare car! Oh, if only I owned a Zeppelin hanger to buy and safeguard all of the on-edge and too frequently unloved old BMW's I've seen. How can one fall out of love with such, although frequently restoration costs exceed value, effectively undercutting the prospect of doing as much as we'd wish. It's nice to read that a Bavaria will be saved, while note that the Fjord Blue model seen in the stacks is a sealed resin 1:18 Best of Show (BoS) release and about the only thing going if one much have such. They've released a '68 2500 sedan in this hue as well as Ceylon Gold, while in time we'll likely get visually indistinguishable 2800's in different colors. I got this example as something bouncing around Hong Kong likely as an early sample for a bit less than $100 w/$24.95 shipping, although they go for more now. Everything is just so nicely detailed on the older BMW's; i.e. remove this or that and one has a piece of mechanical artwork ready to inspect. I remember jewel-like four-piston front calipers, a carefully laid out wiring harness underhood, plastic caps on the back of machine screws also found underhood lest one catch a wrist on such, etc. A festival of mechanical noises too with whirling this, humming that. Fun too to make out all the suppliers involved given their identities weren't strictly played down looking across the car; i.e. Bosch, VDO, Hirsh, Blaupunkt, BOGE, etc. Even the owner's manual was an experience in itself; i.e. the assumption was that you'd service it as-new and effectively own it forevermore. It was just wonderful. The half-hearted effort to federalize my '02 was charming in itself. Front indicators not visible from the straight on? No problem - we'll bulge out the indicators and add internal reflectors mounted just-so. The controls and gauges bore the original German abbreviations for their functions, while consistent with most foreign cars of the period, to operate one was to literally absorb the values and sensibilities of not only the exterior trappings of the make in terms of styling, but to literally live the accretion of judgments and decisions that culminated in automobile one was operating given they couldn't be hidden. Gosh - it was anything but a thrice-boiled world car rendered anonymous for purposes of marketing it anywhere. I miss it dearly, and hope I might acquire another given it was really so nice. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, A thread scraped from the bottom of the sea this - but a new development! I'd wanted to gather another Jimmy Flintstone flared resin shell of the '70 Penske Trans-Am Javelin harboring the intent of backdating an example to create a matching '69 Ronnie Kaplan/Javelin Racing Team entry parallel to my '68 effort. Happily I was able to purchase a $15 shell in recent days, and seen are a few photos consistent with telegraphing modest work performed to come up with the visual rudiments of the thing. Bubble flares would be needed for the back, while the hood bubble would likewise need to be fabricated from scratch. Nevertheless, not hateful as the basis of something: ...the '69 postcard image of a RKE/JRT team car looking into the new season. Soon the flush headlamp fill panels would be disallowed and vanish from the racers. ...seen is the '70 Flintstone shell with new '69 AMX front fender end caps, '71 Trans-Am Javelin headlamp fill panels, a '69 annual kit bumper/grille surround/grille assembly, with further work hidden towards the back. The interior is just a stock '69 annual release part - identifiable from a '68 for having headrests. Some dimensional weirdness is noticeable around the trim end caps, although I hope I can bring the irregularities discerned under control. Mostly the shell is about those nice front flares as well as the discreet and nicely captured panel separation detail seen atop each fender toward the base of the windscreen. For a '69-season project, the rear quarter panels will need work. Hey, it's just me forcing my imperative upon an otherwise fine resin casting intended to create a terrific '70-season rendition. ...not bad at all in profile. The rear quarter panel end cap trim has been carved out to allow fitment of a '69 AMX tail light cluster which itself has been cut free of the '69 annual kit issue bumper given it must be painted body color. Thankfully the 'Javelin' script tail light insert has recently been reproduced, otherwise I'd be toast in this regard. Doing the hood bubble to accommodate the twin Holley Dominator installation will be tedious, but hopefully rewarding. I'm happy to have many photos of it to guide future efforts. Not super obvious for work performed here, but the flared '70 Penske Trans-Am resin shell done by Jimmy Flintstone features the Donohue ducktail spoiler cast as one with the bodyshell, unlike the period kit issue where said spoiler was done as a separate part. For 99% of humanity this would be great, but here it had to be cut out, a new deck lid substituted in, and the quarter panel end caps reshaped to suggest nothing is amiss topside. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Thanks Randy C. for your reply (while I'm trying to economize bandwidth for not hitting 'reply' and copying content mind you)... The old Burago BMW's reflect a longstanding interest I have in BMW E9 and E10 'Neu Klasse' automobiles, better known to all as early CS's and the beloved '02 range. I had a '74 2002 and loved it dearly, while a CS coupe was always an aspirational thing. Seen is a small stack of BMW models, mostly picked up second hand for discovering misidentified online auctions that permitted me to obtain them for somewhat less than list. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Thanks for the kind notice, and neat indeed to see the ijb40 '80's iteration of a Trans-Am Camaro in 1:1... Seen will be some structural elements consistent with pouring resin directly onto the panel work of a spare diecast shell to work up the rudiments of panel flares. A great deal of the work of creating flares is to have material where you want it, possess enough working room to consistently shape what's there, and finally, ensuring everything fits tight to the underlying structure. Although a little odd to behold in total, this is the direction I've chosen to take. Given the relevant sections of the body must be positioned sideways and yet fit within my paint pressure pot (necessary for bubble reduction and control mind you), I decided to cut the spare shell in two. Next up are seen a pair of photos relating the extent of the wall work performed to keep the resin in-place akin to creating a small lake of the material 4X. Lastly may be seen what I intend to create the wheel arch lip out of; i.e. a length of plastic rectangular stock introduced inside of each hand-sculpted puck. The FIA has homologation papers available to view online that captures the rough dimensions of the flares used by Chaparral. The photo images so-sourced guide matters concerning how large each is and how much surface area should be factored in consistent with blending them effectively. If intrigued concerning what kind of discoveries may be revealed for looking at homologation papers, see: https://historicdb.fia.com/car/chevrolet-camaro-350 I expect to sand down each puck to the appropriate shape after first popping each poured element off of whatever body shell segment it would be attached to. The lip dimensions will pop out a bit regardless, and then I'll blend the pucks with the lips with putty to make up what I hope is a discreet distance. Slowly onward... ...seen above is an idea of what I'm after. A clean panel-length flare with a stock-appearing, squared-off outer lip. I just don't have faith I could reproduce these for simply shaping a heap 'o putty four times over... ...the individual halves will likely be kept upright for being situated on respective mounds of clay. Baggies will be set in place under each half to prevent damage to the pot lest anything spill. Noticed on the base of the pot is a linoleum-topped circle of material, with the linoleum providing a surface that can be cleaned of spilled and hardened casting resin given spillage can be popped off without too much trouble. Tight-fitting templates were fabricated to keep thing more or less sane even before white glue or silicone application on the walls. This work is actually further along given all four wheel arches now have dams, while the structure noticed missing here (i.e. the wheel arch inserts as well as the bottom most extent of each assembly) is being worked up. ...the rear then. ...and some rough guidance as to what material will be used to create the wheel arch lips even as I haven't carved out the imaginary flares to mate to such. Thanks again. Mike K./Swede70

Thanks Randy... I understand that liquidating a collection can be difficult work. Indeed - I'd ask for a copy of the inventory on hand in whatever format seems best for you. Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, Not that I'm a wild fan of old 1:24th Burago diecast models, but I do have a thing for BMW CS coupes, plus a weakness for cool period box art. Spied at an area hobby show, I gingerly inquired about the two models seen in their original packaging, expecting to be quoted maybe $30-$50 each given the boxes rarely live. Instead the price quoted was $5 each, hence the funny box art and neat contents followed me home. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

They both look very tight and polished. Congratulations on your most efficacious swap... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings and thanks for the kind notice... Tedious to fabricate and fated to be invisible, here would be a pair of exhaust dump floor 'bumps' taking shape and being fitted. Hollow round stock was cut in half and carefully filed and fit to match the irregular contour of the interior floor. Happily everything fits sans interference. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, ...and back together - sometimes a source of drama given new inclusions parts-wise may bring with it surprises. Another ERTL '70 1/2 Z/28 in Citrus Green was picked up as a low-cost dust bunny across the weekend that was for $23, and hence some latitude to play with and/or fabricate flares off the project as-seen has been afforded. Fresh hardware, 'glass' and various new chrome bits are always appreciated, hence a small victory of sorts was registered. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings and thanks for the kind notice everyone... Fleshing out the roll cage structure, noted will be the A-pillar bars and the bar furthest across the front tying these together. Fit and symmetry is very important, while know that I opted to cut out the plastic headliner and further chose to grind off the mounting pegs to locate the stock glass/headliner assembly to afford myself a bit more clearance. The odd camera angles chosen are intended to show off the fit achieved to the best effect. Thanks... ...hard to see, but I've built up some structure and fabricated some fill panels where the stock rear seat pad(s) would otherwise be seen. It isn't complete, while it's better than some inexplicable gap remaining for all to see. Unfortunately the dog leg hinges used for the doors are going to prevent the creation of roll cage extensions intended to tie the interior structure into the front suspension pickup points, although I will come up with something partial to afford a semi-complete look in this regard. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, A small update this, with work related to fuller elaboration of the roll cage in view. Side bars angling down slightly as they move forward from the main hoop are witnessed, as well as a cross brace just forward of the dash board which has been shaved again just below in anticipation of adding further extensions to tie in the front suspension to the chassis stiffening cage structure. A preview of what I'm attempting to capture in-scale. Note the gauge pod/instrument binnacle on a largely stock dash profile, the side bars of the roll cage angling slightly down as-described above, as well as the cross bar positioned just forward of the dash as-installed. A Karl Ludvigsen image from Lime Rock, CT. '70 then, with Jim Hall wondering if I can in fact pull all this together... Me making a go of it then! The front bumper on the standard nose ERTL second generation Camaro is pretty rough, and given this reality, I've opted to sand and shape every surface consistent with cleaning matters up. The profile of the ends needed help in particular, and here they've been massaged to look considerably better. Moving on, the small bumper overriders will be added separately at a later point, while some surface mounting hardware in the form of pin heads will be added to lend some interest where it might not be expected. In addition to the roll cage taking shape, seen will be a revised seat mount and a discreet head rest pad to flesh out the mount it sits upon. Thanks for reviewing this project update... Mike K./Swede70

Those look nice indeed. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70

Thanks for the kind notice... Seen is the addition of a coolant expansion tank done with resin castings of this and that combined with some scratch built brace work. The tank is based on a turned aluminum 1:25th part done by S&S Specialties, while the cap is a 1:18th Lane '68 Shelby Mustang GT500KR radiator cap also reproduced in resin. Tedious to do in total... ...and seen just below is a test fit of the new dash roughly matched to the standard but extended steering column. The steering wheel is from a GMP '69 Trans-Am Camaro and will eventually be painted semi-gloss black across the spokes, while a Hwy. 61 '69 Camaro will sacrifice steering column decorative collar/trim to slide over what is made out here. Proceeding slowly then. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Very nice - looks really clean.

Just the revised dashboard with the heater vent panel otherwise positioned below cut off, while the instrument binnacle grew along the top and shrunk along the bottom and sides. Tidier in total, although almost invisible to behold. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Another mild update to this project... Seen will be the roll cage starting to take shape after first filling in some holes and such across the interior. It only took three attempts to come up with the appropriate dimensions, but is finally looking and fitting as it ought. The soft radius for the top bend on the main hoop looks odd, but nevertheless reflects reality. Also and the cause of much worry, I was happy to discover that the standard ERTL steering column and steering mechanism (such as it is) will coexist with the GMP small block Chevrolet Trans-Am engine as well as the power booster chamber without any modifications required - whew! Thanks for reviewing this most recent project update... Mike K./Swede70

Nicely done. Thanks for taking the time to gather your insights and relating them so. Mike K./Swede70

Sort of a minimal update; i.e. just enough to telegraph that I have a pulse if you will with regards to this project... Most write-ups concerning the Chaparral Trans-Am Camaro(s) will speak of the special fiberglass dash board or pod fitted to the cars, while for review of photographs it seems to me that the instrument binnacle was so-fabricated and fit into a more or less stripped standard dash with the raised sections cut or ground off. Consistent with this impression and needing to fashion such before a roll cage can be made, the photo attached suggests a start. I'll have to fabricate the binnacle again, making it longer front-to-back across the top while tucking it in a bit better along the bottom, but as a start it isn't horrible... ...and a revision of past work here, the duct work forward of the radiator support drooped a bit (it likely still should - a bit) and furthermore, the relief cut into the top panel of the duct ought not to have been there; i.e. the cast-in hood latch assembly extended further down than I'd desire and needed to be finely trimmed out so the contour of the aforementioned top panel might be straight instead. Very tedious to do given how soft the plastic of the ERTL chassis and related parts are. Further updates in this regard include the addition of side tank detail on the radiator core proper, a scratch built inlet/hose attachment point, and an evened up photo etched radiator surface matrix overlay that otherwise wasn't sitting down properly. Sometimes all the trouble just makes me want to reach for a well-engineered Tamiya plastic kit and forget about the fabrication of well nigh everything necessary to get anywhere at all... Sort of a bore in total, but it's what I've been up to! Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, I think the color is known as Ontario Orange which is a pleasant and warm tone certainly. Nice work performed consistent with bringing this good tool up to snuff. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70