swede70

Nice save there. The Hwy. 61 tool of this topic is very nice, and it would be a loss not to rehabilitate any that may be helped so. Thanks for sharing. Mike K./Swede70

Thanks everyone for the kind words and interest displayed... I wasn't going to grab the new 1:18th ACME Swede Savage AAR 'Cuda '70 Road America (according to the decal placement seen) race release, but then it seems no one will soon do the model in the alternate color or tool up much more or better at this point. With this said, I might take up again was is intended to be a '70 Bridgehampton SCCA Trans Am Swede Savage project ; i.e. the one with the wider tires in white resin seen further up this thread. What follows here are a few very discreet mods. that can be done to help the version just released without declaring firm fidelity to 100% accuracy given I won't do much here. As Dirty Harry relates to us through time, "..a man's got to know his limitations" - or some such given so much I do doesn't strictly see an end! ...at least to the extent of matching the accessory decal markings, this would be the 1:1 car and driver doing their thing at Road America where Swede would finish a reasoned second. ...not much is really on view here, although I've scratched off the door-situated driver's identification decals (which come off cleanly, whereas a very lightly stamped down length to Tamiya tape across the numerals just below didn't damage them) were replaced with brighter, sharply registered markings from the new Mike's Decals 1:25th scale Dan Gurney/Swede Savage Trans Am AAR 'Cuda waterslide sheet now for sale. Strange as it is to report, the new waterslide images of the 'SWEDE SAVAGE' lettering is rendered larger on the 1:25th sheet than on the model as-delivered, whereas applying replacement markings by hand allows one to shift thing about to align things with greater skill. Other modest things discerned will be the flush exterior door handle detail washed with Testor's Model Master Magnesium Buffing given they'd come through done in black, while the jack point fluorescent flashes where first scrubbed out with acetone to be replaced with tiny lengths of R/C aircraft decorative vinyl tape. The tape is thin and vibrant enough of color to eliminate from consideration water slide decal options that might otherwise be tapped. ...again, not a big deal here. The ACME models come through with photo etched inner grille surround detail that is frankly unwanted. In short, one would otherwise see tiny chrome trim around each thin opening each of the two little grilles here as per-stock, although these pieces can be prying out with tweezers for little risk. Paint will chip off, although glue residue wasn't noticed by me. Tamiya bottled Semi-Gloss Black/X18 is the stuff to use to touch-in any damage, while don't worry overmuch if the application of this would seem at first to obscure detail beneath. For experience I've learned that the paint will air out and visibly thin consistent with affording you an invisible fix. Unnoticed and by design, the grille inset 'PLYMOUTH' identification other present to the right was likewise painted out. Finally as even as not everyone will have such spares, I took a set of old Hwy. 61 front indicator lenses and painted them the same shade before using the pair as fill panels. The ACME AAR 'Cuda race releases come through without these parts even as their absence is all but indiscernable. Happily I have enough spares to cover all Barracuda project in relation to some of the little trim things; i.e. I needed three sets of the front turn indicator signal lenses to cover both ACME race releases and what is being done up solo on the project that begins this thread... ...and kind of last of the little stuff (for now), I decided I didn't want the recent Goodwood Revival/DAN GURNEY FOR PRESIDENT bumpersticker on the back bumper. And yes - I have the Car & Driver issue from 1964 with an inserted copy of the actual bumpersticker available in-period, hence I hope I'm still in good standing as a card-carrying Dan Gurney enthusiast. As for the tiny bumper and the rendition of this marking in scale, now I know that it will scratch off without much effort. I regret to relate that I comprehensively wrecked mine for attempting to remove the bumper entire, otherwise I would have had something to sell on eBay to recoup costs in a sense. Thankfully I had a spare Hwy. 61 bumper to replace it, while at the same time I took the opportunity to touch in the spots atop the casting where one can see bare plastic consistent with the practice of chroming the part with it still being on a plastic tree or sprue. Nothing beats a Molotow pen in this regard (o.k. - one could replate the entire thing!) , hence this looks a touch better for all the pain endured for wasting bumper number one. Thanks for reading this update... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, Looking really nice both. Another thing to seek out is the WIX oil/air filter promotion 1:24th Cobra which can go for very little online. When new there would be people trying to sell them for $80 at area shows, and I was almost tempted at that. In particular, whoever tooled and designated finishes for the model opted to color stain the exhaust dumps in a very accomplished fashion. I grabbed one these for less than $30 if my memory of such is accurate, whereas if you can come up with an example for something close, do consider it. If it tells you anything, my initial ambition was simply to steal the tires for an SCCA Trans Am road racing project, but then I just couldn't kill it without regret. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

...some small updates then, Seen will be a new Group 19 Ronnie Kaplan Engineering wing assembly for the deck lid, inscribed front indicator recesses suggesting that the front fenders were never punched to allow standard indicators to be fitted, as well as new jacking points underneath the model just aft of the exhaust dumps. The wing material is from a Heller 1:48th scale helicopter kit, which afforded a consistently shaped profile across the length I desired twice over given I had to mate a pair of elements in a vague shape of a boomerang. Desiring down-force rather than lift, indeed - I assembled what is seen here effectively upside down. The mounts were fabricated from sheet plastic, while the end hardware is simply hex rod cut to size and located with care. Also spied even as it registers as minor stuff, the exhaust dumps have been trimmed back, while the aforementioned fender side indicator 'dimples' were etched on after first removing the raised stock detail for light sanding and scrubbing. Worried that I'd situate them incorrectly, I carefully taped off the lense detail as seen on a spare '69 AMX body taking extra care to very firmly press the edges of the mask onto the surrounding panel work to best define where things were, and then transferred the tape mask onto the '68 Javelin shell before lightly etching what is seen here. Further and lastly, a five-panel Wink rear view mirror housing was fabricated and fitted, although I'll likely redo the mounts in brass or some such given they strike me as a bit heavy. Thanks for reviewing this update. ...notice if you will the thin spoiler hanging in space on the rear of the deck lid. These had aluminum mounts with two options as to the level of the element sought, whereas I've opted to position mine on the second and thus lower option. ...hard to see given I've used a recycled promo deck lid cast in avocado-colored plastic with the new Group 19 wing being olive drab, things nevertheless look o.k. ...hardly visible again, nevertheless the size of the wing element isn't far off; i.e. I was fortunate not to have to purchase multiple helicopter kits to find something suitable. The Wink rear view mirror assembly can just be made out, while the small cylindrical jack point behind the near side exhaust dump is readily noticed. Yes - some reasoned and not too large spring shackles stand to be added. ...revealing the slight boomerang profile I spoke of, the profile from the top isn't terrible. ...and finally the view from the front three-quarter. The Wink mirror assembly is perhaps a bit too prominent, although period photographs do telegraph the size of the same. In the main, I don't have much in the way of room to tuck things in higher, whereas I trust what dimensions I was able to find and subsequently work up. The trimmed exhaust dumps look a bit better, while the fender indicator indentations spoken of are cleanly executed. Thanks for reviewing this update again... Mike K./Swede70

Looks great - very impressive overall.

Greetings, Just in passing given I've found it helpful, the link provided will take one to a website where one can isolate and identify typefaces/fonts consistent with reverse-engineering graphics to understand what materials are needed to do decals in-scale. I'd been encountering difficulties given the wide range of styles and cluttered web search results, although for framing matters as a pursuit of '1960's numeral fonts'', I eventually tripped across the resource revealed here. The results are intended for use on a '68 Ronnie Kaplan Engineering Javelin, although the utility of www.identifont.com will hopefully come across to the user as plain. It seems I'll be in the market for Battista, with Carousel as a possible alternate. That one can compare finalists side-by-side really lends utility to the site, while what I've attached communicates how I've used it. Try then: http://www.identifont.com/differences?first=Battista&second=Carousel ...contrast then to the below reproduced image: Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Probably already know to you, but this I found nice and agreeably detailed. See: http://www.tachrev.com/GrandAm1973Nascar.htm

Indeed - looks like a nice tool. Thanks for photographing each tree plus decals so that we might look over your virtual shoulder. Mike K./Swede70

That would be a neat and certain strong collection of spares to work with to create both a stock as well as suitably-modified Trans Am racer. Indeed, the flared shells were for a time sold en masse and for very little on eBay, although it seems now that the supply had ebbed. Jimmy Flintstone still sells the transkit with the old school cast white metal roll cage parts off of their website for about $70 if it might help anyone. My late-season '70 effort is based upon one of the first transkits sold from way back in 1995, while the early-season car and shell is based upon one of the fire sale $15 eBay listings that have since dried up. Although disconcerting to view just how much clean up is necessary to render the flared shell casting usable, for careful effort it's certainly possible and shouldn't form a barrier to others contemplating this pathway forward... And just in passing, know that the front bumper found on the '70 Jo-Han Mark Donohue Trans-Am release differs from the Jim Pachal NASCAR GT/annual release given it doesn't 'feature' the cast-in 'JAVELIN' license plate detail akin to what is seen on the promos. I too have a standard production '70 Mark Donohue kit taking form as a stack 'o parts, although there isn't really anything worth seeing at this point. Thanks for your reply and shared enthusiasm... Mike K./Swede70

Looks very nice and highly refined without question. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings and thanks for the kind interest displayed to date... A quick series of updates this, with accompanying notes: ...this would be George Follmer, likely at Riverside '68. Note how the roll cage members stretching down from the roof line and terminating into the dash bend twist up a bit while also being visible from the floor heading upwards toward the fire wall. Also notice if you will the absence of the factory arm rest which were usually tossed in a bin on a period Trans Am topic. Geo. is obviously a dedicated Ray Ban Man... ...one of the very few full-color interior photos discovered, image by Ron Lathrop. Note what I believe to be a differential cooler access panel atop the rear seat base metal work, as well as crude supplementary padding that has my back hurting as I contemplate the discomfort suggested here. ...and my interior taking shape. The upturned bars situated behind the A-pillars have be replaced for removal of what I'd worked up, while notice that the separate interior panel detail has allowed me sufficient access to both drill out and fill what is faint arm rest detail at best on the stock tool. While the interior tub was apart, I ground off the dated cast-in pedal assembly in anticipation of replacing this with a better rendered material. To ease painting, the entire roll cage (less the bars attached to the firewall and angling down) is a one-piece affair that separates from all that is seen. Although one would expect the chassis and cage to be painted some suitable gray, instead it's blinding WHITE! ...more together now, although material remains to be added. Fill panels of varying description will be fabricated and blended in, while further dash work stands to be done. The fill panel w/contour seen behind the driver and up to the trunk bulkhead is recycled Jo-Han SC/Rambler material, while note the new differential cooler access panel/hatch. Note too the roll cage bars below the dash which were recently added. Understanding that the chassis doesn't exactly form a point of strength on this build, some things are nevertheless worth pointing out. Here the cast-in leaf springs have been partially filed down, while SC/Rambler parts have been overlaid complete with the shock absorber bottom pick up points and the shocks themselves. Two SC/Ramblers gave their lives to this effort given I wanted a staggered shock installation. The fuel cell housing is something old that was mastered and reproduced as a cast item to be, again, spread across builds... Moving on, the subframe holes have been drilled, while the radiator support/crossmember present on the promo chassis and missing on the kit releases has been introduced here. I hope to cast this given all my Javelin builds could profit from such. Lastly, plastic rod of a slightly smaller diameter was fit both into the exhaust header collectors as well as the dumps to form what would appear to be a glue-free bond that doesn't allow any day light to show through; i.e. the assemblies look admirably clean for the effort made. Thanks for reviewing this update. Mike K./Swede70

First - what an incredible range of thoughtfully considered topics and beautifully rendered graphics you've created... Being selfish, I too would desire certain topics and would hope you or others might ponder the following: Fred Cady did a huge range of 1:25th scale Sports Car Club of American Trans American Sedan Championship sheets, albeit he never did graphics or a sheet for the Ronnie Kaplan/Javelin Racing Team '68 or '69 Trans Am Javelins run in that series. Oh - how lovely if such were afforded! See first below is one of the '68 entries: ...and then one of the '69 entries if you will: In 1:20th scale, the MPC 1:20th American Motors AMX can either be done as a solid color, or at the discretion and for application of the owner, as a 'Shadow Mask' car. I don't know if anyone has worked up and/or sells proper stripes to do this topic in an admittedly unusual scale. ...and finally, are any select graphics available in 1:18th scale? I have some '69 AMX's that surely could use air cleaner decals after the lids are copied and cast in resin, and subsequently chrome plated. While 1:18th scale demand might be light on this message board, further afield one could make a modest business case for tackling select topics. I realize that the size of the decal sheets used would be a factor surely, but all the same, with a price adjustment for extra labor and a bit of creativity might something be possible? ...kind thanks for your consideration of this message and what few ideas it contains. Mike K./Swede70

Thanks everyone for the kind interest expressed, Lest I sow further confusion, my reference to the 'pebble tread' is more a description of the shortcomings of the old MPC tire rendition of the actual Goodyear design than any specific reference to what was run in period. Gosh - if one had an example of the rear tires I currently have on the '68 RKE/JRT Javelin in hand, a person on the scene would generally afford thumbs up to the sidewall detail, think less of the harsh edge formed by the sidewall as it meets the tread proper, and finally, take a rather dim view of a wholly inaccurate pattern regarding the tread itself. Not as clear as I'd desire, I've attached a pair of images of the old MPC tire I currently have fitted on the rear of my '68. I find that the lack of really terrific scale footwear for 1:25th SCCA Trans Am topics to be disconcerting, while at the same time I've tried most everything off the shelf or sourced from a kit box. Even the fairly good Replica & Miniatures of Maryland Trans Am wheel and tire set can be improved upon - or so says I! On another front, while I like the proportions and choices made for tread and sidewall detail on the new Chief Joseph Trans Am tires, I'm not strictly a fan of the very soft and pliable material of which they are made. As for wheels, I have scale Minilites, ARE Torque Thrusts, ARE '69 CP-200's/Trans Am wheels everywhere! Wouldn't it be fun to come up with ARE '70-season Tran Am wheels which were intended to win business back from Minilite going into the '70 season but didn't? See: I'm starting to play around with molding my own tires, hence understand that I might favor the sidewall design of one, the indented and alternating indented diagonally-lined 'tread' of the traditional dry spec. Goodyear Blue Streak seen on the (again) very old MPC Winston Cup NASCAR tires of old, and even go for cutting strips of vinyl tire tread off to work up alternate diameters and heights. As a reasoned resource apart and away from period photographs, vendors of accurately-patterned racing tires plying their nylon-plyed wares can be found online and can help to clarify matters in a general sense if one wants a quick resource. Hmmm, in this instance maybe try: https://www.racegoodyear.com/tires/sports.html It's all very preliminary at this point, but (for example) if one reads about Mark Donohue playing around with super modified tires up front and rather tall profile NASCAR tires on the rear of the mid to late-season '70 Penske Javelin within the pages of the Van Valkenburgh/Mark Donohue title The Unfair Advantage, it's pretty clear that an early season entry is going to look and sit quite a bit differently than a late-season iteration of the same topic. Although mostly a blinding flash of resin, seen below is a late-season '70 Penske Racing Javelin wearing some resin masters for tires I worked up that may in turn be used to create molds for softer and black-tinted scale footwear. Consider then: ..and so quickly contrasted to an early-season rendition of the same basic car. The model seen further below features the terrific Jimmy Flintstone flared shell as employed on the project above, with Chief Joseph 3D-printed Minilite wheels (plugged so I might employ a four-lug retention system if you will), different tires, a more basic seat as well as out of the box front spoiler which generally looks right for an early-season car. The front tires are Replica & Miniatures of Maryland items up front (akin to 1:24th scale Monogram '69 L88 Corvette issue), while the rears are vinyl NASCAR stuff picked up from another cottage industry vendor. Ugh - I have too many projects! Kind thanks for the feedback and stories availed. More to come as they say... Mike K./Swede70

Beautiful work - charting the progression of everything plus the articulation of new techniques always fascinates me. Further, it seems we both derive a high from granulated airborne glue from old builds we carefully break apart and reconstruct! Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, Not that I'll soon be awarded a lifetime achievement award for the enviable number of project completions I register, nevertheless if I might network with others, absorb insights and share a few ideas, no great harm will come of it. This would be a Jo-Han annual/funny car release of their 1968 American Motors Javelin slowly being resuscitated into a coherent rendition of a Ronnie Kaplan Engineering/Javelin Racing Team SCCA Trans Am racer from that year. About decade ago I gathered up a pair of glue bomb models in the form of a ghastly 1968 and a still-worse 1969 Javelin SST, hence with the march of time, parts gathering and (I certainly would hope!) progression of a certain skill set, some things come into focus. The '68 is enough together to constitute a going thing, whereas the '69 will eventually emerge, albeit not now. On with the show then... - This would be the topic in-period and at play. Seen is Peter Revson early in the '68 season, while I don't really know if the material hanging down up front is strictly intended to be an air dam full truth be told. Also, they really didn't have any effective anti-dive built into the front suspension in '68, hence what is seen isn't the static setting if you will. ...and this would be a few project mock up images which depict the stock release with various modifications and updates. Chassis is basically standard '70 Mark Donohue Trans Am release with '69 Hurst SS/AMX power so to speak, while the stock interior has been cut up to combine the standard '68-specific interior side trim with the bare '70 racer floor. The cage is scratch built, the wheels are resin clones of 1:24th Monogram '69 L88 Corvette racer fare. Tires in the rear are ancient MPC Goodyear Blue Streak Sports Car Specials with the curious 'pebble' tread these had, whereas the front tires are vinyl repops of NASCAR tires from the early '60's purchased at an area hobby show. The turned aluminum rings employed on the wheels were like-sourced, albeit I can't remember who did them. Stuff is missing and/or incomplete at this point (i.e. the Group 19 RKE wing in the back for one), although as tides shift, now and again updates will be made to this post. ...the roll cage was largely finalized last evening, with the top tubes heading forward from the main hoop splaying out a bit as they arrive under each A-pillar. The odd avocado panels are from a deceased '68 promo picked up for less than $20. Happily it carried an organ donor card, and thus it's vitals were transferred to something living. Headlamp fill panels are '70-'71 Penske Javelin, whereas the turn signals have been filed out and plugged. The cast-in 'JAVELIN' identification on what would be a license plate platform up front has been ground out and filed to remove evidence of such, while a hole to afford scale air to a scale oil cooler (Jo-Han Superbird at this point) was likewise cut. Neat, appropriately patterned screen has been cut to protect the intake area from picking up larger debris as seen in the next image: ...looking the business then with the roll cage installation being a tight as I could make it. The side mirror is Jo-Han Superbird stuff again. Happily the special promo-issue grille with the chromed and upraised 'Javelin' script lived, hence it reappears here. The Wink multiple-element rear view mirror is coming. Obviously, all the identifying badges have been removed, although occasionally the fender script i.d. was retained by Ronnie Kaplan Engineering on their racers. ...not too bad in profile, with a 1:18th GMP Trans Am Camaro diecast fuel filler used on the deck lid. I think they rendered it too small for 1:18th, whereas it looks at home here. Noteworthy and tedious will be the rocker panels which were cut off and replaced with '71 rockers that first had the upraised trim present on them carefully sanded down and out. Sanding the same detail out on any rare shell isn't recommended for either children or adults. Again, the upper bars on the cage are splayed looking forward, hence they look a touch odd here. I keep trimming the exhaust dumps again and again for length, and some work still needs to be done here... ...noticed will be the scrubbed off dash pads with overlaid panels fitted as per photo reference gathered. The fill panel beneath the rear screen, the trunk lid, the quarter trim extensions and rear valence panel are all separate items, while the sans bumper profile is an insert that was scratch built and is not yet complete. That my old trunk lid and fill panel were glue-fried and distorted pretty much sealed matters, hence I had to do something. The resultant surgery was delicate as seen below, but largely successful... Happily I was able to save and recycle a 'Javelin' badged tail light insert for they certainly don't grow on trees. Other mild stuff would be the meshing of a '69 AMX wheel with the taped '70 Jim Paschal NASCAR GT steering wheel rim given some photos show the car with the same. Given I'm looking to mix up things, I thought this would be something to do/try. Aluminum rod hub inserts are also seen if one looks close. Thanks for reading and examining this post. GO JAVELIN! Mike K./Swede70

Nicely done and cheers for the inclusion of a detailed seat frame which is something that is typically skipped. Kind thanks for directing our notice to such. Mike K./Swede70

Beautiful and a very confident restoration surely. Thanks for sharing. Mike K./Swede70

Terrific project idea and happy to note the aplomb and thoroughness in evidence and you research and fabricate that which you need. Being in SE Michigan, Herb Adams is something of a local hero. Kind thanks and looking forward to each of your updates in turn... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, In the realm of detail changes performed on the 1:18th ACME Sam Posey Autodynamics Challenger Trans Am entry, there are a few items I specifically wished to see to before paint and reassembly work. For reviewing the photographs attached, one will note that the rear bumper tool may be getting a bit old given irregularities show up along the bottom of the casting, whereas per photos, no overriders were fitted at the first event of the 1970 SCCA Trans Am season held at Laguna Seca. With this in mind, I stripped the bumper I had in hand, worked to clean up the part while also doing away with the overriders, and filed off the unwanted cast-in trunk latch assembly from the back of this same assembly. Further, the modest amount of casting flash could be removed from the bumper ends otherwise visible from the side, hence this too was cleaned up. The second photo effectively answers whether Hwy. 61/ACME parts can or may be rechromed, whereas I will likely cut sheet plastic masking elements in the shape of the individual turn signal lenses to help mask what requires it. Certainly the bottom edge profile is markedly cleaner. Moving on, also irksome was the inclusion of an Challenger R/T rear valance panel which translates as one that features twin exhaust tip cut outs. This had to go, while the perforated license plate platform was likewise filed out and some discreet lip detail added to the top that is in turn barely visible with the bumper assembly installed. Additionally, the rear spoiler assembly struck me as too tall and having ends that were not shaped to tuck in from bottom to top to match the profile of the styling lower down. I decided to sand the base of the spoiler to rid it of the cast in ledge while also taking time to sand the end profile so that they blend agreeably with what again is setup below. Lastly, some dedicated web searching turned up the elusive Classic Car Wax bumper sticker seen on the back of the topic from the Getty image likewise attached - hence I'll have something to start with in relation to producing a decal to mimic such. Thanks for your reviewing this update... Mike K. M.K.

Greetings Jim, Not exactly reduced to a science, I guessed where the deck lid should be cut, using the GMP '68 Camaro deck lid as a guide concerning the shape and size of what I removed for material. At some races the inlet was offset to the right, whereas at other venues the inlet was centered on the panel. I still have to fabricate the funnel leading to the fuel cell proper, but added here is a photo telegraphing largely what I did. I hope this helps. I did measure back from the leading edge of the panel 15 mm if this would aid your efforts, although repeating, what I did was largely guesswork. Kind thanks... Mike K. M.K.

Looking good - very daring. Thanks for sharing your unfolding updates... Mike K.

Greetings and thanks for reviewing this update... This would be the second modified shell with slightly better fitting flares with a bit more meat top-to-bottom on the front flares in particular. Not much is new, although some of the past sub-assemblies have been massaged to the extent that they will now live together in peace on the assembled model. The blue painted parts situated forward of the absent doors are the standard Greenlight/ACME door hinge assemblies which have to be accommodated if I'm to fashion the forward members of the roll cage in a reasoned way. The old Grant steering wheel is lifted from a 1:18th ERTL Pro Stock '70 Camaro release, while the dashboard is recycled 1:18th Lane '68 Shelby GT 500KR issue. Not strictly seen is the rear valence panel which is largely scratch built and happily sans GT exhaust cutouts. Discreetly spied is the rear license plate mount that was fabricated and added to the same assembly. Thanks... Mike K. M.K.

Very nice and very clean as is your hallmark. At this point you may well be ready to host your own 1:18th scale club racer Goodwood Revival given the number and variety of topics you've so deftly handled. Terrific work again... Mike K.

Thanks everyone for looking in and affording compliments, A little raw for not being 100% complete, I've been working up a series of urethane molds to create parts for reasoned 1:18th scale Ford small block Trans Am engines suitable for '67-'71 spec. SCCA Trans Am Mustangs. Incomplete as I write, nevertheless the work is coming along for setting aside what might be deemed 'the best' of this or that tool, while some items represent modified tools and some other bits will be scratch built. The first (fuzzy) image depicts rough '67, '68 and '69 engine assemblies taking form. The '69 hasn't an intake (yet), while I hope to redo the intakes on both the '67 and '68 assemblies. ...the '67 engine is pretty much what I desire, the '68 Tunnel Port is close, while the '69 engine would need and offset distributor and intake to match. Drive belts, alternators, etc. are to come... ...given the bellhousing and transmission are cast solid, they can be substantially ground down to mate effectively to the inaccuracies of the firewall and transmission tunnel to effect a fair fit. This would be my first test fitting on the Greenlight tool. ...and this would be the model all together less exhaust. Certainly not complete, but nevertheless promising. Thanks for your reviewing this update... Mike K.

Thanks again for your good example and fine 'start-to-finish' execution regarding such projects as it too inspires. I've tried to gather up a few 'missing' Challenger images for this project given they effectively and sincerely mastered their rendition of the topic on the restored car, and have sent them to someone who intends to prepare such as quality water slide decals in turn. I restricted myself to just three images desired, namely the Scat Pack Club logo, the 'DODGE' lettering on a silver oval field with font borrowed from the older 'Dodge Fever' ad. campaign, and finally, the early Keith Black Racing Engines disc decal that went through various iterations. We'll see what transpires, whereas I really liked the sheet Mike's came up with and was delighted that the work was outsourced to Cartograf. - ...what follows is a fast succession of updates: ...although not final, these would be old GMP Trans Am Camaro tires with revised resin rims done by me some time ago. Although not all teams raced to the Goodyear truck and were afforded the 'blue line' tires uniformly, some entrants at the early 1970-season races wore such. I think the rims and tires both will compliment the early-season look of this model, and help too to differentiate it from the late-season #76 version resting in pieces on my virtual work bench. ...test fit of the cage less A-pillar bars. ...rear suspension minus all the locating links. Note I've used a Hwy. 61 '70 340 Dart 8 3/4 rear end. ...although a bit big, note the transmission linkage bulge of sorts near the firewall and extending back. It needs further work... ...less chassis, but notice the 'GOODYEAR' lettering on either side of the hood scoop, the brighter and better-registered black and white Goodyear 'diamond' forward of the same, GMP cast hood pin detail (two) forward of the rear spoiler, and the new Fred Cady lettering on the roof even if it registers a bit small on this application. ...and lastly, the model together at an earlier moment with the tampo accessory decals wiped off and replaced with better-registered water slide decals. Thanks for examining this update and great thanks for the kind words afforded. Mike K.