Oldmopars

I got into 1/8th scale Monogram kits a while back and I now have several. I picked up this partly build/glue bomb 1965 Vette a while back and knew it was missing a bunch of parts. Most people that build this kit, do it as a full restored/new car. I decided that I do not want to go that direction. I am going to build this car as a project car. A car that maybe was a barn find or was mildly customized in the 70's-80's. It will not be all stock, the engine will not be fuel injected and the wheels will not be from this kit. The body will be in primer and some paint. I plan to remove parts that would normally be removed durin a restoration. Some parts I have already started on. The engine for this kit is really special. I got it from a member here that 3D modeled it, printed and cast it. The engine has all the same interrnal parts as the rel thing. It has a rotating crank, pistons, camshaft, lifter, rockers and more. The carburator alone was 22 parts with working linkage. As for non-stock parts, the transmission is a stock 350 with a B&M pan and a stall converter. The carb is a holley, Camero air cleaner with K&N filter.

Thank you everyone, both the AMT/Italeri truck and the Moebius trailer built up with no issues. Both are quality kits and can be made to look great with very little skill or effort. I highly recommend both kits. I only made minor changes to suit my tastes, otherwise they are box stock kits.

Sounds really cool. I look forward to seeing it. 1/8 scale gives a lot of area for custom work. Please post up when you get started.

So you got one already? Mine has not arrived yet.

I am finnally getting some color on this car. My original idea was to go for a bit of a rat rod theme, but then I got the idea to go with a Bronze color. This lead me to combine it with black as an accent color. However once I started, I was commited to the Bronze/Black theme. So, it is a show car instead of a rat rod. I am a long way from the finish line with this, but getting closer. I ran out of paint and need to get more. So, the body is not finished, it needs a few more coats and some clear. I also found a few spots that need some attention. This at least gives and idea of the final direction.

So, I started out to build a modern version of Elenore from The Great Smokey Roadblock movie. However as I got into it, it just was not going to be a good tribute. So, I built it as this truck instead. Mostly OBB, AMT FLC (Italeri) with Moebius 53 foot trailer. The trailer is all OBB except for the decals, they came from an Italeri traier kit. The truck is also mostly OBB, with Aluminum exhaust stacks, real rubber mud flaps, dechromed fuel tanks and AMT tail lights. AMT/Italeri trucks don't need much to make look good. Truck paint is Dupli-color Dark Garnet Red Pearl (Chrysler) with Dupli-color Pewter Metalic (GM) frame. The trailer is also Pewter Metalic. As this truck is an FLC from the 1980's, I buit it as a well taken care of, but used truck. Light weathering on the engine shows its age as well as a slightly weathered frame.

OK, posting under glass.

Or, use the Aluminum tape from the hardware store, cut thin strip and wrap it around. No glue required. it’s like really thick BMF. Lifetime size roll is under $10.

Great, I look forward to seeing it. I have a new project I want to start, but made myself a promise not to start till other projects are done, so I finished my BRBO last night. I still need to get decent pictures, but it’s done.

I think I am about done with this. I got the decals on and the last few things finished up. I have to go to Indiana this week, but when I get back I will get some good outdoor pictures and put them in the "Underglass" section

A while back I finished my first Big Red Rod. It turned out good, with minor changes to the box stock build. I wanted to do a build that was more custom, scratch building parts, kit bashing, etc. This is a combination of several kits, with the base being another Big Red Rod. So far I have lowered it a scale 12 in. Z'd the rear frame, built a custom Quick Change rear end, drilled the front axle, channeled the body and working on a bed from a Monogram Big T. Steering has also been reversed to put the tie rod in front of the axle. The engine is from a 1978 Corvette with a Big T manifold and Big Red Rod carbs. Alternator is built from parts of both Big T and Big Red parts. The valve covers are from a 1965 Corvette. The grill shell and radiator are from a Big T as well as th seats and center console. The steering wheel is from a Jag XKE. The Big T also donated the dash. Rear wheels are from the Big Red, but widend to allow me to fit a set of EBay tires, the fronts are Big T. The tub has been canneled, firewall smoothed, the top edge smoothed and all top mounts removed. A new floor was made in the channeled location. I am trying to create a car that would have been built by a young man in the 50's-70's. Parts from everywhere, lots of junk yard stuff, etc. I have a lot more to do, but I am making progress.

I got more work done on the truck, it is starting to look like something now. I removed the chrome from the fuel tanks then painted them body color with some aluminum tape straps. I have a lot more to finish up, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am going for a look that comunicates that this is an older truck, but well taken care of and even "fixed up". So, the engine shows some signs of age.

Anyone know the ship date? Can’t wait to get mine. I pre-ordered.

Looks like you got a handle on things, good job. This Mack is on my list to build. The other AMT Macks have the same suspension issues. As for truck kits. I build mostly trucks and I agree, AMT/MPC are challenging. Italeri are easier builds, great part fit, but have been know to cut corners on accuacy. If like me, you don't know what it is supposed to look like, you just build happy, but if you are a stickler for accuracy, Italeri has some issues. The other issue with truck kits is, there are only so many truck kits. Not all trucks have been kitted, most are 1980 or older in AMT/MPC, Italeri are 80-early 2000's and limited US trucks. I really enjoy truck kits and while I have worked on trucks professionally, it has been many years and my knowledge is very low. I enjoy the challenges and making a poop kit into something cool. Thanks to Round2 we are getting a lot more of these kits to build. They may be repops, but better than it was a few years back when there was nothing.

I got some work done on the 55 Chevy. I removed all the trim on the back of the car, however Blasphemi has a fiberglass hood and the trm is molded in, so it will stay. I still have work to do on the front, so it is not painted yet. The hole in the hood is the wrong shape. I cut out the grill and replaced the stock grill center with some screen I removed from a coffee pot filter several years ago. I then painted it gold along wth the roof to match the current version. I need to fix the black paint. I got in a hurry and taped over it to do the top too quickly, I now have marks in the paint. I will fix it this weekend. One thing difficult on this car is, it has gone through many changes. There are a lot of pictures on the web, but it is hard to know what it looks like from year to year. So, I am going to do my best to be close, it will never be perfect. Even if it was, Mike would change it and it will be wrong again.

I repainted the chassis but I had some issues that may require another repaint. At my current rate I will be lucky to finish this one. But I keep plugging away at it.

Yes, see the pictures in this post:

Oh, I wish. I have to many irons in the fire right now. I’ve reached a point on this one where I am deciding on what details I want to add. I don’t want to rush it and be sorry about it later. I also have my Cannonball entry and my BRBO truck to finish up. I would love to see some pictures of yours. It is one of my all time favorite cars, so let’s see what you did.

I posted up about needing an engine for this project. So I decided that even though I don't have one yet, it was time to start it and do a build thread. The biggest thing to tackle was the tilt front end. So I started by cutting it off and figuring out where to go from there. I removed the inner fenders and cut the front off. Then I glued the hood on to make it solid again. I cut the bottom of the fenders off to match the real car and attached them to the body. To get the firewall to look right I had to cut it from the interior and attach it to the body, then add more to create the missing bits. I added some structural plates for visual appeal and to make it match what the real car has. It is not perfect, but by the time the engine is in, its painted and the headers are in place, it will be hard to tell. I also figured out too late that this is a hard top car and Blasphemi is a post car. So I reshaped the rear windows and will add in the posts. Again it will not be 100% perfect, but it will be close enough you won't know.

I love it, looks great. I also have this kit unstartedlong with about 3 Corvette, a 32 Ford and several Big Red Rods all 1/8 scale. Good job on the rescue.

I love this. My first car was a 1957 Ford Ranchero. Green and white. Many years ago I got one of the Ranchero kits, but the chopped top and multi-piece body just did not work for me. You have inspired me with this great build to recreate my old car. I love how this turned out, just beautiful.

I keep plugging away at the 2nd T Bucket build, but so far it is mostly just playing with various parts I have acquired to see what combination I like the best. I will post pictures soon or create a new thread for that car.

Yes, however what I meant is the Japanese kit makers, they do make some American muscle cars. Not many, but some. Doyusha makes some, but beware, they will command a high price. Firebird, Corvette, and a few others. Other brands to also look at are ESCI, they makes a 57 Chevy, Minicraft makes mostly vintage stuff like Model A cars/trucks. Look to Ebay, be careful of the prices. If a cheap build is what you are after, AMT/MPC is about the only thing you will find in American cars. Most of the others are going to start at $50 +shipping and go up rapidly from there. Vintage large scale stuff gets expensive. If you are into 1/8th scale, Monogram made a 1965, 1978, 1982 and 1985 Corvettes, early 80's Camaro, 1986(ish) IROC Camaro, 1980 Trans Am/Firebird, 1932 Ford Roadster and a T-Bucket/Tub. Again, these kits will not come cheap if they are new/unbuilt. You can spend about $100 for the 85 Vette to $600+ for the Trans Am or the IROC. (They also did a XKE/E-Type Jag) Most of my 1/8th scale stuff I have purchased at less than average Ebay prices, but even still I paid over $100 for all of them. I found a 1932 Ford kit in an Antique shop for $165. Ebay is $319 +shipping right now. My IROC, 82 Corvette and 85 Vette came either damaged, or started. My 65 Vette was the cheapest but it is missing the engine and a bunch of other stuff. I'm still looking for a good deal on a Trans Am, but finding one under $300 is hard and I won't even go that high. I'm looking for a started or built one cheap. The aftermarket is slowly growing for 1/8th scale parts, but it is mostly geared towards the 1932 Ford and the T-Bucket. (And the Jag) Don't forget the Lindberg T-Bucket. Not a great kit, but has a lot of potential and can be had at about $100 as they just reissued it. I have 3 of those. They also have some other 1/16th kits, but they are not really great kits, just OK. I have the 1/16th scale T-Bucket and the Serepent T(UGLY!!) I don't think Pocher has any American cars at all, just as well, very very expensive. As you can see I love the big kits. They are a lot of fun to build. Let me know if you have questions about any of the kits I have or other questions in general. Here is a link to one of my builds.

Hey, great job on the rescue, it looks great. I am always inspired by those of you who look at a beat up glue bomb and turn it into something to be proud of. I am not sure I would take the time to restore something in that condition. It is like you are preserving art for a future generation.

This is really cool! I love this idea. There have even been a few of these in 1:1 built and raced or showed. Great idea, I will be watching.