AmericanMuscleFan

Thanks Dwyane ! I hear what you are saying about casting my pieces to make copies but there are many unscrupulous people who do not hesitate to copy the work of others to make money and it is deplorable. However, I take your suggestion as an appreciation of my work and I am flattered. Francis Thanks Scott, I still have the graft to do! Francis Thanks Tim ! You know too well what I think of this famous word... unattainable but always sought after! Francis Thanks Mike ! It's just a matter of trial and error but I used a 2 flute (0.031") cutter and cut at low speed with my vacuum close to the workpiece. In addition to cleaning the part as I go along, it helps cool the plastic so it doesn't melt under the friction of the tool. As for the guide, I referred to a photo on the internet for the size in general if that is what you mean. Francis Thanks Marcos ! I have to admit I'm in a bit of a comfort zone still working on a Mopar, it makes you wonder if I can do anything else... ? ? Francis

Hello everyone, The first surgery on the body is to replace (and improve...) the damaged rear panel. I thought about making it out of thin aluminum or brass but the center fold combined with the multi-directional curves of it won't allow me to do that. I don't have the expertise of some of my colleagues to make brass panels yet, so it will be with good old Styrene. I did some testing for the tail light openings and my final piece is I think more like the real car with slightly larger lights and thinner separation strips between them. Anyway, pictures are worth a thousand words so judge for yourself but I am quite satisfied with this first effort. Next, I will make the lens out of red and clear acrylic, the Styrene version was made only to test the fitment and confirm my measurements. As usual, your comments are welcome and appreciated ! Francis Styrene back panel outside view. Styrene back panel inside view. First test for the size and spacing of the rear lights. Not bad but I will enlarge the lenses and reduce the space between them, the styrene is rigid enough to handle this. Engraving on the final part. I like it, what do you think ? Test piece for the lenses, this will be replaced by red and transparent acrylic. The adjustment is conclusive, so it's time to move on... including grafting the panel to the body shell. ?

OK Tim, here are the first stammerings of this build... no brass yet... ?

Thanks Paul, I love making all these details. I started a new project recently and will try to incorporate as much detail as this one ! Francis

Thanks Bob, if you enjoyed the D100 build, I hope to entertain you with this one as I intend to put a lot of love into bringing this dying body back to life. Except for the rear part, the rest of the body is in very good shape but that won't stop me from trying to modify the aspects of it that can be improved (without pretension)! I know you like the machining part of the build but that's coming a little later because I'm going to concentrate on body work for the moment, no body shell no car unfortunately... It starts soon, Francis

Thank you Daniel, this will be another opportunity to put into practice all the lessons learned and you are a good teacher in resourcefulness! ? Francis

Hi Tim, thanks for visiting my friend! I don't remember the last time I finished a model in a year, so this one will be no exception...? As for as incorporating my own originality, I must say that my "Body Coddington" side is very well hidden? unlike yours so it will be limited to the mechanical or structural aspect. I hope not to disappoint you, as your continued support is very important and always appreciated ! Francis

Cool project Mike, I love the Duster too but I chose the Demon because it's a rarer bird if I may say so. Francis

Thanks Roger ! I hope you save yours too, these are rare and very expensive kits (there is one currently on auction on eBay and the current price is crazy...). I am very motivated to improve the rear (tail lights) and the shape of the front wheel openings as well. I have a good idea to recreate the front grill, so stay tuned! Everything I do on this thread is offered for free and you can "steal" anything you want, it will honor me! ? Francis

Thanks Scott, the first pictures of my rescue operation will arrive soon! Francis

Thank you for joining me on this project Ray, I fully intend to rescue this old body from the cemetery! ? Francis

This is so cool Roger, I really like it, the Slixx decals are really nice, their quality is first class as is your build!?

I just came across your thread Roger and what a great build so far, you are a very talented builder and this is another great example of your amazing skills sir. I'm back on the forum myself with a new project and your way of building is incentive and a good source of motivation, I really like what I see here! ??

Wow! Cool project Bobby, love those Dodge Dart's and love to see you make the frame with brass, ambitious project, my kind of build! ?

Hello Everyone! The time has come to start a new project, cold weather and the first snow covered the ground here in the province of Quebec, so nothing better than a little good time making models to get through these cold days. I must say that I had a hard time deciding on my next project simply because I had 3 or 4 subjects that really interested me to build and I thought for a long time about the pros and cons. As we often say, too much choices but not enough time to make them… My next subject will be a 1972 Dodge Demon drag racer, YES, another Mopar... did I mention I'm a Mopar fan? ? I must mention that didn't put "Pro Stock" in the title simply because I want to keep some freedom to do things my way and there are too many details to respect to recreate a correct historical car of this class. Also, it's very hard to find good close-up photos of many of the critical details of these cars and I'd be quite happy not to take another 4 years to build this one even if I don't give myself a date to complete it. Note that I have several sheets of Slixx decals of well-known Pro-Stock cars from that era, so the project could go that direction if I change my mind, we'll see. Before I started, I bought and read an excellent book called "Chrysler's Motown Missile" and I was very impressed with the quality of this publication and the incredible dedication, determination, ingenuity and of all the challenges they faced during the years their cars were campaigning, never giving up was obviously part of their philosophy!!! That being said, the team, with the exception of Don Carlton himself, never used the ’72 Demon body, so my current choice would not be correct for a tribute car of the "Missiles" team but rather a good match for the "Billy the Kid" car… ? I have in my stash the ’73 Duster, ’71 Challenger, ’72 Barracuda or ’74 Dart kits for a more accurate build but I really want to build a Demon and preferably a 1972 because it has never been done in kit form and the challenge of trying to make the front grill is irresistible, not to mention I really like that A-body. ? I have a new sealed MPC '71 Demon kit and a good old built kit that I bought about 20 years ago, so I'm going to start with the latter since the damaged areas on the body shell are exactly the parts I want to try to improve on the original kit. The taillights on the MPC kit are not well represented in my opinion and can be improved, this very damaged area on the body will be a good opportunity for me to try the exercise without much guilt. I'm also going to use the recent ’71 Duster as a donor for some of the body parts, the trunk panel obviously and some of the more modern and detailed components of it. I must confess that I had a good and constructive discussion with one of the masters on this forum regarding the new kit I have and despite my choice I really think he’s absolutely right and the new kit should be build instead of sitting on my shelf. I feel like I have to try to save this rare body and I will have a good "plan B" if something goes wrong with this used body that would be sleeping in a box if I didn't use it. Anyway, only the body shell would have been used for this build so it would be a waste in my opinion. The sealed kit will keep its value and I could probably sell it at the end because I don't think I will build it anyway, I have way too many ideas for other subjects. Tim (Codi), I hope you'll forgive me someday but rest assured that your way of seeing things has still made its way into my head! The first part of this WIP thread will be primarily devoted to body modifications and I will incorporate aluminum and brass structural and mechanical components later in the build. I hope you're not in too much of a hurry because this is going to be a slow moving build, I don't know if I'll post as many updates or pictures as I did for my ’64 D100 pickup but I'll try to show the basic, especially if I find any new tricks to share with you. Unlike my D100 pickup, I don't have to create the body from scratch so I'll have more time to work on some of the details for this project and I have some new construction ideas to put to use. Note: I started working on the project a few days ago, so I'll post some pictures of my first surgeries soon. It starts today… the thread, I mean… but I hope you'll be along for the ride! I'll be back soon, Francis First pics: The donor in all his splendor before going to the scalpel... or the Dremel! All this part of the body will be modified, including trunk which will open of course. The rest of the body shell is very nice and the front wheel openings will be adjusted to look more like the real car.

This Nostalgia Dragster doesn't waste time waiting, there are 25 years of experience and amazing skills at its service, the project has waited until now to get a new start... even though there is a lot of good in what was done at the time! Thanks in advance for all the great tips you'll be sharing with us my friend!!! ?

Nice build Ray! The blue white red suits this bad boy perfectly, but the coolest thing is the big FORD engine under the hood, the important thing is to be different and it is! ?

Another great build from you Daniel, definitely the most detailed curbside I've seen in my life! There is so much to see that one forgets that the hood doesn't open but it's not like you can't do it! ? Once again, congrats on a great work in progress thread and the final gem it produced. ?

Thanks Charlie but you should take the time to look at your wonderful work more closely, you have nothing to envy to anyone my friend!!! Francis

Thanks Brian! The awards are great to receive, but the feedback and support from my peers is priceless. It's time to move on to a new project, I miss the action or interaction I must say! Francis

WOW!!! This is absolutely gorgeous Ian, I love the color scheme and the little red maple leaf on the front! Combined with first class assembly, this product is definitely a trophy winner! ?

Great job Marcos, the beast looks mean and fast, very fast! It's not a usual body as a Pro-Mod but I think that explains why it looks so cool and different. Again, well done, you can be proud of what you've achieved! ?

Thanks Charlie, you are an incredibly talented machinist and builder, your own projects are a great motivator for me! I'll be back soon with another project, November is usually a good time of year to get back to my favorite hobby. ? Francis

Wow!!! Thanks for the superlatives Dirk but be assured that every comments and mark of supports count a lot for me. I've spent 4 years (let's say hobby season) in my basement working on this thing and comments like yours are the fuel that gives me motivation and keeps me going! I'm in the process of cleaning up my ideas (there are just too many subject that tempt me) and I'll be back with a new project, I hope you'll be along for the ride! Francis

It's coming soon Bob, November is usually a good month to get back into my favorite hobby! ?