OldNYJim

This is a really timely post - I was just building up an engine yesterday that I THINK is from one of these kits, but I wasn't sure - anyone able to ID this thing for me?

Looking GREAT! Beautiful clean building!

REALLY inspiring work!

OK, so today I found an engine in my parts stash (an Olds block I think - possibly even the one that would have come in this kit) and got that assembled so I could work on designing the cross members for the chassis. I want to use the original interior tub (but modified to fit the bigger rear tyres and the resulting 'arches' in the frame, so I made a piece that will allow me to mount the interior tub to the frame rails that I've made: The blue floor part will need some tidying up, and some more work to make it nice, but this at least will allow me to locate it properly on the frame so that everything lines up properly. Next I secured the two frame rails to each other with some bar at either end to keep them parallel, and cut a floor pan. The floor pan is three different styrene sheet parts laminted together, secured to the frame left and right, and there's a three-piece motor mount at the front which keeps the engine in place and also helps secure the other parts On the right of the pic above you can see the front cross member that I made - again, three parts laminated together. This will mount under the chassis and the small hole in the front matches another mounting point on the engine. Here it is in place, with the chassis inverted: And right side up again: The chassis still needs some tidying up once I've worked out what to do with the back, but it's surprisingly sturdy already, especially with the engine block dropped into place. Here it is with the first piece and the engine in place: And a quick test fit to make sure everything's lining up roughly where I need it to. So far so good! Tomorrow, I need to figure out a rear end - I'm planning a four-link of some sort, but I need to dig through my parts and find an axle I can modify, and then once that's done the next job will be manufacturing an independant front end for it - probably from scratch. Fun fun!

Oh wow, that bug is COOL! It deserves a thread all of it's own!

Wow!

So, I figured the first thing I should do is work out some parts to use. The kit tyres are pretty much junk, ditto the wheels, the engine was a waste of shipping cost and the chassis has a crack in it's thin frame rail that makes me nervous to consider using it. So, I figured, I'll make a chassis. I'm going to get an idea of how wide I could space two parallel frame rails apart (which will be determined by the rear tyre width, if I want them parallel) and then I can go from there. I found these cool resin tyres in my parts collection - not sure who makes them but they fit the arches beautifully: The stance is pretty good (it looks high from this angle but I'm pleased with it...) Next up, I sketched out an idea for some framerails that would allow me to drop this thing as low as I wanted... Then I scanned it into the computer, and used my vinyl cutter to score some styrene sheet. I'm going to need to score them by hand because of the thickness of the material, but this would give me a pair of identical outlines to follow easily... Some (a lot) of this later.... ...and I've got some rails: Next I need to work out what engine I'll be using, and chop the bits of the interior floor off that will be in the way. From there I can make some braces for the chassis and get the two rails aligned. More soon!

This is great! I love the cutting work on the chassis! I just started one myself this evening, feeling inspired by yours! Great job!

I would!

So, I got this dusty old thing on eBay - it's an old Revell 41 Willys - minda complete except for the engine (unless this thing came with a little 4 cylinder engine for no particular reason) but some of it is pretty glued up and nasty. Should be a fun excuse for a scratchbuilding project anyway! Someone inexplicably painted the doors and trunklid (and maybe the hood?) at some point, and smeared a load of glue on the body so that'll need a little tidy-up, and I think I'll end up either scratchbuilding a chassis or doing some serious work on this one to make it decent. Not sure on engine choice, or wheel choice as yet...but here's what I've got to work with...

An old thread, but I'm pretty proud of my workspace. It used to belong to Ronald McDonald, I believe:

You're WAY too kind JT, but thank you! I'm a real rookie at this stuff compared to most builders on here. That said, I started final assembly tonight - I still need to paint the awning but she's pretty much there! Edit: please excuse my messy 'workbench' (McDonalds tray). I'm about to start something new so she'll get a nice clean before then...

Wow, this build is AMAZING - as I've come to expect from you. SO cool! It reminds me of something Hot Wheels would come up with (in the best possible way!)

What a gorgeous build! I LOVE that paint!

You should let some air out of that Vette before it goes pop

I've got a Silhouette Cameo cutter - it's designed for making gift cards and cutting vinyl stickers, but I've been using it to cut thin Plastruct sheet to make some of the parts you see here. It takes some computer skills to make decent stuff (just like a real FloJet or whatever would) but it's kinda handy. I only use it because I already have it though - I wouldnt buy one just for modelling. I bet you could do stuff like this Dan! I'm only a real novice at this - it's just masks and paint. The key thing, I think, is patience and hanving and idea of what you want to do. I'm always happy to try and help if you have any questions, but honestly I'm about the 3rd worst builder on this site, so... Anyway, I finally got a free evening (Christmas is coming, so I've been working hard to make some cash for gifts) and I managed to get the engine mounted and I glued all the windows in place, carefully, with some Elmers. I cant turn the body the right way up or they'll fall out, but hopefully by morning we'll be ready to start some of the final steps in getting this thing done!

Great progress dude! I'm loving seeing these come together! Great idea on the stacks - mine don't look too good either. Good enough for what I'm building, but your solution is WAY better! Great work!

Looks great so far - and great scratchbuilding! Keep us posted!

My girlfriend's family live in Valpo and Hammond - welcome to the site!

What a cool build! Cant wait to see more!

Wow, that paint!!!

What a gorgeous build! I LOVE it! Cant wait to see it come together!

I've got the R&Mco... kart - its a cool piece!

Any chance of seeing inside the box of this one bud?