dino246gt

As promised, I removed all the kit stuff from under the hood and smoothed the inner fenders. Then I scratch built a simple rad wall. I extended the hood by drilling small holes and using 14 gauge guitar string and super glue. Shot another coat of primer, I keep tweaking it but there's still a ton of stuff to do, however I'm loving doing it!

Today I worked on the interior tub, since there's no back seat, I wanted some "Riviera-ness" back there, so I made a couple of pockets for wine bottles, and some rub strips to protect the leather from luggage. Those will be foiled and maybe I can add thin rubber strips to them. The door panels got new arm rests and door pulls. Thinking of using the '70 Monte Carl seats, so I've added .040 strips under them so they don't sit right on the floor.

This is a fantastic model, wow! At that rear window, you could make "sheet metal" ends where the struts go through, painted white maybe, then the clear between them. Not much of the window size would be reduced and using painted pieces is much easier to "fit". Just a suggestion, but I'm sure that whatever you do, it will be amazing.

I decided to use the stock "65 front bumper but not as it comes in the kit! First I had to cut it all apart. This is the piece that I plan to use.

Man that's a great model Dave! So much subtle extra detail, most of it would be un-noticed if not for this thread, thank you for sharing.

Thanks everyone, I had it on display at out club meet Sunday, along with my Enzo.

First I fitted the console from the '65 Riviera to the floor pan from the '70 Monte Carlo. Then I ground away underneath to make room for the automatic transmission on the engine from the '66 Riviera. I'll be roughing in the interior bucket next but now I'm going out for cappuccio! Ciao for now.

This will be so cool, I love the Roma and I love Alpha models, keep posting pictures please, ciao!

WOW, that looks fantastic!

I have a re-issue of the '65 Riv that I'm using for some parts as I ONLY had the body from the '63. I cut up the '65 interior tub and I must say that the styrene is so much thinner and softer than that '63! They don't make 'em like they used to! I added some .040 strips to the bottoms of the door panels and taped them in place so I could see where the rear half should fit. And I glued some side strips to the rear. Now at least I have the proper length and depth ready to start making up all the rest of the interior, no back seat. I'll remove the seat mounts from the floor pan and move the seats further back.

I don't have much of a plan yet, but I'm ruling out the V12 now that I've started with the firewall and floor pan. Also ruled out tubs and wide pro-touring style wheels. It was a consideration.

I made a headliner, really just a piece of .010 styrene to hide the seam and hopefully add some strength to the roof.

Up front of that floor pan, I wanted to move the firewall back just a touch, but keep the "pegs" for mounting the frame. Even though I cut everything straight, I still needed fillers due to the irregular shapes being cut where I did. I modified the firewall to fit, and I'll keep the air conditioning, why not, it's a Riviera, gotta have air! LOL Once the firewall was in place, I added tiny scraps to fill all the voids. Everything up front will be going and replaced with something better.

I found a floor pan, frame and firewall to use! First I sanded the rear to fit the Riv body around the back. Then I cut the back of the frame off, because the riv body was shortened at the back. Made sure that both rear rails were cut to the same length. Then I glued the rear of the frame back on.

Before I filled the original door cut lines, I made green tape templates. I used those templates to position the stock size door where I wanted the new door cut lines. For the original cuts lines, I made them slightly wider and deeper, then pressed .010 styrene rod into them so I wouldn't be just filling them with putty. Still a ton of work to do but I can start to see what it could look like!

I was going to do this as a practice to see how it looks, then do it to the '65, but so far this one might be a keeper! Broken A pillars and vent posts were the biggest problems, that and the fact that all I had was a body, no hood or glass or anything else. I do have the '65 kit though. I still haven't decided if it'll be a modern or period style build, just having fun!

Awesome diorama , those last 2 photos, thought it was real!

That is going to be very cool, love the windshield slope and wheel/tire choice, nice!

Great project, sweet!

When shortening a large panel, such as a roof or deck lid, you have to take into account that the front piece is relatively flat compared to the rear piece that is already sloping down. The piece that was removed was the transition from flat to sloping, so I've had to start the slope sooner on the front or flatter piece. This is done by thinning the front part at the seam, creating the transition that was removed. It's important on this one especially because the smallest styling mistake will ruin the whole design mods. As we all agree, MODIFYING WHAT IS A GORGEOUS DESIGN TO BEGIN WITH IS RISKY!

I've removed the firewall and filled the space up to the cowl. Original door lines are filled with .010 styrene rod, so NEW door lines will be added and vent windows will probably go. I'll have to lengthen the hood and there will be some front end re-designs as well.

I've always wanted to customize a '63 Riviera but they're so beautiful as is that I've been hesitant. I got a bad body with broken A pillars and started cutting! I moved the windshield back to eliminate the rear seats. I shortened the rear also but kept the wheelbase factory. I cut out the rear bumpers and molded in the lower part. I made the license plate holder much less prominent. I removed the side fake scoops because my new door cut lines will be there! I haven't thought about what to do ahead of the cowl, but it'll come to me eventually! Cheers!

There's still a few things to add, but it's basically finished! Cheers!

I made this little thing to hide the electric fan, 3 layers of .010.

It's this week, the 21st! See you then!!