Jonathan

Thanks! I've decided to call it done, even after a workbench crash created a need for some quick repair. Here's the link to the finished project: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=88662

Well, I'm calling it done. It could use some refinement, I'm certain. I actually managed to booger up both the rear axle and the rear door. But, I think it'll look just fine in the display case. I may build another sometime. Might even do it "stock". Anyway....here it is. I switched the steering wheel with a chain unit I found in my spares box. I added a barefoot gas pedal. I used rear tires from some 1/24 Monogram kit or other; and I built up some "struts" using insulated wire and a paper clip. I also shaved the bumpers, filled the CHEV on the back door, and made some "paneling" using my computer. I was surprised how much my take on the Vandal looks like some other ideas I've seen around this site. I hope that's okay. And to top it all off, most of these pictures were taken after a collision between the Vandal and my workbench. Turns out, having no rear-view mirrors must be a bad thing. Nothing too bad, but I had to re-attach all of the doors; and my second go at the struts isn't as cool as my first time. There's too much traffic on my bench! On to the pictures: Side view, showing the stuts to hold open the door. Chain steering wheel: Basic wiring; shaved front bumper: I split the rear doors, and shaved the 'CHEV' on the back. I tried to think of a way to actually open the doors with side hinges; but I gave up pretty quickly. You know, that whole "quick build" thing... Little better view of the "Struts" holding up the side door. And, some very basic engine wiring. No cooling system to get in the way, though. Fancy interior with groovy 70's paneling. Never mind that paint bugger: Here it is prior to the collision on my workbench. Oops. 'nother pre-collison shot: And we're off to build something else!

Some minor updates. Aside from the license plate holder, which I failed to paint when I painted everything else, I think I'm finished. Oh, and I need to get that confounded pollen off of everything. Pollen is a hazard of working in the garage these days. I'll admit, I was hugely inspired by some of the Vandal builds I've seen on this forum. I didn't realize quite how much so, until I started taking pictures of this one. The driver's compartment. I added a different "chain" steering wheel, and a bare-foot gas pedal. Front 3/4 view. There is no clutter in the background. That is merely your imagination! Smoothed the rear doors... Made some "struts" from wire and a cut-up paperclip: Small bit of wiring:

I'm betting earlier releases of this kit are a little better, in that this one seems to suffer from flash and a tiny bit of "shortness" around some of the openings. The flash was no big deal; the not-so-straight edges I should have caught during the primer stage. But, I didn't. Oh, well. Hopefully the golden color will detract from any obvious shortcomings in assembly. Hey, it's a hobby, right? Thank you all for the kind comments. I hope to get this joker finished up soon. Billy_C - thanks for the suggestion, I had not considered looking at construction toys. Dano, JT, Bob, Richard, Slusher - thanks! Hondo - where 'bouts are you located? I'm smack in the middle of the RTP area. Well, sorta.

A little update. The weather has been too good for working at the bench lately. (Imagine that! After a long winter...) Anywho, I've settled on using the kit's wheels, but with tires that came from some 1/24 Monogram kit on the rear. I used the kit's front tires. I need to finish the exhaust and start buttoning things up. The canopy (windshield?), wheels, and other sundry parts are just sitting there at the moment awaiting final assembly. I recently realized that I failed to paint the license plate holder when I painted everything else. Oopsy... Please pardon the high-quality cell phone images and background clutter (*cough*, *cough*) I split the rear doors and reassembled them, hoping they would look more realistic than just "dropping down". As if this is suppose to be realistic anyway... I trimmed the canopy/windshield with a strip of black "rubber" by using a sharpie marker around the perimeter of the kit's "glass". Tiny bit of engine wiring. Never mind the lack of a radiator or other necessities. I think I'm going to try to fashion some sort of "strut" to hold the side door open. Still thinking on that one...

This is amazing. Do you have your models cast or is each one truly one-of-a-kind? It is most impressive!

I've gotta say, Ira - your builds keep me coming back to this board at least twice a day! This stuff is awesome!

This is so cool. Of course, all of your stuff is very cool. Might need a little space dirt on those tires. Boy, I'd hate to see what happens when a couple of these guys bump up against each other coming around a turn.....

This is so cool!

"Paint it, paint it, paint it Black! Black as night...." Although, I think green will be the perfect choice! This has been fun to watch.

I passed over this kit when it was last reissued back in the 1990's (I think). Not too long ago, I found the most recent issue at a great price and decided to give it a whirl. I don't now about the older issues, but this one has some slight issues around the rear doors in that the frame area doesn't seem to be 100% formed. No bother though; it's a custom! Anyway, so far, I've shaved the bumpers front and aft; and I split the rear doors into two parts along the vertical center line. The whole folding down rear door thing seemed hookey to me. I considered making the rear doors open, but finally abandoned that idea when I couldn't quite figure a good solution for the hinges. I'll need to snap a photo of the back later. I've also included some "wood paneling" courtesy of the wild, wild web. I found a pattern I liked, download it, made some copies, and hit the ol' printer. Once all is said and done, not too much of it will be visible anyway. I've added flocking to the floor and ceiling. I'm planning to add a "chain" steering wheel from some lowrider parts that I had; and I was considering possibly making a CB for the cab area. I've slapped on Testor's Inca Gold (what, no black for the Vandal? Blasphemy!) Right now, I'm trying to decide on wheels. Should I got with the slotted wheels that come with the kit, or perhaps these "solid" ones that I found in the parts box? (last pic, front wheel) Oh, and the Firestone lettering came from Joseph of Fireball Modelworks. I realize the decals aren't right for the tires, but he does great work, and I liked the look of having something beside Goodyears on the Vandal. (I do, however, have Goodyears on my 1:1 truck, in case anybody wants to know. ) Now that I've been messing with this kit, I've had several ideas for customized Vandals. My favorite, but I'm not sure I could pull it off, would be to swap the entire cab and engine such that it became Right-Hand-Drive. Then, I'd make it a Postal vehicle with "Going Postal" or "Express Mail" or some such markings.

That Ira is one crazy dude! I love it!

Is it too late to enter the cannonball?

That's a fun kit. Nice work!

Frank, That's great! Gives new meaning to "tearing up the street".

I recently had an outstanding trade with hgbben, aka Ben Barth. Straight forward, and no issues. Highly recommended should you ever have something to trade. It was my first trade on this board, and if it's any indication of the type of nice folk here, there will be other trades in my future.

That makes sense. What size do you think I'd need in 1/25? I suppose I'd use the square stuff...?

Bringing this back from the nearly dead.... If I were to attempt to add the roof ribs to the AMT Vantasy kit, what size of half-round do you think I should use? I'm thinking I can add some Plastruct 1/2 round strips to replicate the missing ribbing on the roof. Any thoughts? thanks!

They are awesome. I ordered some from Joseph and am very pleased! Thanks!!

Tiny update. First coat of primer on the body. The chassis is back in the freezer, as I'm hoping I can pop the interior off of it and use that with another chassis. I did score one of those hideous Monogram Corvette "Street Machines" ("...with Street Sweeper decals!") off of that auction site. I'm hoping I can use parts from it to reconstruct the chassis, if necessary. I do have a '66 Penske Corvette that seems to have the same basic chassis (I think it's a near-repop of the '65 Corvette PlowBoy mentions above). I could go that route, although I hate to cannibalize it. But, I may do that after all. Anywhooo - terrible cell phone pic follows:

Any Tom Daniel inspired 'Vette Street Machine would be cool, in my book! Here's where I am so far. I've been sanding away the tube glue smears under the rear louvers and under the chin. I'm rebuilding the "t-bar" that will be under the roof louvers, although you won't really see that. When I acquired the TD Vette, it didn't have a hood. I recently won a small auction on eBay that included several hoods, but the only one I was aiming for was this one: And, I do have the louvers for it. My TD Vette Street machine is missing the nerf bars for both the front and back. The original owner had tube glued a rather gaudy (but I'd liked it back then!) chin spoiler to the body. So, I've been cleaning up the tube glue, and I decided to fill in the slots that are underneath the body where the nerf bars would be: As you may or may not be able to tell from the following couple of pictures, the interior and chassis are glued together with what I am convinced is several tubes of glue! And that's where I'm a little stuck. I think I'd just like to substitute the chassis and interior from another kit. Perhaps the engine, too. And, it'll need sidepipes! I thought the innards from the '79 pacecar might work, but not so much. At least now without much chopping and whacking. So...anybody think that the Monogram Corvette Street Machine (the UGLY one) might be a good donor? I do have the '65 Penske, so I might could do something there, but I need an interior that would go along with the TD Corvette era. Thoughts? Thanks!

Is the 1965 "black rat" and the recent issue of the Penske Corvette the same as the 1965 Revell / Monogram kit you're talking about?

Think the interior from that kit would work?

Sorry, no pictures at the moment, but I suspect y'all could help me a little bit w/ advise. I have long had in my stash of projects a nearly complete Tom Daniel California Street Vette that is missing the hood and the associated louvers that are on the hood. I got this off of "that auction site" some time ago as part of a lot. I recently acquired a hood, complete with the louvers and I thought I was ready to go to town on finally building this car. I've got the hood and body clean, sanded, preparing for primer. I've started working on the rest of the car, and this is where I've got a little problem. The interior is glued to the frame in a rather unglamorous fashion. I've tried to remove it - even going so far as to freeze the parts and hope to pry them apart that way. No dice. Just too much tube glue. The suspension is rather warped, and parts are glued on (securely!) pretty crooked. So, my question - what will provide a good chassis, engine, and interior to this car? I know the "Corvette SS" was basically the same tool, but the only one of those that I have came in the same lot, and is in the same condition. Besides, I'd like to restore it, too. So, is there a readily available Corvette kit that can donate the innards and underparts to the TD Cali Street Vette and the "Corvette SS"? Thanks much!

Impressive General Lee! I realize this is an old thread, but I wanted to ask....where would one get Hazzardous Decals? I searched the web, and the only website I could find appears off-line. thanks!