Exotics_Builder

Sorry, no luck

I just used Google, and they seem to be around in various issues. Pricing varies too.

Well, I'll check my parts stash for a "shallow" one.

They were something. As well as the Blue Angels doing their show. Still happens but we don't want to fight the traffic and crowds up to Puget Sound to see the show. Different when we lived there.

I bought it some years ago at a swap meet. A fellow made and vended them. I don't remember his name. It was when I was still in Chicago area during the job transfer. The thing to watch out for on it is the gap between the acrylic "rails" (like some car lifts).

Gassers are not really in my area of interest. But my club had a special theme class for our annual show. Since I had received one as a door prize, I decided to give it a go. I am not familiar with the Revell Henry J kit but found out quickly it is of a vintage of ill fitting parts and components. I guess I could have gone for another option but decided to stick with this one. I won’t go through the grueling detail of the steps to get a semblance of fitment of body parts. Suffice to say they were many and I still couldn’t get what I would consider a very good hood fit to body. Got close but not as good as I would like. Here are the key changes to the model: Replaced the engine with a Texas 3D Customs 409 blown engine. Wired and plumbed it. The engine came with a separate drive belt and a generator. This would fit NHRA rules for that generation of gassers. I chose the Powerglide transmission option as that was common for racers in the day. Remolded the firewall to push back part of it to accommodate the new engine. Had to do it in a way that still allowed the dashboard to fit. Assembled and straightened the suspension, including adding a large Panhard bar to stiffen the rear suspension and drilling/pinning the front suspension to give it some added strength. Finally, I had to modify the transmission mount crossmember to accept the new transmission. Chassis painted with Splash Paints Dark Gold Metallic. Detailed out the engine bay with a fuel filter from Off the Sprue. Kitbashed the exhaust system from the Revell 57 Ford Del Ray gasser to attach to the 409 headers. Again, this was for rules compliance. Added a tach, gauge faces, parachute release lever and driver seat belts to the interior. Interior painted Tamiya Semi-Gloss Black over Tamiya Bare Metal Silver. Dash painted the body color of Tamiya Coral Blue. Added an aftermarket parachute from the parts stash (don’t remember the vendor) mounted on a metal brace. Added additional bracing in the hood to get a better fit. I also replaced the kit hinges with a crafted hinge set. The kit hinges in my example did not work at all. Even though aligned to the body when closing the hood went cockeyed. The hood still is not where I would like it, but I was reaching my time commitment limit and it was close enough. If I were to do again (not likely), I would probably build a heftier body brace to flare out the flap ends more. That is the primary problem for the fit I want. Added front fender ribbing to reflect the real car. Missing from the kit but reference photos show not there in a lot of real cars. I painted the body Tamiya Coral Blue and cleared with Tamiya TS-13 gloss. Decals are a combination of Slixx, STS and Decals by Lucas. Wheels are from an AMT Gasser Parts Pack with added valve stems. Front tires are also from the same Parts Pack and the Whitewall Slicks from Replicas and Miniatures of Maryland. Of course, after I finished and presented it at a club meeting, I learned of all the horror stories on this and the Anglia Gasser. Had I known I may have chosen a different path. But I know you would all tell me its modeling and a challenge. Anyway, some photos of the finished result below:

Are Daisys these wheels or similar?

Joe, I found these in the parts box. Tires and wheel fronts (hubcaps) plus "spinners". No wheel backs.

I'll get at my stash this afternoon and see if there are any stock wheels and tires for the 65 Impala

My Door Prize haul from Yesterday's Pacific Northwest Model Car Fest contest and swap meet.

The only Big Block version I recollect of this is a Model Car Garage engine dress up kit that included resin valve covers (and different air cleaner types) with a PE version of the top. https://www.modelcargarage.com/eshop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=363

Got a set from Megahobby. These are great, along with the DSPIAE pens. Handy addition to the "paint shop" and great for some detailing. The valve covers on this 409 engine were done with DSPIAE Metallic Siver. I have yet to try any clear coat over any of the colors

https://www.firescalemodeler.com/ You buy from them. They are in Lisbon Portugal and ship to the USA. I have several of their paints. Comparable to Splash, Scale Finishes, Zero and Gravity (the real one in Spain).

I have this, but have yet to use

Here's a set of instructions from the Foose Version but has the stock components. Stock tires and wheels would look thus https://public.fotki.com/drasticplasticsmcc/mkiba-build-under-c/monogram-instructions/automotive-cars--pi/chevrolet/1961-1970/monogram-65-chevy-i/ I should have a set of these sitting in a box but need to check.

Arrived today

With a lot of cleanup and work I built this one last year.

Ahh, my bad. Missed that. Looks like they went back to the original box art from 1969. I didn't recollect another reissue, but I have one in the stash, so not much interest

Looks like the original. Reissued once around 2000. Neat kit and concept.

I figured it might be the case. But I didn't want to pull out the kits and check it out in detail.

I'd suggest starting here. I have gotten some figures from them. Big thing is attire. You may have to compromise/adapt for that as well https://www.etsy.com/shop/LuxFigures?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=1534602045&from_page=listing

AMT did this in a kit I guess you could adapt the extended cab to this with some chassis mods. I don't recollect them doing a Promo of one either

You've hit the two main weak points of the kit. One other was the twin supercharged engine a little off on detail (if you wanted to use it)

The shortcomings of the Italeri California is the incorrect (GTO) engine (that can be reasonably fixed) and the GTO interior. Other than that, the Italeri Ferraris are pretty decent with some aftermarket parts applied. My 250 California already built Italeri Ferraris needing to be built (Yes another California and the Revell 275 is a reboxed Italeri)