cahilj

Nice build! I should try and finish up at least one of the 3 Fieros I've started

Cool idea and nice execution. Especially while building on the road! You should be able to go to your very 1st post in this thread, click the edit button and change the title.

Finally something to report. I remeasured the front axle and worked it all out in scale. I had a few minutes today so i got a good start on it. A straight rod through the Dana 44 from the Ramcharger- Some parts box spindles to replicate the 4WD spindles- Spring perches- Control arm brackets- Glued and drying- Now I need to work out some springs and build some upper perches. I also got some basic measurements for the transmission skid plate and crossmember. More tomorrow.

Very nice. I've built the Tamiya version, after seeing this, I'd like to build the Revell version.

Sadly, nothing new to report. I was fully prepared to build the front axle, but after i reviewed my initial sketch of the measurements I had taken for it, something didn't add up, so I wanted to get back under it and measure again. Life got in the way. Between moving halfway across the country, a death in the family, the freak snow storms we've had recently, and the beginning of the autocross season (my other big passion) I haven't been able to get back at it. All the parts I had on order have arrived though. The Torqflite 727 from M.A.D (Morgan Automotive Detail). A few little changes and it will suffice as a 46RE- The excellent lightbar from Dave Panek- I have to say that dealing with M.A.D and Dave were great experiences, and I highly recommend either of them for your aftermarket needs. The weather is supposed to be clear this coming weekend, and I will try to get under the truck and measure it up. Hopefully I can get some progress made next week.

And...... I just realized that the bolts the hold the axle to the springs are upside-down. I'll be changing them

I needed to add about 4-5 scale inches of lift to the suspension, and I couldn't find any decent rear springs in my parts box, so I built some. I also built some "shackles". Even though they don't look exactly like real shackles, they work- I had to go a bit higher than the lift in the 1:1 truck, because the real tires are 35" and the scale ones come out to about 37" at 1/25. I may even end up changing the shape of the fender just to be a bit more visually appealing. I got some measurements off the front suspension last weekend, but when I tried to scale it all out, something didn't add up, so I need to crawl back under there this weekend and see what the deal is.

Has anyone ever used Tamiya plastic putty before? Hobby Lobby had some on sale so I grabbed a tube. It's like liquid plastic mixed with cement, so it actually bonds with styrene. Pretty good for filling, but takes forever to dry.

I'll call this- "How to convert an NP205 transfer case to a NV231HD transfer case" I don't think there are any kits out there that have a NV231 case, and all the aftermarket stuff I found was basically a copy of the NP205. I pulled this out of the Gone Fishin set- A few cuts and a big tube I had for some reason- Then I added a flange. Not sure if anyone has ever done it this way before, but I found it was the easiest. I cut almost all the way through with a hobby saw, then slipped a piece of .010 in there. Sanded it down, and it looks pretty good. Not a perfect copy of the NV231, but it will do the job. I'm taking the weekend off to do some work around the house. I pulled up the carpet in my basement mancave to paint some of that epoxy floor coating so that when I drop small pieces they don't disappear into the carpet.

No problem! I do like flashy lights (I'm on ELB too), but I never put myself in the whacker category, since I've always had an actual use for them. Now that I don't......hmmm..... Finished up the dash- Quick guide coat. I was surprised there really wasn't a ton of filling involved. I just need to scribe some panel lines, add one vent and I can call it good- I had been trying to figure out a way to widen the wheels, since the center of the tires is smooth. After hours and hours of measuring I finally added a simple strip to the inside. Works perfect-

I'm 99% sure I know what you're talking about, so, no. I was a volley FF for years, and I worked construction, so I've got red and amber in there. Now that I've moved out of MA, I left it on there for the takedowns when I use them in the woods at night. Was I right?

Nothing really exciting to report. In the 10+ years I've owned the truck, I think I've had the center seatback up maybe twice, so I had to put it down for the model- Started the conglomeration of plastic for the passenger side dash- These are the BFG Mud Terrains available from Ma's Resin. Alan is a great guy, and these tires are excellent scale reproductions. You can see all the scaled dimensions of them at- http://www.magazinepublisher.com/models/tires/tires.html (third tire down). The ones I have are actually 37.5mm diameter, and have the 18mm opening. The Jeep wheels fit perfect. They are molded in soft black resin, almost like rubber, but Alan told me it's not. My truck has Dunlop Mud Terrains, and the BFGs are the closest tread pattern. I'll probably sand off the BFG lettering to run them right side out, since the inside sidewall is a bit less "bulgey". Pics- I ordered up a Streethawk from Dave. I'm excited for it to get here!

Interesting. I went and looked at the DPMCC instructions site and didn't find the F250, then I realized why! I haven't sent the directions in to him yet! I have the kit, It's just 1500 miles away from me right now, and I told him I would send him the directions when I pull it out in a few months. So I went and found the Jeep i actually pulled the wheels from, which also happens to be Monogram (not AMT like I wrote before), so now I wonder if they're the same tooling. I will have to compare the two when I dig out the F250. I found a pic of them on here, and they actually look wider, which would help with the big tires. Just shot one off to him. Thanks for the help!

Very clean work. What kind of putty are you using?

Then glued, filled, and glued and filled some more- The headlight switch isn't where it should be, but I doubt anyone will notice. I just need to finish up the righthand side tomorrow. I just now realized that the lower portion should be concave, not convex like the Dakota dash. I hope no one can see it when I get it all together. I also whipped up a rear bumper to replicate the 1:1 bumper- I think it looks pretty convincing, even if it is a scale 1.5" too long (measure twice, cut once). I actually need to measure the tire carrier, maybe this weekend. I may start on the cap next week if I feel up to it. Has anyone seen a 1/24 or 25th Federal Signal Streethawl lightbar? I've been to all the online diecast sites I can find, and they all have the same generic one that I've bought two of now from two different places, and it look nothing like the real deal.

I've had this project in the box for almost a year now gathering parts. I wanted to build a replica of my 1:1 rig- I started with a used/painted Revell VTS kit. I pulled the engine and axles (318, 9.25 rear, Dana 44 front) out of the Revell Gone Fishin' Ramcharger. It's really the only kit out there I found that has the right axles, and it just happened to have the 318 engine. I'll need to update it a bit to 5.2 specs, but no big deal. I pulled the wheels from the AMT Jeep kit, tires are from Ma's Resin (BTW- absolutely great quality and customer service). I spent months trying to find one of three kits out there (all too expensive to pull one piece out of) that have a Torqflite 727 trans, which is the only thing available that looks like a 46RE trans. I ordered it from MAD modeling, it's the only thing I don't have in my hands yet. I'll just need to change the tailshaft a bit and add a transfer case to make it work. The biggest challenge was updating the dash/interior from the 1997 truck to the 2001 truck. There aren't even any diecast models out there in the 1998-2001 years. Luckily, the Lindberg Dakota has the older dash style, which is pretty darn close to the later Ram style- 1998 Ram- 2001 Ram- 2000 Dakota- So I sectioned out the Dakota parts to extend them to fit the Ram dash-

Yup. A bit longer wheelbase than yours though.

They did do a factory version. Unfortunately, it was only available in Mexico. Nice build! Original idea!

Nice job! I've always liked those kits and the way they build up.

Thanks! The seats, tach, and steering wheel came out of a Fujimi parts pack. I can't recall the part number. It also had some nitrous bottles and a big wing.

Build thread- http://www.modelcars...showtopic=57225 Revell 1992 BMW 325i, built as a SCCA SOLO style racer. This was a fun build, since I do this type of racing. The hood still needs to be sealed, and yes, the paint is supposed to be flat I really need to get a better lighting setup for pics........ I will be adding some numbers, class letters, and SCCA decals in a few weeks when I actually have a color printer again.

Well, I've gotten together all the required stuff for this build, so I'll post up what I've learned in case anyone else is looking. You'll need the headlights, fog lights, and grille from the Charger kit. Fortunately, the kit comes with two grilles, so you may be able to source one from the swap forum. The lights should be easy enough to scratchbuild if you've got the skills and don't want to buy the entire Charger kit. I ended up with the Magnum SRT8 (not the Uptown version). The only fitment issue I've run into so far is the rear hatch hinge needing to be reworked. The resin body is over twice as thick as the plastic piece, so the hinge in stock form just won't work. I haven't yet worked it out, but when I start posting this project in the workbench forum I will put up pics. Also keep in mind that since the body is that thick, window fitment will be different.

Small update. I got the seats and seatbelts installed. This was my first time using PE seatbelts, and I think it came out halfway decent. All that's left to do is get the body on the chassis, random decals and do the SMS carbon fiber hood. This should be in Under Glass tomorrow

Nice build! I had the same build plan, but without the LEDs and stereo stuff. You've stepped it up a notch.

Yup, the reservoir you cut off is the power steering reservoir. In 2011, they switched to an electrically assisted steering rack. The pump is the locating hole just above the alternator, and the only difference between the 2010 and 2011 setup is that the pump is gone and there is an idler pulley in it's place. If you got really picky, you could also remove the PS hose molded into the engine front right above the PS pump. Does this kit come with separate radiator hoses for the supercharger cooling system? I'm following this with interest because it's essentially the same engine as I'm using in my '30 Phaeton. I spent hours researching this engine.