Exotics_Builder Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Calling it just about done. It just needs a couple of clean up tweaks, including adding the heater hoses and figuring out how to reinstall the rear view mirror which fell out. This is my first MOPAR and is for the GTR Model Club 2015 theme, 100 years of Dodge. Since I am not even close to being knowledgeable on this car, I did the usual research channels, including the internet. However, several knowledgeable people contributed to getting as close as possible to the real car. These include Jim Brooks, Dave Greene, John Walczak, Bill Goldbach and Billy Mayberry. The model is based on Revell’s Hemi Dart kit in 1/25 scale. Allowing two build options, the kit did not provide all the interior and engine bay options to fully replicate a 68. The body in my kit had a slight warp that I could not fully work out, even after some Dremel grinding and heat finessing. The Hemi Cross Ram manifold was two heights, instead of flat across and needed adjustment. I wasn’t excited about the rear valence and bumper pieces, as I could not get a tight enough fit. And it was a royal pain to get the chassis mated to the body/interior because of the width of the Hemi Engine. I basically used the Revell kit, including decals, and added: A few decals from the Revell 68 Firebird drag racer as I did not use them when I built a stock kit; Replicas and Miniatures of Maryland Shapes set to fit the hole made in excluding the heater; Competition Resins Dodge A100 seats and drilled brackets for the correct racing seats; Model Car Garage: Stewart Warner Tach for the steering column mounted version; Seat belt hardware; Mesh screen; Wire Looms; and Exterior Door Locks RB Motion Hemi plug boots; B-N-L Resin dip stick; Detail Master Hood Pin set; and Morgan Automotive Detail 8 cylinder distributor. The interior needed to be further gutted to reflect the race car, so I shaved the window cranks and rear armrests. I added the seat belt front window openers including both upper and lower snaps. I used Evergreen strip to blank out the radio and heater, then detailed and added the Competition Resin Seats. Note, on the real car, only the driver side had seat belts, and they were lap belts only. Shots of the interior before placing in the body: In the engine bay: Removed the heater motor head and replaced with the circular piece from R&MofM; Added brackets for the rear hood pins; Added the front and rear hood pins from Detail Master (yes they can actually function but are fragile and SO TINY); Used Evergreen strip for the aluminum master cylinder offset plate and cut off the vacuum booster from the kit piece; Used wire to simulate the tube and rubber pieces of the brake lines in the engine bay; and Added a voltage regulator and wiring and other details. On the engine: Assembled the kit version and corrected the intake manifold; Used carbs from the parts box that were more detailed than the kit supplied; Cut off the kit distributor cap and replaced with the MAD cap and wires (I kept the distributor base because it has the drive for the mechanical tach; Drilled out the plug boot points on the valve covers and with the RB Motion boots and then wired the engine; Ran fuel lines and linkage to the carbs; De-chromed and drilled out the carb velocity stacks and added mesh screen and locking nuts; and Added the B-N-L resin dip stick, but it is almost invisible because of the engine width. Body mods were very minor. I used R&MofM pieces to cover the wiper mount points (No wipers on the race car which also means don’t add the wiper motor the kit provides). I crafted a cover plate for where the side view mirror would be. Here is the (almost) finished model: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike 51 Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Very nice. Working hood pins even? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr mopar Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Race cars don't have heater hoses. ............... Nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exotics_Builder Posted July 11, 2015 Author Share Posted July 11, 2015 Very nice. Working hood pins even? Yes, but I wouldn't try to fit them in too many times, they are fragile. T2M makes an interesting set that I am looking into getting that may be better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Very impressive and beautiful model. Loved the write up Gerry, learned alot... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike 51 Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 (edited) Yes, but I wouldn't try to fit them in too many times, they are fragile. T2M makes an interesting set that I am looking into getting that may be better. Yep they're tiny ...without your close-up pics I wouldn't have been able to see 'em. The only hood pins I've used were those little chrome "dots" that came with Monogram stock cars.... Edited July 11, 2015 by mike 51 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'70 Grande Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Beautiful and nicely-detailed build! Your paint and decal-work really pop; nicely done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exotics_Builder Posted July 11, 2015 Author Share Posted July 11, 2015 Yep they're tiny ...without your close-up pics I wouldn't have been able to see 'em. The only hood pins I've used were those little chrome "dots" that came with Monogram stock cars.... Dzuz fasteners? There are PE sets for them, including ones that separate (since they are spring controlled, not easy to have working ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike 51 Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 (edited) No just little "dots" with light engraving "suggesting" hood pins.... If those PE Dzuz fasteners don't really work, I wouldn't be interested Edited July 11, 2015 by mike 51 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exotics_Builder Posted July 11, 2015 Author Share Posted July 11, 2015 No just little "dots" with light engraving "suggesting" hood pins.... If those PE Dzuz fasteners don't really work, I wouldn't be interested Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyjim Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Sweet and SHINY :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
om617 Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Impressive detail,very nice build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobraman Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Very nicely done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59-Desoto Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Great looking detail, looks fantastic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardnerpag44 Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Very cool build really looks race ready , nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Very well done sir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAMBENNA Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 sweet looks great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slider51 Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Nice build!Love the late 60's hot rod's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helix Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaguar man 21 Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Very cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintagercr Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Beautiful build! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Stock Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Great work Gerry, looks especially nice in Gold with those decals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 bad55 stan Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 that engine is great.nicely done... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drball Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 You have alreadys done outstanding work but you have definately upped your game with this effort. Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caine440 Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 Love the motor details. The interior touches are alos very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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