Mix and Match

[Eloveless]

So I picked up these 6 cars for $25 as well as some supplies. Some of these car kits have been open and some have not. I have seen on here that some builders mix and match kits. Is this up to the builder when and how they do that? Does that no through off the original look of a car if the parts do not go with that particular kit? Just curious how you determine what can mix and match? As long as it looks good with your model it is okay? Thanks for the information.

[DrKerry]

For me it's an idea that comes to mind. Or if I see a real car then I figure out how to make the changes needed... A lot of times it's an idea that pops into mind. I've been building for several years and when the idea pops I run it through a few times to think of it from all angles and if it "looks" right or not. Sometimes an idea just doesn't look good and you find that out as you go. When that happens to me I just box it up and use it for parts later. I've taken parts and customized 100's of kits and I can visualize something pretty good or I may draw it out to get a better idea.

I took an 06 Mustang and put the Modena chassis out of a Tamiya kit under it and re worked the body to give it the look I was after....

Not sure if I explained that well or not but hopefully you get the idea....

[Eloveless]

Thanks Kerry. Yeah that makes sense. I didn't know if it was taboo to change it all up I am about to only start my second build, but just looking for ideas. I have parts left over from my 2 n' 1 68 charger kit and then the ones I am buying in the picture. We will see what crazy creation I can come up with

[Ace-Garageguy]

A fair number of modelers build customs made up from parts that were never intended to go together. Here's a nice model in progress that uses the custom roof from an old 1957 Thunderbird kit, adapted to a 1950 Talbot-Lago that looks more like a late 1930s design.

The object is to combine shapes that look good together, keeping things like proportion and 'flow' in mind.

[Lizard Racing]

Remember, this is a HOBBY.  Build the models you want, regardless of what others may say.

Mixing parts is perfectly OK if that's what you want.  I do race cars exclusively, but some custom combinations sound interesting.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Mixing parts is perfectly OK if that's what you want.

I'm glad it's OK. It's too late to go back and un-mix all these parts. 

[Spex84]

What an interesting question...I never would have thought to ask it!

But now that you have...some thoughts come to mind:

-some kits have parts that lend themselves to swapping..it's easy and the parts mostly fit. Others do not, and it takes a lot of motivation and carving/sanding/filling to make the parts fit.

-Generally in hot-rodding and car customization, newer engines, suspension, and wheels/tires are put on older cars. It's very rare to see a newer vehicle customized with parts older than its date of manufacture.

-Generally in hot-rodding, engines are upgraded to be larger and more powerful. 4 cylinders upgraded to 6, upgraded to 8, then maybe a V10 or V12 (for instance, a Ferrari V12 in a '32 Ford)

-Usually if it looks good, and flows nicely, it's an acceptable modification BUT there are all kinds of specific niches of modification: Rat rods, traditional rods, bellflower-style customs and early lowriders, lowriders, contemporary customs, pro-street, pro-touring...and those are just a few american trends. Foreign cars have a bunch of their own trends (and I'd list them but I'm not sure what they're called!) Usually people stick to a certain direction when modifying a car, and if they deviate, it's to make a point, or to create something unique that works well and looks good.

-Often, especially with 60s muscle cars and some hot rods, builders prefer to keep the engine the same brand as the car. It's not a hard rule at all...but some people are bothered by mix-n-match brands. For instance, a Ford Gt500 Mustang engine in a Plymouth might raise some eyebrows...but there's nothing inherently wrong with it.

So when I look at the kits you've picked up, the most obvious swap that comes to mind is putting the Ferrari engine into the Camaro. But the Ferrari is rear-engined, and such a swap would require both a knowledge of the mechanics of rear-engined transaxle setups, and a good bit of fabrication to make the swap work....because the engine would probably have to be flipped around and installed in the front of the Camaro rather than the back.

A less intensive swap would be putting wheels from one car onto another--Ferrari wheels onto the Camaro, perhaps?

Often when swapping fat tires onto a car that was originally designed for narrowtires, the fender wells will have to be widened ("tubbing") to accept the wider tires.

The way I've learned to figure out what works and what looks good...is to observe other builder's projects in scale and 1:1, watch what decisions they've made and why, read car magazines and take note of the modifications that have been made to cars I happen to like, and then assess the kits I have on hand...and see if I can replicate some of those modifications!

I think I made this all seem more complicated than it is...these are model kits, after all, you can do whatever you want with them, that's the whole point!!!

Good luck

 

 

[DrKerry]

Bill, you've been holding out on us and this wild creation..... Is it on a thread here??? Would like to see/hear more about it....

[Lizard Racing]

Mr. Ace:  What an ecclectic build!  I recognize parts from a number of cars.  Really cool looking.

[Mike999]

So who wants to "mix and match" and end up with this real-life Munsters Coach?  It is a real car, a custom-built Hispano-Suiza that belonged to an Indian maharajah, IIRC.  He had a horse-drawn coach he really liked, got a new motorcar, and so...

Note the huge carriage lamps, "mother-in-law seat," and big horn on the running board.

 

[Russell C]

..... Just curious how you determine what can mix and match? ......

Lots of ideas enter my head, and in more recent years, I see how they work out in photo alterations, as seen in my artwork thread. Back in 1992 I sketched this one out on paper mostly from a tracing of a Lambo with a 'guestimation' of how the Chrysler would look on it. More pics here.

Edited March 17, 2016 by Russell C

[Deathgoblin]

You might also mix parts to make a different version of a car.  I've used the smaller engine out of a '67 GTO to simulate a small block for a "downgrade", making a 70 Buick GSX into a 72 Skylark Custom, and parts from various kits and some scratchbuilding to make a 71 Charger R/T into a base model.  I've also got a 440 Six Pack from a Superbird, and I'm going to redo the intake for a 4 barrel carb and make it a 383 for my 68 Road Runner.  I've also swapped things around for accuracy's sake, like using the engine/transmission out of the 87 Monte Carlo SS as a replacement for the piece of junk in the Trumpeter 1978 Monte Carlo.  

[espo]

A lot depends on what you like and what style you like to build. From the picture it looks like you have two Ferrari's. Consider putting the Hemi from the Plymouth in one of the Ferraris. With a top mounted blower and the air intake sticking out over the roof. Too much ?  Maybe keep it all under the stock body work with an exotic intake system. You could graft the body sides of the Ferrari with either the Mustang or the Camaro. You are only limited by your imagination.