My version of Chevys should be 1963 ElCamino!

[fordf-100]

This is my first posting of a model I am working on. We are having a club build project of a "ElCamino/Ranchero" style car that was never made. I decided on this 1963 Nova wagon for this convrsion since it was already started! The front of the roof is stock Nova while the back half is 1966 ElCamino from Revell. I always have trouble with body work and I really see how bad it is when I see the other modelers work here on the forum, its always fantastic! ANy comments or suggestions concerning body work and design would be appreciated. Thanks!

[misterNNL]

very well done so far.Your conversion looks like a naural.Thanks for sharing.

[Super28]

Looks good. Be watching the progress

[rickcaps55]

Yes that's awesome !! please keep the pictures coming very nice to bad GM did not do this one at the time.

[fordf-100]

Thanks for the comments! Looking at the pictures the inside of the bed looks really rough. I need to clean that up or use a cover on it!

Any ideas what I could do on the inside of the bed? 

[Modlbldr]

Tha looks like it should have been from the factory. So many of these El Camino conversions look too forced, not natural. This one looks very realistic. For the bed shoot a pic straight on from above. I can't see how rough it looks. I would try spraying flat black in mist coats from about a foot or so away. Just light bursts to where the paint lands on the bed in speckles. As you build it up it will eventually look like bedliner. That way any rough surface will look like it is supposed to be that way. 

Later-

[1930fordpickup]

I like the the direction you are going. As far as body work hard to see in the photo's what you are talking about for me. Are the raised parts of the bed floor what you are talking about?  If you have the rest of the El Camino you could just that floor if you are not happy with the results you are getting. With the rest of body work it all takes time for me. Try and keep the amount of filler small so you have less chance for sanding error's. 

Have you tried looking in this area of the forum? http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/forum/27-modeling-how-tos/

[fordf-100]

I will try and get a pic from straight above the bed. I like the idea of a bed liner look! I am going to practice with that and see how it looks on a scrap pickup bed. Thanks for the comments, I was trying for a factory look and I agree that a lot of conversion while they look good don't really look factory. I think any factory ElCamino/Ranchero type vehicle would have a truck style tailgate with completely different quarters and taillights than a passenger car. I had doubts about using the wagon taillights and tailgate but thought it worked ok!

[Tom Geiger]

Aha!  You surprised me with the Nova based Elkie.  All the other attempts I've seen have been on the full size Chevy.

I thought you may like to see the below model. I didn't build it, bought it this way.  I believe this was built  back when the kit was new. Note that they went for a fixed / molded in bed cover.

 

[mike 51]

I think you need to re-scribe the door lines...the doors are too short and don't match the roof/side windows.

 

[espo]

Great looking conversion. I agree with others that you don't usually see the little Chevy II being used. I have only done a very few such body Mods and agree it can become difficult. The only suggestion I might offer has to do with the rear window opening. As it is right now from the picture it looks like the opening will be to tall for the El Camino rear window. If this is the case you might try and use the window surround from the El Camino. You could also create a lower and upper molding or body panel to close the gap. I would try to stay with the El Camino kits window in any case. The tail gate looks perfect as is. I like the polished Ansen type wheels, very sixties.      

[fordf-100]

I love the photos of the Nova based ElCamino! Whoever did this did a really good job, looks cool as a custom!

I thought about rescribing the door lines but the main reason I didnt is because every time i try I screw it up!! I cant seen

to get a clean, deep line. Its always very choppy and ends up looking worse. I did notice the door line not meeting the roof and I was

going to solve that by adding a fixed quarter window similar to a mid eighties ElCamino. Any tips on scribing new door lines would be welcomed! 

I am trying to go for a late sixties look, something that a kid fixed up, mags, headers, dual exhaust, something for a cool street car.

I was kicking around a medium blue metallic with a white roof and black interior. I also agree with the rear window being a little tall. I have a piece that 

is going to go on top of the back of the bed. I would also like to have chrome trim around the rear window. Anyone have any ideas for trim on the window?

I was thinking of somehow trying to have the trim on the glass and that fit into the opening. That way I could bare metal the trim with the window out!

[Sixties Sam]

I like it! Seems like Chevy should have made it in '63!

Sam

[blunc]

Nice work so far.

I have a similar (Ford) conversion that I am reworking from a 1980's build.

I started with a Pinto wagon, moved the rear window forward similar to your conversion, then swapped the front clip to a 1978 Mustang II, the bed was from the AMT 1955 Nomad.

My WIP thread is in the On the Workbench: Pickups, Vans, SUVs, Light Commercial section here:http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/121035-phantom-1978-ranchero-gt-small-update-4-7-2017/

I suggest going with a bed cover if you don't plan on adding inner tail gate panel.

[ChrisBcritter]

I thought about rescribing the door lines but the main reason I didnt is because every time i try I screw it up!! I cant seen

to get a clean, deep line. Its always very choppy and ends up looking worse.  Any tips on scribing new door lines would be welcomed!

Don't give up just yet - it takes practice and the proper tools but it can be done. A scribing tool will get the line started, and the back edge of an X-acto blade will continue it to the correct width and depth. Use a metal straightedge and go lightly and slowly, and of course practice on scrap plastic first. The door on a 2-door Nova should be a hair under 2" long at the widest point - measured horizontally along the body crease (I just now checked this on my '65 Nova hardtop which is the same body as the '63). Yours may be a bit shorter because of where the roof was installed. Here's a quick photoshop of how it could look:

Good luck and happy modeling!

Edited July 21, 2017 by ChrisBcritter

[#1 model citizen]

Another thought on replicating a bed liner would be to use a textured paint or perhaps glitter paint (which has texture). Apply the textured paint then paint it black (like the Rolling Stones would want ) unless you are lucky enough find black texture paint.

[ChrisBcritter]

This is the clay model of the Nova El Camino, dated July 1961; the roof treatment was transferred to the Chevelle:

 

 

Edited July 23, 2017 by ChrisBcritter

[fordf-100]

Thanks guys! I really like the look with the rescribed door lines! Is that photo of the clay mockup real? I never saw that and it looks awesome! I love it. I am going to try and replicate that rear window treatment! 

 

Edited July 22, 2017 by fordf-100
misspelling

[fordf-100]

I could not open the photos for the Ranchero, I would really like to see that as I think that would be an awesome conversion!

[DumpyDan]

Nice work Philip, what Nova did you use for this conversion?  Other than the trouble your having with the bed liner the wheels and tail end look awesome, well the car looks real good.  Impressive to me.

[fordf-100]

Thanks, This started out as an original 63 wagon kit that had been chopped up already when I got it! The big advantage I think was the tailgate really works for an ElCamino style build.

[crazyjim]

Thanks for the comments! Looking at the pictures the inside of the bed looks really rough. I need to clean that up or use a cover on it!

Any ideas what I could do on the inside of the bed? 

You could try Rustoleum Texture paint.  Looks close to spray in bedliner material.

[blunc]

I could not open the photos for the Ranchero, I would really like to see that as I think that would be an awesome conversion!

Sorry, botophucket finally caught up to my photo linking.

I have fixed the botophucket problem and updated the WIP.

Edited July 22, 2017 by blunc

[Eric Macleod]

I like it.  Great concept!

[bisc63]

Try using embossing powder in the bed to replicate a spray liner. Apply it and primer it heavier than usual, then sand off the sharpest peaks with some 800 grit or finer paper to just begin smoothing the texture to your desired finish. Liking your attempt here, don' give up; it's only plastic!