Chuck Most Posted January 25, 2018 Posted January 25, 2018 I have (well, had) a couple of incomplete Johan '70 Eldorado kits laying around. I built one as a junked-out stocker, and disposed of the other one by doing it as a Wasteland Weekend cruiser. I lifted the suspension and used wheels and tires from a Revell '77 GMC, lights and a few other doodads from an Italeri truck accessories kit, and a resin skull to decorate the hood. The other items were modified from kit parts or made from scratch.
StevenGuthmiller Posted January 25, 2018 Posted January 25, 2018 I always have mixed feelings about doing something like this to an obsolete kit. While the work is well done, I can't help but think about the fact that this kit is never coming back. Steve
Chuck Most Posted January 25, 2018 Author Posted January 25, 2018 32 minutes ago, StevenGuthmiller said: I always have mixed feelings about doing something like this to an obsolete kit. While the work is well done, I can't help but think about the fact that this kit is never coming back. Steve I'd normally agree with you, but in the case of this particular kit... if this one was representative of all of these kits the fact that it will never come back might be a good thing. Half of the parts to the (Oldsmobile) engine were short shot, the chassis was warped into a frowny-face, there was so much excess plastic on the bottom of the firewall it looked like an old open-mold resin casting, and the chrome plating was thick and blotchy (though that last problem may have been due to age). The decals are awful, though that's true of almost every Johan kit I've ever had. The first one I built was the same, minus the short shot engine parts. All things considered, this one can stay dead. I'd gladly take the Toronado though, even if it shares the same maladies as the Eldo.
StevenGuthmiller Posted January 25, 2018 Posted January 25, 2018 25 minutes ago, Chuck Most said: I'd normally agree with you, but in the case of this particular kit... if this one was representative of all of these kits the fact that it will never come back might be a good thing. Half of the parts to the (Oldsmobile) engine were short shot, the chassis was warped into a frowny-face, there was so much excess plastic on the bottom of the firewall it looked like an old open-mold resin casting, and the chrome plating was thick and blotchy (though that last problem may have been due to age). The decals are awful, though that's true of almost every Johan kit I've ever had. The first one I built was the same, minus the short shot engine parts. All things considered, this one can stay dead. I'd gladly take the Toronado though, even if it shares the same maladies as the Eldo. All of this may be true, but we still need to consider the fact that there will likely never be another '70 Eldorado kit ever produced. Bad kit or not, it's the only one that we will ever have. That being said, I don't have any delusions that I should be dictating how anybody should build their kits, but I just have a genuine soft spot for these old annuals with the realization that they are gone forever, except for whatever bits of them remain. Steve
Chuck Most Posted January 26, 2018 Author Posted January 26, 2018 1 hour ago, StevenGuthmiller said: All of this may be true, but we still need to consider the fact that there will likely never be another '70 Eldorado kit ever produced. Bad kit or not, it's the only one that we will ever have. That being said, I don't have any delusions that I should be dictating how anybody should build their kits, but I just have a genuine soft spot for these old annuals with the realization that they are gone forever, except for whatever bits of them remain. Steve I get what you're saying. You might like the first one I did a bit better. If I ever find another one of these I might try some of the custom parts on it. Like you said, there won't be another '70 Eldorado kit, so I'm going to enjoy 'em.
StevenGuthmiller Posted January 26, 2018 Posted January 26, 2018 (edited) 3 hours ago, Chuck Most said: I get what you're saying. You might like the first one I did a bit better. If I ever find another one of these I might try some of the custom parts on it. Like you said, there won't be another '70 Eldorado kit, so I'm going to enjoy 'em. I saw them both Chuck, & I'm absolutely not criticizing your work. They are both very well done! But.......well, you understand what I mean. I just wish that they were AMT 1970 Impalas! I actually have never had much of an issue with somebody who wants to build a vintage kit in it's "late life" form, like your first one. Even your current one might be salvageable if some future builder ever got their hands on it & wanted to go back to original. The ones that really make my skin crawl a little are the all out customs! Most times, you can never go back from that. Steve Edited January 26, 2018 by StevenGuthmiller
espo Posted January 26, 2018 Posted January 26, 2018 Another great looking build. I like the Mad Max style and all of the modifications that go along with that.
Ace-Garageguy Posted January 26, 2018 Posted January 26, 2018 I like it. What shouts out at me though is what a good-looking car this generation Eldo really is. I'll always think it's one of the best designs to ever come from Detroit, and even as a post-apocalyptic 4WD beast, its elegant proportions and lines shine through. I was lucky enough to find a decent kit of this fairly cheap some time back, and I'll be doing a very mild custom...mostly just de-chromed, lowered a little, with trick wheels that look like they're derived from some obviously FWD originals. Anybody who's really concerned about these disappearing forever ought to get busy and make a set of molds for resin repops. It's not like Johan will sue...
bobthehobbyguy Posted January 26, 2018 Posted January 26, 2018 Love it. Definitely something you might see in Mad Max. Always enjoy seeing your creations.
BigTallDad Posted January 26, 2018 Posted January 26, 2018 Nice job on the Mad Maxing! Did you originally plan on putting a roll bar/cage in it?
Chuck Most Posted January 28, 2018 Author Posted January 28, 2018 On 1/25/2018 at 11:19 PM, StevenGuthmiller said: I just wish that they were AMT 1970 Impalas! Thanks for the idea Those seem to be a "readily available but rarely-seen-built" kind of kit. On 1/26/2018 at 10:39 AM, Ace-Garageguy said: What shouts out at me though is what a good-looking car this generation Eldo really is. I'll always think it's one of the best designs to ever come from Detroit, and even as a post-apocalyptic 4WD beast, its elegant proportions and lines shine through This one's still front-drive. Always expect the unexpected. On 1/26/2018 at 10:39 AM, Ace-Garageguy said: Anybody who's really concerned about these disappearing forever ought to get busy and make a set of molds for resin repops. It's not like Johan will sue... I also like THAT idea. While this potential caster was at it, some of the kit's many shortcomings could be taken care of.
Chuck Most Posted January 28, 2018 Author Posted January 28, 2018 On 1/26/2018 at 11:50 AM, BigTallDad said: Nice job on the Mad Maxing! Did you originally plan on putting a roll bar/cage in it? I toyed with the idea of doing an external cage with spare tire carriers and a roof rack but ended up scrapping the idea. It looked rather clunky, and I wanted those pointy Cadillac quarter panels to remain fully visible.
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