swede70 Posted February 21, 2020 Author Posted February 21, 2020 (edited) Greetings, Maybe minimal stuff, but some ideas too. Seen beneath are new cylindrical jacking points forward of each exhaust dump, while nice it is to note that the door bars of the roll cage incline downwards just a bit from the main hoop as they approach the dashboard; i.e. this was desired. Plastic 'L' stock will be used to flesh out the rocker panels as they blend into the floor, while I'll likely cut the 'L' stock into three separate elements on each side given I have no faith at all that I can cleanly mask the material to reflect the three-color R/W/B (or alternately, B/W/R!) paint pattern expected to be reproduced above. My skill base has limits, and sometimes discreet cheating to disguise the limits of what one can reasonably mask is o.k. Moving along, a spare interior shell plus firewall are being worked over to establish the dimensions of the stiffening bars that will tie in to the front suspension turrets, with holes cut clean through the firewall to allow me to slide each bar tightly into position for pushing them through diagonally. ...notice the discreet tabs connecting the base of the roll cage members to the A-pillar sheet metal (so to speak) situated outboard on either side. The brace seen ahead of the suspension turrets is just raw stock, although note how something like this will eventually help to shore up the fit of the underhood panel work. Also made out is a new fuel inlet handle made from what is termed a 'head pin', this having a fairly large and flat top that suits the purpose well enough. This area still needs a bit of work, while the fuel cell vent hasn't been fabricated yet. - Although it seems I'm close to paint, my fabrication work is only about 80% complete with reference to the chassis in particular. In sum, I want to be able to put all the parts in a dryer set on 'Tumble/No Heat' , and for the introduction of a little glue, I'd hope it to all but self-assemble sans glitches. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70 Edited February 22, 2020 by swede70
swede70 Posted February 23, 2020 Author Posted February 23, 2020 Hello... For filing off the license plate detail, a gap remained atop it looking at the structure immediately behind it. Here I've scratch built a panel, reshaped the top of the rear valance panel somewhat, and have drilled a few discreet holes for good measure. The fuel inlet plug plus fill panel rests a touch high, but I think I'll leave it. This would be the topic seen at Michigan International Speedway at the first event in 1969, D. Friedman image. The bar stock hanging out is presumed to facilitate securing the car to a hauler, but looks rather deadly from here. ...fated to be scanned and shrunk, this would be a reproduction bumper sticker relating to a tepid period television advertisement that may be viewed via the link provided: ...necessarily imperfect, although in sum an improvement. ...and finally, a gap existed on the passenger's side between the bumper and the fender trim end cap that needed sorting. Here some material has been added to set matters right, while forward can be seen a pair of headlamp trim surrounds plus cast-in headlamps that may (may) be used to create mold to cast these items separately with an eye towards plating them apart and away from the body-colored bumper. The indented but not strictly punched out side marker panel detail on the fenders still needs to be scribed. Thanks for your review of my project update... Mike K./Swede70
swede70 Posted March 2, 2020 Author Posted March 2, 2020 (edited) Thanks for the interest sustained... Slowly building up assemblies still incomplete, seen would be some bundles of parts consistent with making headway: ...noticed are two headlamp bezels featuring two lengths of trim to mate to any bumper I might modify where such detail has been filed out. The idea is that both examples will be duplicated in resin, with the best being employed on both sides upon determination of what might be possible. Also made out would be simple rocker panels made of plastic 'L' stock, a pair of Revell '69 Camaro radiator to fender braces, and finally, a fully fleshed out radiator and structure which locates it well back. The photoetched mesh is intended to overlay the radiator cooling matrix on either side... ...while this would be a small gathering of parts for a more fully fleshed out chassis. Seen are SC/Rambler rear leaf springs with spring eyes added forward and back, an AMC Model 20 differential (only available within the very old Jo-Han AMC Funny Car tools), Revell '69 Camaro U-joints, and shock absorbers plus mounts - again from the old Jo-Han Rambler. In relation to the front suspension, noticed will be modified Jo-Han '70 Rebel Machine upper control arms featuring a bottom ledge, attachment points w/bushings otherwise missing, and related parts in the form of coil spring mounts, etc. ...and basic, but some well worn used assemblies being employed to learn how to situate braces leading from the firewall to the suspension turrets up front. Delicate gussets are set to be added, although the length of the tubing and setting of the angles of such is required first. The third set of inner fenders seen here are fated to end up on an early-season '70 Penske Javelin. Thanks for reviewing this project update. Mike K./Swede70 Edited March 2, 2020 by swede70
swede70 Posted March 11, 2020 Author Posted March 11, 2020 (edited) Greetings and thanks for the interest... A little tedious, but I'm working up a proper intake given the IR or Independent Runner 'shorty' tunnel ram employed by Ronnie Kaplan Engineering on the team cars for most of the '69 season isn't an 'off the sprue' thing. Working with an AMT Gremlin Pro Stock tunnel ram (actually two examples in point of fact), each bundle of intake runners have been cut free of the bottom and side cylinder head flanges to open up and refine the shape these, while the flanges had to be scratch built and still require refinement to be complete. Mounting hardware should be within the realm of the possible to add with plastic hex rod, and faint stiffening structure may yet be added atop it. Altogether it's been a bit of drag to do. Thanks... ...this would be the FIA homologation image submitted to secure the legality of the intake the team ran in competition for most of the season. At other venues they'd revert back to the '68 spec. cross ram not unlike that seen run by Penske Racing on their ubiquitous Camaro entries. The pair of factory-blessed independents running the slightly revised '68 team cars ran the older cross ram manifolds throughout the '69 season. ...while this would be an actual '69 spec. RKE/JRT engine - out and likely expired at that. Note how the carburetor mounting platform has been milled down substantially, replaced if you will with a thinner metal platform with studs poking upward and through it. Oil venting on the design was primitive, with a pair of Cal Custom breathers situated inline atop the lifter galley area. John Dianna photograph. ...and my initial attempt to reproduce it. Other than the flanges below, nothing has been strictly glued in place. The complex carburetor linkage seen in the second photo may well be beyond me to replicate. And although just a spare mock up engine, notice the use of '69 SC/Rambler heads which are good to include given the inaccuracy of fitting the Gen. 1 heads to any intended Gen. 2 or 3 AMC build. An explosion proof bell housing is coming, already seen on my '68 but likely incorrect for use on the earlier project given a partial scattershield was fitted atop the transmission tunnel and is plainly visible from the interior. I have a mold for the same, although the flange detail will need to be added for attaching a thin and carefully shaped layer to the end of such. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70 Edited March 11, 2020 by swede70
swede70 Posted March 15, 2020 Author Posted March 15, 2020 (edited) Minimal stuff - although work just the same... For cutting up my first AMT Gremlin tunnel ram intake and mating the remains to the scratch built intake flanges as they rest along the cylinder heads, it was noticed that I didn't have enough material along the ends of the individual intake runners for matters to join up cleanly. Happily someone on a FB AMT group page afforded me another AMT Gremlin Pro Stock intake which was handled differently for employing the stock flange material to extend each runner just a bit along the bottom, resulting in an overall tighter assembly. Further, more material was removed from upside down 'vee' formed beneath each intake runner stack consistent with affording room for the pair of oil breathers situated in-line, although these have yet to be sourced. Lastly, having ruined the outer profile of one of the fender end caps for too aggressive sanding and shaping, one was replaced. Somewhat slow as of late... Thanks... Mike K./Swede70 Edited March 15, 2020 by swede70
swede70 Posted January 29, 2021 Author Posted January 29, 2021 (edited) A very leisurely update of this my '69 RKE/JRT Trans-Am Javelin project... Worried I'd waste my '69 bubble hood effort for applying a finish and misjudging things, recently I created a mold for the hood so that not much would be risked if things fell apart. Witnessed is the results of the effort, which is largely clean. Additional parts have been gathered to possible do a second '69-season team car, although at present they'll just be saved. A five-panel Wink interior mounted rear view mirror assembly is needed for both my '68 and '69 efforts, while it would be good to scratch build what is needed consistent with clearing the next tiny hurdle. Most of the really unpleasant fabrication is mercifully done. Fine pinstripe decals to accent the borders between the red/white/blue body color segments has been found from a German source via eBay, hence that problem too has been solved. Mostly good then. Thanks... The shifter assembly will be made up of the best Hurst shifter lever I can find combined with the round stock Jo-Han boot. Seen forward are some parts I'm contemplating for use. Just a view of the profile worked up on the hood bubble and how the surface profile is picked up along the contours of said bubble. It's mostly good and few surprises were in store for me when I first pulled it from the mold. Pretty content at this point... A little fuzzy this, although the pinstripe detail spoken of can be made out with a little effort. Notice the blue-to-white border has a thin vertical red pinstripe, while the white-to-red border has a blue vertical pinstripe. Fated to be tedious to perform, but thought important all the same... While this would be the Interdecal product offering, with an agreeable red iteration also obtainable. I should be o.k. then... Mike K./Swede70 Edited March 13, 2022 by swede70
swede70 Posted February 27, 2021 Author Posted February 27, 2021 (edited) Greetings... Having sourced another interior bucket and bare Jo-Han Trans-Am Javelin chassis via eBay, here was some limited effort to put an early '70-season Penske Javelin back into play. Noticed will be the rudiments of a six-point roll cage, wheels and tires, carved out flush exterior door handles with resin replacements (done to facilitate off-body paintwork of the handles), and a rubber washer-rimmed Grant steering wheel installation. Mostly stuff I've done before in total, but looking comfortable given I know what to reach for. Thanks... ...in early-season form at Laguna Seca, descending down the Corkscrew... ...using the standard Jo-Han kit front spoiler, although the Jimmy Flintstone shell again features. No work has been performed underhood yet, while my last remaining SC/Rambler inner fender/wings will likely be stitched in. Many more bars need to be added to the roll cage taking form, although the major members are present, sized and aligned as required... ...front tires are stock kit Jo-Han/AMT period NASCAR issue, while the rears are Southern Motorsport vinyl '60's Goodyear NASCAR issue which come with very nice Goodyear Blue Streak blue lines and small white lettered Goodyear sidewall markings to match. The Minilite wheels are older cast resin items home brewed and made up of Jo-Han inner rim with MPC Chrysler Kit Car Clement five slot pressed steel wheel outer lips once again. The shell is among my oldest and evidences repair work for overzealous carving and shaping... ...looking a bit strange for not having a key hole through the rear spoiler, nevertheless it's how things were on the racers early season. The Jimmy Flintstone resin shell needed a patch atop the fuel inlet situated on the bottom center of the spoiler to backdate it slightly, while it looks fairly clean for a light putty application besides. Lastly, the Grant steering wheel noticed was sourced from a Hurst S/S '69 AMX release, with the ends of each spoke ground down to accommodate the quite small steering wheel rim reproduced with a bathroom plumbing washer. Just basic stuff at this point. Thanks for your review of this post. Mike K./Swede70 Edited February 27, 2021 by swede70
afx Posted February 27, 2021 Posted February 27, 2021 Great work as always Mike. Does the Flintstone body represent the early car pretty well?
swede70 Posted February 27, 2021 Author Posted February 27, 2021 (edited) Thanks for the interest expressed and sustained... The '70-season Penske Javelins evolved across that year as racers do, while a comparison between the early season spec. and the later season would largely be restricted to minor details as contrasted to much larger changes concerning the shape of the body or flares in particular. Jimmy Flintstone (perhaps Mini Exotics originally) opted to do a late season car which unlike the as-delivered original Jo-Han '70 Mark Donohue Trans-Am Javelin release (C-105), represented a very early season car if not something speculative before such was actually raced. As usual, the Jo-Han race rendition combines parts that are first rate with those which are impressionistic but largely benign! Concerning what was mastered, a late season spec. Penske Javelin wouldn't have cut outs to refuel the car along either quarter panel, but instead a single spot to do so perforating through the structure near the base of the deck lid and cutting through the bottom of the rear spoiler. Some engine updates would be discernible including a better functioning wet sump design for much trial and error, the front spoiler would be redesigned to include both aluminum structure and lexan lips along the bottom, while the polished lip Minilites seen briefly early on would be superseded by uniformly rough cast appearing Minilites in whatever magnesium alloy they used. Tall profile NASCAR tires - ungainly as they were to look upon, were found to be best to employ out back, while shorter profile and comparatively squat Super Modified tires - also from the Goodyear catalog, were eventually fitted up front. The almost elegant fine blue lines found on the sidewall of period Goodyear Blue Streak Sports Car Special were something that vanished from the scene as the year progressed - another tiny alteration then. ...Peter Revson, sans the Racemark seat described below (i.e. no headrest or extension for such is seen), although with the revised front spoiler, different tires, and fueling via the rear only. For whatever reason, the side numeral has gravitated upward, while the font suggests primitive digital readouts and the then topical Apollo program courtesy of NASA. Photo credit unknown, while perhaps the image was captured at Kent, WA '70. - Eventually Mark Donohue established other means to draw an income apart from Penske Racing and Goodyear, and one of these sidelines was his affiliation with a company called Racemark. One of their products was a then novel seat that was both tightly form fitting and extended well down the body to afford a measure of knee and leg support. Apparently Paul Van Valkenburgh designed such, later coauthor of Mark's excellent auto racing biography The Unfair Advantage from 1975. From mid season the distinctive Racemark seat with all the trimmings was installed in Mark's car, although it didn't seem to migrate to Peter Revson's #9 Penske Javelin. Other discreet changes would be picked up from race to race for close examination and comparison of period photos. Lastly, the presence on the vintage scene of a backdated engineering hack reflecting '71 season developments at Penske Racing confuses things if one is tempted to be guided by vintage racing photography, hence beware of this reality if accuracy is felt paramount. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70 Edited February 28, 2021 by swede70
swede70 Posted February 28, 2021 Author Posted February 28, 2021 (edited) Small stuff this... I hadn't much success bending brass tube to replicate exhaust dumps, but here it wasn't much of a problem for the material used didn't quite crimp up as expected. Also seen are the pair of jack or lifting hard points seen along the rocker, while the retention straps holding the rear glass in place are set wider - whoopee! Thanks... Mike K./Swede70 Edited February 28, 2021 by swede70
swede70 Posted March 1, 2021 Author Posted March 1, 2021 (edited) Greetings... Going through materials intended to allow the construction of a '71 Penske Javelin and later a '72 American Racing Associates/Roy Wood Racing Javelin, I hurriedly decided to put my '71 Penske project up on wheels. Other work performed was the reprofiling of each wheel arch opening as guided by period reference, the removal of all standard identifying crests, and the installation of a '71-'74 dashboard given all Jo-Han and AMT-badged Trans-Am Javelins come through with bare floors, albeit with a '70 dash. The body shell is a stripped restoration piece from a built '71 AMT Mark Donohue release, the chassis and interior being recent eBay acquisitions posted and sold by a period kit breaker - a new thing then. Even for brief work this '71 looks fairly convincing... ...this a Dave Friedman image captured at the '71 Lime Rock Trans-Am contest. Rules presumably required that the wheel arch profiles not be altered, although here one can clearly see that the rear opening has been elongated, slightly squared off and raised to terminate along the body side character line. The front wheel arch shape is also different versus stock, with the opening found rising atop the character line, and noticeably stretching along the base towards the nose of the car. ...the raised rocker panel trim will have to be scrubbed off, but the wheel arch recontour work is convincing enough. The twinned exhaust dumps required that the cut outs for the same be enlarged, while the rear tires are AMT AMC Penske Matador issue. Thanks for your review of this ever-evolving project thread. Mike K./Swede70 Edited March 1, 2021 by swede70
swede70 Posted March 8, 2021 Author Posted March 8, 2021 (edited) Greetings... Small stuff this, but aluminum hub guides were added to the '71 Penske Donohue Javelin, with the horizontal raised trim scrubbed out along the rocker panels for a cleaner appearance. The rear rims were narrowed a bit to better fit the tires and live within the wheel well space afforded, while replacement plastic 'glass' via Okey Spaudling purchased years ago replaces the wasted kit glass on this restoration item. Along the front of the model some initial pattern work was performed consistent with fabricating a reasoned front spoiler, while a pair of headlamp screens overlay the headlamp installation consistent with suggesting brake cooling ducts which were allowed for a rules adjustment going into the '71 SCCA Trans-Am season. The tail light lense was stripped with Easy Off oven cleaner, the resultant clear plastic panel refinished with Tamiya's TS-74 Clear Red aerosol consistent with cleaning up the appearance of what was mottled and of middling quality. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70 Edited March 13, 2022 by swede70
Dann Tier Posted March 13, 2021 Posted March 13, 2021 They really are unique cars, and its good to see you back at it!!!
swede70 Posted April 13, 2021 Author Posted April 13, 2021 (edited) Thanks for the interest expressed... After much mulling, I finally removed the Racemark seat I'd work up for my late-season '70 Penske Javelin and created a two-piece mold to reproduce it. The thought of working up at least two additional examples from what would have been at least four additional AMT Penske Matador seats plus all the extra effort to flesh out all the required elements in terms of the extended base, the lip elements along most edges and the better integrated headrest struck me as troublesome, hence the old work was refined before making a mold. Other things done include the careful removal of the cast-in seat belt harness, and putty work to integrate all the delicate lip detail. Further, the new headrest was hollowed out from behind to suggest hand laid fiberglass with slightly thicker edge detail to match the lip elements added to the back rest and extending to the integrated armrest profile as seen. I don't know why I hesitated to create a mold for all the work done up to this point across the seat, but delay I most certainly did... Noticed further below is one of the first usable examples from the mold which has proven tricky to fill and vent, although clean examples now issue forth. Spied to the right supporting the Racemark design is my default early '70-season Jo-Han Penske Javelin choice of the moment, something found within the AMT '37 Chevrolet release. For reviewing things, it doesn't seem that Peter Revson's car was ever strictly updated with the Racemark design right across the '70 season which seems odd. At least I can proceed with the '71 and '72 roll cage fabrication given what rests within is now less of a mystery. Thanks... ...the 1:1 seat installed in Mark Donohue's '70 Penske Javelin from mid-season. K. Ludvigsen image. ...sans seat mount, hence delicately poised for a photo as witnessed. Mike K./Swede70 Edited April 13, 2021 by swede70
swede70 Posted April 13, 2021 Author Posted April 13, 2021 (edited) ...while in short, this would be my '72 Roy Woods Racing Javelin Trans-Am taking shape to the extent that I've removed select trim and have recontoured the wheel arch openings to match period photos. Subtle stuff, not particularly exciting in sum, while sobering it is to notice where kit part prices have gone in recent times. Finding another '71- '74 dashboard (or much of anything Jo-Han Javelin related) isn't work for the timid. Thanks... ...a fuzzy press kit image communicating the basics. ...and looking a bit pallid given the bumpers (across projects really) are being prepped for chrome plating. The bottom surfaces are a bit rough, while the ends of each 'stamping' front and rear needed light work lest they stand out for all the wrong reasons. Another front spoiler has been fabricated to situate here, although it's literally out of sight when this image was captured. Mike K./Swede70 Edited April 13, 2021 by swede70
swede70 Posted April 18, 2021 Author Posted April 18, 2021 (edited) Greetings... For bending a lot of material and tossing out copious amounts of the same, a pair of roll cages take form for my '71 Penske as well as my '72 Roy Woods Racing Trans-Am Javelins. In particular, I wished to integrate my scratch built cages with the cut outs patterned into the '70 Jo-Han Trans-Am Javelin dash design for the bars stretching from the main hoop, down behind each A-pillar, and finally to the floor on either side. Using a Jo-Han '70 Donohue Trans-Am Javelin as an alignment buck, the new cages were fabricated, while two redesigned '71-'74 Jo-Han/AMT-boxed annual kit dashboards were isolated with the intent of filing them to accept whatever was worked up for use of the earlier design when in position inside the interior casting. ...this would actually be the '72 interior and chassis awaiting work consistent with filing out the late dash design to mate/mesh with the forward most roll cage members. Note how the roll cage bars neatly parallel the edges of the kit glass... ...back to my '71 Penske Javelin, no real effort was made to work up a proper seat mount here, hence it's at the wrong level and leans back far too much. Matters to be sorted then, while the '73 front bumper/grille is just something temporarily employed for mock up purposes and will vanish soon enough... ...happily the A-pillar roll cage members are largely invisible... ...trying to keep beneath the lip of the instrument panel surround on the late dash design, most everything fits and/or aligns. Certainly it's better than living with an incorrect '70 dash afforded across the entire range of Jo-Han/AMT-boxed Trans-Am Javelin releases of old. Thanks for your review of this post. Mike K./Swede70 Edited April 18, 2021 by swede70
TransAmMike Posted April 18, 2021 Posted April 18, 2021 I applaud you?you for the extensive research and work you are doing on this. It's looking terrific.
swede70 Posted April 20, 2021 Author Posted April 20, 2021 (edited) Thanks... Looking largely consistent, the '72 RWR Javelin is also up on wheels w/cage after filing and fitting the red plastic late dashboard seen further up this thread. Forward one-third then... ...the wheel arch contour is different, while this example wears a '71-'72 grille/front bumper assembly less bumper guards if nothing more. At least it looks pretty honest. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70 Edited March 13, 2022 by swede70
swede70 Posted April 24, 2021 Author Posted April 24, 2021 (edited) Greetings... This would be a Jo-Han '70 Penske Javelin front bumper project brought back online for some recent developments. The promo bumper 'features' a prominent cast-in license plate with the word 'JAVELIN' spelled out, whereas the Donohue Trans-Am release is plain, albeit unperforated as the 1:1 stock bumper would otherwise have an opening that would afford a bit of airflow back to the radiator. Additionally, it seems Penske Racing did some modest cutting and reshaping of their own, hence coming up with an accurate opening takes a bit of work. ...the topic at '70 Mid-Ohio, the photo sadly unattributed. The extended tabs used to attach a license plate within the space of the cut out in the front bumper along the top have been trimmed and removed versus stock. A small debris screen is very likely there as well. Given I should cast this for some plating reverses experienced as of late, some other changes will feature. Note that the cast-in headlamp detail has been filed out even as the raised headlamp rings remain in place. Otherwise one is compelled to use the too high standard Jo-Han fill panels/overlays, hence something subtle this. Seeing things through, it'll be my aim to remove the front turn indicators to allow the Jo-Han fill panel inserts to reliably fit flush, while also be readily removable for pressing from behind. As-delivered, the Jo-Han parts 'ride high' and prove tedious to remove and reset even when sanded flush. Hopefully all will be better soon. Thanks... ...while noticed to the right would be some cast resin U-joints and a scratch built passenger footwell-sited battery box intended to be replicated, cast and spread across my Penske and Roy Woods Racing/American Racing Associates builds. May things come right. Mike K./Swede70 Edited April 24, 2021 by swede70
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