Danbury mint 69 Camaro

[randyc]

So a friend brought me this one.  Got $8 invested.  Right side tires were toasted.  Not sure what happened but they were flat and bent.  The tires.  Needed cleaning.  So why not dismantle?   Lol

Mint cars are always tricky to disassemble and this one was no exception.  Screws hidden under the boot.  And the boot is glued with the strongest glue in the universe. I cut through the edge of boot and finally got it apart.

Detailed the dash some. Painted the dog legs black.   Replaced tires with some from a testors diecast kit.  Closest easy fit.  Detailed the wheels.  Cleaned it all up.  Still missing mirrors.  I have the passenger side but no point installing it without the drivers.  I think I have one in my stash somewhere.  

I touched up the orange stripes too.  Modelmaster Chevy engine orange is pretty much perfect.  Also extended the pinstripes on fenders.  May foil the fender lips later. 

Well worth $8.  

[Snake45]

That's a beauty and you did a great job of bringing it back from the dead. 

[Geno]

WOW, great job Randy, looks beautiful.

[Gramps46]

Impressive indeed Randy!  Well worth the effort and the $8. 

[vamach1]

I destroyed a DM 71 Boss 351 but I only had about $20 invested thnaks to a bulk auction some years ago.  It was in perfect condition but without the original packaging.  So why would I intentionally ruin it.  My pet peeve is the MPC and MPC kits of 71-73 Mustangs as so bad they are in desperate need of some extra stock parts so I have had many parts resin cast to include the space saver spare, ram air plenum, air cleaner, door panels, front seats, seat belt retractors, shock tower bracing, dash, rim blow steering wheel, center console, rev limiter, and more.  Since I had another perfect Boss and the blue DM Mach1 it was worth tearing one apart knowing it will never be the same.

PS - nice save on the Camaro.  These diecasts were not meant to be taken apart as so many parts are superglued.

 

Edited March 4, 2019 by vamach1

[cobraman]

I agree, nice save.

[randyc]

On 3/4/2019 at 5:27 PM, vamach1 said:

I destroyed a DM 71 Boss 351 but I only had about $20 invested thnaks to a bulk auction some years ago.  It was in perfect condition but without the original packaging.  So why would I intentionally ruin it.  My pet peeve is the MPC and MPC kits of 71-73 Mustangs as so bad they are in desperate need of some extra stock parts so I have had many parts resin cast to include the space saver spare, ram air plenum, air cleaner, door panels, front seats, seat belt retractors, shock tower bracing, dash, rim blow steering wheel, center console, rev limiter, and more.  Since I had another perfect Boss and the blue DM Mach1 it was worth tearing one apart knowing it will never be the same.

PS - nice save on the Camaro.  These diecasts were not meant to be taken apart as so many parts are superglued.

 

 

Yes they are assembled in a much more complicated manner than the cheaper diecasts.  I was used to the Ertls and such.   So far, it seems like there are always some "secret" screws.   The 57 chevy FM may be an exception.   However, on it, I thnikk the radiator hose is glued in after the major assemblies are attached.   Which means it is holding the entire model together at the point of separation.   Always something.  Have to be very careful when dismantling these cars.    BUT if you can get cheap enough, there are a LOT of parts to detail a plastic kit build.   Things that the kit makers NEVER considered including.  

So now I have both the white one and the blue one from Danbury Mint for well less than $50 total investment.  I also have a yellow NAPA convertible.   Plus I still have plastic versions built up somewhere in storage.   Too many Camaros...lol