AMT 1963 Impala - Advanced Custom Version

[Belugawrx]

This one came on red vinyl ..

Love what your doing on this one Eric

 

Edited March 23, 2020 by Belugawrx

[Impalow]

41 minutes ago, espo said:

Great looking seats and I like the seating arrangement. I don't know how you would represent this, but maybe a "Heads Up" instrumentation like a Fighter Jet or and old Pontiac Grand Prix or something like that.  

Ya know what... that's a fantastic idea...  from some quick research it looks like they were using heads up displays in military and commercial jets in the 1970s..   hmmmm... military surplus HUD... now to try and figure what that looks like..

[Belugawrx]

This gentleman on the RPF site, has HUDs down pretty good...need to be lighted tho...

https://www.therpf.com/forums/threads/aav-drop-ship.301028/page-25

or this gent on a Ma.K site.... time 4:30

 

 

[Mr. Metallic]

The HUD is cool. But, here's another option. How about a couple pods or a cluster mounted on an arm that swings out of the way. Possibly mounted on top of one of the wheel tubs?

[OldNYJim]

You know, a Silhouette will engrave clear plastic pretty well....easy to make something like that guy showed in the video above!

[Modelbuilder Mark]

I have not checked in on this thread in some time, and with this social distance quarantining, I am finally getting some time to catch up online.

Not only has this taken a very different turn that I expected, but the work you are doing and engineering is excellent.

Just a thought, when it comes time for your clear record, you may be able to use your silhouette to lightly cut the grooves in the record..

[espo]

4 hours ago, Impalow said:

Ya know what... that's a fantastic idea...  from some quick research it looks like they were using heads up displays in military and commercial jets in the 1970s..   hmmmm... military surplus HUD... now to try and figure what that looks like..

What made me think of it was a late '90's Grand Prix GTP that we had. The speedo was all that the dash thru up on the windshield. I know Detroit and GM specifically has offered this feature on other cars since then. I always thought it was a great feature since you never had to take your eyes off the road to read your instruments. I have only seen pictures of this technology in fighter aircraft and this could be a good way to solve your instrument issue and it would be in keeping with this build. Some others have forwarded you some places to look to help accomplish this.  

[Impalow]

You guys are fantastic!   I actually combined a couple of the ideas here...  since the vehicle needs to stay 70s period correct, i made the “projector” for the HUD into a tube style tv, in a housing with some traditional gauges on the front all mounted on a swing arm... the cutter made the HUD pattern perfect on some .020 styrene, I cant wait to try it on some clear...  all scratchbuilt, still needs some clean up... but I like it!!!

thank you all for the help getting over that little hurdle!!   
 

[David G.]

Wow! There are just too many great ideas going on with this one.

David G.

[Claude Thibodeau]

8 hours ago, Impalow said:

You guys are fantastic!   I actually combined a couple of the ideas here...  since the vehicle needs to stay 70s period correct, i made the “projector” for the HUD into a tube style tv, in a housing with some traditional gauges on the front all mounted on a swing arm... the cutter made the HUD pattern perfect on some .020 styrene, I cant wait to try it on some clear...  all scratchbuilt, still needs some clean up... but I like it!!!

thank you all for the help getting over that little hurdle!!   
 

WoW!

That is litterally importing fighter plane technology in a car! Just as was the obsession of the big three back then.

The spirit of Harley Earl lives on!

CT

[TarheelRick]

Wow, I somehow just came upon this build.  What you are doing is excellent scratchbuilding work.  I am going to steal some of your ideas.  I have an extra Falcon Ranchero body I have cut and slipped forward, added some extra kit custom pieces to; body has not been extended.  Right now it is in the "to get to pile", this build may inspire me to move it forward.

[Impalow]

Thanks guys!! That Falcon is awesome!  Im really enjoying all the non traditional stuff I get to do on this one... its crazy fun!!

I did a better mockup and added the control levers... they are made from some edgeglow acrylic rod,  commonly used in gun sites.   Just some trim to add in here and its on to the ramps. 
 

[OldNYJim]

Stunning building Eric!

Everytime I see one of your builds I either wish I thought of it first or discover some new must-have product that I want to try.  This time it’s both...I LOVE that neon rod that you’re using!  

[Mattilacken]

Interior is looking insane! Great idea!

[Belugawrx]

Really coming along here Eric..looking good ?

[Impalow]

Thanks guys!   I kinda fell off on the updates with this between all of the strangeness from the COVID19 quarantine, 1:1 cars and currently being in the process of selling my house and moving (picked a great time to do that after 13 years? huh?)

Anyway I have been making slow progress in my spare time.. and its really taken yet another spiral into craziness here are some photo updates from the last couple months.

I did some detail work on the engines, I used HO scale train dynamic cooling fans to add some detail to the fans... these are the 48" ones from Cannon & Company and really are spectacular. Then I turned pulleys on the lathe for the belt system, ill make the belt out of some electrical tape.

Then I needed to finish up the ramps and filling the open areas of the rear body as well as scratch-building a new rear bumper.

Then I lost it and decided to put a lithium battery compartment into the tool box and add working LED lighting elements.

I found evans designs website and ordered up several LEDS, connectors and battery holders.... Ive decided to use 3 color fade 3mm LEDs to have a colorbar style headlight, some cool white random flickering leds behind the TV's and finally some tiny little red leds on the swing up taillight/gate.  Here are some Mockup Videos!

 

[Impalow]

I took a small lathe pass on the inside of the tires to open them up to more of 15" than a 14".... then added some 1/24 scale wheel lips to the Scenes Unlimited Wheels..Subtle change but this helps give it more of the 70's showrod look.

Finally I got the chassis in the 2-stage Splash Paints Mazda Soul Red Basecoat.... it looks a lot like a vintage candy apple red but sprays a bit easier... however just a bit easier, there were a lot of nooks and crannies in this chassis and the candy top coat was a challenge... its not perfect but it is just a chassis. ? 

Edited May 22, 2020 by Impalow

[Mattilacken]

Awesome paint for that ride! Great progress! And understandable there is other things in life than our little hobby! 

[OldNYJim]

Oh wow ?. I love everything about it!  I have so much admiration for the way you build...brilliant!!  

[Bucky]

Very cool! If the body work doesn't get your attention, that red paint surely will!

[Dann Tier]

WOW!!!!.....where the heck was i for this??!!!....this is another example of BRILLIANT customizing!!!

[Sam I Am]

On 3/30/2020 at 8:15 AM, Impalow said:

Thanks 

I did a better mockup and added the control levers... they are made from some edgeglow acrylic rod,  commonly used in gun sites.  

 

They remind me of lite brite pegs. ?

[David G.]

Your build is beyond cool!

David G.

[Codi]

Never disappointing Eric.  I've always admired your vision & execution but you and John Teresi have "Imagination" locked down.  Cheers, Tim

[AmericanMuscleFan]

That's an incredible and well crafted project Eric!  Your attention to details is out of the ordinary I would say.  I was dealing with the idea for quite a few time making the instrument panel illuminated using a LED with a small button cell hidden somewhere on one of my build and your fabrication of that feature is simply flawless.  A piece of art in the making sir!!!