Andrew D the Jolly Roger Posted March 25, 2020 Posted March 25, 2020 For those who didn't know, the Charger wreck used in Dukes Season 1 Episode 4 "Repo Men" was the same car that made the jump at the very end of the show's opening credits. LOVED this car the first time I saw it as a kid, did not know how important it was until decades later. Replicating this wreck in 1/25 will be a VERY ambitious project. Not as simple as wrecking a plastic body.
Andrew D the Jolly Roger Posted March 25, 2020 Author Posted March 25, 2020 If I can't replicate the body damage, the entire project is pointless. If I only heat up and bend the plastic body it will look toylike, as the body thickness when scaled up would be akin to a couple inches thick. Not convincing at all. THE SOLUTION: Make aluminum foil copies of the body sections to be damaged. Let's try it on the hood first:
Andrew D the Jolly Roger Posted March 25, 2020 Author Posted March 25, 2020 Once damaged to taste, the foil is filled from behind with tons of gap-filling superglue and plastic strip reinforcements. Then to the body itself, the same treatment but MUCH bigger. LOTS of superglue to fill it all from behind. Then priming and sanding in appropriate areas.
Andrew D the Jolly Roger Posted March 25, 2020 Author Posted March 25, 2020 The interior needs special work. From what I can see in the episode, the interior panels under the rear windows were removed along with the back seat, although I've read that only the seat was removed to install the full roll cage. So, I had to remove the rear panel and totally rebuild it as the interior structure that the panel would normally cover. Was a 2 full day scratchbuilding job, daunting at first but well worth it in the end. The carpet will be well worn and stained soon.
cobraman Posted March 25, 2020 Posted March 25, 2020 Looks like a ton of work but I believe you will pull it off. Good luck !
Reuhkapelti2 Posted March 25, 2020 Posted March 25, 2020 Oh yes this will be awesome. This is just the sort of model building that makes me ticking.
'70 Grande Posted March 25, 2020 Posted March 25, 2020 Will be watching this build closely. Did you use 1:1 reference pics for those interior/rear structural panels or just "freelance" the inner-panel design?
espo Posted March 25, 2020 Posted March 25, 2020 Great idea for the body damage. The interior mods look just like the real thing. I still shudder to think how many perfectly good Chargers were sacrificed for the TV series.
Matt T. Posted March 25, 2020 Posted March 25, 2020 (edited) WOW. Lots of skill on display here! Subscribed. This may be the scariest model building image I've seen in a while: Edited March 25, 2020 by Matt T. 1
Andrew D the Jolly Roger Posted March 25, 2020 Author Posted March 25, 2020 Thanks for the kind words! '70 Grande, interior panels were totally freelance/freehand. I found a couple of images online, printed them out and went by them (you can see one of the prints in one of the images with the pencil). Since it was going to be partially obscured being inside, I figured it didn't have to be 100% exact....just had to look "busy".
bobthehobbyguy Posted March 25, 2020 Posted March 25, 2020 Ambitious project. You are doing a great job creating the damage. Going to be a spectacular model when you're down.
iamsuperdan Posted March 25, 2020 Posted March 25, 2020 Wow. Really liking your building ideas on this one. Very convincing.
Maindrian Pace Posted March 25, 2020 Posted March 25, 2020 Very nice work here, ingenious really. You might try fast setting epoxy like JB Quik for filling in large areas to reinforce the aluminum foil.
Andrew D the Jolly Roger Posted March 27, 2020 Author Posted March 27, 2020 Thanks for all the kind words! I've never taken as much trouble as this for the accurate steering wheel, but here's what I finally accomplished:
NOBLNG Posted March 27, 2020 Posted March 27, 2020 That is looking great. You certainly have some talents!
Rotorbolt73 Posted March 28, 2020 Posted March 28, 2020 Excellent work..I've considered this project as well , but wanted to do it as less damaged as it was before it was " wrecked" ..but can't figure out that wierd color. Looks like teal blue/green? They restored that real car ..which I thought was a mistake since so much had been replaced that little of the actual original car that to made that iconic jump is left. Shoulda left it as it was in it's "petty stock car" configuration .
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