62 Valiant old track car

[BIGTRUCK]

I noticed there are a few older Valiants being done this way and Im all for giving a discarded build another chance. This kit had a good chassis and interior but the body was customized so poorly this was its only hope. Once I had the body smoothed out (filled in door and trunk lines)and cut open the hood I matched up a AMT Monte Carlo Nascar kit and started cutting apart the chassis. Piecing it together bits at a time is allowing me to use alot of that kit. Next step repair whats left of the hood and groove the tires or buy resin tires . Also doing a 60 Ford hauler for it that was also a basket case?

 

 

 

Edited September 25, 2020 by BIGTRUCK

[Tom Geiger]

Cool! We’re gonna have a whole fleet of Valiant stockers! 

Was the tail end cut off? That’s the influence of Dave Shuklis Bobtail Cat ! I’ve bought a few that way!

[David G.]

Looks like it'll be cool when it's finished.

David G.

[alan barton]

When you're done, Ken, Tom and I will have to post ours up in successive post so that we can have a Valiant stockcar family reunion!

I like how you are saving an otherwise challenging body shell. As a dirt track car it will be perfectly believable.

Cheers

Alan

[BIGTRUCK]

11 hours ago, Tom Geiger said:

 

Was the tail end cut off? That’s the influence of Dave Shuklis Bobtail Cat ! I’ve bought a few that way!

No, the back area was in pretty bad shape so out came the saw?

[TarheelRick]

Looks convincing.  Looking forward to more updates.

[BIGTRUCK]

23 hours ago, alan barton said:

When you're done, Ken, Tom and I will have to post ours up in successive post so that we can have a Valiant stockcar family reunion!

I like how you are saving an otherwise challenging body shell. As a dirt track car it will be perfectly believable.

Cheers

Alan

Thanks Alan, Tom planted the idea when I saw his awhile back and your builds gave me the extra push I was wanting to do sooner or later.

Progress:

The hood is coming out better than expected considering the shape it was in, still a little way to go. Also, I started on some sort of a grille and grooved the tires...Its not a build anymore its a quest.?

 

Edited September 25, 2020 by BIGTRUCK

[alan barton]

Suddenly I feel bad about complaining about my fibreglass body issues - at least I had some shape to work with! 

Yep, you are on a quest alright.  I am a big fan of bringing unloved models back from the dead so totally understand what you are working to achieve here.

The grooved tyres are looking OK as well. I know how hard they are to do nicely.  You get one done and then realise you still have three to go!!!

 

Cheers

Alan

Edited September 25, 2020 by alan barton

[Tom Geiger]

Great stuff guys!  Remember mine started out like this.. and that’s why my driver name is Martin Terry!   

Three unloved Valiants back from the dead! 

[BIGTRUCK]

On 9/26/2020 at 10:01 PM, Tom Geiger said:

Great stuff guys!  Remember mine started out like this..

Three unloved Valiants back from the dead! 

Thats a rough one for sure Tom, but glad you found a way to give it another chance.

I knew stuffing all these modern parts in this body was going to be a challenge, maybe trim here or there but this is puzzle fit at best. The last challenge will be the headers and pipes. Im testing interior pieces for fit, older items will take the place of the modern stuff. Front bumper is scratched out except the ends, they are Pinto or Vega modified parts and the rear and side bars trimmed to fit are too .Grille will just be a cut out shape with screen.

 

Edited October 10, 2020 by BIGTRUCK

[alan barton]

This already ahs a great stance - should look amazing when it is detailed and finished.

Cheers

Alan

[David G.]

Excellent progress on this.

David G.

[BIGTRUCK]

Im tired of trying to get the body a little smoother but this is going to be as good as its going to be The paint is cured and time to move to the interior 

[dragcarz]

Very cool!

[Tom Geiger]

Great progress!

[alan barton]

The trick is NOT getting the bodywork too smooth.  These cars often looked like they were bodyworked with two lumps of limestone and then painted with a hessian bag!  I struggle to bring myself to make them as rough as they really are and as I said in another post, there is a fine line between a good model of a rough car and a rough model of a rough car!

And always remember, any glaring flaws can be covered with a strategically plopped blob of mud!

 

Cheers

Alan

[Earl Marischal]

This is shaping up nicely! I do like this type of car. We don't really have anything like them over here and they look brutal. ?

steve

[Tom Geiger]

5 hours ago, alan barton said:

The trick is NOT getting the bodywork too smooth.  These cars often looked like they were bodyworked with two lumps of limestone and then painted with a hessian bag!  I struggle to bring myself to make them as rough as they really are and as I said in another post, there is a fine line between a good model of a rough car and a rough model of a rough car!

Absolutely!  To your first point, cars like this were rough, sometimes even painted with spray cans or even a roller!  Even cars like NASCAR have poor paint jobs that aren’t all that shiny with matte decals on them. I got to tour the IROC shops a bunch of years ago and was surprised at how rough the cars actually were. The philosophy was it had to look good from the stands!

There was once a guy who built NASCAR cars with beautiful paint jobs and decals under many coats of polished clear. Simply beautiful like jewelry, but not true to the subject!

To your second point, it’s difficult to duplicate poor paint jobs and other details.  For instance my Cavalier security car has a paint job that is supposed to be poor.. right over the Chevy emblem on the grille header.. people point out that my paint isn’t smooth and shiny, and I missed chroming the emblem!   And the square headlights on those cars are never straight and I tried to duplicate that.. you know the comments!

[BIGTRUCK]

I did this with the Revell/ Monogram Chevy also,I had the body and frame, the rest was parts box. On this Valiant I was going for the look of this internet picture ( I found on StiffSpeed ) when done the shine will get toned down a bunch. 

[Sam I Am]

You have it looking really good. Love your inspiration car.

[BIGTRUCK]

Rounding the bend on this Valiant. I toned down the gloss and got all the parts fitted and ready to join them up. Side crash bars need to be in towards the body more and Im thinking maybe redo the front bar with just a 1pc pipe style crash bar. I will add some light dust and light grime on the body and chassis when its done. At least the hood came out fine?..

 

Edited November 10, 2020 by BIGTRUCK

[Sam I Am]

I can hardly wait to see it in the gallery. 

[BIGTRUCK]

This half of the project is just about done, I hope the Ford hauler is a little easier?

 

Edited November 11, 2020 by BIGTRUCK

[FUSIONBOY]

That looks awesome!!!!  My Uncle Johnny Raced a Valiant at Tri-County Speedway when it was still dirt. lots of good memories.

[Tom Geiger]

Any progress?