'71 Cutlass S W-31

[TransAmMike]

This is my first post building as close as possible a replica of the car I ordered new in 1971.    It was a Saturn Gold Cutlass S (not 4-4-2) I ordered with the W-25  force-air hood and Dual exhaust.

This is being built using two kits, the '70 JoHan 4-4-2 kit and the '72 Revell '72 Hurst Olds Convertable Kit.  Interestingly enough, the '72 hood (with just a little messaging fits just fine on the '70 kit as do the front and rear bumpers bumpers.  The '72 rear bumper is needed on the  '70 body to more replicate the taillights of the '71. 

The 70 JoHan kit has more flash on it than any model I've built so far.  Also it has the  front and rear suspension, differential, exhaust and gas tank moulded on the underside of the floor pan and the interior lacks any detail on the door panels.  The dash seems pretty accurate tho. In a nutshell, it's a pretty basic and I must say crappy model kit, but hey, It's all I have to work with and I'm not skilled enough to do much scratch building.

 

[Dragonhawk1066]

I'll be following this one with interest. My very first car was a green 1972 Cutlass Supreme, non-fancy with a 350 and rally wheels/white letter tires that I bought for $650 in 1984.

[TransAmMike]

Cleaned up the flash and some additional cleanup.  Also removed the moulded in 4-4-2 emblems. Primed it to check for any addional clean-up.

 

[TransAmMike]

Thought I show the undercarriage with EVERYTHING moulded in.

And Guy's I'll gladly welcome any tips and advise (and critisisms) as I go along here with this project.

[TransAmMike]

OOPS!! Forgot to post the picture.

 

[Quiet Eric]

Such good looking cars

[TransAmMike]

They are Eric.  Hey, I like the '57 in you're avitar.

[Carmak]

Mike,

First off I am looking forward to watching your project. 

The JoHan 442 kits can trace their heritage to Promotional Models. The Chassis detail of the 70 442 is fairly common in kits derived from promos. JoHan kits specifically are known for their bodies whish were above average for accuracy and for their poor interior and chassis detail.

This also means that the molds used for JoHan 442 are actually as old as the the car which explains some of the flash.

There are many kits still available from this era. I would recommend asking this group about the kit detail of a model you are interested in if you are trying to avoid kits like this in the future.

Carmak

[gotnitro?]

I made a replica of our 71 CS convertible , using the 72 kit and modifying the tail lights . Subtle grille insert changes were  also needed to backdate the car . I'll take a few photos later 

Definitely looking forward to your build since we share a fondness for the Oldsmobile 

Edited November 4, 2020 by gotnitro?

[TransAmMike]

Jeff, I would like to see the pictures of the '71 CS.   Painting the exterior the right color (or as close as) and having the hood with the stripes and proper taillights will be satisfying enough for me. 

I will build the 72 Convertable at a later date, but it will wind up being a '70 LOL using the bumper and grill from the '70 kit.

[Dann Tier]

I know i do alot of exotics, but i do love certain muscle cars, and this is one of them!!.....really looking forward to following!!!

[doorsovdoon]

Another 442 gets downgraded to a Cutlass! xD  I did the same with a '66 442 a few weeks back. 

[TransAmMike]

Thanks Dann, gonna plug away at it. I don't do fast?

[Quiet Eric]

4 hours ago, doorsovdoon said:

Another 442 gets downgraded to a Cutlass! xD  I did the same with a '66 442 a few weeks back. 

I think there was a recent thread here about wishing they made more "base model" kits. Seems it's easier to downgrade a full-option kit than it is to upgrade a base, and I'm all for it!

On 11/3/2020 at 7:04 PM, TransAmMike said:

They are Eric.  Hey, I like the '57 in you're avitar.

Thanks!

[doorsovdoon]

Yeah, definitely. The hardest part of making a stock base model I think is finding the right wheels. Though I did have to scratch build a centre hood trim on my '66 which was a bit fiddly.

[doorsovdoon]

Looking forward to seeing this progress. My first ever kit was the Jo-Han '70 442.

[TransAmMike]

As far as the wheels on this build, won't need  stock as I'm building it as I modified it in '71 with what I think I remember ( that was a long time ago and I have no pics) were either Crager or Torque Thrust 5-spokes.   This car did come with poverty caps and Fireball Model makes a replica of them.  Hmmm, I wonder if thats what I need to do.

[Geno]

You got a good start on it Mike, I like where you're going with it, please keep us updated on your progress. I'm with you as well, it sometimes takes me a year to do one model, I work as the mood strikes so I don't get burnt out, plus I do a lot of research on whatever I'm working on. Plug away lol. Later, Geno.??

[gotnitro?]

Here's my 71 replica of our convertible. The fella that restored the car back in late 90s used a deck lid off a 4 door coupe so mine doesn't have the individual letters 

 

[TransAmMike]

Are you working on that model now Jeff?

[gotnitro?]

10 hours ago, TransAmMike said:

Are you working on that model now Jeff?

Not really its been on wip shelf for awhile , it was knocked off shelf when our siding was installed and lost a few parts 

[TransAmMike]

I recieved the resin hood pictured below from "Oldcarfan27" today. Thanks Patric.

I now have two scooped hoods, one for the 71 Cutlass in this thread and one for the 72 4-4-2 Convertable. I prefer to use the resin hood on the JoHan kit pictured and use the plastic hood on the model it came with.

This is the flat hood that comes with the old Johan 70 4-4-2 kit. It fits relatively good

This is the hood that comes with the 72 4-4-2 kit. Fits pretty good

This is the resin hood. I have positioned it so the front lines up with the front end of the fenders. It's a bit narrow and short. Note too, I cracked off the back driver side corner fooling with it and glued it back on with CA glue.

This is the resin hood positioned where the rear fits pretty good, so of course short on the front.

So now for the big question for the experts out there.  Since I'm no where near the craftsman a lot of you Guy's on here are, How do I make the resin hood fit, bearing in mind, it IS  an old thick resin casting.

Simply put I guess, I need to widen it either adding extensions t both sides or one(?), and either extend the front or rear. The read does have a bit of a lip. Oh and of course I know I need to finish the repair on the put I cracked off.

Any help will of course be much appreciated.

[gotnitro?]

I'd add a sliver to each side to reduce fender gap but maintaining space for paint thickness.  Probably a 010 strip along both sides .

The shortness could be remedied by cutting across back behind cowls and adding spacer there.  Less noticeable there than say along front by hood pins . 

[TransAmMike]

Thanks Jeff, thats one solution. I wish I wouldn't have broke the corner off, I wouldn't have to make a cut so close to the back of the scoops. IDK!!

[TransAmMike]

9 hours ago, TransAmMike said:

Thanks Jeff, thats one solution. I wish I wouldn't have broke the corner off, I wouldn't have to make a cut so close to the back of the scoops. IDK!!

It so happens since I have the two hoods and 2 bodies the resin hood actually fits the 72 lengthwise, just a bit narrow so I did add a "sliver" one one side and will add a  slightly thicker one on the other side and it will work fine. The 72 hood fits the '70 just fine.