foghorn62 Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 (edited) The Origen of this build goes all the way back to the 1973 Detroit Autorama where Jerry Pennington debuted his Ridler award winning creation he called Devilfish. I was working the MPC Model Car Customizing Contest booth at the show, and Devilfish was on display across the isle from us. I was immediately taken by the race car bred, mid engine configuration of the car, and I had an idea to use the fins of a 59 Chevy Impala to do something similar. I did a crude sketch of what I had in mind, and set it aside. Fast forward to mid 2018. I had recently gotten back into the hobby after about thirty years, and had done three builds so far since returning. One day I was thumbing through some old Car Model Magazines, when the sketch that I had done back in 1973 fell out. I immediately thought of the Devilfish car.. I had found an old unpainted 59 ElCamino glue bomb in a second had store some months before that I bought for $.50. Jerry Pennington’s Ridler Award winning Devilfish. It took me thirteen months to complete my build, using the body of the ElCamino, chopped, channeled, shortened, pie cut, and just about anything else that you could do to a body. It features an all scratch built frame made out of brass tubing, with chrome plated brass working front and rear suspensions, 3D printed LS3 from Ron Olsen, with custom turned aluminum Phillies, starter, A/C compressor, and other parts. Interior is all scratch built with beaded stainless steel floor, custom dash, and fun foam sculpted seats. Below are a few pics of the build in progress, as well as some of the completed car toward the end. I initially set the first cut of the body on a GT40 tub for proportions. The tub was discarded shortly later. The chassis featuring inboard rear coil over independent suspension was based roughly on one that I found on the web site for The Roadster Shop, that they were doing for a Pantera. Independent A-arm front suspension features working coil over shocks.First fit of body on chassis. Rough fit of engine with transaxle, and headers Exhaust tips Rear valance with punched louvers. I was still hoping to use the stock A pillars at the time First attempt at vacuum formed windshield with clay buck Approaching final form, with redesigned A-pillars, and silver wire windshield frame. Early interior mock up. Body cut up. 3D printed LS3 Scratch built fuel filter Silver wire roof edge trim Chrome plated brass rear suspension, with inboard coil over shocks. Paddle shift linkage is visible on transaxle. A/C evaporator visible, front suspension, serpentine belt system on engine with turned pulleys. Steering linkage with working universal joints, Windows tinted using Poly Dye A/C vents in dash Interior mock up Final assembly underside. Note beaded stainless steel floor Painted with custome mix of Createx Acrylic Wicked blue, and Wicked Silver, with Candy 2.0 Marina Blue fades, followed by two coats of PPG Clear Urethane. Thanks for looking. IMG_1054.MOV Edited December 30, 2020 by foghorn62 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larman Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 Wow! That is really awesome! Super job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOBLNG Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 (edited) Now that is something you don’t see every day. Absolutely amazing work on that chassis and suspension! The whole thing is beautiful. Quite the imagination and skills you have Sir. Edited December 30, 2020 by NOBLNG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#1 model citizen Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 Incredible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Bartrop Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 I like that a lot. All the mods really work together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matthijsgrit Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 IMPRESSIVE! If you'd say you can do this in 1:1 I'd believe you without doubt. Excellent craftmanship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve H Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 Hi Tim, this is a very creative build. Incredible craftsmanship with all the scratch building, and fitment of drivetrain etc. I really admire these types of builds. Cheers, Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr moto Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 Holy Moly! That's amazing. I don't know if l should be inspired or scared☺️. That's brilliant work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foghorn62 Posted December 30, 2020 Author Share Posted December 30, 2020 13 hours ago, larman said: Wow! That is really awesome! Super job! 13 hours ago, NOBLNG said: Now that is something you don’t see every day. Absolutely amazing work on that chassis and suspension! The whole thing is beautiful. Quite the imagination and skills you have Sir. 13 hours ago, #1 model citizen said: Incredible! 10 hours ago, Danno said: 9 hours ago, Richard Bartrop said: I like that a lot. All the mods really work together. 7 hours ago, matthijsgrit said: IMPRESSIVE! If you'd say you can do this in 1:1 I'd believe you without doubt. Excellent craftmanship. 1 hour ago, Steve H said: Hi Tim, this is a very creative build. Incredible craftsmanship with all the scratch building, and fitment of drivetrain etc. I really admire these types of builds. Cheers, Steve Thank you all for your very kind words! 29 minutes ago, mr moto said: Holy Moly! That's amazing. I don't know if l should be inspired or scared☺️. That's brilliant work. Thank you Manuel! It is never my intention to frighten anybody. There are certainly many more frightening builders on this forum than I. If you find something that I have done somehow inspirational however, then I am honored., and eager to answer questions and offer help when and wherever I can. Have Fun! TS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PappyD340 Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 Incredible build!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jantrix Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 Very impressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Can-Con Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 Just incredible !! ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 I'm in awe looking at the engineering and design that went into this build. As beautiful as the finished model looks there is no way to fully appreciate what you have put into it without the pictures of the construction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koellefornia Kid Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 Wow, that is one stunning build! Looks great from any angle! ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echo Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 Nice execution of your idea, beautiful build ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan barton Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 What a knockout! What blows me away even more, adding to all the compliments above, is how cohesive the entire design statement is. You said you were going to build an Elky in the style of Devilfish. That is exactly what you have produced. There is about 1 square inch of Elky left and yet it is instantly recognizable as being an Elky. You have captured every possible high point of radical show car design and even though it is full of race car parts and concepts, it doesn't look like a racecar. I am going to go out on a limb here and say that even though the engineering, construction and finish is world class, the execution of your original design statement is even more impressive. Thank you for sharing this with us all, I am going to be thinking about and checking back on this model for quite a while! Cheers Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragonhawk1066 Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 Very sharp!! Great craftsmanship!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude Thibodeau Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 Hi Tim! So, THIS is what happens in Vermont after the sun sets? Wow! Great design, impressive chassis engineering and fabrication, masterfull assembly. What more to say? Bravo, worldclass! CT PS: Lucky for us that your lost drawing fell in your lap. See what ensued... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foghorn62 Posted December 31, 2020 Author Share Posted December 31, 2020 7 hours ago, PappyD340 said: Incredible build!! Thank you Larry! 6 hours ago, Jantrix said: Very impressive. Thank you Rob! 6 hours ago, Can-Con said: Just incredible !! ??? Thank you Steve! 5 hours ago, espo said: I'm in awe looking at the engineering and design that went into this build. As beautiful as the finished model looks there is no way to fully appreciate what you have put into it without the pictures of the construction. Thank you David! I am happy that I am able to share many of the build details on this forum. 4 hours ago, Koellefornia Kid said: Wow, that is one stunning build! Looks great from any angle! ??? Thank you Oliver! 3 hours ago, echo said: Nice execution of your idea, beautiful build ! Thank you Ed! 2 hours ago, alan barton said: What a knockout! What blows me away even more, adding to all the compliments above, is how cohesive the entire design statement is. You said you were going to build an Elky in the style of Devilfish. That is exactly what you have produced. There is about 1 square inch of Elky left and yet it is instantly recognizable as being an Elky. You have captured every possible high point of radical show car design and even though it is full of race car parts and concepts, it doesn't look like a racecar. I am going to go out on a limb here and say that even though the engineering, construction and finish is world class, the execution of your original design statement is even more impressive. Thank you for sharing this with us all, I am going to be thinking about and checking back on this model for quite a while! Cheers Alan Thank you very much Alan! I am happy that you are able to recognize the “Elky” in my build! It is important to not completely cut away the original. Your observations gave me chills, because that is exactly what I was trying to accomplish. A race bred radical custom show car. 49 minutes ago, Dragonhawk1066 said: Very sharp!! Great craftsmanship!! Thank you Craig! 20 minutes ago, Claude Thibodeau said: Hi Tim! So, THIS is what happens in Vermont after the sun sets? Wow! Great design, impressive chassis engineering and fabrication, masterfull assembly. What more to say? Bravo, worldclass! CT PS: Lucky for us that your lost drawing fell in your lap. See what ensued... Thank you Claud! It is amazing to me how many truly world class model car builders like yourself live north of the border. When I moved here from Texas, my friends could not understand what I was thinking. I tried to explain that there is another whole country north of here, full of fine people. Your words and encouragement mean a lot to me Claud!! TS BTW, it was at the encouragement of another mutual friend of ours, also north of the border, that I decided to post this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave72 Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 Awesome build! You are very creative and a skilled craftsman! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bills72sj Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 Hard to expound on what others have already expressed. Excellent imagination and execution. Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude Thibodeau Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 Hi Tim! Well, as you now know, winter is a great season to spend more time building models. And the Great White North is just that... white north! Almost 5 monthjs per year. Hence, the fair amount of dedicated builders. My kids and grand kids enjoy the winter activities as much as I used to do, but getting to be a "senior citizen" redirected some of my hobbies. Styrene anyone? Besides, with the lack of shows to gather around models these days, and the dwindling number of dedicated publications... This forum is the perfect place to share. So, as a 2021 New Year resolution, let's all commit to share even more our production with fellow modelers. Happy new year to you and your loved ones, and enjoy the Vermont scenery and fresh air! CT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbowser Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 Outstanding work! Reminds me of a Roth creation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyjim Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 What a FANTASTIC build! Excellent detailing and superb workmanship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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