72 Demon Street/Strip

[Moparman18064]

I was going to wait to do this one for a bit, but I just signed up for a group build, so I guess it’s time. 
 

This is going to be a replica of a 72 Demon that I owned for about 15 years. It was powered by a 68 340 that was heavily worked, nitrous, slick shifted( like a Liberty trans)4 speed, caged, springs moved inboard, battery in trunk, etc.. The paint will be very tricky in 1:25 scale, as the orange is candy tangerine with hidden highlights and silver pinstripe. 
This is going to be a task to get done in time for a group build, but we all challenge ourselves. 
 

I am starting out with a resin kit that I bought years ago and parts from: 

AMT 71 Duster

MPC 74 Cuda

MPC 70 Duster

MPC 74 Duster

VCG Resins 340 and 4 speed trans

Edited January 23, 2024 by Moparman18064
Add pic

[Moparman18064]

I got a start on it, lots of filing just to get grille to fit, cleaned up a bunch of flash. While fitting pieces, I (oops) found out how brittle old resin can be by breaking the rear quarter panel while putting chassis in. Just what I wanted, more body work. I started shaping front fender openings.

I also started working on engine/ trans/ header fit. I will have to do some work at trans crossmember to clear shifter. I also made the subframe connectors.

More to come

[1972coronet]

Where'd you get the 1972 grille ? Link, please.

[Moparman18064]

2 minutes ago, 1972coronet said:

Where'd you get the 1972 grille ? Link, please.

It was all part of the resin kit that I bought years ago on EBay 

[1972coronet]

5 minutes ago, Moparman18064 said:

It was all part of the resin kit that I bought years ago on EBay 

Thanks for the prompt reply. 

I'll be watching your WIP progress for sure, esp. since I'm a lifetime lover of the 1972 Demon (the unique grille is its most alluring feature - not to mention the blue engine with orange air cleaner). 

Hopefully someone'll make a new resin 1972 grille for the new MPC 1971 kit.

[Moparman18064]

I hope so, I have 2 of those kits on preorder?

[espo]

Always fun to build a model of a car from the past, especially one like you had. 

[dragcarz]

You most definitely have my attention, I purchased this same resin kit for the 72 Grille for my current build. I’m following!

[Moparman18064]

44 minutes ago, dragcarz said:

You most definitely have my attention, I purchased this same resin kit for the 72 Grille for my current build. I’m following!

Do you know who made the kit? I can’t remember. I’ve been watching your build and the one Francis is doing and am blown away by both.

Edited January 24, 2024 by Moparman18064

[Moparman18064]

On to the scary part. I made a cardboard template of rear window area, cut out a piece of .020 styrene sheet to match and glued onto body to stiffen up for the next operation. Then, using the back of a # 11 blade, scribed trunk lines over and over. As  a result, I was able to remove trunk lid without breaking window trim, as there is no Dutchman panel.

[bobss396]

On the breaking-body thing, I have started a while ago taking material off the sides of the chassis before doing too much. I remove maybe .050" to .062" per side, it makes fitting the chassis a ton easier. Any sharp corners, I radius them with a sanding stick. Not too much, any little bit helps.

On regular plastic bodies, I'll also sand some off from behind the rocker panels. Most kits for some inane reason, the bodies curve in at the bottom quite a bit.

[Moparman18064]

Trimmed away template, this is where we are. The next thing will be to add gutters to strengthen it, and have something for trunk to close against

[Moparman18064]

1 hour ago, bobss396 said:

On the breaking-body thing, I have started a while ago taking material off the sides of the chassis before doing too much. I remove maybe .050" to .062" per side, it makes fitting the chassis a ton easier. Any sharp corners, I radius them with a sanding stick. Not too much, any little bit helps.

On regular plastic bodies, I'll also sand some off from behind the rocker panels. Most kits for some inane reason, the bodies curve in at the bottom quite a bit.

Thank you for the great tip. This is only the second build I am doing after being away from it for 30 years. I know this is a bit ambitious, but I want to build my skills back up further than they ever were.

[bobss396]

2 hours ago, Moparman18064 said:

Thank you for the great tip. This is only the second build I am doing after being away from it for 30 years. I know this is a bit ambitious, but I want to build my skills back up further than they ever were.

I got back into the hobby in 1995, I was away for 20 + years. I figured I would be good... not really. I was using tube glue, knew nothing about primer or removing mold flash. You will get there, little by little. 

[dragcarz]

13 hours ago, Moparman18064 said:

Do you know who made the kit? I can’t remember. I’ve been watching your build and the one Francis is doing and am blown away by both.

Like you,  I purchased the resin kit several years ago, and I don’t know who made the kit. I thought I purchased it from Slixx decals. They still list a 72 Demon under the Competition Resin Pro Stock. It looks a little different from what I have, and has an interior tub. Maybe it’s been modified over the years, the grille looks the same, and the front wheel openings are still incorrect. Thanks! 

[AmericanMuscleFan]

Great job Rich!  The technique you used to support the lower rear window trim during the process of opening the trunk panel is effective and clever.  I see that you didn't hesitate to sacrifice a few kits to achieve your goal and that will surely help you get there.  Sometimes you have to choose and make sacrifices!   Maybe you haven't made model cars in the last 30 years, but it doesn't show, you kept your hand as they say. ?

Glad to see another little brother to my current project, I suspect there will be many more in the coming months with the recent Dodge Demon Round 2 kit finally hitting store shelves.  I bought one myself more out of curiosity than necessity! ?

[Moparman18064]

4 hours ago, AmericanMuscleFan said:

Great job Rich!  The technique you used to support the lower rear window trim during the process of opening the trunk panel is effective and clever.  I see that you didn't hesitate to sacrifice a few kits to achieve your goal and that will surely help you get there.  Sometimes you have to choose and make sacrifices!   Maybe you haven't made model cars in the last 30 years, but it doesn't show, you kept your hand as they say. ?

Glad to see another little brother to my current project, I suspect there will be many more in the coming months with the recent Dodge Demon Round 2 kit finally hitting store shelves.  I bought one myself more out of curiosity than necessity! ?

Thank you for the kind words Francis. As we discussed, I am employing some of your technique on the gutters. I will illustrate later. It definitely does stiffen it up. The widely varying thickness of the resin certainly does add a little more difficulty on this build, but we will get there.

[Keef]

Loving this one so far! I’ve always been terrified of resin bodies. They feel so fragile to me. I’ve used resin hoods and parts before but, bodies always scared me. I’m watching this one. Mopar or NoCar!

[slusher]

2 hours ago, Keef said:

Loving this one so far! I’ve always been terrified of resin bodies. They feel so fragile to me. I’ve used resin hoods and parts before but, bodies always scared me. I’m watching this one. Mopar or NoCar!

I have always felt the same way..

[Moparman18064]

12 hours ago, Keef said:

Loving this one so far! I’ve always been terrified of resin bodies. They feel so fragile to me. I’ve used resin hoods and parts before but, bodies always scared me. I’m watching this one. Mopar or NoCar!

I definitely understand where you are coming from. This is my first resin build. It got really hairy after I cut out the reinforcement I put in, but is stiffening up with the styrene gutters I have now put in. The thickness of the resin just in the trunk lid varied between .049 and .096, filing it was a very delicate procedure, to be sure. I agree with the Mopar or no car, but appreciate anything nice also.

[Moparman18064]

In progress picture of trunk gutter, still have some shaping, weatherstrip channel to install. It’s a little rough yet, but getting there

Edited January 27, 2024 by Moparman18064
Add photo

[Moparman18064]

Weatherstrip channel on, some fine sanding should make it presentable

[slusher]

Nice work!

[Moparman18064]

My seats just arrived in the mail

[Moparman18064]

Working on trunk floor, as it will be seen 

 

Edited January 31, 2024 by Moparman18064