65 Dodge Sedan AWB - "Gold Ru$h"

[Nitro330]

Just decided to go ahead and start posting this build.  I have actually been working on it a little bit for the past month.  This is one of my most ambitious builds, so I was leary of posting in case it doesn’t come together (LOL).  But I said, WTH, I’m having fun doing it so why not share!

This is going to be based on the Match Bash “Gold Rush” 65 Dodge Sedan AWB.  I say based because I am not going to make it 100% accurate to the real car, but hopefully a lot will be close.  This car was originally built between 2004-2005 and then completely refreshed in 2017.  I’m taking a lot from the updated car because of all the reference photo’s available.

This is my first ever build starting with just a resin-cast body and frame (Freemont Racing Specialties).  I am basically modifying or scratch-building most of this car.  I am using the Ramchargers 64 Super Stock for most of the engine and part of the chassis.  Also using the AMT 65 Dodge Coronet for a couple parts.  Rest is 3D parts, parts box and my imagination.

Since I have already started, I will post some of the progress I have made so far.  I will try to get the posts caught up to where I am currently over the next week or so.

This is the body and the mocked up stance.

     

I have bounced around with different areas of the car just to try and get it sorted out, but have recently decided to get the major parts of the chassis sorted out.  The front of the resin frame needed a LOT of cleanup, so I decided to cut it off and use the same piece from the Ramchargers kit.  Much of it is going to be changed anyway.  Also cut out the gas tank from the Ramchargers kit.

    

I scratchbuilt schocks for front and rear and made the schackles for the rear leaf springs.  Shackles just have some wire in them to hold it in place.

    

Also made the crossmember, engine and shock mounts. 

        

I will get some other pictures together and try to get them posted tomorrow.

 

 

 

Edited July 3, 2024 by Nitro330
Remove a photo

[ColonelKrypton]

Very nice.

Lots to like with a well done AWB A/FX match racer, one of my favourite era and style of drag racers

cheers, Graham

[Scott Eriksen]

Looks great!!

[Nitro330]

Thanks guys!

[Nitro330]

Got the grille cut for the 3-gallon Moon tank.  Cut a section out and then added the strip at the top to connect it.

   

 

The car does not have front fenderwells, but I needed the rest of the underhood structure and firewall.  I didn't want to scratch build all of it, so that is where the AMT Coronet kit came in.  With some cutting and sanding and adding some stryrene, it came out pretty good.

 

   

 

    

 

[stavanzer]

Very Nice Conversion Work!

[dragcarz]

Wow Terry, amazing work so far! I love your shocks! I’d like to know a little more about their construction. This is going to be cool!

[Nitro330]

On 7/3/2024 at 9:37 PM, stavanzer said:

Very Nice Conversion Work!

Thanks Alan, appreciate it!

[Nitro330]

5 hours ago, dragcarz said:

Wow Terry, amazing work so far! I love your shocks! I’d like to know a little more about their construction. This is going to be cool!

Hi Roger, thanks!  If I get time in the next day or so, I'll make another shock, take some pics and post it.

[Nitro330]

14 hours ago, dragcarz said:

Wow Terry, amazing work so far! I love your shocks! I’d like to know a little more about their construction. This is going to be cool!

 Hey Roger, here's a quick look at how I make the shocks. 

These are the tubes/wire I use.  Have had these for years.  For this build, I cut the larger tube to .35" and the smaller tube to .40".  The rod I just cut a piece as it will be trimmed after installation.  The round part at the top is from my wife's jewelery making supplies (I get a lot of stuff from her craft area, LOL).  It's called a round crimp bead, she gets them at Hobby Lobby.

        

I glue the smaller tube in place then glue the crimp bead on top.  Insert the rod with a little dab of glue and add the little piece of wire insulation. That's it, pretty simple but they look good on the models.

       

    

 

 

 

Edited July 6, 2024 by Nitro330

[Nitro330]

Have made some progress on the interior.  Here is the actual car's interior that I am basing it on.

The original interior tub needed a lot of cleanup and would have been too hard to do as one piece, so i decided to cut the door panels off.  Also removed the molded-in shifter mount as the car is a column shift.  Made the roll cage and scribed lines in the seats and door panels.  The seats already had a couple lines at the top, so I just added some to make it similar.  

       

   

Just made these braces for the seats.  I know you probably won't be able to see them in the finished model, but I was really happy with the way they came out.

   

[dragcarz]

20 hours ago, Nitro330 said:

 Hey Roger, here's a quick look at how I make the shocks. 

These are the tubes/wire I use.  Have had these for years.  For this build, I cut the larger tube to .35" and the smaller tube to .40".  The rod I just cut a piece as it will be trimmed after installation.  The round part at the top is from my wife's jewelery making supplies (I get a lot of stuff from her craft area, LOL).  It's called a round crimp bead, she gets them at Hobby Lobby.

        

I glue the smaller tube in place then glue the crimp bead on top.  Insert the rod with a little dab of glue and add the little piece of wire insulation. That's it, pretty simple but they look good on the models.

       

    

 

Thanks Terry! The metal looks so much better than plastic, I’m going to have to try this. 

 

 

[dragcarz]

Great work Terry, your really making progress !

[MADmodelDOCTOR]

Haven't been on for a couple weeks, but this is F'ing cool, man!

[Nitro330]

On 7/6/2024 at 4:42 PM, dragcarz said:

Great work Terry, your really making progress !

Thanks Roger, got some more done yesterday and will be posting more this week.

[Nitro330]

On 7/7/2024 at 5:08 PM, MADmodelDOCTOR said:

Haven't been on for a couple weeks, but this is F'ing cool, man!

LOL, Thanks Kenneth, appreciate it!

[Tim W. SoCal]

Following your build on this bitchen subject. Is \Fremont Racing Specialties still in business?

[Straightliner59]

Very nice assembly. Excellent work!

 

[tim boyd]

On 7/2/2024 at 9:23 PM, Nitro330 said:

Just decided to go ahead and start posting this build.  I have actually been working on it a little bit for the past month.  This is one of my most ambitious builds, so I was leary of posting in case it doesn’t come together (LOL).  But I said, WTH, I’m having fun doing it so why not share!

This is going to be based on the Match Bash “Gold Rush” 65 Dodge Sedan AWB.  I say based because I am not going to make it 100% accurate to the real car, but hopefully a lot will be close.  This car was originally built between 2004-2005 and then completely refreshed in 2017.  I’m taking a lot from the updated car because of all the reference photo’s available.

This is my first ever build starting with just a resin-cast body and frame (Freemont Racing Specialties).  I am basically modifying or scratch-building most of this car.  I am using the Ramchargers 64 Super Stock for most of the engine and part of the chassis.  Also using the AMT 65 Dodge Coronet for a couple parts.  Rest is 3D parts, parts box and my imagination.

Since I have already started, I will post some of the progress I have made so far.  I will try to get the posts caught up to where I am currently over the next week or so.

This is the body and the mocked up stance.

     

I have bounced around with different areas of the car just to try and get it sorted out, but have recently decided to get the major parts of the chassis sorted out.  The front of the resin frame needed a LOT of cleanup, so I decided to cut it off and use the same piece from the Ramchargers kit.  Much of it is going to be changed anyway.  Also cut out the gas tank from the Ramchargers kit.

    

I scratchbuilt schocks for front and rear and made the schackles for the rear leaf springs.  Shackles just have some wire in them to hold it in place.

    

Also made the crossmember, engine and shock mounts. 

        

I will get some other pictures together and try to get them posted tomorrow.

 

 

 

Heh Terry....looks really clean and purposeful....good luck proceeding forward!   TIM l

[Nitro330]

On 7/8/2024 at 7:49 PM, Tim W. SoCal said:

Following your build on this bitchen subject. Is \Fremont Racing Specialties still in business?

Thanks Tim.  He is selling on eBay - paintinjoe

[Nitro330]

20 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

Very nice assembly. Excellent work!

 

Thanks Daniel, very much appreciated!

[Nitro330]

10 hours ago, tim boyd said:

Heh Terry....looks really clean and purposeful....good luck proceeding forward!   TIM l

Thanks Tim, I'm making progress on a few things and should have some update pics in a couple days.

[Musclecarbuilder]

This is a cool build! I'm really excited to see how it turns out. Looks great so far.

[Nitro330]

21 hours ago, Musclecarbuilder said:

This is a cool build! I'm really excited to see how it turns out. Looks great so far.

Thanks Will.

[Nitro330]

Haven't had a lot of bench time lately, but have been working on the interior while I am priming and painting some chassis parts.  One thing I noticed when I was working on the roll bar is that there were big gaps where the the interior tub is cut out for the fender wells.  I added some strip styrene and and molded them in for a much better fit.

       

Then I was able to paint the seats, put some flocking down and one of my least favorite things to do........seatbelts! (I just hate working with the small photoetch hardware)  But it's looking alright.  I am having to add to the width of the dashboard because the Ramchargers one is too narrow.  Once the dashboard is finished, I can pretty much check the interior off the list.

   

I'm looking for a 60's style tach like the one pictured here from the real car.  Anyone know where I could get an old style tach or what kits might have something similar?