Good Time van - just add water (updated)

[Leica007]

Got this 82 Dodge Bad Company kit off ebay, the paint was a mess. Soaked in purple pond for several days to get it clean.  Wanted to do something different  than my other vans.  The idea of the Lil Red Wagon came to mind, but not a drag van, something a vanner would have. What to do with the open bed area? While figuring that out, need to get started. After cutting the roof just behind the front cargo door, should it be crew cab or longer.

I decided to use the short bed, extended cab had to do quite a bit of filling and add reinforcement underside of roof

This after the main body work is done and first primer and mock-up. Also filled second cargo door hinge/lines

Used back door panel from another kit to create matching panel under rear window and removed center post to single window. Added strips on open bed sides/rear doors.  Also opened roof window.

Made a few mods to the chassis to lower stance and accept the new wheels. Added heavy coil springs to beef up for the extra load.

Opened the hood and made the hinge, I used 18ga aluminum wire for my hinges, easy to work with and adjust if needed.

More to come.

 

Edited November 7, 2024 by Leica007
added new content

[stitchdup]

Nice save, and you've given me an idea for a chevy body i have that got hacked up

[Leica007]

This series is about the interior part of the build. The kit seats don't match the interior pattern (diamond button) so I used the rear seat to make my own and a back door panel from 1/20 Ford kit to make a bed. The interior will be red & light grey with flocked carpet. Decided to make a hot tub for the bed area.The fun part was doing the buttons (luv my toothpics).

Worked on the interior while painting the body and the engine. I welcome any questions or comments.

 

[Leica007]

After opening the hood I needed to make inner fenders for the front.  I made a cardboard template of the inner panel, then used evergreen to cut the panel and the top. Used square tube to make a brace/anchor to attach to the frame. Here's the pieces and finished part and assembly.

[Leica007]

I used the rear panel from the Gold Rush an kit to close the rear of the cab and cut the center posts from the upper rear doors to create a single rear window.  I saved a clear plastic cookie tray that had a diamond pleated pattern and used that to create the rear window.  I used red marker to highlight the frame between the diamond pattern.  Made a diamond pattern stencil for the side of the van using paper and packing tape (on both sides of the paper). I used stripped wire tubing to make sunroof gasket and bent wire to create the sunroof opening rods, bent into a Y shape.

[Leica007]

Some final body work before painting was adding strips on top of the bed area to cover the interior tub and give me space to add railing on the side of the bed. Painted with Dodge Silver duplicolor.  Couple of photos of the paint job with mock-up with interior tube and wheels/frame.

Here' s shot of the red diamonds on the side using airbrushed Apple Barrel craft paint, same color as the interior. The endless black pin stripe is a decal from another van kit.

Next post will include my first attempt a doing a figure model and more of the detailing done. Appreciate your looking and comments welcome.

 

[stavanzer]

This Looks very Sharp, so far. Your Imagination on the conversion is awesome!

 

Good Show.

[NOBLNG]

Nice work!👍

[Leica007]

Apologies for not finishing this until now. A few more of the WIP and the completed van in under glass. I got some figures from The fifth element on ebay, wanted something to spice up the hot tub. Here is the one I used for the van

Since the sunroof is frame-less, I used stripped wire tubing to create the seal under the window.

I added a CB antenna to the mirror in the above photo. In keeping with the diamond decor I used a cookie tray for the rear glass and used a red marker to simulate the strips between the panes. Added rails, drink tray with coke cans and rear courtesy light to the bed area.

I'll post the finished van pics tomorrow in the under glass category.  Glad to answer any questions and appreciate any comments. Thanks for looking.

[maxwell48098]

Yep, back-in-the-day, we used to say that "When the van's a rockin', don't come a knockin'."  Of course nothing smelled worse that wet, moldy shag carpeting that guys used to line the interiors with.

 

A.J.

[slusher]

What did you use over the interior buttons?

[Leica007]

On 7/2/2025 at 6:45 AM, slusher said:

What did you use over the interior buttons?

I dud the buttons were with craft acrylic paint using a toothpick, it's the same paint I used to airbrush the interior (thinned w/ windshield washer fluid.

[slusher]

I really like your van and your set up.  Get those at hobby lobby?

[Daverde]

Awesome job love it!!

[Leica007]

On 7/7/2025 at 4:10 AM, slusher said:

I really like your van and your set up.  Get those at hobby lobby?

Slusher,  Appreciate that from you.  The figure model is from Fifthfreedommodels.com on Ebay, the hot tub was made from scratch.

[Leica007]

On 7/7/2025 at 8:28 AM, Daverde said:

Awesome job love it!!

Thank you, glad you like it.