My latest project - a mild kitbashing of AMT's 1968 Elky Street Machine

[tim boyd]

Here I am presenting my latest kitbashing project. While building the latest Round 2 release of the AMT 1968 El Camino Street Machine for a kit review, I pulled out my started version of the original 1998 AMT-Ertl release of the same kit. I had started building that around 2005 when Testors released their first round of Model Masters muscle car lacquers. I wanted to do a test of the new paints and chose the AMT-Ertl Elky to be painted their new Dodge Viper GTS Viper Blue color. The body was painted, a C-pillar sink mark (btw, mostly gone in the new reissue) was fixed, and the chassis and suspension and interior parts were painted. Then it went in the box. At the time I just didn't have the patience or will to deal with masking and painting the lower black two-tone and vinyl roof. Into my case of partially built models it went, and every few years I would pull it out and look at it, then ... back in the case.

Then with the assembly of the kit review reissue underway, I brought back out the earlier project and started to address the paint challenges. The interior parts were paint detailed and assembled. The chassis and suspension were completed. The engine was modified with parts from the factory stock (soap box derby) version of the AMT Elky (fan belt and accessories) and the late 1990s AMT-Ertl 1967 Impala Street Machine kit (early EFI hot rod induction setup). The wheels and tires from the Revell Foose FD-100 kit were added (acknowledging that they may be a little tall for use on a car as opposed to their perfect fit on the '56 F100 as designed by Chip). The two-tone lower body and vinyl roof areas were painted, then final assembly commenced.

Photos of the completed project are below. You can check out a series of kit building hints and kitbashing ideas used on this model in a "snapshot" feature over at finescale.com if you wish.  Finally, a group photo of the 100% box stock build of the reissued AMT Elky next to the kitbash project.

As I have mentioned here previously, the reissued AMT 1968 Elky Street Machine kit is really well done, including a kit suspension that lowers the completed model to just the right stance, and about 25% of the kit content is different than the factory stock (soap box) derby kit of the same car, even to including mini-tubbed pickup box sides and floorboard. Combined with the building hints (be sure to do the top instrument panel mod shown in the building hints) this kit makes a fine model whether you too build it box stock or choose the kitbashing route.

Thanks for looking....TB 

(Mods - since the 1/1 is primarily car-based I posted it in the Cars Under Glass section.  If you feel it fits the Light Trucks section better, please feel free to move this post accordingly....thanks!  TB)

*****

Edited Sunday at 02:16 PM by tim boyd

[Dragline]

Cooler than the other side of the pillow TB.

[garynygren]

What!!!!!! The man that seemed to be stuck in the 30's built something from the later half of the century. What's next? Something from the 80's or newer? Anyhow, looks fantastic. Love the color combination. Everything screams restomod. As a lover of Camino's they are great. Gary

[garynygren]

To moderator, why do my posts need to be approved? Just asking.

[Kah puts]

Super duper 👍

[stitchdup]

2 hours ago, garynygren said:

To moderator, why do my posts need to be approved? Just asking.

we do that for the first 25 posts to prevent spammers and try to catch scammers 

[Cosmic D]

That stance is just perfect.

[espo]

Another beautiful build. I just picked up the new Round 2 El Camino this week and it is now the next one in my Q. Question on the "wood" bed floor. I know there have been many 1:1 builds where someone has installed a wood bed floor over the factory steel floor, but they even have the wood finish on the bottom side as well. Any suggestions on removing the vinyl roof finish on the body? I'm sort of the ham-fisted type and have often found myself having to redo any surrounding body trim in the past. 

[tim boyd]

3 hours ago, garynygren said:

What!!!!!! The man that seemed to be stuck in the 30's built something from the later half of the century. What's next? Something from the 80's or newer? Anyhow, looks fantastic. Love the color combination. Everything screams restomod. As a lover of Camino's they are great. Gary

maybe this?   (smile)....TB  

(These are all exact (or in the case of the Mustang GT, exact except for the F150 Harley Davidson mags) replicas of some of my 1/1s///)  TB  

PPS - now if SOMEONE!!!! would do a full detail S650 Mustang GT convertible with full engine and underhood detail ,I would be adding to the current 1/1 kit builds folder....just sayin'). 

[tim boyd]

11 minutes ago, espo said:

Another beautiful build. I just picked up the new Round 2 El Camino this week and it is now the next one in my Q. Question on the "wood" bed floor. I know there have been many 1:1 builds where someone has installed a wood bed floor over the factory steel floor, but they even have the wood finish on the bottom side as well. Any suggestions on removing the vinyl roof finish on the body? I'm sort of the ham-fisted type and have often found myself having to redo any surrounding body trim in the past. 

David...the vinyl roof engraving is very slight and could be easily sanded away in a few minutes.  The C-pillar to fender molding could also be filed and sand away.  Personally, I prefer the '68-'70 Elky without the factory vinyl roof, so I'd love to see a kit build with that mod...TB 

[tim boyd]

4 hours ago, Dragline said:

Cooler than the other side of the pillow TB.

Hah Bob!  Good one!  Cheers...TB

[tim boyd]

6 hours ago, Cosmic D said:

That stance is just perfect.

Thanks Doug.  Best part is that stance is 100% from the Elky Street Machine kit - no kitbashing of the suspension whatsoever.  (As noted, the wheels and tires came from the Revell Chip Foose FD-100 kit and required a bit of tweaking of the mounting bosses to get the right offset, but the suspension and wheel mounting points are 100% unfettered Round 2 styrene!)  Best...TB

[Ulf]

Very nicely built, you have taken advantage of this kit's fantastic design and overcome some well-known difficulties (?). This kit and a few contemporaries are truly top-notch, which is easy to overlook.

 

Edited 18 hours ago by Ulf

[Kit Karson]

Rims & Tires actually work for me, Brother! The added wood under the box is a real plus! -KK

[TooOld]

Beautiful El Camino Tim !  Love that Viper Blue with the vinyl top !

As an owner of seven 1:1 El Caminos (my avatar is one) over the years they are obviously my favorite . Almost every time I've posted a model of an El Camino or Ranchero in the Cars section it has been moved to the Trucks section , good old Harry was the only one that agreed they are more car than truck . . . good luck !

[DJMar]

On 9/7/2025 at 11:56 AM, tim boyd said:

PPS - now if SOMEONE!!!! would do a full detail S650 Mustang GT convertible with full engine and underhood detail ,I would be adding to the current 1/1 kit builds folder....just sayin'). 

I'm hoping that this reaches the right ears. A full detail kit of the 2024+ GT would be welcome on my bench.

Also, awesome Elco. The induction from the '67 Impala Street Machine kit is a natural.

[slusher]

Absolutely Stunning Tim!