Jump to content
Model Cars Magazine Forum

Recommended Posts

Posted

Looking very nice. :) Good too see somthing different done to one of these kits. Nice conversion, can't wait to see the finished pics. :angry:

Posted

I spent a little time last night on this project, working on the wheels a bit.

I started with a set of my steelies, painted body color:

IMG_3385.jpg

For tires I am using a set of old AMT Prestige white walls that I stole from a kit I have since traded off, they are perfect for this build. Since I'm going to be using Missing Link Resin's dog dish hub caps (picking 'em up tomorrow!) I didn't bother with lug nuts, just the valve stems.

IMG_3386.jpg

Stems trimmed, ready for the caps!

IMG_3387.jpg

I'm also using a set of my resin Drum Brake wheel backs, to add a bit more detail:

IMG_3388.jpg

I'm so excited about this piece, but unfortunately its nearly impossible to get a decent photograph. I ordered a set of Scenes Unlimited drum brakes, so I think I'm going to do a 'wheel off' type of build, where one of the rear wheels is left off the car, exposing the rear brake detail. These pieces are ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, I highly reccomend 'em!

IMG_3401.jpg

Posted

Nice, Ian. Very nice. Want to dress up those valve stems somewhat? Take some Micro Krystal Klear and add a drop to the tip of the stem. It'll dry clear and then you can paint the tip whatever color you want. Makes it look like there's a cap a the tip of the stem.

Posted

Nice, Ian. Very nice. Want to dress up those valve stems somewhat? Take some Micro Krystal Klear and add a drop to the tip of the stem. It'll dry clear and then you can paint the tip whatever color you want. Makes it look like there's a cap a the tip of the stem.

Awesome tip! Definitely doing it!

Posted

More progress, wooowooo!

I got the rear suspension installed (still have to put the shocks on, no biggie there I have a little more research to do on them before I commit...)

I used Bare Metal Foil Matte Al for the gas tank straps, and looking at this picture reminded me that I forgot to put exhaust clamps on, oh well;

IMG_3403.jpg

I couldn't find the what the rear end markings were for the 8 3/4, so I just duplicated what they would be on a Dana, close enough. I bet if I wouldn't have told ya, you wouldn't have known, haha.

My Scenes Unlimited drum brake assembly - I just think these parts are so freaking cool!

IMG_3404.jpg

A poor and dusty picture of the final wheel and tire combo. I picked up the Missing Link hub caps from Kevin today, and they are even nicer than I had expected!

IMG_3405.jpg

I'm really glad I decided to go with these instead of nothing, or the Revell '68 Charger caps that are totally goofy.

Posted

I also got the final coat of red paint on the body today. In the next few days I'm hoping to get the grille area taped off and sprayed silver, then decal, clear, BMF, and assemble!

Posted

What research did you need to do on shocks? OE units would be black 1" bore Oriflow units, dust shields front and rear, should have a small paint dab on the reserve tube near the lower eye to color code different OE part numbers

Are you sure about the resonator in the exhaust system? All the info I've come across only shows them on factory dual installations, single exhaust from 198 through 383 2 barrel seem to have just used the muffler and turndown

Posted

What research did you need to do on shocks? OE units would be black 1" bore Oriflow units, dust shields front and rear, should have a small paint dab on the reserve tube near the lower eye to color code different OE part numbers

Are you sure about the resonator in the exhaust system? All the info I've come across only shows them on factory dual installations, single exhaust from 198 through 383 2 barrel seem to have just used the muffler and turndown

That's exactly what I wanted on the shocks, thanks!

On the exhaust I left the resonator on because one of the pics I have of the real car appeared to have it, although I'm not 100% sure.

Posted

And just as I posted that I found a pic of the chassis, showing rear end markings and lack of resonator. Maybe I'll correct it, but probably not, I'm a slacker.

158101-500-0.jpg

Posted

Body is done with paint, and I got the grill area silver'd up as well. Hoping to get the decals on today and clear tomorrow.

I used Testors 1 Coat whatever the Silver color is called, its a little bright for the grill area, but close enough, it also has a nice bit of texture similar to the 1:1;

IMG_3406.jpg

IMG_3407.jpg

I'm still debating on what to do with the R/T Grill, I need to eliminate the R/T badge, and ultimately would like to slide the Challenger script over (or eliminate completely and use a decal), so I'm going to try to cast the left side mesh, flip it upside down and use it for the right. We'll see how it goes. I may just end up painting the mesh and R/T logo black, and plopping a Challenger script decal on the stock grill if the above doesn't work.

Posted

I got the decals and BMF done last night, and cleared everything earlier today, and I must say its lookin pretty good :) I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love these Keith Marks decals - I just used the Challenger scripts, but they are so nice.

IMG_3444.jpg

IMG_3445.jpg

It looks a little orange in the pics, I think its the 40 watt desk lamp messing with my white balance.

Posted

Thanksfor the tip - I ended up just sanding the emblems off on the grill, and am going to put a Challenger decal in the right spot. Good enough for me :P

Posted

I know the scales don't line up exactly, but wouldn't the new (based on the diecast) 1/25 Revell kit have a grille the style you're after? The T/A build version obviously doesn't have the "R/T" script. You may be able to finesse that kit part to fit.

Hope that helps.

Nope..that kit has the R/T emblem molded to the grille. The T/A parts are not much more than the hood and air cleaner.

Posted

I'm getting dangerously close to completion...

In the process of prepping and painting parts I somehow forgot to include the firewall. This is probably for the better, because the supplied piece is pretty bland. I decided that rather than sanding the details off, filling, and replacing the things I sanded off, it would be easier to cut a new piece from Evergreen sheet, so using the provided firewall as a template I got to work.

I just traced the firewall on Evergreen sheet, then cut it out with scissors and razor. The kit firewall has 2 huge openings for the provided hood hinges, so I opted to leave those holes out;

IMG_3446.jpg

The master cylinder in the kit is kind of small, so I snagged the one from the AMT '71 Charger, along with the wiper motor - both excellent castings. For the blower motor I just trimmed a piece of sprue;

IMG_3451.jpg

Hard to tell, but to keep the pieces in place I drilled holes and glued in push pins. I figured this will make final assembly way easier, with less change of a glue spooge;

IMG_3453.jpg

You can also see in this picture the Jack Stand that I fabbed up to put under the axle on the wheel with the exposed brake drum. I used Evergreen for that as well.

I know that I've left off the 'v' shaped stamping thing on the top side around the wiper motor - I fiddled a little with this, and to put it in pushed the wiper motor out too far (I believe the firewall is like this to give the wiper motor the correct angle and structrual support) - it just wasn't working for me in plastic, partially because of how the firewall mounts to the body, and the lip thats molded into the cowel, bla bla, so I left it out.

Posted

While looking at my reference pics to see if the car had a 4 blade or 7 blade fan (like every Chrysler engine in the late 60's early 70's seems to have had the 7 blade, I have no idea why all these castings give a 4 blade B) )

Here's the deal on the fans. All small blocks used an unsymmetrical 5 bladed fan unless it got the heavy duty cooling package. Then it got a 7 bladed fan with viscous drive. All big blocks got a 6 or 7 bladed fan. All Hemi's got a 7 bladed fan. All slant 6's got a 4 bladed fixed fan until mid 70's and it picked up a 5 bladed viscous drive fan from the small block. So a 4 blade is correct for your build.

Posted

Here's the deal on the fans. All small blocks used an unsymmetrical 5 bladed fan unless it got the heavy duty cooling package. Then it got a 7 bladed fan with viscous drive. All big blocks got a 6 or 7 bladed fan. All Hemi's got a 7 bladed fan. All slant 6's got a 4 bladed fixed fan until mid 70's and it picked up a 5 bladed viscous drive fan from the small block. So a 4 blade is correct for your build.

I went with a 7, based on the reference pictures from the car. I know with Mopar there is no such thing as 'never' - they seemed to be pretty good at throwing whatever was around on cars.

Posted

I went with a 7, based on the reference pictures from the car. I know with Mopar there is no such thing as 'never' - they seemed to be pretty good at throwing whatever was around on cars.

That last quote is correct. There where actually some Hemi powered 4 dr Satellites believe it or not. I can take you to one that is factory white 4 dr and Hemi powered. If they ran out of some part on the line they would substitute a better part if it would fit.That's a fact.

Posted

I'm just about done with this project! I put most of the finishing touches on her yesterday, and I'm pretty happy with the result.

Finishing up the firewall before installing into the body:

IMG_3466.jpg

Firewall installed, ready to connect the body and chassis:

IMG_3470.jpg

IMG_3471.jpg

First fit together:

IMG_3472.jpg

IMG_3473.jpg

Getting the engine into place:

IMG_3474.jpg

IMG_3476.jpg

I'll save the rest for an 'Under Glass' thread, I'll link it in here as well :)

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...