How hard do you plan your kit bashing ?

[Greg Myers]

I'm always thinking up a new kit build and what it will take kit wise, to the point of how much of the parts in each will be used. I noticed I'm not alone on this, seeing how many builds Bernard got out of the AMT DD. Bernards post I was just wondering to what extent if any do you go to use up all the parts. Or, do they just join all the other parts left over from earlier builds? I got three out of the AMT DD cardboard box.

[aarondupont]

Greg: I tend to look at 1 to 1 cars and magazines like Hot Rod, Car Craft, Ol Skool Rods, etc. I will pull parts from any number of kits to "bash" something. I'll gather most of the parts for a build, place them in the box for the build. I also print off pictures of the car I'm going to build and put that in the box. Sometimes I'll see an idea for a build of a car style or part of that car I want to duplicate. So I'll print those off for reference and put them in this box. I also have a good collection of extra parts, aftermarket parts and resin parts. I'll purchase something just because I would like to use it in a future build. I hope that helps. Aaron Dupont

[Aaronw]

Where possible I try to make clean swaps. As an example I bought the '59 El Camino for the 348 V-8 which I want to put into a 1960 Chevrolet pickup. The I-6 from the pickup will go into the El Camino (it's going to be an arson investigators truck, so it doesn't need to be speedy ).

I have bought kits for specific parts but I will frequently cast these, so I don't have an issue with leaving that kit un buildable, although sometimes it is something I will probably never build like the Cop Out kit, I got it for the emergency lights and have little interest in the rest.

[sjordan2]

I don't plan on bashing, I discover it. For example, I found that the chrome pieces for my Mercedes SS that weren't included in the kit are beautifully replicated in my Rolls Phantom II Continental kits. Likewise, there is excellent crossover between my Italeri and Minicraft Mercedes 300 SL Gulwing kits for more accurate chrome, interior, wheels, frame, etc.

[LAone]

i don't plan for a kit bash. what i do when i build a kit that won't be OOB, ill look at the parts im not going to use and put them in a ziplock bag.

for example, if im going to build a track car, i wont use the stock seats or steering wheel. so those will go into the bag.

[Greg Myers]

"I wouldn't use ALL the parts of either kit because there would be two of everything. Chassis, suspension, engines and so on." So the second part of the question is, what do you do with these parts? Do you have a plan for them as Bernard did, or do they go into the "parts bin" ?

[Agent G]

One day I got to poking around in the parts box. I had just received my copy of "The Birth of Hot Rodding" so was inspired to build this.

Everything in this build came from the parts box or was scratch built. I really didn't plan anything, it just sort of fell together.

G

Edited July 19, 2011 by AgentG

[Junkman]

Explain "plan".

[Chuck Most]

I use EVERYTHING, in the long run...

All of these are either the results of direct kitbashing, or the use of lefover parts from former kitbashees...

As far as 'plan'? Well, my standard MO is this- randomly spike parts into my workbench, and whatever doesn't shatter is whatever I'll use on that particular project! If you can call that a plan, well, that's my plan!

[Jantrix]

I love doing left-over or junkyard builds. They are great low stress/time to experiment builds.

[Chuck Most]

I love doing left-over or junkyard builds. They are great low stress/time to experiment builds.

Truer words are seldom spoken. I have a few remainders of 'donor kits' which will eventually end up as junker/abandoned projects.