Psychographic Posted November 3, 2011 Posted November 3, 2011 This is the car that got me back into modeling. I started this in June and have moved onto other projects, I'll bring you up to date on it and finish it. It's one of my all time favorites from my childhood. The Silhouette. I've probably built more of these as a kid than any other model. I like taking some of these great showcars of the 60's and giving them a modern flair, hopefully without destroying their original beauty. Mocking up the extended wheel base. OK, now for the fun part, let's start cutting. I filled the wheel openings and moved the side recesses from the middle to the front and made new lower sides.
george 53 Posted November 3, 2011 Posted November 3, 2011 WoW! Customizing a custom. That's cool, an i sure do like what you've done so far. Pretty cool.
Dr. Cranky Posted November 3, 2011 Posted November 3, 2011 That looks like a fun build, please keep it going.
Psychographic Posted November 3, 2011 Author Posted November 3, 2011 The other side is roughed into shape. I decided to cut the inside of the front rims and tires and add them to the back. I narrowed the frame and started on the tubs.
Nitrozilla Posted November 3, 2011 Posted November 3, 2011 Let's see, we've got separate topics for Drag Racing, Big Scale, NASCAR's, etc. When do we get one for Sick & Twisted ?? David, there's a nice man over here I would like you to talk to and look, he's got a pretty white coat and it's just for you.
Skydime Posted November 3, 2011 Posted November 3, 2011 This looks pretty cool. I was scared to open this at first because I was thinking Oldsmobile Sillhouette van. What a pleasant surprise!
Harry P. Posted November 3, 2011 Posted November 3, 2011 Ah yes... one of my favorite kits from my childhood! I remember that trailer that it came with... it had that huge "glass" bubble top. Very cool to my 8 or 9-year old eyes! I agree with George... customizing a custom is pretty cool!
Dominik Posted November 3, 2011 Posted November 3, 2011 Oha! About four weeks i bought the first issue of this kit to build it stock! And what must i see with my old eyes? Holy Kit! This will be a cool ...what wil it be? A Pro Street Custom Hot Rod?!? I will follow your steps - but: i dont wnat to make the same on mine. Work on David, however it would be
Psychographic Posted November 3, 2011 Author Posted November 3, 2011 Let's see, we've got separate topics for Drag Racing, Big Scale, NASCAR's, etc. When do we get one for Sick & Twisted ?? David, there's a nice man over here I would like you to talk to and look, he's got a pretty white coat and it's just for you. Is that the cool jacket with all of those shiny buckles?
62rebel Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 i've tried several times to complete a Silhouette.... which is why i have several sets of nice wire wheels on some of my builds.
Custom Mike Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 David, you have my undivided attention! This should be COOOOOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Psychographic Posted November 4, 2011 Author Posted November 4, 2011 I made up a triangulated 3 link for the rear suspension. To go with the Street Rod look I wanted for this build, out went the A-arm front suspension and I'm building a straight axle for it.
Nitrozilla Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 If you raised the rear end 2 scale feet and put some massive springs on top of that axle, you'd have a Custom Custom Street Rod Gasser. Think about it.....
Psychographic Posted November 4, 2011 Author Posted November 4, 2011 If you raised the rear end 2 scale feet and put some massive springs on top of that axle, you'd have a Custom Custom Street Rod Gasser. Think about it..... I did, and it made my brain hurt. Some more progress, the frame is narrowed in the rear, stretched in the front. More progress on the front end.
Psychographic Posted November 4, 2011 Author Posted November 4, 2011 Cool build.Why the blue tape on the tires?j/w At this point, I had cut the front wheels and tires in half. I took the cut rim pieces from the front wheels and glued them to the outside of the rear wheels to make them deep and wide. To assure I got a good straight cut on the tire, I first cut across the tread to the where I wanted the tire narrowed to, then cut that with a pair of kitchen shears. What this left me was two hoops with a cut across them. At this point the tires were not glued together, so the tape is holding the tire together for the time being.
Bernard Kron Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 Not only is this build technically ambitious but it's a completely successful updating. I think the stretched wheelbase and the cleaned up nose area really improves the look, and the tubbed rear end makes total sense up against the bubble top. Great proportions! This is really Silhouette II, a virtual version 2.0 for 2012. Very cool!!!
Psychographic Posted November 4, 2011 Author Posted November 4, 2011 The original interior tub was one piece, when I got done it had 18 pieces. I added foot wells which IMO looks much less cartooney than just the round tub of the stock version. The seats cut out, a rear deck added and the console has been reconfigured. After lots of cutting and fitting, we now have an interior that might actually be somewhat comfortable.
Psychographic Posted November 4, 2011 Author Posted November 4, 2011 (edited) What everyone wants to know, "what's it really going to look like?" The answer, Edited November 4, 2011 by Psychographic
bobthehobbyguy Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 Very nice. Interesting idea. bobthehobbyguy
LAone Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 nice, looks alot better with the wide rears and narrow fronts. good call on that one. keep it going man, looking good
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