STAR FIRE! ...( 59 Impala Flying Car) Update: 3-29-12

[Ira]

I like the progress I see here. This is a concept that I too have thought about building. Many ways to get a car to "hover" on a stand: Magnets, hidden wires, clear rod or something simple such as a figure standing next to the car touching it.

At a local car show here in the Pacific Northwest I saw and took pictures of what looked like a 1957 Corvette Grand Sport/Star Wars crossover in racing colors. There was a guy under the car with a wrench, tools all around the floor - very realistic looking. Was a larger scale too so that really helped the illusion. What was really holding the car up was a wire running through the guy on his back with the wrenches. Seems to be that there was power there too as the dash lights were lit... but I forget.

Searched for the pics and can't seem to find them.

The other build that I remember, besides J-A's in SAE, was one built by the late Bob Paeth. He did a '60 Ford with a second set of fins just like this project. But used a more stock looking length and roof. Bob embedded big magnets in the base and little Neo magnets in the body of the car which effectively kept the car floating. Unfortunately the magnets kept wanting to move the car OFF the stand so Bob had to create a wall to keep the car on the stand... so the car was continually up against one wall or another.

Fun project!

Thanks for the kind words and comments Jairus!

I think I will use different lengths of piano wire or a clear plastic rod to get the "Hover Affect" and the base will be a photo taken from an airplane or spaceship looking down to earth!

I also saw one model of a flying car with a "Car Hop" as the support for the car, I think it was a Corvette!

Great story about Bob & the Magnets!

By the way thanks for all the illustrations in the Model magazines all these years, they are all fantastic!!!

[Nitrozilla]

Having been a Starship Modeler for years before going back to cars, I recognize those X-Wing engine parts. Can't think of a better use for them now Ira. Nice set up. Good idea for the base / display as well.

[62rebel]

ow! i liked the long hood.... but, keep going! you shouldn't ditch the lights; even aircraft have to run lights!

[Sixx]

Modellpularn, That would be Scale Auto Enthusiast issue 114, April 1998. Juha Airio's Jetrolet Anti-Gravity car.

Great build Ira. Watching.

Thats what this build reminded me of !! Nice work!!

[Ira]

Wow !!! what a start !!

Thanks!

[Greg Pugh]

I think the shortened front end was an improvement.

[Ira]

You could of left it for all of that space luggage. Either way I still think it looks cool!

Thanks Justin!

I was thinking about leaving a lot of room in front for luggage, and then decided to I cut the front off anyway.

I wanted to play with the design and see if I could come up with something a little different...

[deathskull59]

wow now that something else a fly space age 59 chevy wow that crazy. but cool.

[John Goschke]

Very cool build!

Reminds me of Keith Weesner's chicks in flying cars series of artworks....

And a series of classic Fisher Body magazine ads from '58 and '59.

[Ira]

Having been a Starship Modeler for years before going back to cars, I recognize those X-Wing engine parts. Can't think of a better use for them now Ira. Nice set up. Good idea for the base / display as well.

Thanks Joe!

I might use only 4 of the 6 X-Wing Engines, still thinking about it...

I saw a couple of Flying Car Models at NNL West last year, one had a photo base from "The Fifth Element". It looked like the car was floating over NY.

I want to do something like this for MIRROR!

[Ira]

ow! i liked the long hood.... but, keep going! you shouldn't ditch the lights; even aircraft have to run lights!

Thanks for your comments Curt, I liked the long hood too!

There will be at least bullet taillights in the rear...

[Ira]

Thats what this build reminded me of !! Nice work!!

Thanks Derrick!

[Ira]

I think the shortened front end was an improvement.

Thanks Greg!

I just added new fins and I am also re-doing the interior! Photos coming soon...

[Ira]

Now What Happened???

Seems like I can't leave well enough alone...I cut up the interior...again!

I wanted bigger wider bucket seats with side support, that kind of matched the custom interior panels.

I found the perfect seats in the Alternomad Caprice. I cut the rear seats from the Alternomad interior.

I cut and fit the rear seat area of the Impala interior untill there was almost nothing left...

Here are the new seats in the MIRROR interior!

Now I'm Happy!

[Ira]

wow now that something else a fly space age 59 chevy wow that crazy. but cool.

Thanks, Glad you like it!

[Ira]

WE GOT MORE FINS!!!

Since this is a flying car, I thought it could use some side wings, or fins!

I made them with sheet plastic.

Here is a photo of the body as it is now...

A lot of sanding and shaping was done on the front.

The holes in the hood have been filled and primer/filler has been applied.

The 2 large Jet Engines have been fit in place now.

Back to the body shop...

[David G.]

I love flying cars! Excellent concept and body modification, but I would move the jet thrusters a bit more inboard.

David G.

[Ira]

I love flying cars! Excellent concept and body modification, but I would move the jet thrusters a bit more inboard.

David G.

Thanks for the kind comments David!

Can't move the Jet Thrusters in because there isn't enough room with the others in place...

[Nitrozilla]

Just gonna throw this out there. Outboard motors and center motors are fine where they are. If you leave out the 2 next to the big ones, that might give you room for a couple of bullet tail lights. Food for thought.

Love the addition of the smaller fins.

Edited December 23, 2011 by Batzilla

[David G.]

The 2 large Jet Engines have been fit in place now.

Back to the body shop...

I was basing my recommendation on this pic. I see your point with all the other thrusters in place.

I think I would go with the two you have above, but moved inward under the center of the fin arcs.

But that's just an opinion. I love builds like this just for that reason; there's no right way or wrong way to build them. It's all about what works for you.

I look foreward to seeing more of this one.

David G.

[Ira]

Just gonna throw this out there. Outboard motors and center motors are fine where they are. If you leave out the 2 next to the big ones, that might give you room for a couple of bullet tail lights. Food for thought.

Love the addition of the smaller fins.

Thanks for your kind words Joe!

I was also thinking about adding Bullet Taillights to the centers of the outside jet engines...

Edited December 23, 2011 by Ira

[GOTH KUSTOMS]

Man how did I miss this? this is way to kewl, I gotta agree, the long hood was hot, but im watching this now, and you have me hooked, great work so far.....

[chopper430]

man i like that it's very cool ,can't wait to see it finished.

[Ira]

I was basing my recommendation on this pic. I see your point with all the other thrusters in place.

I think I would go with the two you have above, but moved inward under the center of the fin arcs.

But that's just an opinion. I love builds like this just for that reason; there's no right way or wrong way to build them. It's all about what works for you.

I look foreward to seeing more of this one.

David G.

Thanks for your kind comments David!

I agree these Fantasy Models are fun are fun to build because you can build them anyway you want.

[Ira]

Man how did I miss this? this is way to kewl, I gotta agree, the long hood was hot, but im watching this now, and you have me hooked, great work so far.....

Thanks Michael!