1/16 1970 Dodge Charger (The Fast and the Furious) build!

[brodie_83]

Hello all! I'm taking a little break with my 1/12 Shelby GT500 while parts arrive, and just to get started on something fresh and one that requires a challenge for me. I bought an MPC 1/16 scale 1969 Charger "General Lee" kit a few months back and I wasn't sure which way I wanted the kit to go...because I was certain I was NOT going to build the General Lee version. Then I started thinking..."I always wanted to build a larger scale replica of the original '70 Charger from 'The Fast and the Furious', so why not try some scratch-building and convert the '69 to a '70?", so that's where I'm taking this particular kit.

I traded someone the Hemi engine with complete accessories from this kit for the supercharged Hemi from the Street Charger, which shares many parts with the Dukes kit. So far I have put the block and heads on, and currently stripping most of the chrome parts.

I am not making a screen-accurate version, because I found a much better version of the car...the ORIGINAL car with the working supercharged Hemi that is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I couldn't find pictures of it, but I found a lot of detailed videos of the car, so I took screen shots of the video and made them into jpegs so I can build this accurately as possible. Here is the owner's YouTube page with lots of videos of the car: http://www.youtube.com/user/TrabantMuseum?feature=watch

I'll post up progress as the car comes along. Thanks for looking!

[brodie_83]

Well I watched the videos some more and it looks like the heads are bare aluminum and the block is black, so I removed the heads from the block, primed them and painted them with flat aluminum engine paint, as well as primed/painted the transmission with the same flat aluminum, and primed/painted the block with gloss black. I also went ahead and painted the lower intake manifold with Duplicolor "Chrome" paint for the polished look. It's getting there. I don't have a lot of pics yet, because most of the parts are still drying in the dehydrator. Here's a few pics of the progress so far:

The block before I removed the heads to paint them separately

Parts being stripped in Castrol Super Clean (now being stripped more in Dawn Power Dissolver)

Heads finished with flat aluminum

More to come later!

[brodie_83]

I have put together a lot of the engine, but I'd rather not take pictures of it before the glue dries because I have to pick it up. The other parts that are stopping me from going further on this are currently being soaked it Dawn Power Dissolver to get rid of the layer of stuff that is under the chrome so I can get it down to bare plastic. One thing I'm worried about is the texture that the Duplicolor Chrome is spraying out...it's rather orange-peely and I don't like it. I really want the supercharger and the scoop to be completely smooth, not bumpy and orange-peel look. I might have to see if I can get the parts prepped and have someone with Alcalad spray some for me and I'd pay them. I'll post that in a different section. Hope to have a few more pics up before I go to bed tonight.

[Hedgehog]

I like this proyect since you mentioned "Fast and the Furious" so keep on posting:)

[bryan_m]

sounds like a cool project! cant wait to see more

cheers

bryan

[brodie_83]

Thanks guys! Well I found a guy that will spray Alclad on the supercharger and a few other parts for me. It's great when you can find help like that.

I took a few pics tonight of what I got done yesterday. I don't really work on models much during the week, so be patient.

Various engine/trans pics

Sanded the fins off the top of the scoop and molded the top/bottom together with the butterflies installed

All parts de-chromed and ready for paint!

Hope to have more updates soon! Thanks for looking!

[brodie_83]

A few more pics for the night...just a mock-up of the intake and the valve covers on the engine. Can't wait!

[brodie_83]

Today's update: I bought an airbrush at a garage sale today that was barely used for a great price, so I'm going to go to Hobbytown and order some Alclad chrome and give it a shot, once I get used to the airbrush. I also got my wheels/tires in the mail today from Casey and they are fantastic!

This is all he sent me

His tires with the front/rear wheel set-up

His front tires with my General Lee rear tires

[Casey]

Just FYI, it wasn't me who attempted to paint the raised white letters on those tires. Glad you can at least use the front tires, Brodie.

[brodie_83]

Eh, not a big deal. I would honestly like to shave the tires of all the letters...but don't really know how to do such a thing. Got any tips?

[RedBanditCustoms]

Eh, not a big deal. I would honestly like to shave the tires of all the letters...but don't really know how to do such a thing. Got any tips?

If you want to shave down the letters (Which i completely disagree with) just get out rough sand paper and once you are clear of the letters just use a less intense grit to clean things up.

[RedBanditCustoms]

If you want the letters white heres a tip you could use! Get your self a nice white out pen and carefully colour them in. If a white out isn't available get a gel pen and prime the letters with a bright flat colour.

[brodie_83]

I wouldn't mind the letters if the "Goodyear" wasn't so big and fat on the rear tires. The letters are comin' off. And I haven't really had time lately to work on this, so hopefully I can get back at it soon.