New Year's Challenge: 1975 Chevy Sheriff's Blazer

[Fabrux]

My club has started a new tradition the past couple years of a New Year's Challenge: starting in November, the goal is to build a kit for the first meeting the following January. New builds are preferable, but the completion of a kit that is less than 25% started is acceptable. In an effort to get out of my non-completion slump I decided to build the newly reissued MPC 1975 Blazer as a sheriff's vehicle, using the police equipment from the MPC Dodge Monaco and the decals and paint scheme from the Monogram Sheriff's Blazer. This is also my first time using exclusively Vallejo paints for everything but the body (which will be Krylon spray cans) and I must say I am thoroughly enjoying these paints. I have, however, noticed that I need several more colours!

Here is the completed chassis:

Communications centre thing:

Firearms:

Spare tire rack:

I modified the spare tire rack from one of the MPC pickup kits to better depict the Blazer unit (compare here).

My winter time "spray booth" (my dad's garage) has been out of commission due to power outage from the repeated storms we've had this past week, but the power is back on now so I'm hoping to get the body done by our first meeting (7 Jan.). Otherwise I'll have to get creative with my dehydrator and paint outside!

[dieseldawg142]

.........

Edited May 11, 2018 by dieseldawg142

[PappyD340]

NICE!!

[Fabrux]

The firearms are straight out of the Monaco kit, also using the gun rack from that kit. It occurred to me as I was painting them that I really have no idea how a gun should be painted! Used Vallejo gunmetal grey and saddle brown.

[hjracing]

Wow! Looks very cool, I'll keep an eye om this one!

[kilrathy10]

Looks pretty cool, so far....Love the firearms....

[Fabrux]

Here's a mockup with the body ready for paint. First time doing the panel lines; hope it turns out!

Firearms on their rack:

Here are the seats. I tried out the medical tape trick to create a fabric look (thanks for the idea, retired & glad!). Doesn't look too bad, but the paint seems to have soaked up into the tape and all but eliminated the texture. The arm rests for the rear seat are from a Monogram Ramcharger.

Dash:

Steering column & wheel:

Used some straight pins to make the turn signal lever and the shift lever for the auto trans.

[mikemodeler]

Looking good, anxious to see it finished.

Question- How did you create those wheels?

Thanks, Mike

[Jordan White]

Wheels look like the ones from the AMT 1972 Blazer kit.

[Fabrux]

Jordan is partially correct: the front covers are from the 72 Blazer but the rears I think are from the pickup kit. They're slightly different than the ones in the Blazer. I purchased a set of four fronts and four rears from Newt's Boneyard. Chevy actually used those wheel covers from 67 up until 77 I think. I had wanted to use dog dish covers but I couldn't find a set I liked and would've needed to come up with locking hubs for the fronts anyway.

[Fabrux]

Getting closer...

[redneckrodder]

That looks good those rims look nice

[Davewilly]

Looking good!

[Fabrux]

Interior's done.

[Fabrux]

Put a bow on this one, she's done. Posted in Under Glass: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=83727