32 Chevy Surfer Van

[Tony N]

I started this build a couple years ago and now have started working on again. Its a Vampire Van body on 32 Chevy fenders, hood and grill. It all fits well together because MPC converted the 32 Chevy Panel van to make the Vampire Van. I am trying to build it with a early 60's Surf feel, so whitewall tires and chrome rims from the Ala-Kart kit. It's painted with Black fenders and a metal flake paint on the body ( House of Kolor Limetime Green Pearl ).

It's going to be powered by a 51 chevy six with twin carbs and Headers.

I change the rear doors to twin Tiki's to get away from the Hearse feel.

So any suggestion on what I have done so far on this surf Van would fine.

[Chris White]

cool !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[1930fordpickup]

Nice save of a goofy kit body.

[slusher]

Great color choice...

[crazyrichard]

thats real cool , those tikis look awsome !

[Tony N]

The next thing I did was to drop the front axles, I cut the ends off the stock axle and glue a new rod on to the stock ends.

I am also cutting up some cedar veneer to cover the walls and roof of the inside of van. I found that coating the cedar with clear to help hold the veneer together when cutting to fit.

[Darren B]

I love what you are doing so far will be watching this one with great interest, question for you, where did you find the tiki doors?

[mnwildpunk]

Love the tiki faces. The whole build is awesome

[Nitro Neil]

K, I have to give you a Wicked Pissa! on this one.

I hate what that kit represents - MPC AMT ruined a perfectly good kit of a Chevy Panel Van to make that kit - but you are proving that maybe you can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Nice job.

Edited January 31, 2014 by Nitro Neil

[DumpyDan]

Ya Neil is right, you have done a great job on this kit.

[Tony N]

Thank's for the kind words from everyone, to answer Darren question. I took the doors from the Vampire van and glue a thin plastic sheet on to the doors, then cut more plastic sheeting to the shapes need to make the Tikis. I glued the pieces together with Plastic weld and coated the whole Tiki with more Plastic weld to soften the edges.

Then i painted both doors with a Pagan Gold.

I then painted over the doors with the Limetime Green and used paint thinner to see the gold again. I am thinking about highlighting the Tikis with a thin black wash. I wish I could Pin-stripe the Tikis but I am unsure about how to get a thin line with paint.