Community Build

[mopar68]

Hey folks, Slowlylearning and I, quite possibly the two biggest procrastinators on the forum, have decided to join hands (that’s an idiom obviously) to create the most awesome build off event ever. And no doubt, the longest running. The idea is to get both of us into semi-regular building again, although just quietly I’d be happy just to add another completed model to my huge collection of about three.

The build off theme will be ‘awesome old school-ish kustom-y’. Perhaps to a lesser extent, ‘late ‘70’s American iron’. But mostly just ‘awesome’. I’m entering with one of AMT’s especially evil creations- 1978 Dodge Lil Red Express. The fitment of this kit isn’t the best, if I must be so super nice, so it offers a special challenge
We are welcoming as many builders as wish to join, mostly so that there’ll actually be some regular updates. Start date is right about now, and the deadline is the 30th of February, 2067. So mild or wild, grab whatever kit takes your fancy and dig in.

But first, let me list the rules-
1. Have heaps of fun
Rightio, I think that about covers it.


Can’t wait to see what you guys come up with

[slowlylearning]

Im building this. Its a nice big van (my first ever van, please vanfans, be nice )



Heres the TOTALLY AWESOME decals that I wont be using


At a crossroads between these 6lug steelies from the chev utility...


Or these Cragars that the lovely Zenrat sent me about 2ish years ago (I think)


Already cut the guard flares off, and im gunna fix up the arches to a more 50s-60s-ish style. Also change the horrid square headlights to wonderful round ones

[mopar68]

And now, some terrible photos of my entry-


Notice the gap where the rest of the chassis should be


I'd like to take a moment to thank Allan for this kit, thanks mate, I'm gonna have some fun with this one

Oh and the box. It's one of those kits where the box art is a bit of a turn off-

[mopar68]

Those guards look pretty good KC, shouldn't take much filling at all to make em look perfect

[allan]

will be watching what you do with the Dodge,put mine a side for a time as it almost hit the brick wall Good luck with it.

[zenrat]

Hmmmm. Good idea.
I'll go and have a did in the stash and see if i've got anything suitable to join in.
Late 70's you say.

[Bigdaddy0]

I'll have to keep an eye on this one. Happy building you guys.

[Adam Clark]

Good on you guys for getting back into the spirit, hopefully you'll have come up with a paint scheme before 2067.

[mgy125]

[zenrat]

So i've dug out this.

I think it's a '79. Copyright on the box says 1980 but even if it's an '80 the seventies didn't really end until about 1982 anyway.
Lots to do as there is no floor meaning a massive gap is visible below between the interior and the body sides.
Also crappy hollow 1 piece axles and nasty tyres.
I do like that they are so proud about it being moulded in off white (now THAT's 70's...).

[DeeCee]

Nothing like a tight schedule guys. Good to see you back Mopar mate, NOW BUILD!!

[KRANZE]

[slowlylearning]

Got a little work done after my post work 10-hour nap





Thoughts? Im finding it tricky to find reference pictures of 'kustom' vans, all my searches end up finding those 70s and 80s show van with the murals etc :s

Not sure about what Im going to to with the front arches, maybe just make them a little smaller.

[slowlylearning]

Hell yeah zen! That things is awesome lol, Id say the tires are molded in white so you can sand the black off of the raised lettering? I cant wait to see what you do with it

edit: Oh, I see, you were talking about the body.. Id be proud to mould things in off white I rekon, better than that monkees mustang

[RetrospectKustoms]

SL, that van is looking ace, the cragars really suit it. I'll be watching this one. If I free up some bench space I may jump in, heck I got time!!

[aussie muscle]

uh, i think off-white is just fancy talk for cheap white plastic. Back in the 70s (and 80s) it was a big thing to "mold in color", which is all well and fine until you paint the darn things. then molded in white is a good thing.

[zenrat]

Maybe. But beige was really big on the 70's...

[mopar68]

Welcome aboard Zen! That kit sounds like a very worthy opponent
That van's looking great so far KC! I wholeheartedly agree with Retrospect, those wheels look right at home there

I've been pretty flat out with uni the past few days, but I managed to at least conjure up some grand ideas. Surprised? No? Well I am an ideas man after all, lots and lots of ideas Anyway, I think a section is just what this build needs to tip it over the edge. Having never performed so much as a roof chop before, and experimenting with a rather less than straight-sided body does seem a bit like jumping into the diving pool without the ability to so much as doggie paddle. In light of that, I'm giving you all a chance to talk me out of it, even though I'll no doubt stupidly go ahead with it anyway

For those who hate long posts without pictures, here's evidence I do have a hostage and I am willing to sacrifice that hostage in the name of kustom-



*edit
More pictures of the hostage-


A quick photochop of how it will look if (when) I complete the dastardly deed. Actually it'll be just slightly more drastic, once you count the width of the razor saw too.


Time is running out to save this guy, convince me before it's too late...

[allan]

That will look wicked if you can do it.

[blatdriver]

yeah, do it

[slowlylearning]

AWESOME! You know you gotta do it!, it'll be wild and different! And from what youve told me its a pig of a kit, so the only way to go is up! Or down really low in this case

Doin' a bit of cutting and gluing myself today, hope to get the arches done and the ride-height set

I bought a can of really pale blue and some flat white yesterday... just for the roof >: D
Forgive my ignorance, but metal flake paint doesnt come in rattlecans does it? The flakes wouldnt go though the nozzle would they?

If it doesnt (Im not fond of airbrushes) Im gunna have to stick to metallic aye? Is there any reasonable priced pearl clears that come in rattlecans? or are they airbrush exclusive paints?

I said I wouldnt go nuts with the paint, but the van is... changing me somehow

Thanks for the feedback fellas!

[KRANZE]

Forgive my ignorance, but metal flake paint doesnt come in rattlecans does it? The flakes wouldnt go though the nozzle would they?

If it doesnt (Im not fond of airbrushes) Im gunna have to stick to metallic aye? Is there any reasonable priced pearl clears that come in rattlecans? or are they airbrush exclusive paints?

Dupli color Metal cast metallc silver ground coat:
For a heavy flake base coat.Then candy or coloured clear over that.

Not resonably priced but its an alternative:
Tamiya TS-65 Pearl clear,for over coating coloured base coats.

[dv8v8]

Tamiya does a few metallics including Lame Flame (think thats how its spelt) wich is metalflake in clear to turn any paintjob into a mettallic finish

[mopar68]

I said I wouldnt go nuts with the paint, but the van is... changing me somehow

YEEEESSSSSSS Can't wait to see what wild combination you come up with
Blue and flat white hey, that sounds sweet as already

You all cried for blood, so I went ahead and risked shortening my fingers for you
Let the destruction begin!


Cuts made-


Now the tricky part, patching it back together again


Hmm, if only I had a spare cab, it would make a good start to a fleetside style bed.....


Some serious filling and sanding, and I reckon I'm close to done.


Thanks for following along people

[allan]

to late to turn back now if you looking for a straight side for this one Modelhaus does a resin one

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