Holden HX Overlander Panelvan

Thanks guys! More to come soon! Hopefully I should be able to start priming in a couple of weeks!

Another small :update:

Getting closer...

May need to adjust the left side hinge, looks like it's raising the tailgate a coupla mms higher than the right side....gonna try to get the lower tailgate chain and locking magnets in tonight...then I'm back on the roof...

Anywho, some pics...forgot to take a pic of the adjustment I did to the hinge pin..:blink: 

Vantastic work mate.....................love the fact that you made the tailgate function.
Keep it up.

Antwon wrote:  Vantastic work mate.....................love the fact that you made the tailgate function.
Keep it up.

Thanks Antwon !
Yep..its gotta work so you could see the shaggin interior! 

Hey guys...small update....

Did some thread cutting......:blink: right side is replaced, took the pics when I lopped off the left side panel...should have the ribs back in and the joint area puttied out by tomorrow night...
The reason for this....the second pic in post #282...you can see where the ribs are showing through...didn't notice it before...thought maybe it was the light causing it to show through. But when I run my finger tips across it I could feel them, which means it will definitely show up with paint...!

Hey guys...another small :update:

Got both new side panels....installed the new ribs with just a dab of bondene at the top and at the bottom of each rib, so hopefully it shouldn't show through or warp the panels also re-installed the magnets for the interior side panels.
Then slapped a bunch of poly putty over the joins and wherever seemed like it needed to be leveled out...

Then I mocked up thr interior to make sure it all lines up with the new side panels....

Once the interior lined up properly, I packed it all away again then sanded down the poly putty...

Gonna try to get the magnets in to lock the tailgate, then will continue to work on the roof...

Getting closer to applying that first coat of primer... still a decent amount of putty and sanding required before that happens though....really want to try and resolve any imperfections on the raw styrene before priming and painting...

Anywho...some pics of where it's at...

That interior is awesome, actually this whole build is off the hook, just awesome mate.

Thanks DeeCee! 

Getting closer to laying down some primer soon...lol!

I keen to see some paint on it mate.
Have you decided on any colours yet?

Antwon wrote:I keen to see some paint on it mate.
Have you decided on any colours yet?

Hey Antwon, kinda leaning towards orange...lol.  It will have to be Tamiya paint, so looking at Tamiya Metallic Orange. Really would like a 'burnt orange' shade, but they don't have that color. May have to play around with a darker shade of base color on some scrap then add the orange to see if I can get close to it. The upper door frames and the windshield surrounds will be blacked out as well as the center of the grille. Well, that's the plan so far...lol! Just need to get the roof completed first!

Slapped on some poly putty before running off to work this morning...:lolbeat:

Gues we know what I'll be doing tonight when I get home,...

Getting closer I think....tomorrow I'll give it a wet sanding and a light coat of paint to see the faults...lol! :p

Oh found this the other day its the blinker light lens and shows you one of the chrome strips. Only thing I have left of my Holden parts.

Thanks Allan ! That helps a lot! Still a lil ways to go, but getting there one step at a time! Hoping to get the lower tailgate sorted tonight....still need to do a bunch of sanding and filing on the front of the roof, but figuring on making the strip that the drip rails are on first, as this seems to be the median between the roof and the body...

I wouldn't dare criticize your work Trini, it is brilliant & far beyond my skill level ...............but.............................I think your roof needs to be a bit more rounded off. I just looked at pics of my van and others online & it looks like the roof doesn't quite have the squared lines on top as yours. Please take this as an observation only and in no way criticism, I love your work so far. Also the Orange paint idea is great. Keep up the good work.

Hey there Antwon, yep I understand. I saw that ages ago...lol! I just haven't got the tools or the know how to get it more round...ha! This is my first scratch built body, so it's been a learning process. I figured the only way to get the styrene shaped properly is if I made a former out of balsa, then vacuum formed it, but I don't have a vacuum former or the space in my apartment for one...I basically heated up the sheet of styrene under the hot water tap and bent it by hand ...lol.....I have been keeping my eyes open while in the stores etc for a plastic container or bottle that can be cut to give the proper curve, but haven't found anything as yet. It's the main reason the roof has been put off for so long, as I haven't found anything suitable that I could use...

Hey guys...small update ..kinda!

Got my paint booth sorted. Also major learning curve on the airbrush system....air psi, paint volume, how far to spray from, etc etc...:facepalm:

Anywho...did some prep work on the front bumper, trying to get it as level and as smooth as I can... Top looks okay, the bottom is okay but needs more work, not sure if it will get it though..ha!
Also got some clear plastic spoons and made 'em shiny...okay for a start, but still trying to work out the psi And volume I need to spray at for the chrome paint...getting closer I think..

Watcha think?

That bumper looks great mate, and looks like you got those spoons down pat, i like the second chrome one my self, are you using Alclad??

Hey thanks DeeCee! Actually it's called Spaz Stix Ultimate Mirror Chrome. It's made for lexan bodies but can also be used on the exterior, but you don't quite get the mirror effect/shine that lexan provides. Basically you have to tweak the application to see what works best for you....like how much to apply and what psi to shoot it at...

I see you are going to go with the black rubber strip in the bumper bar, will look good once done.

allan wrote:I see you are going to go with the black rubber strip in the bumper bar, will look good once done.

Hey Allan, yep that's the plan...just need to find something to simulate the strip...lol!
Cheers!