This project started a LONG time ago... back when "ol yeller" was in the stable, and I was contemplating interior & exterior colors! Nobody makes a '64 Chevelle or Elky kit, so I had to settle for a '65 El Camino kit (AMT). I'd pretty much made up my mind on doing the paint in a bronze/copper, and the interior in tans/browns. So, buy a model kit, and "do" it in the color scheme and see what it looks like. Went as far as to spray the color on the undersides/backsides of the parts, and it (and 'ol yeller) got shelved... the car forever, the kit for years.
Enter early 2012 & Hub Hobby. Needed some "thick" ACC (crazy) glue for something, and made the fatal mistake of going in there with a loaded credit card. While wandering the model car aisle I spied a late-model Impala SS, a '65 Z16, and another '65 El Camino. The synapses fired!
The AMT Elky kit is a "low-end" offering... dismal detail, and one of those 3-in-one deals (with a lot of tack-on stuff). The Z16 kit is really very good - lots of detail, separate parts (not molded in) and accurate. The Impala SS kit had the all-important LT-1, homeplate/airbox, and alloy wheels. Final solution - scrap everything from the AMT Elky kit except the body, glass, and bumpers, and make the Z16 coupe kit into an Elky!
Enter the art/science of "kit-bashing"! Since everything should be in 1/25 scale, the overall parts should mate up.
Problem 1: The El Camino kit has bucket seats and a console - my car does not. The inherent detail of the Elky kit is crap, and has a huge HOLE where the console would be (Also, the AMT Elky kit doesn't have the padded dash - the Z16 does).... Solution: Take the Z16 interior "tub", section off the back seat and rear sides, and make an Elky interior sans console with a bench seat. (The gray/green parts are Elky, the white parts are Z16). What was the back seat of the coupe, is now the front seat.
Problem 2: The Elky kit's floorpan/wheelhouses are all wrong, and have the suspension "stuff" molded in. The Z16 kit has these parts as separate items. Solution: Cut the 1/2 wheelhouses off the Z16 coupe body molding, graft & fill them onto the Z16 floorpan, and scratch-build the needed puke-tank, PS reservoir & cooler, Fuse block, WW jug, and Cruise control module.
I'll keep you updated as the "build" progresses!
-- Edited by John D on Thursday 27th of December 2012 06:23:42 PM
Are you going to recreate the opening "Smugglers" box complete with a few beers on ice?
Derek69SS said
Dec 28, 2012
You'll need an LS1 Z28 model for the proper wheels...
bowtie said
Dec 28, 2012
I scratch built (from left to right as seen): hoses are for weding tanks you can't see, the toolbox, shop light, blue torch, wall cabinet, engine stand, workbench, vice, bench grinder, bookshelf, hoist, oil drum, pump, pallet, spill pan. I also built a creeper, shop-vac, wheelbarrow type compressor, shop broom, dust an, box fan, and more. Had a lot of fun, but I get into doing mindless stuff like this. And I did this way before I had my Chevelle, let alone my current garage.
-- Edited by bowtie on Friday 28th of December 2012 06:55:28 PM
Scott Parkhurst said
Dec 28, 2012
Why am I not surprised by any of your choices on this?
If there is a harder way to do it, I'm sure we'd be reading about it. LOL!!
John, now you need to throw a white LED on each side of the smugglers box for interior lighting just like the real Blackie!
-- Edited by SShink on Sunday 30th of December 2012 08:23:24 AM
OscarZ said
Dec 30, 2012
Looking good John!
bowtie said
Dec 30, 2012
Coming together real nice!
Lost in the 60s said
Dec 30, 2012
John D wrote:
Putz'd around for a few hours this afternoon...
Can't wait to see the mini linear actuator to open it...
goto444 said
Jan 22, 2013
Hello guys..smuggling the parts is not good business of all the peoples and also for the GOVT..i want Z16 kit which is looking too much good ..did you help me how can i buy this kit to you??its urgent
Just a quick search yielded about every '65 kit out there.
Scott Parkhurst said
Feb 20, 2013
In case you didn't see it-
Here's a link to the model of my wagon some guy in Hungary built. He has mad skills and builds models for competition. The details he included were pretty impressive.
Here's a link to the model of my wagon some guy in Hungary built. He has mad skills and builds models for competition. The details he included were pretty impressive.
Ive seen these photo's somewhere and I cant remember if you have posted them here before Scott or if the builder posted them on TC. Either way, he certainly does fantastic work for sure. I have this same kit sitting un-opened waiting to be painted and assembled as well. Wonder where he got the wheels from?
Scott Parkhurst said
Feb 21, 2013
I posted them here before. I have no idea where he got the wheels. Everything else he posted is in Hungarian.
John D said
Mar 10, 2013
An update - I do find time for other hobbies.
(I just realized that I've been building car models for 40+ years!) I'll go into the workshop, stick a DVD in the player and have a Calgon moment for a few hours (( OK that will date a bunch of us!)).
I find it very relaxing to try and re-create something in miniature.
Worked on the interior "tub". Played around with some paint, and tried to replicate the various shades of red in the car (sun-fade, or just a plain ol' different color). Other than scratchbuilding my 3rd brake-light, I think it's done...
You've got some nice work there, John. For those of us who have never seen any of your models, would you be willing to bring some of them to a meeting?
That makes me wonder whether a display of models would be something to consider for Automania. Of course, it would have to be someplace where kids (or adults) wouldn't be trying to handle them.
bowtie said
Mar 11, 2013
I like the idea, one of the vendors we're going to contact is a hobby company. Maybe they can incorporate a model build contest.
Chris R said
Mar 12, 2013
Dont foget to add a etched detail kit to give the model that extra wow factor. Says its for the Malibu but includes a few El Camino specific detail parts.
Yeah, that "laser-cut" stuff is intense! Problem is that the kit (in general) isn't up to the qualilty level that would "appreciate" those kind of details. I'm pretty much building the '65 z16 kit (which is really pretty good as far as inherant detail goes), but putting the '65 El Camino body on it (which is fair at best).
(The z16 kit with the etched parts would really be Zowwie!)
John D said
Mar 14, 2013
And... my build skills might not be up to the level of needing laser/etched parts!
bowtie said
Mar 14, 2013
Up at Route 65 there is a large model car diorama of a wrecking yard on display. Probably has 25 cars on it, plus parts for that much again. Looks pretty cool. For sale, price was $3500 I think.
John D said
Apr 2, 2013
Back in the boxes until the bathroom's done... and the cabin is "opened", and the car is checked out, and the............
Lost in the 60s said
Apr 2, 2013
John D wrote:
Back in the boxes until the bathroom's done... and the cabin is "opened", and the car is checked out, and the............
........summer is over...
Scott Parkhurst said
May 2, 2013
Okay- since this is the best 'model car' thread on here, I guess it's the best place to post this.
Some of the most incredible model car building I've ever seen, and the cars he chooses to build are super cool too (traditional kustoms).
This project started a LONG time ago... back when "ol yeller" was in the stable, and I was contemplating interior & exterior colors! Nobody makes a '64 Chevelle or Elky kit, so I had to settle for a '65 El Camino kit (AMT). I'd pretty much made up my mind on doing the paint in a bronze/copper, and the interior in tans/browns. So, buy a model kit, and "do" it in the color scheme and see what it looks like. Went as far as to spray the color on the undersides/backsides of the parts, and it (and 'ol yeller) got shelved... the car forever, the kit for years.
Enter early 2012 & Hub Hobby. Needed some "thick" ACC (crazy) glue for something, and made the fatal mistake of going in there with a loaded credit card. While wandering the model car aisle I spied a late-model Impala SS, a '65 Z16, and another '65 El Camino. The synapses fired!
The AMT Elky kit is a "low-end" offering... dismal detail, and one of those 3-in-one deals (with a lot of tack-on stuff). The Z16 kit is really very good - lots of detail, separate parts (not molded in) and accurate. The Impala SS kit had the all-important LT-1, homeplate/airbox, and alloy wheels. Final solution - scrap everything from the AMT Elky kit except the body, glass, and bumpers, and make the Z16 coupe kit into an Elky!
Enter the art/science of "kit-bashing"! Since everything should be in 1/25 scale, the overall parts should mate up.
Problem 1: The El Camino kit has bucket seats and a console - my car does not. The inherent detail of the Elky kit is crap, and has a huge HOLE where the console would be (Also, the AMT Elky kit doesn't have the padded dash - the Z16 does).... Solution: Take the Z16 interior "tub", section off the back seat and rear sides, and make an Elky interior sans console with a bench seat. (The gray/green parts are Elky, the white parts are Z16). What was the back seat of the coupe, is now the front seat.
Problem 2: The Elky kit's floorpan/wheelhouses are all wrong, and have the suspension "stuff" molded in. The Z16 kit has these parts as separate items. Solution: Cut the 1/2 wheelhouses off the Z16 coupe body molding, graft & fill them onto the Z16 floorpan, and scratch-build the needed puke-tank, PS reservoir & cooler, Fuse block, WW jug, and Cruise control module.
I'll keep you updated as the "build" progresses!
-- Edited by John D on Thursday 27th of December 2012 06:23:42 PM
Are you going to recreate the opening "Smugglers" box complete with a few beers on ice?
I scratch built (from left to right as seen): hoses are for weding tanks you can't see, the toolbox, shop light, blue torch, wall cabinet, engine stand, workbench, vice, bench grinder, bookshelf, hoist, oil drum, pump, pallet, spill pan. I also built a creeper, shop-vac, wheelbarrow type compressor, shop broom, dust an, box fan, and more. Had a lot of fun, but I get into doing mindless stuff like this. And I did this way before I had my Chevelle, let alone my current garage.
-- Edited by bowtie on Friday 28th of December 2012 06:55:28 PM
If there is a harder way to do it, I'm sure we'd be reading about it. LOL!!
Putz'd around for a few hours this afternoon...
John, now you need to throw a white LED on each side of the smugglers box for interior lighting just like the real Blackie!
-- Edited by SShink on Sunday 30th of December 2012 08:23:24 AM
Looking good John!
Can't wait to see the mini linear actuator to open it...
Click Here
Just a quick search yielded about every '65 kit out there.
Here's a link to the model of my wagon some guy in Hungary built. He has mad skills and builds models for competition. The details he included were pretty impressive.
https://plus.google.com/photos/101822716430975999096/albums/5658966675532009473?banner=pwa&gpsrc=pwrd1#photos/101822716430975999096/albums/5658966675532009473?banner=pwa&gpsrc=pwrd1
https://plus.google.com/photos/101822716430975999096/albums/5658966675532009473?banner=pwa&gpsrc=pwrd1?banner=pwa&gpsrc=pwrd1&rdipvld=1
Ive seen these photo's somewhere and I cant remember if you have posted them here before Scott or if the builder posted them on TC. Either way, he certainly does fantastic work for sure. I have this same kit sitting un-opened waiting to be painted and assembled as well. Wonder where he got the wheels from?
An update - I do find time for other hobbies.
(I just realized that I've been building car models for 40+ years!) I'll go into the workshop, stick a DVD in the player and have a Calgon moment for a few hours (( OK that will date a bunch of us!)).
I find it very relaxing to try and re-create something in miniature.
Worked on the interior "tub". Played around with some paint, and tried to replicate the various shades of red in the car (sun-fade, or just a plain ol' different color). Other than scratchbuilding my 3rd brake-light, I think it's done...
You've got some nice work there, John. For those of us who have never seen any of your models, would you be willing to bring some of them to a meeting?
That makes me wonder whether a display of models would be something to consider for Automania. Of course, it would have to be someplace where kids (or adults) wouldn't be trying to handle them.
Dont foget to add a etched detail kit to give the model that extra wow factor. Says its for the Malibu but includes a few El Camino specific detail parts.
http://stores.scaledreams.com/-strse-754/1965-Chevy-Chevelle-Malibu/Detail.bok
(The z16 kit with the etched parts would really be Zowwie!)
And... my build skills might not be up to the level of needing laser/etched parts!
........summer is over...
Some of the most incredible model car building I've ever seen, and the cars he chooses to build are super cool too (traditional kustoms).
Worth a look!
Steve Boutte Kustoms
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Steve-Boutte-Kustoms/136565936448460