1965 Mustang in 1:12th scale

Well I got this off of ebay. It was a basket case but most of the parts that are missing or unusable will not be needed anyway. This will get much the same treatment as my Camaro. Not sure where I am going with the body work just yet. The quarter glass has been filled, and I'm sure will be replaced with some non functional scoops. Not sure what else will be done. The motorvation will be 03/04 cobra style with a blown mod motor. I'm leaning toward and IRS. Color will be sonic blue. I hope to be able to lay the color in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully some of these jobs will pan out and I will be able to get a detail spray gun. It will make spraying these large scale cars MUCH easier. I will update with the plan of attack as I go along.

What I started with:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/12%201965%20Mustang/DSCF4451.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/12%201965%20Mustang/DSCF4450.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/12%201965%20Mustang/DSCF4449.jpg

You can see here where I have corrected (to an extent) the bracing under the hood of the car, as well as added the bracing to the trunk.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF5771.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF5772.jpg

I've gotten some more work done on this one. I bought it mainly for the body, and as luck would have it, its a total basket case. The cowl was warped so I removed most of it and am working on fabbing a new piece from sheet styrene. The fins on the fascia really didn't fit the look I was going for so they are gone. There is a pic of the left and the right showing the before and after. Also notice the piece of styrene on the right side where the hood meets the body. The hood was sitting crooked and that remedied the problem. I've also noticed that the doors don't fit to my liking so I am working out a solution to that problem. I thought I was close to seeing some paint on this one but I'm a lot further than I thought I was.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF5773.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF5774.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF5775.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF5776.jpg

Is that the Otaki kit? It's cool to see you tackle another big project. It looks like you have model ADD, just like I do though. Want me to put you in touch with the support group?

A support group would be great. lol. This is the Revell kit. not sure if it may have originally been an otaki.

I got the first coat of Sonic Blue on my 1/12th 65 mustang today. Its been wet sanded with 2000 grit to level it out. I was having a bit of trouble with the airbrush.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF5835.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF5837.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF5836.jpg

That looks bigger than 1:12! That is really a big model! Nice repairs to the body. Old kits can sure be a pain, and the problem increases the bigger the car...

Alex

here she is with a solid color on the body, this color is hard to photograph. Its Ford Sonic Blue, I hope to clear it thursday.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF5840.jpg

Almost four and a half years later, you get an update! With the 1/12th scale GT500 coming out, I've got some modern parts for this car. I'm not sure what parts will make it to this kit, however, I know that the engine will be one of them. Here are a couple of current pics, I mocked up the GT500 wheels just to see what they would look like.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0046.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0045.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0044.jpg

Nice!

That's cool! I didn't even realize Revell was making a 1:12 Mustang (I had to look it up). That will be great for motor parts and the wheels. Let's keep our fingers crossed that this means we'll get some 1:12 detail parts (like wheels!) coming for down the line. It will be nice, too, to have a new tool molding the motor, the one in your picture looks really crisp. A great start for detailing. I love the color! If you hadn't done such a good job with paint already, I'd've wondered about widening the wheel arches for those wheels. Can't wait to see what's next.

That's cool! I didn't even realize Revell was making a 1:12 Mustang (I had to look it up). That will be great for motor parts and the wheels. Let's keep our fingers crossed that this means we'll get some 1:12 detail parts (like wheels!) coming for down the line. It will be nice, too, to have a new tool molding the motor, the one in your picture looks really crisp. A great start for detailing. I love the color! If you hadn't done such a good job with paint already, I'd've wondered about widening the wheel arches for those wheels. Can't wait to see what's next.

The new 1/12th kit seems like it is a great base for detail, It almost seems a shame to pull parts from it. I've got plans for it as well. I'm think full tube frame either road race or drag race...... As for the wheel arches, Looking back, I wish I dad done some a-la sn65 style. Wheels, don't get me started on big scale wheels. I found a guy who would machine some for me, CNC for $35 per wheel, not bad until you figure in the $125 set up fee for creating the files for the mill. I'm looking for someone who can do that for me if you know anyone! I'm off work all day tomorrow so hopefully this will see some nice progress.

Check out the RC department at your LHS for 1/10 scale wheels and tires. They should be about the right diameter though maybe a bit wide.

Check out the RC department at your LHS for 1/10 scale wheels and tires. They should be about the right diameter though maybe a bit wide.

I have a few problems with those. A lot of times realism is not what I am looking for. They are spindle mount design, which means I will have to modify them and have them re-chromed. If I am going to go through that trouble, I will make my own! I have a couple of 19-20" 12th scale masters for wheel centers and all I would need are some aluminum sleeves for them. I will dig up some pictures from my 1/12th scale camaro build and show you the detail and realism I'm looking for. That is my biggest problem, finding items that offer the realism that I'm looking for.

Great work.

A little update.

Not a huge update as there isn't much to photograph. I've removed a section of the floor and started re-constructing out of styrene sheet so that the engine will sit in the chassis like it is supposed to. Along with that, I'm going to have to section the interior tub. I'm going to separate the trans tunnel and firewall (in one piece) from the rest of the interior tub. This will allow me to make the modifications necessary to the interior to clear the new trans tunnel. If anyone on the board who owns a first gen mustang is watching, PM me, I could use some reference photos.

over view of chassis and section removed

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0047.jpg

The section removed

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0049.jpg

Beginning construction

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0048.jpg

I got a little bit done on the '65 so far. I started modifying the kit chassis from the GT500. I have removed part of the chassis tray from the fuel tank back, narrowed the wheel wells a little and "dove tailed" the chassis tray. It appears at this point, that the wheel base is the same on both kits, which means after removing some of the chassis tray it lines up quite perfectly with the '65 body molded some 34 years ago. This is going to make this a LOT easier than I had anticipated. I was afraid I was going to have to section the chassis and re-build details. The two issues right now are the rear wheels/tires, and the engine. The rear wheel wells are too narrow now to accommodate the wide rear wheels and tires. I picked up a 1/12th scale spare parts lot on ebay that included some additional wheels for this kit. So I have the option of using the front wheels/tires on both ends of this kit. Not sure if that will happen or if I will open up the wheel wells to accommodate the wider rear wheels.

These pictures are a bit out of focus, but it gives you an idea of how well the chassis tub fits the '65 body.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0056.jpg

Here you can see how well the wheel base matches

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0057.jpg

Finally an overview with the engine set in place

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0058.jpg

Another quick little update. I did some work on the rear of the chassis. I had to open up the wheel wells QUITE a bit for the tires to fit between the body and the chassis. In doing that, I had to remove a large section of the molded frame rails on the chassis. With most of the frame rails and suspension mounting points gone, I am going to have to re-construct them. I removed the rear part of the chassis tray, essentially, the trunk floor. With all of the material removal, It also means that the frame rails under the trunk will need to be modified and moved. I have sectioned the underside of the trunk to move the frame rails where they will sit right along side the fuel tank. I intend to keep the fuel "factory" fuel tank, and plumb it with an external pump and filter, etc.

Here is a reference pic of what I want the underside to look like. Pretty much like I took a 1965 mustang shell and set it down on top of a 2010 GT500 chassis, a la sn65.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/08-2013-laguna-seca-black.jpg

An overview of the chassis tray in its current state

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0059.jpg

A close up of the underside of the "trunk floor"

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0060.jpg

Finally, you can see the beginning of the modified frame rail additions. These will be molded in to match the "factory" frame rails and should mate up to the rail sections from the "trunk floor"

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0061.jpg

I apologize again for the blurry pictures, I'll get the batteries in the camera changed tomorrow

I got a little more done this morning. The rear section of the frame is re-attached. I cut some styrene card to create a new "trunk floor". Since the trunk will open, this serves two purposes. It allowed me to square up the rear frame rails, keep them that way while re-attaching them to the main chassis tray. Also, it keeps what will become the trunk floor flat and smooth as it should be. The kit fuel tank will be separated from the surrounding material and attached to the new styrene card. I need to pick up some super glue and putty to finish blending the frame rails so they don't look like hacked up junk.

over view

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0063.jpg

Close up of added styrene

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0064.jpg

And another shot of whats left with the bottom of the fuel tank

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0065.jpg

If a mod happens to come through here, could I get this moved to the muscle car/hot rod forum?

Maybe i oughtta get my small 25 scale camaro done so i can get on my 12 SCALE CAMARO?

I have had a few people ask me about my scratch building, how I do it and what I use. I photographed the steps I went through to create the driver's side frame rail. Excuse the pictures, I'm having to re-learn how to take pictures with my camera, its been a few years since I've photographed model cars. Keep in mind, I had already created the passenger side rail before I started the drives side.

Masking tape used to create a template

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0081.jpg

Template transferred to plastic card stock and traced

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0087.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0089.jpg

Next, I roughly cut the shape with scissors. A little note about scissors, I don't normally use them, I typically scribe the lines with the back of a hobby knife to separate the parts. The problem with scissors is that they tend to "pull" as they cut and it is hard to keep them cutting in a straight line. However, since I was over sizing the part and tweaking to fit, it was fast and easy.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0093.jpg

Once I had the general shape cut out, I tweaked the part and clamped it in place to be glued

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0094.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0095.jpg

Finally, you can see the near finished product on both sides, again, the pictures are blurry, but hopefully you can still see the seams from the different pieces of styrene that were used. Once I get all of my modifications done, I will use some putty to fill the seams and sand them down, follow with primer, and repeat until I'm happy with the end result.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0096.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0097.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0104.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0107.jpg

Finally the '65. Not a whole lot to show. I picked up some super glue "kicker", if any of you modellers use super glue frequently and you haven't been introduced to it, pick up some "kicker" at the hobby shop. It sets super glue instantly! Mixed with a thick CA it makes for a great gap filler! Basically all I've done is clean up the rear section of the frame rails. There is still a bit left to do to finish cleaning them up and get them looking like they are one piece. I'm not too worried about the gaps from the top of the frame rail to the chassis tub, those will not be seen. I intend to create some "close out" panels that will go from the frame rails to the lower edge of the body, sort of like an aerodynamic underbelly, that will be followed by the wheel tubs. The wheel tubs and the "close out panels" are going to be done in carbon fiber, (plastic sheet covered in CF decal). Once all of that is done, I can get the rear end and suspension sorted out and get this thing well on its way to done.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0132.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0133.jpg

I got a little more work done on the '65 last night and this morning. I have the chassis tub "tacked" to the body so I can get an idea of how the rear suspension is going to work. Since I narrowed the rear of the chassis and frame, I had to make some modifications to the rear-end housing. I removed the plastic axle tubes (which appeared very warped) and added some aluminum ones in their place. I don't think they are 100% square, but they will work. The coil spring mounts are no longer in the frame, as they were removed when I narrowed the rear.

My original idea was to use the arms that came in the kit. however, they just weren't workable. So I removed the chassis mounts, and will use them as the mounting point for some the rod ends for the new links, they will be made from machined rod ends and aluminum tubing. I'm going to use the factory mounting location on the chassis and create new mounts for the rear-end housing. The links will no longer be parallel due to how much more narrow the rear is. To finish it out, I will create a new panhard bar and coil over shocks.

You may also notice that there is a smaller aluminum tube inside of the axle tubes. These allow me to adjust the width of the rear wheels so I can get the rear suspension placed properly.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0134.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/DSCF0135.jpg

Watching this build for sure!!

You got skillz dude :)

Thanks, my current issue is that the interior tub is going to take some serious modification to work with the old body, and the old interior tub sits too low to allow the chassis to mount flush with the body.

I switched gears a little this morning and decided to work on the '65 a little. I started creating the interior "tub". The rear seats will need to be chopped down, right now the seat back sticks out of the rear window.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/20130515_105503_zps4431d24d.jpg

I also spent some time modifying the dash from the 2010 kit to fit. It took quite a bit of cutting and finessing to get to this point. The width is perfect. The dash pad needed worked a lot to fit the window profile. It needs a little finishing work on the corners. Other than that it fits good.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/20130515_154046_zpsd2981acd.jpg

Great project Russell.. I'm watching now!!

Thanks Rob. I haven't been active much the past few years. I am hoping I can get some of m lingering projects buttoned up

A little more work done on the '65 tonight. The firewall is coming along pretty well. I don't like how far forward the engine sits. Still a long way to go, but it is getting there slowly.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/20130523_205032_zpsc5ba4f9e.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/20130523_205044_zps1d5af75a.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/20130523_205711_zps533eb87a.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/20130523_205717_zps3e5b3ab8.jpg

Some more work on the '65 tonight. I am not quite happy with the way that the firewall kicks out towards the front of the car, instead of trailing backwards like it should be. I looked at the chassis, and tried to come up with a way to move the engine backwards, as well as the leading edge of the chassis pan so that the firewall would have the contour that I wanted. I decided it just wasn't worth the extra work to make the cuts and put the chassis back together and clean it up so that I could keep all of the details that I want on the bottom of the car.

The firewall is almost done, as is the interior floor pan, I have a bit more work to do at the front of the floor under the dash. There are a couple of "humps" in the floor that aren't covered, however, the seats sit directly on top of those.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/20130524_205815_zps5a4bb3e4.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/20130524_205807_zpsf4ab351c.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/20130524_205858_zpse8625452.jpg

I took 3 mm off of the bottom of the front seats so that they would clear the roof of the car, along with that, I created some "risers" so that it didn't appear that the seat was just sitting on the floor of the car. Also, I cut a couple of sections from the rear seat to help lower it in the car. It was sticking out of the back glass before.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/20130524_205851_zpsf81806c8.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/20130524_210005_zps4a0bc83c.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/black2002ls/65%20mustang%2012/20130524_210018_zps9695cdcf.jpg

Coming along great, looking forward to seeing this completed! :)

Very cool project and man it is coming along very nicely! I'd suggest that you modify the rear seat to the folded down position, rear area carpeted, so it's more like a 2 seater, just an idea, but I sure love what you're doing!

Thanks for the comments. The last year has been pretty hectic for me and hasn't left any time for modelling. Several transitions within the company, and we bought a house a couple of months ago. I will finally have a dedicated area to work on this stuff again, so hopefully I can dust this thing off and make some more progress!

Its time to finish it.... looks great so far... funny i just bought a body from a friend just like yours.. when it got home it arrived cracked on the front pillar..��

Its time to finish it.... looks great so far... funny i just bought a body from a friend just like yours.. when it got home it arrived cracked on the front pillar..��

You can find these on e-bay partially assembled for pretty cheap. I have another one waiting for some kind of build. I am thinking old school trans-am for one sitting on some mini-lites. There is one up right now for pretty cheap http://www.ebay.com/itm/390873482003?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
If you don't want to mess with repairing the pillar.

Thanks for the link Russell.. ill keep an eye on it.. i have another one here at home but someone glued everything shut and made it a pro street.. i just wanted a body and chassis to build one way later after the projects ive already started.. heres how i have it sitting now.... but yours is really beautyfull and love how you made it modern..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/Ralphlovs1969cars/Model%20cars/IMG_125042815809318_zpsrqt51qag.jpeg (http://s.photobucket.com/user/Ralphlovs1969cars/media/Model%20cars/IMG_125042815809318_zpsrqt51qag.jpeg.html)

Are those minilights? If so, where did you get them?!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/Ralphlovs1969cars/Model%20cars/model001.jpg (http://s.photobucket.com/user/Ralphlovs1969cars/media/Model%20cars/model001.jpg.html) Russell those are mini lites but in a big wheel option.. look like 19's.. i bought those at the hobbie shop about 5 yrs ago in different offsets.. they are for Tamiyas RC mini cooper. The tires are also tamiya. The same tires i used on Jims wheels for my touring car.. i have part numbers at home.. ill try and get them for you tomorrow if we get discharged from the hospital.. my wife gave birth to my second child..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/Ralphlovs1969cars/Model%20cars/model001.jpg (http://s.photobucket.com/user/Ralphlovs1969cars/media/Model%20cars/model001.jpg.html) Russell those are mini lites but in a big wheel option.. look like 19's.. i bought those at the hobbie shop about 5 yrs ago in different offsets.. they are for Tamiyas RC mini cooper. The tires are also tamiya. The same tires i used on Jims wheels for my touring car.. i have part numbers at home.. ill try and get them for you tomorrow if we get discharged from the hospital.. my wife gave birth to my second child..

Congratulations!