'67 Impala

Hopefully this will be a relatively quick, "no frills" build as it is supposed to be a Christmas present for my daughter.

She's a fan of a TV series called Supernatural and has been bugging me for a few years now to build this car for her. She even named her cat Impala! :lol:

I bought the AMT kit a couple of years ago but then realized that it is a 2-door whereas the TV car is a 4-door. I didn't feel up to getting bogged down in a long conversion so it never got started.

Luckily while I was at the recent Frankfurt show, I met a guy there who had done the job already and had a resin transkit which included the body, seats, door panels and some other odds and sods. Only the rear windscreen needs to be made.


This is the original.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/1967-Chevrolet-impala.jpg


I re-scribed all of the panel lines in the resin body which is very well cast BTW but need some boiling water to get it straightened out a little

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_1.jpg


The resin kit and the AMT version.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_2.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_3.jpg


The hood needed some re-shaping with styrene strips and superglue.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_4.jpg


The seats were cleaned up, straightened in hot water and the rear deck removed from the AMT part.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_5.jpg


The front wheel wells were cut out from the AMT kit

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_6.jpg


I think now that I should really have put the suspension on the frame first but it should work out OK

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_7.jpg


A bit more cleaning to do and then I shall start painting the frame and suspension to get the ride height sorted first.

any info on where to get the body

any info on where to get the body

You can contact Oliver who made the transkit here: Rockinroller at gmx.de

You can see more here (in German but the photos translate well ;) ):

http://204442.homepagemodules.de/t258f12-Supernatural-Chevrolet-Impala-door.html

and also here

http://204442.homepagemodules.de/t376f28-Supernatural-Sam-amp-Dean.html#msg1792

thanks

nice, I tried to do the same job but with the stock AMT coupè body..

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=1010116

I'm sure you will do waaaaaaaaaay better than mine so I'll stay tuned :biggrin:

How did I miss this? Very interesting to see how you are combining the AMT kit into this. Talk about great luck about finding the resin body. I can just imagine what's in store for us with this build.

This looks like a fun build. I had one of these briefly when I was 16! That big back seat was a nice feature (:naughty:).

I'm watchin you :)

Cool project.

Thanks Guys.

@ Pennywise19: Nice job!

Been working on this steadily over the last few days to get it done for Christmas.

A lot of parts to clean ip LOL

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_9.jpg


Who paints their engines orange?!?! ROFL

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_8.jpg


tried it in place and it seems to fit

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_11.jpg


I wired the engine roughly in the end as I think I shall probably be gluing the hood down permanently

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_27.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_28.jpg


Interior was painted with base color. I later realised that the the seats should be black doh! they are being repainted

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_18.jpg


Quick and rough detailing of the molded-in dials

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_26.jpg


Front grille cut out to make way for an MCG p/e part

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_19.jpg


Resin parts prepped for chroming

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_21.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_20.jpg


The transkit wheels came out well but they are a completely different size and fixing technology form the kit rims. Should be fun to fix that :banghead: LOL

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_22.jpg


I found an antique jar of Zero base coat from the "plastic bottle" days in my stash. It had evaporated quite a lot but reconstituted well with some added thinners.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_29.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_30.jpg


Right now I am fighting with my Zero 2K clear coat again :( I have sanded it and recoated it three times already grrr...

Unusual subject for you, Steven, but in the end it should look quite cool actually. Good luck with that clear.

(...) Right now I am fighting with my Zero 2K clear coat again :( I have sanded it and recoated it three times already grrr...

How come? The last clear coat I saw (Lotus) was perferct!
I have spare 0.5 l of Dupont Duxone if you eager to try. It is not trouble free 2K but it is cost free :)

It is not trouble free 2K but it is cost free :)
Now that's a very strong argument :D

I'm not sure if it is the clear or me TBH. Whatever the reason, I'm pissed :D:D

You're more than welcome but you have to bring your own containers as I run out of them.

The chassis frame has been glued permanently to the floor pan.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_31.jpg



Turns out I painted the seats the wrong color :lol:
I watched an episode of the TV series and, althought the trim is tan, the seats are actually black so they have been re-painted.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_32.jpg



The door panels were detailed with the resin cranks, a p/e ashtray facing and some (non-prototypically correct) chrome trim. The panel lines were picked out with an oil paint wash.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_33.jpg



The dashboard was also trimmed with BMF and a p/e control panel. The steering wheel was painted and cleared. I will probably be add some more detail here as it will be quite visible through the open windows.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_34.jpg



The kit centre console. was designed for a two separate front seat configuration and not the bench style seat in the transkit. I missed this during earlier test fitting so I had to chop it up and repaint it.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_35.jpg



Clear coat is down.

Finally the score on the clear coat is Hiro2K 4: Gunze 1 - that makes it a win for Gunze :)
After several rounds of fighting with my 2K (I was getting a lot of little dust-like “lumps”, I called it quits and hit it with my favourite clear straight from the can. I rubbed out some dust from the Gunze coat, polished and waxed it and I am very happy with the result. The hood still needs a little tidying up but it's almost there now.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_38.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_39.jpg



I added some wires and hoses to the engine bay although I am 95% sure that the hood will be glued permanently in place. This part of the build is now officially done.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_40.jpg



I added the extra detailing to the dash - a chopped up Impala script from the MCG set and a push knob to the glove compartment.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_41.jpg



But my favourite is the key and chain that's in the set. For the time being, I am keeping it safe out of the way because it is so small, it's bound to get lost ;)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_42.jpg



The cabin has been dry fitted together prior to fitting the clear parts and begining to tackle the wheels and stance.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_43.jpg



First test fitting showed that the front windscreen is not fitting the resin body perfectly. This is due, I think, to the greater thickness of the resin body and is compounded by the INCREDIBLY thick kit clear part (I guess it scales out to about 2inches thick!)

I think it should be enough to shorten the quarter windows so they tuck in behind the frames.


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_44.jpg



I’ll try the above fix but it may be necessary in the end to make a new windscreen because the kit part is not only thick but it seems to have been pretty badly battered during transit or the manufacturing process.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_45.jpg


Cheers :bigthumb:

Very nice wip of a very interesting car. But.... could it be that the C-pillar a bit inaccurate? It seems the master was made by a camaro roof. The impala C-pillar is a more triangular than the camaro. The horizontal window lines converge at towards the end with the upper line a bit rounded to the bottom, while the camaro lines are more parallel.

The door gap extends in the roof, which should not be the case for a hardtop.

Or.... is it just my bad eyes?

Very nice interior and a great shine on the body!

Fantastic finish you have achieved. Also, I have to say, glueing the hood down and burying that great engine bay would be a crime. The ignition wiring and harnesses are so well done for instance. For working with a deadline, you still make fantastic models.

Thanks Les but I think it probably looks better in the photos than it really is ;)

I'm rushing this and it shows.
For example, I made a mistake last night and epoxied the window in place before I did the BMF! LOL (not to mention that I got a drop of glue on the roof and the window doh!) NOt to worry, I'll take photos from the "right" angle ;) :rofl:

The windscreen came out pretty well in the end. I rubbed out the dirt and light scratches with cleaning wax and followed with a dip in Future which brought it back to nearly new.


I have got the BMF work done on the body. As Dan pointed out, the roof trim is not correct but ..... :licka:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_46.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_47.jpg



Didn't have time for much more unfortunately apart from fixing the exhaust train in place.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_48.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_49.jpg



I did also make a new rear parcel shelf as there were fit issues with the thicker, resin body. It was quicker to make a simple new piece rather than faff around trying to get the kit part to fit.


Next up is to fabricate the new rear window and fix it in place.

Lovely job Steve, particularly like the underside.
Hey, I hope your daughter is old enough to enjoy just looking at this model; my boys would push it round the carpet and reduce it to kit form again inside a minute!

Look forward to the finished model.

Cheers,
Lee

Looks great! May I suggest painting the oil filter a different color? Like white or GM blue.

Chassis looks amazing!

It's so humbling to watch a very good builder do a "quick build." Your work is amazing, and it really shows in how cleanly you can make a car in a hurry. I'm trying to do an in-between level model, not full detail but not shake the box, and your stunning detail painting is making me disappointed in myself! Really fantastic work, and it's fun to watch you build something that you don't usually. Very cool!

Hi Steven,

no idea why, but somehow I missed this ?!?!?!

Well, I see, the car body is another positive aspect from your Frankfurt trip :-)

I must say, I am impressed: nice details on engine and chassis, superclean finish ... your daughter´s christmas days will be the days of the year

Thanks guys.

The recent snow has put a sloght kink in my planning LOL All free time is now spent shovelling snow :p

Hey, I hope your daughter is old enough to enjoy just looking at this model; my boys would push it round the carpet and reduce it to kit form again inside a minute!

:lol2:I'm more concerned about her darn cat (named Impala BTW) knocking it off a shelf or something ;)

May I suggest painting the oil filter a different color? Like white or GM blue.
You are quite right!
I must admit that I half forgot that and half ignored it. The car will be screwed to the base of a display box so I guess I got lazy in that respect ;)


Well, I see, the car body is another positive aspect from your Frankfurt trip :-)
:evillol: seems that way doesn't it? :)
Next year I have to make a bigger pre-order with Mike :biggrin:

Chassis looks very, very good! Why BMF not Alclad? Just curious.

Chassis looks very, very good! Why BMF not Alclad? Just curious.
Just generally because it's easier, quicker, safer and a guaranteed, finger-resistant shine.

Absolutely could be done with Alclad I suppose but that would present problems on waxing.

Been very busy lately (work and shovelling snow ;) ) and haven’t been able to do anything with the Impala. Now I’ve begun worrying if I will actually finish in time LOL



Some work with the MCG p/e set such as the p/e grille. It actually fits very poorly – I was surprised and disappointed

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_51.jpg



Rear bumper glued in place. This was tough! Paint and clear coat has added thickness to make an already poor fitting part now a VERY poor fitting part. I had to use so much manhandling that I have rubbed the Alcald off in a lot of places it had to be masked off and re-painted.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_52.jpg



I glued the p/e keychain onto the dashboard so that Vicky can see it ;)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_53.jpg



Added a more in-scale gear shifter made with a sewing pin

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_54.jpg



Installed header material made with surgical tape and a sharpie marker. It doesn’t look like much but it really does help tidy up the uneven BMF edges when looking through the open window.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_55.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_56.jpg



The movie car has searchlights attached to the A-posts. These were included in the resin transkit but with no clear parts. I made some out of punched discs of clear plastic (collar stiffener from when I unpacked a new shirt)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_57.jpg



However, I wasn’t very pleased with the very flat looking effect…

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_58.jpg



I mixed up some 5-minute epoxy and, with the aid of a toothpick, added a drop onto the clear disc.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_59.jpg



The convex layer of epoxy makes quite a good facsimile of a lens glass.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_60.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_61.jpg



Here you can see the destroyed Alclad finish on the rear bumper. I have masked it off for repainting with Gunze silver, which I hope, should be more resilient.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_62.jpg



The rear light lenses were masked off with a small piece of blue-tac pushed in with a toothpick.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_63.jpg




Rest of body was roughly masked off to avoid over spray.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_64.jpg




Gunze silver is not as good as alclad in this case but actually it looks somewhat better in reality than in this foto.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_65.jpg




Body and chassis have been mated together with epoxy glue.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_66.jpg





This seems to be the natural kit stance. Doesn’t look right to me but I have no experience with US cars so I’ll need to do some google searching before I start attaching the wheels ☺

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_67.jpg


And FYI here are some photos of my daughter’s 1/1 Impala :p

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_55a.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_55b.jpg


Back on track I think ☺

Wow, stunning work Steven.

Excellent idea with the interior header. Also the lens you made are great too, I sure learn alot from your threads.

Good idea with the lens! I like those little things you add to your models like a keychain.

Most Impalas have that "lean" to them... I tend to correct that if Im building a model of one. I love the headliner tip, and will be using that on my Grand National that Im building now :)

Thanks guys.

I really can't take credit for the header idea, though - t's not mine.
I read about it or something similar somewhere on the web. Unfortunatley can't for the life of me remember where so I am unable to give credit where credit is due.

you're doing an amazing job, but I have to move some questions, not sure if all of them are right :smile:

are you sure about the gear lever? it seems to me that this car has the lever on the steering column.. but I'm not sure about that and I've no more my reference pics

the rear bumper doesn't look pretty good.. it doesn't have the "chrome shine".. can you do something about that?

and.. I see that the doors are shaved.. what will you do for the door handles?

but really nice job by the way :cool:

you're doing an amazing job, but I have to move some questions, not sure if all of them are right :smile:

are you sure about the gear lever? it seems to me that this car has the lever on the steering column.. but I'm not sure about that and I've no more my reference pics

the rear bumper doesn't look pretty good.. it doesn't have the "chrome shine".. can you do something about that?

and.. I see that the doors are shaved.. what will you do for the door handles?


Hi

I see you are from Bolzano - cool!
I've been there a few times. I visited Ótzi ;) (I also got jammed in an underground car park there because I forgot I had a ski box on the roof of my Voyager :banghead: :rofl:)

I'm not sure about the gear lever either :) But in the AMT kit version it is a stick shift so I stayed with that

The front bumper doesn't look pretty good either ;)
I destroyed the original alclad finish during installing and had no choice. I also am not happy but it has to stay this way this time :s

The door handles are separate parts and I will install them at the last moment :)

1st class work Steven, good luck to the finish.

Lee

Rubber on (hope that sounds right! :rofl:)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_77.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/impala_78.jpg

im watching supernatural right now lol,awesome job on this i love it !!!!!

Just about finished. Some more waxing to do.

I have decided to leave off the door handles :) Difficult to attach cleanly and, apart from that, they spoil the beautiful lines of this car in black :)

The base is a printout of a "devil's trap" which plays a significant role in the series.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/67%20impala%20finished/IMG_4246.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/67%20impala%20finished/IMG_4240.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/67%20impala%20finished/IMG_4239.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/67%20impala%20finished/IMG_4237.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/WIPs/67%20Impala_Supernatural/67%20impala%20finished/IMG_4236.jpg

(...) Difficult to attach cleanly (...)

Big shaky fingers? :rofl: :grinyes:

Good grief, this is amazing. Beautiful shine and fantastic base.

good model and good figures!! I love the "big gun" :iceslolan

Big shaky fingers? :rofl: :grinyes:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/SMILEYS/Mooning2.gif

Actually, this time, not. Just laziness combined with aesthetics http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/SMILEYS/rofl-1.gif

awesome build klutz, the black is flawless looking :bigthumb:

Hi,

car, figures and base (as far as visible) look great, your daughter will love it

HI Steven

looks great, wonderful paint job and the two figures are amazing


Mike

Lovely finish Steven, model looks great, I hope she likes it.

Cheers, Lee