Dedicated to Klutz

[DasWiesel]

Sorry Steven, i couldn´t help choosing this topic. And never mind our Daytona -seat-thing! We both put -smilies behind our post, so no need for your apologies at all!
Originally i didn´t want to show another started project before finishing even one of my old. But what should i do, if I am provoked by one the masters here at AF!? Well, here the pictures i promised you, Steven!

I had a second 612 kit and was wondering what to do with it. Only a different colour and some new wheels was not interesting enough for my taste. Making a 612 Kappa was an alternative, but still not what i was searching for. I think many members in here would like to build a kit of the new Porsche Panamericana, Mercedes CLS, Aston Martin Rapide or even Maserati Quattroporte. Sporty sedans became quite popular and even the very rare Ferrari 456 GT Sedan which was exclusively made for the Sultan of Brunei should be well known for the most car-fans.
So what about converting a 612 into a 4-door version!?
I searched for some blueprints of Maserati´s Quattroporte and scanned the Revell instructions to compare the dimensions of both cars.



After some Photoshop-work, i thought about what has to be changed. Wheelsbase is nearly the same, windscreen has to move forwards, roof has to be longer, rear window smaller and c-pillars more steeply.


Before and after in one picture to see differences.


I began with cutting the roof and a-pillars to move it 7mm forward. Holes in the doors were filled with Tamiya-Epoxy.





C-pillars were cut right next to the rear window. I also made a cut at the lower end of them from the inside to facilitate bending. Some plastic sheet inside the cut should help to get a symmetrical distance at both sides. The developing gaps were filled up with old sprues and glue.









Rear window was shortened around 3-4mm and roof has to be adapted. I glued the middle roof part on very thin styrene and gaps were again filled with old sprues.



Hhhm, or should i make a 612 Targa instead?





I wanted to use putty as late as possible In order to get a very firm roof structure and to avoid tears. So i took some plastic from the kit itself again and solved it in glue to make my very own kind of putty. This mix takes a few days for hardening, but at last i achieved what i aimed at.





Only little work at the sides to correct the windows.



Roof got some putty at last and all changed areas a light sanding to check the shape. I removed the door handles for copying and will put in all 4 at the needed places later.





While searching for some reference pictures, i found the following one and i thought this would fit my sedan very well. So i started reproducing this pattern by gluing small stripes on some sheet. But no need for long explanations here, i think.
I very well know what bones in your Fingers are for, since the day i cut out the middle part of the seats: They prevent you from cutting off your finger completely, if you slip with your knife. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices for your hobby.









I streched the interior for about 7mm right behind the front seats and put on some Tamiya Primer for a first impression.









That´s all for now. Sorry for my long post and thanks for looking!

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Now this is what I call great modeling!!

Great idea. Who do you think you are, the Sultan of Brunei?

Of course Veyron calls him the Sultan of Brown Eye

[Gamerxz]

This looks really great! Very original indeed

[M-Tuning]

Nice, i'm doing the opposite to a VW Golf :P

[Veyron]

Nice project!

One thing, if it's not just me, I think the roof is a bit too flat. I know you aren't finished yet...but if you haven't planned too...I would put a bit more roundness to it. Otherwise carry on, soldier.

[gionc]

Originally Posted by Veyron

Nice project!

One thing, if it's not just me, I think the roof is a bit too flat. I know you aren't finished yet...but if you haven't planned too...I would put a bit more roundness to it. Otherwise carry on, soldier.

That is just what I feel. I would like also a while glass roof, cool on a 4 seater

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Originally Posted by Veyron

Nice project!

One thing, if it's not just me, I think the roof is a bit too flat. I know you aren't finished yet...but if you haven't planned too...I would put a bit more roundness to it. Otherwise carry on, soldier.

Perhaps, but it's not bad-I think most of the effect can be softened if/when the corners of the side glass at the C pillar are rounded off; if they are radiused smooth like the Maser's the roof will look better.


Painting the roof center gloss black is also an option in case a glass roof isn't feasible.

[speedphreak]

Wow, very interesting! Can't wait for more progress.

[CeeElle]

wow... you've got some amazing scratchbuilding skills.

[bigfrit]

Good god! this is superamazing and mega-awesome!

You're an inspiration, and a great talent!

I hope you will show more of the progress, as I m really interested in learning more about scratchbuilding. Teach me!

Oli

[klutz_100]

Julian, I am absolutely bedazzled by the work you are doing here.

It's just the kind of stuff that inspires me the most and to which I stumblingly aspire. A creative, bold and original idea executed beautifully

As for the seats, thanks for sharing your idea because you have now provided me the solution I could not solve

Thank you for the dedication

[bhop73]

Nice scratchbuilding.

[DasWiesel]

Wow, thanks a lot for all your kind replies! The next progress pics could need some time, as i have to move to another city in Feb. I´m afraid, there will be many very different things for me to do than modeling.

Originally Posted by Veyron

if it's not just me, I think the roof is a bit too flat.

No, it´s not just you. To be exact, i cut the roof again in the meantime, because i was not satisfied either.

Glass roof would be really great, but to difficult to realize for me.

Window corners are not finished yet, but i´m going to let them look more like the ones at the Maserati.

Originally Posted by klutz_100

It's just the kind of stuff that inspires me the most and to which I stumblingly aspire.

Thanks, that´s just what i think about Ping&Pong!

[sportracer02]

WOW -- Klutz you are KING, you are the first I noticed to whom a thread is dedicated


Julian, fantasic job so far . I could see the interior in Frankfurt in October - amazing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, as I can see her futher progress on the body -- that´s what I call modelling (and inspiring me and others).

PLEASE finish it ...

(Where do you live now?)

[Enzoenvy1]

Sultan of DasWiesel! Looking great!