Dodge Challenger T/A -> R/T "Vanishing Point"

[stormer_GS]

Hi fellow modelers!
After a while I'm back in the modelling with a new project. I put my Porsche 934 RSR project
on the side because of this "quick build". This is Revell's 1/25th Dodge Challenger T/A.
I was planing on making this Challenger a T/A custom with
shiny rims but with every day of progress I liked modern rims less and less.
That's why I decided to make this one in classic style. I love
the "Vanishing Point" Challenger so why not make myself one... Because
I have a T/A version I had (and still have to) make a few changes:
- cut the lights to shorten the distance between them,
- cut out the grill,
- cut a new panel line below the doors,
- cut new panel lines on the front of the body and filled the original lines,
- cut out the rear of the body for the R/T exhausts,
- glued in the rear end of the body which comes separate because of
easier chassy/body assembly
- new, R/T kinda hood, based on the spare hood of the original kit,
- filled the gaps on the edges of fenders,
- I had to make new window trims because I sanded off a piece of original ones,
- scratched new bumper guards
- repaired fenders fit on corners by bending the bumpers above a candle

I am waiting for PE parts to arrive but there is still a lot to do until they will
take their place on the body...

Abandoned idea with custom rims:


Original T/A hood before customization:


I glued in a few pieces of styrene to improve look of the air intake:


As you can see on the picture above kit is equipped with 340 six pack engine
but I need a Magnum 440 engine. I'll have to scratch a new mainfold and
air filter.


Filling of the gaps on the fenders:



I started to dislike custom version because of this picture.


Making of a new window trim out of a two layers of 0,3mm styrene strips:


New panel line:


Bumpers didn't fit properly so i had to put them close to the fire.

Cut out grill:



Glued in rear before transformation to R/T version:


Exhaust cutouts:


Shortening distance between lights:


Engine R/T hood WIP:


Current state:


What I'm trying to achieve at the end:

[Drift F.C]

I enjoyed vanishing point a lot and the challenger looks good allready, keep at it!

[endac]

Looks like great progress so far, keep up the good work

[jabel]

Hello!
Thats the bets moovie in the world!!! Have a good work!

[Bossolani]

Amazing body job!!

Cesar Bossolani

[brady_381need72c10]

hey you know you could have called up revell and asked to have them send you the rt parts cause you thought the ta had them and they didnt and if they asked why didnt you get the rt kit tell them the ta is all they had !
thats what i did!
different kit of course!

[stormer_GS]

Thanks for such positive comments, they're very enspiring!
I was working on the exhaust during past weekend and got carried
away with work on Challenger because of the bad weather (floods) in my country.
I used Italeri's excess plastics from 1/9 street Desmosedici for silencers:


Original exhaust for T/A version:


Modifiied R/T exhaust where I used 2mm aluminium tube for pipes:


You'll notice that there are smaller mufflers on the previous pic. I had to remake
them because they weren't big enough.


While I was working on the exhaust I also did some work on the front and
so the mask got it's almost final image. I just have to modify edge of the rings
to thin them and it'll look just fine. Lights are from Michal.

I cut off back of the lights and drilled through the existing hole to fit in the rings easier.


...mock-up of the lights - amazing stuff, this PE lights with lense.


Thanks for watching and/or following this thread!

[blackf40]

Great choice of subject; I'll be following this. The hood looks like it's coming along nicely.

[stormer_GS]

Here I am with some progress. I keep making every build a "long term" one because I keep changing original set-ups. I ended up opening the body because I thought it'd be a waste of MCG's PE detail set for Challenger if detils weren't visible. I opened only the driver's side to save some time on the build. The grille is not attached to the front mask because it needs some "minor" adjustments to fit in. To save some time I contacted Revell for some parts (air filter and other stuff I'd have to scrtchbuild) like
brady_381need72c10 suggested - thanks for the tip Brady! I hope they will send the things I kindly and humbly asked them to...

MCG Challenger PE detail set:


Work in the engine bay:
- made a place for the wiper motor to rest on,
- cut out the original battery, made a new platform for it and scratchbuilt a new battery


Work on the engine's mainfold (Edelbrock Air Gap RPM) and some electronics, distributor cap and wiper motor:


Reference pic (from http://www.garlandmotorsports.com/1971-challenger.html):


I'll probably use rear tires from the Revell Cobra for Challenger because they're wider than the ones, supplied with this kit. Front has original kit wheels and Cobra tires on the rear...


Olfa cutter, glue and some styrene came in handy at the preparation for movable door:


Reference pic (from: http://www.521restorations.com/index...0Jamb%20Pillar
and http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sho...t=36864&page=2)


That's it for now - I hope I'll finish driver's door very soon because there is still a lot of work ahead of me. Thanks for watching!

[MidMazar]

I like the progress.

[Drift F.C]

Originally Posted by MidMazar

I like the progress.

Agreed!

[brady_381need72c10]

Originally Posted by stormer_GS

Here I am with some progress. I keep making every build a "long term" one because I keep changing original set-ups. I ended up opening the body because I thought it'd be a waste of MCG's PE detail set for Challenger if detils weren't visible. I opened only the driver's side to save some time on the build. The grille is not attached to the front mask because it needs some "minor" adjustments to fit in. To save some time I contacted Revell for some parts (air filter and other stuff I'd have to scrtchbuild) like
brady_381need72c10 suggested - thanks for the tip Brady! I hope they will send the things I kindly and humbly asked them to...

hey glad i could help!
think of what time and cost if you were to scratch all that stuff hey!

[stormer_GS]

Thanks for your comments, guys! Still nothing from Revell, Brady - I'm checking my mailbox daily.
It should take a while for the parts to arrive because they explained (...in the last mail I received) they'll need 2-3 weeks to process.
I don't care how long it'll take them to make me happy because there is a long journey with Challenger ahead of me...

After filling the driver's doors with epoxy putty I did some work on the interior and the trunk compartment.
While I was searching for reference pics I realized there is something wrong with the seats... After two hours of "research"
I realised that Revell used '70 Cuda seats for Challenger kit instead of these. Modifiying over and over again - I'm not complaining because
I like to work with Revell but it's certainly not going to be a "reasonably quick" build.

OK, enough of words and let pics do the talking:


Milled out the original carpets:


Trunk before:


...and after - there are still some details (hinges and a few pieces of styrene to add) to be made and I also have to sand/fill the cover of it.


The real 1970 Challenger trunk:

[ChristopheB]

Excellent work so far. Keep it up.

[Rye 21]

this is a sick build! Love the details from the grill to the exhasut!