'68 Excalbur SS Roadster - Progress

[JBarry]

Here's my "Denyce" it's a 1:12 scale model from Funan. 28 part just for the rear axle, leaf springs and hardware. 11 parts just to build one side of the leaf springs. This model is big! The engine is almost the same size as my 1:24 scale Cobra. I airbrushed the engine. It's the first time I've ever used an airbrush. It came out pretty good, the model has "Corvette" on the chrome valve covers, the sun reflected too much off them to see it.

According to the AF search engine, this is the first Excalbur built on AF. I could be wrong...

Here's some pics:







Hope you this interesting build as much as I enjoy building it.

J. Barry

[86_SR5]

So, what is an excalibur....fill me in here. Looks to be a blast to build!

[ol' dude]

Looks to be agreat project! Keep us posted on the progress!!!!!

[Layla's Keeper]

Excaliburs were gaudy Mercedes SSK replicas built in the 60's and 70's using mostly GM components.



Neat buildup, though. Definitely unique on the boards.

[JBarry]

Originally Posted by 86_SR5

So, what is an excalibur....fill me in here. Looks to be a blast to build!

The Excalibur was created by Brooks Stevens in 1951. He designed the Excalibur for Studibaker but when they went out of business, he took it up on his own.

As a child he had polio and drew a lot. He attended Cornell U and spent many years designing. Some of the noteworthy things he designed were, the Miller logo, bikes for Harley-Davidson, "The Paxton" auto , The Excalbur 'J' car, Lawnboy lawnmowers, Evinrude Lark Runabout, and the Oscar Meyer 'Weinermobile'. He was quite a guy.

Here's some Excalburs.



Above are all '68-69 SS Roadsters with Covette engines

Series 1

The assembly line.

'73 Excalbur "Pheaton" 454 cid engine

'74 Roadster 454 cid This is George Forman's Excalibur.

'84 Excalibur Phaeton. series V, 350 cid, Corvette engine.


'87 Excalibur Roadster with a Chevy 305 cid engine

'89 Excalibur Series V, Chevy 305 cid with a Cadillac drivetrain.

As you can see, the Excalibur was/is quite an exciting and wonderful American made car. You can pic up a mint one now for about $40,000 USD.

J. Barry

[JBarry]

Originally Posted by Layla's Keeper

Excaliburs were gaudy Mercedes SSK replicas built in the 60's and 70's using mostly GM components.

Neat buildup, though. Definitely unique on the boards.

Quick corrections, just the SS was the SSK replica and they (The Excalbur) were built up to 1989.

Thanks LK. Great photo too!

J. Barry

[mike@af]

Did you buy it off E-Bay? I planned on using the motor for that kit when I was building a 1/12 Hot rod.

[JBarry]

Originally Posted by GTmike400

Did you buy it off E-Bay? I planned on using the motor for that kit when I was building a 1/12 Hot rod.

Yes, Mike. That came from a vendor called gundamit. Currently there are 3 of these available withing the next 48 hours.

J. Barry

[JBarry]

Originally Posted by ol' dude

Looks to be agreat project! Keep us posted on the progress!!!!!

Thanks ol'dude. I'll do that. It is a great project. I'm glad that at least a couple people are interested in this build.

J. Barry

[JBarry]

If it was a skyline, there would have been 40 replies by now. I've seen people get 10 replies without even posting photo. "nice, I can't wait to see it finished." Shit...

It's sucks when you try to not build the same kit as everyone else and then everyone ignores you. What also sucks is, I would help anyone here out, anytime I could and 99% of the people won't even reply to my threads. All because I don't build the same kits everyone else.

Punish me AF, I don't give a fuck. I'm still going to build cool kits that you all don't have the balls to attempt. And I'll still say something positive about EVERY build that I look at here. I've never once said anything bad about anyone's build here. Ever. And for this I get ignored.

I'm going to look around for a modeling forum that all builders are treated equally and you're not judged on how many skylines you've built. One that "you're still ok with us", if you build a model by Revell, or GOD FORBID, an American car.

Too many haters here and that sucks.

J. Barry

[Layla's Keeper]

J, in case you haven't been paying attention, there's a literal ton of folks experimenting and playing out of the AF import box recently. Even Andy Jones, probably the most formulaic of import builders, has a pair of custom Merc's going together.

There's no reason to go off on the populace for probably not even knowing what an Excalibur is.

Honestly I'm not proud that I know what an Excalibur is, since I've always hated them as gaudy, tasteless, totally unremarkable automobiles that speak only to gold chain and pinky ring mid-life crisis losers.

However, it's a good build and you should keep at it. You're doing well.

[willimo]

This model looks cool. The rear end looks well detailed and pleasantly complex. But what's with the motor? Is it just me or is it undetailed and... weird looking? Or is it just incomplete? Regardless, this looks like a cool kit. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of it, it seems like a neat kit to build up. I've never even heard of Funan, do they make anything else?

[JBarry]

Originally Posted by willimo

This model looks cool. The rear end looks well detailed and pleasantly complex. But what's with the motor? Is it just me or is it undetailed and... weird looking? Or is it just incomplete? Regardless, this looks like a cool kit. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of it, it seems like a neat kit to build up. I've never even heard of Funan, do they make anything else?

Oh, the motor is just about as naked as a jaybird. Tons of work left to do on it. You're right about the rear end though.

Fuman makes a few kits. The Bugatti Royale 1:16, The Mercer Runabout 1:16, The Bugatti Royale Coupe 1:16, The Thomas Flyabout 1:16, The Rolls Royce Ballon Car 1:16, Ford 'T' Van 1:16, The Duesenburg Boattail SJ 1:16, The Alfa Romeo Gran Sport 1:12. Funan also makes a bunch of motorcycles and WWII stuff like the German Panzerkampfwagen 1:48 and the US 155mm Long Tom Cannon with 6 crews. Fuman also makes some monster kits. They are also know as Bandai/Funan.

Things to consider about these models.

1. Non-English instructions. all Japanese.
2. Every edge needs to be touched with sandpaper or a knife.
3. Every hole has punch marks aound it that need to be puttied.
4. Non-English instructions. all Japanese.

Not the best in the world but fun to build, interesting and they're not Nissans.

J. Barry

[mike@af]

Originally Posted by JBarry

If it was a skyline, there would have been 40 replies by now. I've seen people get 10 replies without even posting photo. "nice, I can't wait to see it finished." Shit...

It's sucks when you try to not build the same kit as everyone else and then everyone ignores you. What also sucks is, I would help anyone here out, anytime I could and 99% of the people won't even reply to my threads. All because I don't build the same kits everyone else.

Punish me AF, I don't give a fuck. I'm still going to build cool kits that you all don't have the balls to attempt. And I'll still say something positive about EVERY build that I look at here. I've never once said anything bad about anyone's build here. Ever. And for this I get ignored.

I'm going to look around for a modeling forum that all builders are treated equally and you're not judged on how many skylines you've built. One that "you're still ok with us", if you build a model by Revell, or GOD FORBID, an American car.

Too many haters here and that sucks.

J. Barry

I know how you feel. If its a skyline, its gets 8 pages of replies. However there have been a lot of hot rods beginning to show up, so just wait.

[-GS-]

damn man i really cant wait to see this done. It seems like a really exciting build. Especially since i love hotrods.

Keep up the good work man