1/24 or 1/25 Metal Charger (WIP)

[MoparManJim]

Hi you all, well it's been a few days. I figure this is the best place to post this in. As some of you may know, I am a model car builder.. I also build other model stuff as well. Well last fall me and the mrs's got talking about the few projects I have going on as she likes watching me build them and she wants to learn to do build models as well an so does our 16 year old (he lives with grand parents as hes a grand parents boy  ) . Well about ten years when I was single I had an idea when I was building a charger model of a General Lee. What if I could build a 1/25 scale metal in the same fashion as they did of the real cars? thin metal, and here was my idea, also a working engine.. yes you heard me right a real 1/25 model car working engine. Yes I know it sounds absolute crazy to think like that. So after ten years of keeping that thought in the back of my mind. I bought it to the front burner. So with the few projects I have going on (4 if that) I decided it was time to build this model to see if I can do it and to see what I can do in small scale. Also at the same time improve a company model kit as well with better detail. So I'm modifying a whole kit to build this metal model. I want this metal charger to be a scale of the real 1968-70 chargers and be life like in all the fields as much as possible. 

Right now I am in pain a little yet.. welder flash issue took place afew weeks back to my face to me during the work time on afew projects I was working on.. I am now just getting my right eye sight back. My wife told me not to try and tackle the welding at night out side without a welding glass... I thought only afew spots to weld.. what could happen if I blink my eyes during the process.. :? :wink: .. I'm just now trying to get back into the swing of things here after that night.

Anyways, let me see if I can type this right with how my eye is right now..

I have been for the last ten years always wanting to build a model charger with way more detail then what Revell kits has in them. A model that has weight to it as well. All lights working on it like what the real 1969 chargers does. Pedals and lights work. Well last fall I started to build a jig kinda with steel for the frame rails. It was only for a frame rail. Well after my wifes dog decided to set on the prototype one an brake it. I took and chopped a rail out of the revell '69 charger kit chassis. I then took and modified ot to look alot more like a real chassic rail instead of the revell version which is basically flat and straight out the back.

Not only do I want this project to have metal frame rails.. I also want the floor to be made out of metal as well as in a scale stamp version of the real '69 charger floor. I also am working at making the firewall correct as well in 1/24 scale. I also plan to make a new grill as well with the fin area open and you can see the rad, plus also line the bumper up into the correct spot then what revell has it :? .

My wife helped me take some photos of the stuff I got work done to on the parts on this build. When will I have them posted up? I'm not sure right now. They are still on the camera yet. 

[A383Wing]

take a 1/18th die-cast metal car and work with that...you will have an easier time working with that scale

[MoparManJim]

take a 1/18th die-cast metal car and work with that...you will have an easier time working with that scale

That is my next scale after this scale if I pull it off.. Thanks for the suggestion also 

[ws23rt]

I like this stuff ---You can get the same satisfaction with much less money and have one of one when you are done.

I was about to start a 1/2 scale Hemi engine project at one time but work and life got in the way.  I may start that idea up again now that life has eased up a bit.

1/25 scale working engine?  I don't think that has been done yet.  But it sure could be

[MoparManJim]

Okay, as you all know, just like with the real chargers, when you get one, you look it over and start repairing things. Well with this kit, I found a few issues that was incorrect. First off I didn't like how the front grill area and grill frame top plate details being incorrect.. so I started there. 

 
 
 

Adding detail
 

[MoparManJim]

I added a new cross member over the old old one after I sanded the lip down flat on the old one.
 
 
 

 

I know, I know, you say metal but this stuff looks like the kit parts. Well you right, you see I am modifying the pieces to be correct then I will turn them into metal pieces. 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

Here was a piece that was incorrect for on this model 
 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 

Grill in place as well
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 

You notice where the bolts are located at? On the chargers in real life these bolts are out towards the edge of the grill. 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 

I removed the bumper
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 


You see that gap now? 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[A383Wing]

small running Hemi....bigger than 1/24th....just make yer car bigger for this to fit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieHOw1qF98o

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

Filling the gaps
 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 

Up next, is the fun stuff.. stay tune...

[JB400]

Looks good for what you're doing.

[MoparManJim]

Looks good for what you're doing.

Thanks man!   

I still need to reply to another person on here yet, I haven't for got.   

I still have more photos to post yet

[MoparManJim]

Okay, the more fun part, to do what I want for on this build, it required me making some steel stamp dies if that is what you call them 
 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 


Made a rear shock cross member, unlike what the kit had molded in 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 

Another brace 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

More details 
 


 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

Correcting the rear part of the chassis 
 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 

I had to redo this area
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

Look at how far off revell is with the trunk floor   
 

 


Now working with yet another area as it ties into the rear part. The blue line is where the interior pose to be
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 

Putting new rear floor pans in
 

[MoparManJim]

 

Primer time
 

 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 

 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 
 

[MoparManJim]

 
 
 

I hope you all enjoyed the photos, comments are always welcome. 

[ws23rt]

small running Hemi....bigger than 1/24th....just make yer car bigger for this to fit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieHOw1qF98o

Thanks for that link.  The small working models get my attention.  That is the first time I have see a Hemi that small.

A thought ---MoparManJim--- engines are basically air pumps.---A working engine in 1/24 could work with compressed air 
I do like the idea and it would be great fun to make it work through a transmission in a 1/24th scale car.

The working model engines I have seen are just that.

[MoparManJim]

small running Hemi....bigger than 1/24th....just make yer car bigger for this to fit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieHOw1qF98o

Thanks for that link.  The small working models get my attention.  That is the first time I have see a Hemi that small.

A thought ---MoparManJim--- engines are basically air pumps.---A working engine in 1/24 could work with compressed air 
I do like the idea and it would be great fun to make it work through a transmission in a 1/24th scale car.

The working model engines I have seen are just that.

Hi you all, I like you alls suggestions. But I'm sticking with the scale of a 1/25 or 1/24 scale engine. With the bigger engines being done in bigger shows they can be built in those scales to work. BUT I want to take it a step more and do it in a much smaller scale though. I'm not going to use compress air either. I am planing to use fuel or rubbing alcole to power it. I am also working on a small tranny as well to power the project plus a working rear end. 

[MoparManJim]

Hi you all, well we been having some storms here in PA, so I'm doing what I  can on a few projects that I have going.

I got the rear seat floor pan area done just a bout (just have to add the wheel well). I also got the original factory kit shock cross member area taken care of as well and got the new trunk pan piece for that area almost done. Working on the wheel wells now.

Anyways I'm going to leave the photos do the talking. Please over look my camera, I think it's starting to go out on me.









 

[MoparManJim]

Here I was drawing the stuff out

[MoparManJim]

[MoparManJim]

Now I sanded down and made a indentation and then glued in a 3mm x 4mm block.. and then filed it down to make the lip like what the real 2nd gen charger trunk pan has

[MoparManJim]

[MoparManJim]

 

[MoparManJim]

The wheel wells I'll be using





 

[MoparManJim]

[MoparManJim]

A quick mock up









I hope you all enjoyed this update. Comments towards the project is always welcome. 

[MoparManJim]

Hi you all, still working on at things.  I took alittle time off from the back end area and started to do some work on the console. I am going to be well trying to use real wood on this project for the wood grain stuff. I built my own mini table saw to make the wooden pieces for this project plus another one. The trunk pan still needs to be fab up yet with using a different thickness of stryne. I also had to glue the chassis into the shell for the time being.

Here is some photos.





I had a issue here as the gap was two different sizes





 

[MoparManJim]

Trunk pan in the making





 

[MoparManJim]

The modifyed console with the kit console



 

[MoparManJim]

The kit consol



 

 

[MoparManJim]

Comments are always welcome towards the project.