SPA Modeler

Ok here I've got the differential / rear suspension and front suspension painted and test fitted. Wouldn't you know that this stupid kit came without rear shocks????



So I turned to my spare kit (part # 85-4213) for the parts. The shocks were way too long:





So I cut them to proper fit length, drilled them out and pinned 'em:









and here's the fit results I was after:(I painted them black after this photo-sorry for no pics-will post them later)



and every thing after it was dry with the wheel/ tire assys mounted up.



and now we are on a rolling chassis!!

That's a great bit of work on those shocks - i think my hands would shake to much to drill and pin that out.

I like your Mug BTW

Thanks portman! I just couldn't leave it the way it was.

Thanks for this most interesting and picture-heavy WIP!

Preciate it Thomas! I've actually had a great time with this build and have learned a lot this time round on the automotive side of the house. I'll keep catching my posts on this build up with you fine folks here to where I'm at now with it.
We turn our attention to the instrument panel /dash assy and interior next. The instrument panel isn't half bad for the 14 year old kid who built it the first time considering the tools and skills the guy had!

The instrument panel originally:



and the original interior....before the refreshening/ reconditioning phase here:

We're just gonna drill on through the existing gauges there:



and end up here:



We're shootin' for this:

A clashing of the style to add this way too modern radio to this dashboard...

Sorry bout that Thomas. I will not be upgrading to a newer radio! lol

As far as the gauges go I robbed a set of decals out of Revell's new and improved (actually this thing sucks!) # 85-4213 Challenger kit to use in the classic gauge cluster.



So I've gotta have something to adhere the decals to you know. So I cut the back out of a plastic container that I had laying around.



Then I painted the back side black and placed the decals onto the plastic surface in the exact location as the gauge holes in the instrument panel.



and then epoxied the whole gauge pack on to the back of the instrument panel and brought out the raised detail with a silver lead pencil (a little blurry but you get the picture)



then took the original steering wheel and started drilling the spokes out with three holes per spoke the way it's supposed to be:





First a pic without the wheel:



and then a couple with the column (with turn signal lever) and the wheel installed:







More on the way later and thanks for looking!