New Project from the Hobbit Hole (Can You Say 57)
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 8:49 pm
OK, I have an addiction to the Xmod Evo (3 cars 3 trucks so far)
When I was playing with the neighbors the kids were playing with the Pontiac and one of the wheels came off. Losing the damned spacer.
Oh well I had bought a 1/25th scale model kit to put on an Evo chassis so this chassis has been volunteered. I heard of others putting these bodies on xmods but I haven't seen it here.
It looked like a good idea but there were many problems I still haven't figured out how to overcome yet.
Let me show you from the start. Since the extension parts were made the same way (only even longer.)
The Original Idea.
Project Hemi Barracuda. I Love Cudas, especially the Fastbacks. My parents had a 67 Barracuda Fastback (273 V8 I think, not a hemi but a nice engine).
I pulled the body out of the box and found that the chassis was about 3/4 of an inch too short.
So out comes the sheet styrene. I cut several piece to length and width and glued them together with Games Workshop plastic glue. This particular glue melts the pieces together.
Highly scientific measurements were taken and used.
I made the cuts and holes and screwed the newly extended chassis together.
Looking good so far. Then I put the body down on the chassis and found I was in a "Houston, we have a problem" moment. It did look good for a second.
Unfortunately to sit the body as low as I wish it to go I had tire rub in the rear and forget about trying to steer. Damn, Back to the drawing board. I need to get the rims to sit further inside the body (or have it sit a little higher), I did shave the inside of a set of rims but it's still not enough yet. I'm determined to have a HEMI CUDA Xmod.
Luckily I picked up some snap-tite models the day before I discovered the problem. One was 24th scale with a short wheelbase and I would have to only extend the chassis a little. The other was 25th scale and I had to add nearly another half inch over the Cuda wheelbase.
OK, I'm nuts. I went with the long body, because it was COOL.
Back to the styrene and made new extenders (that I added some more to stiffen it).
Yes In know the motor is wired backwards in this image.
I decided to use the standard Xmod mounting system and I created the front slot to use the one clip from the Pontiac. I figured it was fitting since the bodies were both GM products. Several strips of bar styrene and it worked. The plastic glue is holding.
The I made the rear mount with bar styrene attached to the rear clip. I glued it using the plastic glue and got it to the ride height I wanted. After it dried I reinforced it with a little more styrene.
If you haven't figured out the body I choose then lets see it clipped to the chassis before painting.
Yes a 1957 Chevy Bel Air 2 door.
Now to paint. I know everyone loves either red or black 57's. But I dared to be different. I like how it looks and I hope you do also. I still have a few thing to do, like making the interior fit and a coat or three of clear to shine it up. The details (except the fuel injection decals) were hand painted. I know there are a few errors but I'll live with it.
Now I still have the little 24th scale body and the Hemi sitting to work on. I think I'll leave the Hemi to last. I have lots of other projects (my Warhammer and Lord of the Rings armies have loads of models to paint) to do before I get to either of them.
Now when are we having an Xmod Competition?
When I was playing with the neighbors the kids were playing with the Pontiac and one of the wheels came off. Losing the damned spacer.
Oh well I had bought a 1/25th scale model kit to put on an Evo chassis so this chassis has been volunteered. I heard of others putting these bodies on xmods but I haven't seen it here.
It looked like a good idea but there were many problems I still haven't figured out how to overcome yet.
Let me show you from the start. Since the extension parts were made the same way (only even longer.)
The Original Idea.
Project Hemi Barracuda. I Love Cudas, especially the Fastbacks. My parents had a 67 Barracuda Fastback (273 V8 I think, not a hemi but a nice engine).
I pulled the body out of the box and found that the chassis was about 3/4 of an inch too short.
So out comes the sheet styrene. I cut several piece to length and width and glued them together with Games Workshop plastic glue. This particular glue melts the pieces together.
Highly scientific measurements were taken and used.
I made the cuts and holes and screwed the newly extended chassis together.
Looking good so far. Then I put the body down on the chassis and found I was in a "Houston, we have a problem" moment. It did look good for a second.
Unfortunately to sit the body as low as I wish it to go I had tire rub in the rear and forget about trying to steer. Damn, Back to the drawing board. I need to get the rims to sit further inside the body (or have it sit a little higher), I did shave the inside of a set of rims but it's still not enough yet. I'm determined to have a HEMI CUDA Xmod.
Luckily I picked up some snap-tite models the day before I discovered the problem. One was 24th scale with a short wheelbase and I would have to only extend the chassis a little. The other was 25th scale and I had to add nearly another half inch over the Cuda wheelbase.
OK, I'm nuts. I went with the long body, because it was COOL.
Back to the styrene and made new extenders (that I added some more to stiffen it).
Yes In know the motor is wired backwards in this image.
I decided to use the standard Xmod mounting system and I created the front slot to use the one clip from the Pontiac. I figured it was fitting since the bodies were both GM products. Several strips of bar styrene and it worked. The plastic glue is holding.
The I made the rear mount with bar styrene attached to the rear clip. I glued it using the plastic glue and got it to the ride height I wanted. After it dried I reinforced it with a little more styrene.
If you haven't figured out the body I choose then lets see it clipped to the chassis before painting.
Yes a 1957 Chevy Bel Air 2 door.
Now to paint. I know everyone loves either red or black 57's. But I dared to be different. I like how it looks and I hope you do also. I still have a few thing to do, like making the interior fit and a coat or three of clear to shine it up. The details (except the fuel injection decals) were hand painted. I know there are a few errors but I'll live with it.
Now I still have the little 24th scale body and the Hemi sitting to work on. I think I'll leave the Hemi to last. I have lots of other projects (my Warhammer and Lord of the Rings armies have loads of models to paint) to do before I get to either of them.
Now when are we having an Xmod Competition?
That's dope on a rope my friend.
. Allthough I do know one of the prizes 
low-ri-der... 