Jump to content
Model Cars Magazine Forum

Johnny Lightning 69 Chevelle improved FINISHED


randyc

Recommended Posts

Got this one a few weeks ago, knowing the issues, but it was reasonably cheap.   And I wanted to see what I could do with it.  The yellow is great.  White interior and mags.  Something I would have loved to own for real.   Here's where I am now - I have a few more hours on it.   But wanted you guys to see what can be done with the taillights, since they are awful out of the box.   I like the mags in chrome, but my uncles had some torquethrusts when I was a kid that had the gray spokes, so this is in homage to them.  

Interior will be completed with black carpet, console, dash and steering wheel.   Photos I found show only the door panels and seats were white on a white/other color interior.  I did see a white/green interior and toyed with that.  that would be very 70s, eh?  Just tick the right boxes.  Foil will not stick well to the textured door panels, btw.  

My big disappointment is in my painting the headliner.  Got too close to edges and too much black on windows.   IMG_20181027_155536849.thumb.jpg.c3ac98089cff43479fc77b666a3b8897.jpg

 

 

IMG_20181018_174104045.jpg

IMG_20181018_174110100.jpg

IMG_20181018_180121059.jpg

IMG_20181027_155413714.jpg

IMG_20181027_155419806.jpg

IMG_20181027_155511214.jpg

Edited by randyc
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm probably going to pop for a First Gear as well.  Something seems off on the wheel openings.  I'm afraid to look at images of the real car for fear it will ruin this one for me before I finish it.   But I could probably give it to my diecast buddy.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For the interior, the dash and steering wheel were the only things black.  Can't say about the console as mine was a column shift automatic with a trans brake designed for racing.  I can add the carpeting came in several colors.  The one in mine was red.  There's a few sights out there that contain a wealth of information on theses cars.  You may just type 69 Chevelle into a search engine and see what you can find.

 

BY the way the car looks pretty good.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks.  I did Google around and the photos I looked at had a black console I think.  I was surprised.  The console is pretty incorrect in the JL, from the photos I found.   The armrest is kinda right - the rest is way off, unless there was another one available.   

I still want the FG version as well.  But lowering the front of the FG 68 ElCamino wasn't as easy as I had hoped.   Thought I'd use it for practice.  I left the rear alone.  Decided it really wasn't something I wanted to do.  

Thought about maybe a set of wheels and tires on the 69 like back in the day might help it appear better?   My uncle had big & little wheels on Keystone Klassics back then.   He moved them to every car he owned. Air shocks, the whole deal.  He didn't go extreme like some guys did though.  

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 11/2/2018 at 1:35 PM, Geno said:

Does anybody make Keystone Klassic wheels for models? I'd love to get some of those. You done a nice job on that model Randy. It definitely looks better.

Someone did them quite a few years ago with rubber tires.  There were set with 4 same size tires or big & littles.   There were Mickey Thompsons, Firestones and Goodyears.  The good years were only one with correctly shaped sidewalls.   The MTs were basically straight sidewalls.   THey had the japanese style backs for poly caps.  But they are/were excellent Keystones and Cragar SS wheels.  And I can't remember for the life of me who made them.  Someone here may rremember though.   AHA!  FOund them but they were NOT priced like this back in the day..

http://www.spotlighthobbies.com/mrc1or1sckek1.html

Ebay shows them for about half that maybe.   They detail up nicely.  Best I've ever seen of the KK. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here it is finished.   Well, I forgot to put the wipers back on and I still have the washer bottle to put under the hood.   I still want the First Gear version as well.   I should dot in the backup lights too.  Removing the engine is a bit of a trick - the screw holding the block in is under the carb and that was the toughest glue joint to get to.   I think I did something wrong, but it worked out.  Maybe the heads come off first?  IDK. 

I got too close to the windows on the headliner paint and it shows.  the chrome trim at bottom of vinyl top is competely wrong and a few other issues.  But it represents a Day 2 69 Chevelle okay.   And the taillight issue with these can be worked out okay.  Way better than as bought.   There are no guages in the openings.  I just painted them gloss black.  My models are usually built with a thought of how I'd want it if it were real and this one fits the bill nearly perfectly.   

IMG_20181105_184545363_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg

IMG_20181105_184552039.jpg

IMG_20181105_184621160_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg

IMG_20181105_184440451.jpg

IMG_20181105_184454820.jpg

IMG_20181105_184506915.jpg

IMG_20181105_184514186.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...