Dave Mikrut

Here a few update photo. I still need to do more chassis detailing.

I had a couple of badly warped 65 GTO convertible bodies and I figured what the hell, I'm going to cut them up and do some practice altering the wheelbase. In this photo you can see the white section is a piece from the other body, and even so the bottom edge does need to be restored. The backside is reinforced, with styrene strips and all seams filled with tiny strips of plastic where possible, a minimum of putty and "filler" type sandable primer. The glue on hardtop of the AMT kit is poor fitting and to test my skills i grafted in the hard top roof from the Revell 65 Chevelle. Here's the sanded body and a test fit of the body so far on a chassis I constructed from an altered 65 El Camino chassis and some suspension from my parts boxes. More to follow soon.

I've always loved the old Revell kit box art. Even the instructions in these kits are works of art.

Never thought of the videos! well done, nice models too!

Here's some progress photos. I'm thinking of either a blown or fuel injected (stacks) 409 for the engine. Or maybe even a hemi! hehe!

Beautiful work! Yer doin this kit up proud!

Here's the rear wheel. It's made from a painted inner mag, a chrome outer rim and a center cap from the L'il Coffin. Teamed up with the rare spongy AMT Pie Crust Firestones that were in the old 58 Impala kit and were actually used on slot cars by some. They look very authentic. I'll show an updated body shot soon. Everytime I think I'm ready to paint I find more blemishes to fix!

I'm not sure what happened but the photos I previously linked to in Photobucket are no longer there. Rather than reload all that, I'll just remind you it is a shortened 55 Chevy Handyman wagon,, made from the AMT 55 Nomad and 55 2dr Sedan kits. I showed it previously with an example chassis but here is the one I have been fabricating specifically for it. I'm really becoming a nut when it comes to having just the right parts for a project. I've literally spent 2 weeks gathering together the parts for this chassis and the wheels and tires. Later this evening or tomorrow I should be done with the rear tires. These are the painted 2-piece plastic tires found in the Rat Packer Nova, teamed up with some very old Straight axle is Revell 32 Ford, with home made hair pins. This is a stretched AWB Mustang chassis. Thanks to the ModelKing! I used 2 chassis, cut them offset, you can see the joint where I dowel pinned them together.

This is sooo cool! I would have never thought to attempt this even tho I love to alter model car bodies. You're doing a great job, and thanks to the reference foto supplier on the pillar! I'm going to follow this one!

I'm happy to see you doing this! I have the original kit and have been meaning to build it. Hopefully your restoration will inspire me!

An amazing twist on this car that, turns out I really like! This car looks more belieivable, built this way than any I've ever seen! Beautiful work Tom!

Amen on the tailight treatment...awesome!!!

It's awesomely beautiful what you did come up with in a short time Terry! We build when all is right with our world, and when it's not we set it aside and we rest.

The last photo I posted of 55 my shorty was Photoshopped to show you how I hoped it would come out after body work. It had to fill seams on the sides and a seam on the roof. Also the contours of the roofs from the two diff. cars did not match so I had to build it up and shape it to fit. As with all my models that require filling I use plastic and liquid cement to fill the gaps and then the final finishing only needs minimal putty. I also use scratch filling sandable duplicolor primer. Any votes for a color? I'm thinking gold, yellow, root beer or silver blue.

"So Dave what did you do with the 55 Chevy Nomad wheelwells you removed for the "Shorty" project" yer probably thinkin??? Well little Gregg, I put them on the 55 two door sedan, kinda like "2 Lane Blacktop" doncha think?