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'64 Pontiac Tempest wagon build thread


Kruzn

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OK, I've shared a number of older builds in the car, truck, drag race and diecast sections, so It's time to share one that is currently on the bench. It has been a long time since I've built a full model and this one is stretching my skills.

I am attempting to replicate our 1:1 custom '64 Tempest wagon. It is a major kit-bash as I have robbed pieces/parts from six kits already!

Here is the 1:1 inspiration:

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Since no one made a Tempest wagon model (except for the '65 resin kit I should have bought before they went out of production, would have been a LOT easier to just swap front doghouse!), I've begun creating my own by grafting an AMT '65 Chevelle wagon roof onto a Polar Lights '64 GTO.

This is the roof grafted at the front. Pretty good fit considering it's two different brands.

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Roof fitted to the rear quarters. More filling and smoothing needed.

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GTO hood scoops smoothed

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After much filing, fitting, gluing, putty, primer, etc., a quick mock-up on the GTO chassis. This was also my first attempt at scribing door lines to convert from 2-door to 4-door configuration. Not an easy job, especially the rear door dog leg.

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Still a LOT of work to do!

 

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I've done this conversion with an original '64 LeMans and a '65 Chevy wagon. Please note that the rear quarter tops slope down on the GTO. On the wagon they don't. I added a pie section to the middle of the rear quarter panel to raise the rear top portion up. Looking forward to following this one!

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22 minutes ago, Repstock said:

I've done this conversion with an original '64 LeMans and a '65 Chevy wagon. Please note that the rear quarter tops slope down on the GTO. On the wagon they don't. I added a pie section to the middle of the rear quarter panel to raise the rear top portion up. Looking forward to following this one!

Yeah, I noticed that. But I think it might be too late to fix it now.

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I like your 1:1 Tempest Wagon. I went the other way on the Revell '66 Chevelle wagon and changed it to a two door. As you pointed out the door lines are hard to get correct. The '65 Chevelle wagon should provide a good base for the seat patterns, but they are different.  

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15 minutes ago, espo said:

I like your 1:1 Tempest Wagon. I went the other way on the Revell '66 Chevelle wagon and changed it to a two door. As you pointed out the door lines are hard to get correct. The '65 Chevelle wagon should provide a good base for the seat patterns, but they are different.  

Actually, our interior is full custom and uses PT Cruiser bucket seats front and rear with consoles. I will try to replicate that as best I can. I pirated seats from two PT Cruiser kits and will scratchbuild the consoles, just like I did on the 1:1! 

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I'm using the interior tub from the Revell '66 Chevelle kit since it has better features than the '65. This is just a quick mock-up:

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  • 2 weeks later...

A little progress. Filling and smoothing the body imperfections and the graft joints has taken more time than I thought. I did get a reasonably convincing AC compressor fitted to the engine and the chassis is coming along. Rear anti-roll bar was made from a paper clip. Working on fitting the interior tub from the Revell '66 Chevelle wagon and adapting the GTO dash.

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Edited by Kruzn
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On 1/30/2019 at 1:11 PM, Kruzn said:

Yeah, I noticed that. But I think it might be too late to fix it now.

rather than pie-cutting the rear quarters, you could add/mold in some plastic to the top of the quarters to resolve the straight top line of the wagon rear quarters.

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  • 1 month later...

Well....after a detour to finish up the rescued '57 Chevy chopped top custom, I'm making a little progress on the Tempest.

The PT Cruiser seats have been modified and the front console roughed out. Still need to build the rear seat console and the rear speaker box.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Thanks guys...

One more thing I should try to duplicate is the left side bolster/storage compartment that is in our 1:1. I built that using 1/8" bendable plywood over a wood frame. Not sure how to do it in scale. The styrene sheet I have it too thick I think. Any ideas?

 

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30 minutes ago, dino246gt said:

Looking great man, and I also just LOVE these model mash ups, or kit bashes, or whatever you call them, I just love them, cool!

 

Thanks. Kit-bash is the term I've always used. I have robbed parts from 7 different kits to build this. :o I probably would not have gone quite that far if I wasn't trying to replicate the 1:1 as closely as possible! :)

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