'65 Buick Riviera from movie "Road House"

[Lunajammer]

As a matter of record I'm compiling this WIP thread of the build I did for this years Cannonball Run CBP to spare viewers from pooling through 22-pages of mixed projects. The theme is movie cars, but prepared as coast to coast trophy dashers. 

Early in the film, Dalton (Patrick Swazye) buys the car off a lot, then loads up on spare wheels, which we later learn is because they are prone to getting slashed by  roughnecks trying to intimidate him.

Only it won't be running a "4BRL."

But the kit V-8 is being replaced by this Corvette LT5 that I picked up from a vendor at NNL North a few years ago and has been clunking around looking for a project.

I've got to hand it to Round 2, they've really cleaned up these old kits. Parting lines are minimal and fit is very good. So after an evening of clean up, I started dry fitting. It all fit so well I just kept going until all the major parts were in place.

Chassis was primed with rust colored primer then given a liberal wash of Vallejo black model wash straight from the bottle with a thick brush. I started using the wrong wash product at the back of the chassis, that's why it's pretty dense.

Using reference pics from the net, I used Adobe Illustrator to help make detail decals for the dash. Rather than redraw the console radio, vent and air controls, I just cut and pasted photos of the faces into the space. The gauges are vector drawn. Not accurate but I made them bold so when shrunk down you can still make them out a little. Side trim panels are redrawn and vector.

Edited November 22, 2020 by Lunajammer

[Lunajammer]

Body painted. I'd like to see a tick more brown but despite the lighting here, this Rustoleum color is pretty close. I added the dent in the front fender as seen in the screenshot below.

 

This is the paint I used. Slow to dry, but in a can, this was the closest I could find. The spray can color looks more accurate than the screenshots imply.

 

Here the interior is mostly done. The movie clearly shows a filthy dusty interior, so I grunged it up with pastels. Printing wood paneling on white decal paper is troublesome as the printing always chips at the edges when trimming. The way to go is decal printed on clear over a painted light surface. Clear epoxy was added to the gauge faces. The kit shifter is a chrome blob so I'll add something later.

 

[Lunajammer]

In the movie, a sign ends up through the windshield, but that didn't seem practical for a cross country race. But at this point in the film the rally rims have been replaced and the steel rims are apparent.

 

[Lunajammer]

This was probably the most relaxing model I've built in years.

Fitting the LT5 into it was an easy upgrade that any novice could enjoy. At the back of the tranny, the chassis needs to be ground away from a crossmember to get the transmission to settle down, but it's a scar that isn't visible. Otherwise, the engine fits itself, sits level and doesn't interfere with the hood on the top side. There's a little fuss with the plumbing at the front but it's nothing a couple simple cuts can't fix.

Steel rims were home cast resin and I found suitable tires from my parts box. The selection of beautifully pad printed white wall tires that come with the kit were too nice for this project. Some light wash in select areas and a little pastel dusting on the body, chassis and engine brings it all to life.

 

 

Edited 19 hours ago by Lunajammer

Edited November 22, 2020 by Lunajammer

[slusher]

Really nice Mike. Sure does look like the Buick in the movie..

[Mattilacken]

Good work on that movie car! Came out great

[Captain Spaulding]

Great job on the car, looks so much like the one in the movie.

[doorsovdoon]

wow, that looks amazing. Very nice detail. I haven't seen the movie since I was a kid and can't even remember what it's about. Something for me to watch later:) 

[Pete75]

Nicely done ? A shame such a cool car gets treated so badly in the movie!

[1930fordpickup]

Good choice for a movie car. Well done. 

I sure wish we had a better look at the white one at the beginning of the Movie. The one he tossed the keys to, to the guy sitting on the bench. 

[Spottedlaurel]

That looks really good, the weathering and detailing has worked very well.

[TooOld]

Very cool , it turned out great !

[Lunajammer]

Thanks for the good vibes everybody, much appreciated.

When COVID hit early in the year and there was fear and uncertainty and I was working from home, I lost all interest in modeling. When we settled into the new normal and I returned to the project I was ready to get back at it, so the bench time was a pleasure at both ends and the kit was most forgiving.

[Deuces ll]

Those work????..... ??

[disconovaman]

That's an excellent movie choice  and a perfect example of the Cannonball Twisted Movie Car theme. It's one of my favorites!

I can't help but wonder if somehow Dalton seen the ad "FOR A GREAT BUICK CALL"...  ???!

[Snake45]

Absolutely beautiful model, well researched and expertly executed. VERY well done and model on! 

[Lunajammer]

2 hours ago, disconovaman said:

I can't help but wonder if somehow Dalton seen the ad "FOR A GREAT BUICK CALL"...  ???!

Wow. Good one. I had to research that because I've only seen the flick on basic cable (read that to mean "edited for time and content.")

[disconovaman]

9 minutes ago, Lunajammer said:

read that to mean "edited for time and content.")

Yeah, that was a funny scene... first time I seen the movie was at the Broadmore Plaza Cinema... my buddy's parents owned the theater so we got in to see it despite the fact we were only 13 and 14. I watched  all the 80's movies at that movie theater. Sadly it closed in the early 90's. 

[Plowboy]

Nicely done Mike! The weathering is very well done! Impressed with your decal work also. Great touch!

Does this latest issue have the wire wheels inside? 

[Lunajammer]

4 hours ago, Plowboy said:

Does this latest issue have the wire wheels inside? 

Thanks Roger.

Near as I can tell the kit has the whole shebang; three sets of wheels, at least two sets of printed tires, custom parts, mini TV, phone, etc. I've got a sandwich bag of unused parts.

[magicmustang]

Great job. Built one myself years ago. 

[Nazz]

Looks great Mike! Definitely looks the part. Love the dent, how did you do it?

 

Jerry

[Lunajammer]

Thanks Jerry, appreciate it.

I'm not a big fan of dents in plastic because they are not usually very realistic unless you're really good and experienced. But the movie car dent is a simple one and I knew I could probably replicate it by carefully heating the spot over a flame and sort of sculpting the shape with a blade handle or small tools. The plastic also wants to shrink so overheating is bad. For such an isolated spot I thought I could get away with it.