1997 Dodge Caravan LE

[mrmike]

My new project is Lindberg's Dodge Caravan.  I plan on building this stock without any of the Police bits.  This also includes the return of McNally, Boston PI in "A Mother's Anguish."  All people in this story are not related to anyone living or deceased.

The Build

My kit is of the Lindberg Dodge Caravan kit no. 72184 and it will be painted with MCW Seafoam Turquoise Metallic and built stock.

The Story

     Teresa Hallis had been dating Jack Tirana for almost three weeks.  She was happy at first for almost a week, but that ended rather quickly.  Jack started to “stop by” for extended visits.  He would make demands of Teresa and her kids, John Jr. and Molly.  He wanted to move in with her after two weeks of sporadic dating. 

     Teresa finally stood up to Jack and told him to stop bothering her and her family and never to contact them again.  That lasted less than a week and he was back to bothering her again.  Jack swore that he loved her and he wanted to be with her, but Teresa didn’t want any part of him and she was starting to dislike him very much.  This morning, she drove her kids to school in her 1997 Dodge Caravan and told the Principal that she was having problems with someone and for her children to remain in school and not to release them to anybody except her and she would have to find a solution to her problem.  Teresa then drives into Charlestown to see the one person that she can totally trust to stop the harassment from Jack Tirana…McNally, Boston PI.

McNally will return...

Edited August 26, 2022 by mrmike

[espo]

Interested in seeing how this build turns out. Glad to hear McNally is going help out Theresa.  

[mrmike]

Thanks David!  It's been a minute since McNally has had a case on the Forum.  ?  He will do his best to help Teresa and her kids.

[mrmike]

Sorry!  My bad for posting this WIP in the wrong section.  I should have known better!

The Story

McNally sees Teresa park in front of his house and he opens the door and welcomes her in.  She tells him about Jack Tirana and how he is harassing her.  She wants Jack to go away and leave her and her kids alone and to stop stalking them.  McNally tells Teresa that he will do what he can to get Jack to stop harassing and stalking her and her kids.  He asks her about Jack and where he lives and works. 

Jack Tirana lives in Roxbury and works at Tonnawerks, Inc. in that town and McNally will drive over to Tonnawerks and stake out the building and Jack and sees where he goes during the day.

The Build

Before turning in, I washed the body, chassis and interior bucket of the Caravan last night.  Primer and paint are next.

McNally will return...

[KWT]

Interesting.. I don't think I've ever seen this kit. May have forgotten... Look forward to watching it come together.

And a McNally to boot... heck yeah!

[dwc43]

4 hours ago, KWT said:

Interesting.. I don't think I've ever seen this kit. May have forgotten... Look forward to watching it come together.

And a McNally to boot... heck yeah!

They make in on red too. Stock, not a police vehicle. I got one so I could make my old red 03 van out of it. 

[Tom Geiger]

1 hour ago, dwc43 said:

They make in on red too. Stock, not a police vehicle. I got one so I could make my old red 03 van out of it. 

Be careful with the red ones!  Unless painting red!   That plastic does tend to leach red straight thru primer!

[dwc43]

On 8/6/2022 at 3:51 PM, Tom Geiger said:

Be careful with the red ones!  Unless painting red!   That plastic does tend to leach red straight thru primer!

Thanks, for that info. I'll keep it in mind if I build another one. I already have in in primer and red paint. So, I guess I got lucky on that one. lol 

 

I'd like to do a V8 conversion and RWD kind of street strip and see how that turns out. 

[mrmike]

Sounds like a lot of scratch building.  Good luck!

[mrmike]

The Story

Tonnawerks is a small assembly company that hires many handicapped workers.  Its receiving/shipping department has a few regular workers to help with loading and unloading of trucks and SUVs.  Jack Tirana works in the receiving/shipping department and at lunch time he goes over to a bar called Moony's for some boilermakers.  McNally watches from his car as Jack leaves the shop and goes over to the bar.  McNally follows him and talks to him inside the bar.

"Jack Tirana?"

"Yeah?  Whatta want?"

"You know a Teresa Hallis?  Stay away from her and her children."

"And, who are you to tell me what to do?"

McNally leans forward a little so Jack can see his gun in his shoulder holster and says, "I'm the last guy you want to erk off!  Stay away from them!  Understand?"

"Yeah.  Yeah.  Stay away from them."  

The Build

I painted the Caravan this afternoon and considering that I usually have issues spraying enamel paint, this came out pretty good!

McNally will return...

[slusher]

Looks really nice, Mike!

[mrmike]

Thanks Carl!

[espo]

Nice looking paint and color. Never considered this kit for a build before, but I may have to rethink that looking at this.  

[mrmike]

Thanks David!  There are many kits that builders don't see.  This is one of them!  It is a curbside and many builders don't consider them since they have no engine.  The truth be told...these kits have lots of detail to them.  

[dwc43]

Looks good. What color is that?

[Oldcarfan27]

My favorite soap opera "As the Private Eye turns"

Hey McNally, tell him it's called "a restraining order, and I know how to use it!"

Edited August 23, 2022 by Oldcarfan27

[Oldcarfan27]

11 hours ago, dwc43 said:

Looks good. What color is that?

Go back to the beginning and read again!

On 8/1/2022 at 9:19 AM, mrmike said:

My kit is of the Lindberg Dodge Caravan kit no. 72184 and it will be painted with MCW Seafoam Turquoise Metallic and built stock.

Edited August 23, 2022 by Oldcarfan27

[mrmike]

The Story

Teresa's son John Jr. was scheduled for an after school playdate with one of his friends who live one bus stop before his.  He never made it to the playdate or on the bus.  Teresa calls McNally in a panic and he tells her to call the Police and the school.  As McNally drives around, he jams on the brakes passing an alley with something lying in the dirt.  He races into the alley and that something was John Jr. lying on the ground and badly beaten up.

He carefully picks John Jr. up and places him in the back seat of his Dodge Charger Super Bee and races to the Hospital and then he calls Teresa and tells her he found John Jr.

The Build

I have assembled the interior.  For a snap kit, there are some pieces that require glue.  Not that it is an issue for me!

McNally will return...

[slusher]

Nice interior color, I like the dash also Mike..

[mrmike]

Thanks Carl!  The dash panel decal broke up as I removed it from water and I tried to rearrange it as best as I could.  I suspected trouble with the decal when I first saw it.  

Edited August 23, 2022 by mrmike

[dwc43]

12 hours ago, Oldcarfan27 said:

Go back to the beginning and read again!

Sorry, I missed it I guess. But it's looking good. Thanks.

[mrmike]

Thanks DW!  I usually announce any changes in paint or color.  

[mrmike]

The Story

McNally stops at Jack's apartment, but he wasn't there.  A search of the local bars and taverns finds Jack at a place called Rolly's Bar and Jack staggers out of the bar trying to light a damp cigarette.

McNally is sitting on the fender of his Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee and he says, "Come over here and talk to me, Jack!"

Jack replies, "Leave me alone!"

"Come on Jack, show me the hands that would strike a little kid?"

Jack stops, throws his damp cigarette away and he tries to find another one on him and he doesn't have one.  Jack stuffs his hands deep into his jacket pockets and he staggers along, probably heading for home.

"Come on Jack, show me those hands!"

Jack continues to stagger and stumble home while McNally gets into his Super Bee and drives away.

The Build

I gave the Caravan another coat of paint making sure that the rocker panels got a good covering.

McNally will return...

[slusher]

Sharp color choice!

[mrmike]

Thanks Carl!