dodge van , comple makeover

[crazyrichard]

the next one is a dodge van , powerd by a chrysler v8 (according to the kit info)

i really dont have thing for ambulances , great when you need them off-course and the guys do great work .. but build wise i dont feel inspired with that theme ..

so we are going to use it to build a custom van

the body itself is real great quality , its amt but man that cast is decnt !!!

the boxart >

main content , tehre is some more stuff but ..

real weird the kit includes 2 bench seats and nowhere in the manual can you see bench seats , just 2 front seats and nothing in the rear section

some mocking up woth different rims to get some ideas flowing

could do a lip on fender look

or take some old new beatle rims

tirn them around

and insert a corvette hub cap .. could determine the width of the lip myself

in the end these for me looked best , white walls with hub caps , looks real classic

Edited August 29, 2013 by crazyrichard

[slusher]

Very cool project. l plan on getting this kit sometime...

[Olskoolrodder]

I hope you slam it like in the mockup,looks killer that low

[crazyrichard]

thnx and yes this will be bodydropped , not totally on the ground but like with the wooden sicks under it almost touthing the pavement:)
cant find any reference pics of vans like this in this style , ut well dont really need it i think it will grow as i build


drasticly cleaned the body , just compare to the first post all doorhandles and hinges are gone and all the trim is sanded flat .
only left one body line along the sides to break it up a bit .. maybe i can even shorten the body a bit ....



rear before



and after

[RocknRolla]

This is gonna look cool !

[slowlylearning]

Yeeees! Awesome stuff! That sure is a long van aye, great choice of wheels, gotta love the classic whitewalls

Looking forward to more progress!

[Foxer]

A nice start on this. I'll be watching. You definitely got it low.

I have one question for you on this kit. I came close to getting one when building my daughter's van because I heard the rear side windows had indents inside the body so they could be easily cut out. Could you confirm if this is true or not?

I did end up just cutting them out myself, but still wonder if that was necessary?

EDIT! Seeing Tom's post just below this I realize it was in the wrong showroom with my window question. Excuse me and can someone direct me to the GMC Showroom?

Edited April 12, 2013 by Foxer

[Tom Geiger]

Richard a few details about this kit. This is the last issue of an annual that had appeared, and was modified every year since 1971. It went through many changes. The early kit had a drag option with two hemis in it.There was a police version. Later on there were work benches, and a custom van interior. Those seats are from that interior. I found that they are a perfect fit into an old pickup truck. And the diamond pleat is cool for that use. So they are useful!

The big problem with this van is that the grill doesn't represent a real truck. I think they were trying to replicate an ambulance. There are older grills you could substitute in, or you could make a custom one, which was done very often during the van craze. AMT has reissued a number of vans, so we're all hoping the Dodge makes a come back, hopefully with a restored grill!

Here's the last stock grill that appeared in that kit. It represents the high end van. The lower end for the last few years either had a single square headlight, or a single round headlight on each side. This is my shortie pickup and the section I cut out of it. That section is my Dodge van camper today.

Here's the original 1971 issue. The first two years were a window van.

1977- One of the issues with the full custom interior during the custom van era. Those are your benches. You should also find a curtain divider that sat behind the front seats in your kit.

The Gold Rush was the most custom version with custom non-stock grill and flares all the way around.

I have an album that had 17 photos showing all the different versions, but Fotki is holding half of those hostage right now!

Have fun with the van. It is a simple but fun kit with a lot of history!

[crazyrichard]

thnx for the great info ! , and the grille hmm i dont mind looks decent to me and i can make something cooler for it .. maybe the first thing i will do is give it a wash with black so i can see the design better .. cut out the headlights and make real lenses in there (i have a whole bunch in the partsbox)

or even open up the center ..

have been busy diy-ing in my house so have not come around to the van ...

thnx again

[Olskoolrodder]

Body looks much smoother,nicely done! I'm loving this,makes me wanna crack open a van kit myself

[gautreau]

I really like the concept of this build so far. Can't wait to see more.

[crazyrichard]

thnx , well maybe i will do some work tomorrow , didnt do anything ... having poeple over tomorrow so .. maybe i can get something done on sunday ...

[crazyrichard]

opened up the fake headlights and after trying some stuff on the front , decided to scratch the front ...

base closed front , real rought still and a strip under that with a bit of space as base for a front bumper

Edited April 13, 2013 by crazyrichard

[crazyrichard]

some progress recut a rear bumper from the partsbox and smoothened it roughly bondod the side of the front wings roughly with bondo







middle section out so i can build a separate grille with head lights



testing reflectors behind styrene for the headlights

[Olskoolrodder]

+2 on the looking cool!

Man,I'd love to have a BD'd full size van to replace my mini-Merc Villager to haul my muddy mtn bikes around in

[modelguy45]

looks good so far

i love van models i have about 15

[modelguy45]

i like the molded frontend

[slowlylearning]

Thats some really clean scratchbuilding, it looks awesome so far.... Why cant I do stuff like that?!?!?!

Looking forward to more progress!

[crazyrichard]

thnx guys and kc you can ...

trust me i didnt gave it much thought and just glued in some styrene .. sometimes its also a case of lettting the spare parts guide you ..

all just a case of trying stuff ...

[crazyrichard]

started work on the grille , want to make like hidden headlights , maybe scribe some lines zo it looks like there are 2 panels that could turn and reveil headlights

base from lego's hahah



rough base



very rough dryfit





after a first sandjob



then made a strip above the bumper so there is more depth in the grille , i want fairly somple and clean lins all over , nothing outrageous , real clean and sleek



after some sanding and adjusting that sits like that , the grille needs to stay removable , will spray that black and do the horizontal strips in chrome






2e round of bondo

[crazyrichard]

redid all the panellines after so much was sanded of the body they where almost gone , also where hinges where i made the pannellines run through

modyfied the tyres to house the kit's rear centers and went body slammed with this van ...

[David G.]

Very clever idea using the legos as the grille.

David G,

[Dr. Cranky]

I am loving the stance and that front clip. Keep it going. Good work.

[crazyrichard]

thnx guys .. changed the grille so there will be visible hedlights , will post pics later on

[hjracing]

I like your take on the van! I'll keep an eye on this build!