7/31... did I meet the shipping number ?
Posted by Dr Diecast at 7/31/2008 6:37 AM and is filed under uncategorized 
Actually.... Im not sure. While looking at the calendar I just realized that it is the end of the month and I had a goal. I think..... I hit the original 25 number but I definitely missed the 35 number. Its just hard to push cars out the door in this business and as I will comment on here you can understand why.
First off.... I did get the Red 69 Camaro and White 70 GTO dry assembled as you see by the pictures here. The GTO became a PITA when I had to add A/C. Not only was there none for this car available but I had to make a couple parts from scratch then do the whole trail and error method to see if the hood would then close once fitted. I spend no less then 2 1/2 hours Tuesday afternoon cutting, sanding, gluing and trial fitting the parts needed to make it look correct. This finally done the car looks great IMHO and the customer upon seeing the pictures thought it was a picture of his real car sitting in the driveway. Thats always cool to hear in this business. Though.... he didn't have a ram air car so I have to change out the air cleaner and on a funny note, I told him in the email I sent the pictures in that HIS plates will be on the car when shipped. He left a message about the car and at the end said..... oh yeah... you made the wrong license plates, thats not my plate, LOL. Ugh... people, LOL.
The Camaro was a little easier except the owner (not who im doing the car for) has a 502 in it I believe and the car looks stock including the 396 badging on the fender. So fitting the much nicer GMP after market engine in the car was a little project in its self. Now however I also need to fit a chrome air cleaner and the underhood tolerance is such this I think this is going to be another trial and error method since the top of the carb had to be trimmed a hair to get the hood to close even at this point, guess we will see. I also kept calling this car Bolero Red and its so not.... LOL..... its Garnet Red. I believe Bolero was a 67-68 only color if I remember right but hey... its painted the right color and thats all that matters. I could call it Candy Apple Blue..... as long as it matches, LOL.
So you guys know the vinyl tops are shot in a satin finish though they look shiny. These will be dulled somewhat so its not as shiny. I changed my satin color as its normally not this glossy looking. I guess this is what the dragster customer meant by gloss Black that was not as glossy, LOL.
Among other things I was working on are the 67 Dart that I finally got the rear bumper done on. I also made new taillight lenses and think I have the deck lid trim piece laid out on the computer for printing so that will finish up the back end. I also spent sometime hammering out the fender trim. For those who never followed this basically the 67 Darts have an upper body line stainless steel trim piece that ran from the front of the front fender to the rear of the car. Well I had done the one side to see if it would work and was doing the other yesterday. This requires my hammering flat a standard paper clip..... yep paper clip...... then getting it as straight as possible to glue to the body and making any bends where they need to be made. I will try to find a picture of this so you can see how it looks finished.... at least on one side, LOL. I was also working on the grill and headlight area but that still needs some work. I have to use a picture of a 67 dart grill for duplication and getting a nice clean eye level view picture of one has been a tough job.
I also worked on the 59 Impala some as I had to do some filler work where the rear window meets the deck lid. I say deck lid as it really does come close to meeting there. Its not like most cars where you have a filler panel between the rear window and the deck lid.... the 59 has just the smallest filler between the two areas. This also means I have to cut the deck lid seam in the appropriate place now too.
Along with these couple of projects I also poured more convertible boots for 6,70 Chevelle convertibles im doing for another diecast dealer. So....... what seems like not so much was really a lot of little things again.
OK..... Im out !
First off.... I did get the Red 69 Camaro and White 70 GTO dry assembled as you see by the pictures here. The GTO became a PITA when I had to add A/C. Not only was there none for this car available but I had to make a couple parts from scratch then do the whole trail and error method to see if the hood would then close once fitted. I spend no less then 2 1/2 hours Tuesday afternoon cutting, sanding, gluing and trial fitting the parts needed to make it look correct. This finally done the car looks great IMHO and the customer upon seeing the pictures thought it was a picture of his real car sitting in the driveway. Thats always cool to hear in this business. Though.... he didn't have a ram air car so I have to change out the air cleaner and on a funny note, I told him in the email I sent the pictures in that HIS plates will be on the car when shipped. He left a message about the car and at the end said..... oh yeah... you made the wrong license plates, thats not my plate, LOL. Ugh... people, LOL.
The Camaro was a little easier except the owner (not who im doing the car for) has a 502 in it I believe and the car looks stock including the 396 badging on the fender. So fitting the much nicer GMP after market engine in the car was a little project in its self. Now however I also need to fit a chrome air cleaner and the underhood tolerance is such this I think this is going to be another trial and error method since the top of the carb had to be trimmed a hair to get the hood to close even at this point, guess we will see. I also kept calling this car Bolero Red and its so not.... LOL..... its Garnet Red. I believe Bolero was a 67-68 only color if I remember right but hey... its painted the right color and thats all that matters. I could call it Candy Apple Blue..... as long as it matches, LOL.
So you guys know the vinyl tops are shot in a satin finish though they look shiny. These will be dulled somewhat so its not as shiny. I changed my satin color as its normally not this glossy looking. I guess this is what the dragster customer meant by gloss Black that was not as glossy, LOL.
Among other things I was working on are the 67 Dart that I finally got the rear bumper done on. I also made new taillight lenses and think I have the deck lid trim piece laid out on the computer for printing so that will finish up the back end. I also spent sometime hammering out the fender trim. For those who never followed this basically the 67 Darts have an upper body line stainless steel trim piece that ran from the front of the front fender to the rear of the car. Well I had done the one side to see if it would work and was doing the other yesterday. This requires my hammering flat a standard paper clip..... yep paper clip...... then getting it as straight as possible to glue to the body and making any bends where they need to be made. I will try to find a picture of this so you can see how it looks finished.... at least on one side, LOL. I was also working on the grill and headlight area but that still needs some work. I have to use a picture of a 67 dart grill for duplication and getting a nice clean eye level view picture of one has been a tough job.
I also worked on the 59 Impala some as I had to do some filler work where the rear window meets the deck lid. I say deck lid as it really does come close to meeting there. Its not like most cars where you have a filler panel between the rear window and the deck lid.... the 59 has just the smallest filler between the two areas. This also means I have to cut the deck lid seam in the appropriate place now too.
Along with these couple of projects I also poured more convertible boots for 6,70 Chevelle convertibles im doing for another diecast dealer. So....... what seems like not so much was really a lot of little things again.
OK..... Im out !
Great looking GTO John! The vinyl top looks great. I SURE LIK THEM VINL TOPS. IT DON'NT LOOK LIKE IT CAME FRUM NO CAN ARE NUTHIN. I SUR WISH GMP AND HIWAY 61 CUD DO VINL TOPS LIKE THEM.
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