CAM-TRANS
AMT 1986 EL CAMINO / REVELL
FORMULA 1 KIT BASH
BUILT BY IRA DAHM (2/03)
2ND PLACE WINNER IN THE HOBBYTOWN
/ HOBBY OUTLOOK, "THE 2005 HOBBY EXCELLENCE READERS AWARDS", TRUCKS
& MOTORCYCLES CLASS!
MORE COLOR PHOTOS BELOW!
CAM-TRANS was designed to showcase my Honda
4X4X4X4 Drag Bike. It was made from 2 AMT 1986 El Camino kits with suspension,
wheels and tires from Revell's Visteon Reynard Formula 1 kit. To see the
Honda 4X4X4X4 in place on the CAM-TRANS, click on this DRAG
BIKE & HAULER link.
Here's how the CAM-TRANS was built. The hood
was glued in place on the first El Camino body, then the front end was cut
off right behind the front wheel wells. The pick up bed was cut from the
second El Camino body and glued to the rear of the first body. The tailgate
excess from the first body was removed. The rear inner wheel tubs were also
removed, (see first construction photo).
I narrowed the body by removing 1" from
the center of the joined bodies and added bracing in the bed. The rear bumper
was the narrowed about an inch and de-chromed. It was glued in place and
a piece of sheet plastic was cut to fit the top of the bumper. The front
end was narrowed about an inch and glued in place. the wheel wells were
then filled with sheet plastic. The bottom edge of the body was then leveled
out by removing excess body material. More was removed from the front to
create a mild wedge shape. The recessed license plate area was cut out and
backed with sheet plastic. A large rear belly pan and a small front belly
pan were made from sheet plastic and glued in place, (see the second construction
photo, the front suspension was later moved back). The El Camino side pipes
were modified and glued in place. Another third belly pan was cut from sheet
plastic and fit under the interior area, but not glued in place until later.
The bed cover was cut from sheet plastic. Then the body, third belly pan
and bed cover were puttied, sanded and primed.
Suspension brackets were made from 1/4"
plastic "L" strips and glued in place. Next the main bottom suspension
components from the Reynard Formula 1 were separated and attached to the
brackets on the bottom of the CAM-TRANS body. The other suspension components
were then glued in place.
The interior was narrowed about 1" and
1/4" was removed from the bottom. The floor was replaced with sheet
plastic. The seat from the AMT '32 Phantom was narrowed as was the El Camino
dashboard. The windows were also narrowed about an inch and used for molds
for the new windows made from "Squadron Clear Thermaform".
CAM-TRANS was painted with Testor's Silver
and Glosscote. The interior was painted red and silver and flocked in red.
