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Topic starter
27/12/2025 10:01 pm
In my quest to re-do Ertl's 1/18 1969 Paul Goldsmith's Charger NASCAR, the trunk definitely needed to be cut open & hinged along with a complete wheel swap and a few other things. I started with the trunk. Once that was cut out, hinged, and aligned I then had to scratch build all the trunk "goodies."
These consisted of a scale 22-gallon fuel tank (yes, I measured the volume of 22 gallons in 1/18 scale ), some roll bars, hoses, wires, weld seems, back panels, and the removable of the rear body supports - they were "in the way." 😏 😏
I'm FAR from done.... but here's my progress.
Please remember that once together, w/an opening trunk and see-thru rear window, not much of trunk interior will actually be seen - hence the "look" of haphazard factory paint. Also, I did try to replicate the rubberized coating found on vintage STOCK-CAR fuel cells.
😎 😀
This topic was modified 4 months ago by Christopher Moroni
28/12/2025 2:56 am
that is incredible Chris, can't believe the pins, 'join plate' and hoses attached to the fuel tank. Brilliant work!
28/12/2025 6:36 am
Oh, this is fun! Thanks for letting us watch as you progress Chris! (Can't wait to hear the engine start!)
Topic starter
28/12/2025 9:21 am
'join plate'
Oh, is that what it's called? LoL 😀 😀 I have NO idea what I'm doing - I'm just creating, in 1/18 scale, what I see on the 1:1's. I like the look of vintage stock cars but admittedly know little else about them. 🙄 😯
Topic starter
28/12/2025 9:24 am
@perrone1 Thanks! I'll be happy when I swap out these stupid wheels for some that will look 100% better. 😀 😉 I don't know what the hell Ertl was thinking! 😮 😬 😬
10/01/2026 12:21 am
Excellent work.
Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA
Topic starter
10/01/2026 7:40 am
@ed-davis Thanks Ed, but still a L O N G way to go. As noted, I'm learning as I fabricate - as with most "cheapy models" scale fidelity is often absent along with many parts (details ). Therefore, I'm trying to improve the overall accuracy.
Basically, Ertl added a rollbar to a stock 1969 Charger interior..... 😬 😔 😳
You'll notice the driver seat is now better replicated and moved forward, the steering wheel & dash are now in scale and wrapped, the shifter is now in scale, there's a mirror, rollbar padding, addition line sets, clips, hoses, etc... Also, you can see I revised the inner door skins but still need to re-work the side exhaust dumps.
Lastly, you'll notice the driver's netting is now gone; in 1969, it wasn't used, that came later. - Pardon the dust..... it's a work in progress. Again, thanks for the compliment. 😀 😎
This post was modified 3 months ago by Christopher Moroni
10/01/2026 9:10 am
VERY much improved! Keep the pics of the progress coming as you go - when you can. I find this all fascinating Chris!
Jack Dodds and Christopher Moroni reacted
22/01/2026 11:02 am
WOW!!! that's some fine scratchbuilding and detailing. Well, once you got the trunk to operate, I guess it was all downhill from there. LOL
Christopher Moroni reacted
Topic starter
22/01/2026 2:51 pm
@rich-sufficool Yes sir, you know me well. The trunk was the key.... now I've moved on to just a bit of engine enhancing. I'm in no real hurry because my 3-D printed wheels will take a few more weeks to complete. Then, I can FINALLY finish up this thang! 🙄 🙄
Topic starter
30/01/2026 10:49 pm
The work continues..... I thought I'd enhance the engine area just a bit to reduce that toy-like look.
The basics were there but so were a few mistakes and lots of potential to add some realism. I simply replicated - with fabricated components and items from the parts box - the details seen in vintage photographs.
These first few pics show what I started with:
....and now:
Marty Johnson reacted
31/01/2026 3:06 am
@chris thats remarkable Chris, brilliant work. I responded to a kind response from Mike to my rod pics and mentioned how I wish I had the skills and knowledge to wire an engine. Your last 5 pics show why! So much realism is added. I can only imagine the skill and dexterity required to complete the wiring tasks.
Christopher Moroni reacted
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