"Rambler Ranch"

It is great to back! As a come-back build I am choosing something that has been bouncing around the grey matter for a while. An El Camino/Ranchero style build based on Johann's old AMC Rambler. I will be using the two bodies to stretch the wheel base and the El Camino body for the bed and tailgate. Let the plastic fly!?!

That looks like a nice project to keep you busy and maybe frustrated at times.

An interesting project. I look forward to It's progress.

That's going to quite a challenge Chris but from your past build, I know you can do it.

Thanks for the comments and encouragement all. With the paint stripped (there were 4 layers on the El Camino donor) I've made my first of may cuts. I shortened the roof line and created a filler for the C-Pillar.

Hi Chris,

I do like converting cars to pick-ups, so will be watching this one carefully for any tips...

Andy...

Love these phantom builds.

Continuing to carve the plastic



The AMT 65 El Camino bet was too wide ... sliced off the side to shave about 3 mm per side:




To my eye, the shortened roofline's curve for the coupe's rear window had to eliminated. The downward slope was a distraction.



My last update for now is crafting the rear window. I have to get this locked in so I can adjust the wheel base to match the bed.

Nice work Chris. Love the recessed window.

I was thinking it was sacrilege to cut up a Johan kit - but no, it’s looking good,
.....and getting the cab roof line can make or break a good model.
Yup, Looking good so far !

Dadooronron, For sake of clarity, I am chopping up two Johann Rambler kits.  

I bought one off of ebay a long time ago and the roofless one with all the writing for $5 at the Austin, Texas IPMS show last fall.  I actually have about 4 more of these (as glue bombs) in my stash.  I also picked up over the years (as glue bombs) a Hornet funny car, a Hornet promo, and a few Javelins for future builds (I don't think I'll be making them into a trucks).  Love the AMC's.  

I made the cuts for the back half of the truck today.  My first thought was I was going to have to slice and dice the fenders a lot to get the wheel wells to line up.  However, then I flipped the bed (tailgate to the front) and noticed that its almost dead-on.  With that said, I'll be cutting the tailgate off and flipping to the other side.  

Johan kits were quite rare here in the UK, and still are, and finding one was always special. I always built them - never bought to add to a stash.
It used to make a change from all the Fords and Chevy kits to make a Rambler, Cadillac or even the Chrysler Turbine car.
I especially liked the ‘60 Plymouth wagons, ‘60 DeSoto Adventurer and ‘62 Plymouths.
I recall the ‘69 S/C Ramber that you are using for the bash being special for having the opening boot/trunk, complete with cooler box.
Looking forward to the next instalment.

All the pieces are in place. A WHOLE LOT of putty, sand, prime, repeat cycles to come to dial it all in.

Looks like progress plus a whole lot more work ahead.

The body work is ready for the next step ... a shot of Duplicolor silver to reveal all my sins that are hidden by primer. Generally pleased with the outcome. Wheel base is a tad long and the bed is not exactly symmetrical side to side.

As I was working on the tailgate area I wanted to dial in a bumper. The coupe's was to long and wide so I found a Cougar item in the parts box that I could adapt.

The body is mostly dialed in. Still have ghost lines on the hood and passenger side C pillar to eliminate (I had to repair that C-pillar after it fell off the paint stand and cracked).

Did not want to go with the "Scrambler's" hood scoop so I molded in this parts box item (Maybe GTO).

It's coming along nice.

That's some nice work Chris. Nice one.

Looking good!