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Post by stitchdup on Jan 9, 2020 1:52:23 GMT -7
This is the taxi I've been working on at work. Progress is slower on this as the weathers been a little bouncy on the boat. To begin with it was just going to be a low ratty taxi but there are some nice lines in the body so it sorts grew into something a little more involved. I even lowered it a little nicer than the bug at the front by raising the top mounts and spacing the lower ones. To get the back low I drilled out new axle holes but it sat on the pumpkin so it got cut out which brought the stance down where it should be. I cant actually get it any lower now as its sat just a thin bit of card off the floor now. I'm using pegasus crossbar wheels. The chop came after i got it low and wasn't part of the original plan but once it was low i felt it needd it so the roof is now half the height of the body. I'm tempted to give it a section too but i'd have to do that at home as i dont think i'd get away with using the dremel (copy) at work due to the mess it would make, but another option is to extend the rear fenders so they angle downwards. I might do both, who knows as this is just a fill in time at work build. It will be a curbside build as this seems to have been a battery toy originally so there really isn't much to work with and the engine piece wont let me get it low enough if i section it and thats more important, lol. I'm planning to make new window frames and 2 door it as well as some other old kustom stuff.
    
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Post by DeeCee on Jan 9, 2020 2:24:43 GMT -7
Good work mate, and a Fake Taxi decal will top it off nicely..  |
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Post by lowlife on Jan 9, 2020 3:08:15 GMT -7
Good start Les, looking like the CHOPD taxi that been around the shows for years !
So you go to work, and build kits? Hmmm any vacancies going ? icon_giggles
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Post by stitchdup on Jan 9, 2020 6:11:28 GMT -7
Good start Les, looking like the CHOPD taxi that been around the shows for years ! So you go to work, and build kits? Hmmm any vacancies going ?  Funnily enough there is, but its on the other boat and they have to clean |
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Post by hurtz on Jan 9, 2020 14:03:14 GMT -7
looks cool two-thumbs-up-smiley-emoticon
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Post by leon on Jan 9, 2020 14:12:39 GMT -7
This is looking cool Les!
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Post by stitchdup on Jan 9, 2020 14:59:45 GMT -7
This is on hold now for a week while I'm off work. If i can find the parts there will be a pretty big change coming which will be given away if i say the name i have in my head for it. I'll be back on the vw crew cab this week
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Post by RetroSpectKustoms on Jan 9, 2020 19:46:26 GMT -7
Looks killer dropped and chopped! If the rear 1/4s were rounded and extended a little, like a '51 Fleetline, it'd be insane!
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Post by stitchdup on Jan 10, 2020 1:09:17 GMT -7
Looks killer dropped and chopped! If the rear 1/4s were rounded and extended a little, like a '51 Fleetline, it'd be insane! I think we're on the same wave length mate, I was planning to build CABzilla and scrap the chassis thats under it. I found a couple of bagged 57 chevy kit that is part of some slot car leftovers so has everything except the body. Since I have 2 bagged chevys one in 1/24 and one in 1/25 I thought to use the 1/25 doorcards in the back, and the 1/24 in the front and do a wedge section to fit and drag the back down using a leftover 56 ford drag car body, but retaining the taxi shapes, just lower and like the fleetline roof. Something like this but a taxi so pretty much everything I've done now has to be redone but I can see it in my head and pretty sure I have all the bits I need to achieve the shape
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Post by DeeCee on Jan 10, 2020 1:48:46 GMT -7
Awesome idea mate, but take your time now, it will take a lot more than 24 hours i reckon.  |
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Post by stitchdup on Jan 10, 2020 2:00:01 GMT -7
Awesome idea mate, but take your time now, it will take a lot more than 24 hours i reckon. It sure will mate, i think the only bit that will remain from how it is just now is the front window and top of the rear fenders. It wont be a ratty build anymore either. Luckily the 57 chassis looks about the right wheelbase but i'll be chopping most of whats behind the rear axle away. I still want it to look a little like a taxi |
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Post by Deano on Jan 13, 2020 2:17:40 GMT -7
Sounds mighty ambitious but will be awesome when it's done!
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Post by lowlife on Jan 13, 2020 3:16:00 GMT -7
Lol, CABZILLA is just THE perfect name, looking forward to more on this crazy creation !
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Post by sharp on Jan 13, 2020 17:52:00 GMT -7
Luv the body style on this Les!! Its gonna look even better with the chop!!
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Post by mustang1989 on Jan 14, 2020 5:30:30 GMT -7
This is truly gonna be low Les. That thing is practically on the ground!! Progress is lookin' good so far bud.
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Post by mmthrax on Jan 14, 2020 22:58:26 GMT -7
Just got caught up here.
Looking really interesting.
Should be very wild.
Carry on sir....
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Post by poet on Jan 15, 2020 15:13:25 GMT -7
Some serious fab work going on here!
Popcorn%20and%20drink%20emoticon_zpsnbkzs8ys
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Post by stitchdup on Jan 18, 2020 2:37:46 GMT -7
Now I'm back at work for a week its back to this. As I said i had a change of plans so its been rechopped and has a 4mm section taken out of the body. I have also stretched the rear a little so the trunk now lays a bit more forward. I am going to be using a 57 chevy chassis and interior mainly because it very nearly fits now the body has been sectioned. For the engine I am using the cobra engine from the 2013 mustang. The suspension will be motobitz independant front and rear so I have to take my drill tonight as it turns out to be working suspension which I didn't realise. The wheels will be 18" steels with stock hubcaps since they seem to suit the taxi theme better. I'm trying to think of a way to update the interior to be a little more modern but for now I'm drawing a blank. I'm going to finish up the body and get the chassis ready tonight. Paint will very likelly be plain black simply to keep the taxi theme going.  I superglued some strips of plastic to the side to help cut the body as i only had my saw and a knife  The perspective makes it look otherwise but the 57 interior will fit. I want to update it a little but not sure how yet.  nearly there, the roof isn't glued yet as I want to lean back the front screen a little more and possibly make it just a little taller  I am keeping the stock rear lights and conveniently when I laid the trunk down it has meant the extansions to the fenders will be at the same angle as the lights. I am going to cut these panels out of a ford promod 56 body as it is the right shape and i used the chassis under something else. I plan on using stock bumpers again so it still has enough to say its a taxi. I havent cut the hood yet but will have to cut down the grille or possibly lean it a hair forward as I cant really think of a way to customise it without losing the taxi part |
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Post by DeeCee on Jan 18, 2020 15:27:25 GMT -7
This pic looks awesome mate, will be a real beast. |
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Post by Deano on Jan 18, 2020 15:57:13 GMT -7
Supercool, the new shape is awesome.
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Post by sharp on Jan 18, 2020 18:14:09 GMT -7
Looks very cool!!!
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Post by stitchdup on Jan 19, 2020 2:42:12 GMT -7
This pic looks awesome mate, will be a real beast. Its changed again since that one was taken mate.... pics later |
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Post by stitchdup on Jan 19, 2020 3:03:03 GMT -7
I was going to add these pics before i went to work tonight but may as well add them now. I did no work on the chassis last night, instead I modified the interior and did more body work but i only have pics of the interior. I started with the stock chevy door panels and removed everything below the lower trim line but left the front section below the dash so i could use the dash mounts and save a little work later in theory anyway.  Then I used an interior from ed fluck to fill in the gaps. I thought to try the whole ed fluck part but its 1/25 and was just too low as it was but some careful cutting and it fitted the 57 parts  and here it is with the seats from ed fluck. Nothing is glued yet and i have the t nr bed cover from the 59 el camino to fill the parcel shelf area.  I might try trimming the lower dash to use more of the el camino cover on it. I'm starting to think the cobra engine looks too small in the bay now but I have a nice lexus engine from clearly scale I can maybe use if its not too long |
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Post by DeeCee on Jan 19, 2020 4:13:26 GMT -7
That interior mod looks awesome mate.
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Post by lowlife on Jan 19, 2020 8:02:27 GMT -7
Nice work Stitch, I like that interior style a lot ! ( and what is an Ed Fluck ? )
Just my icon_smile_2cents, but why black ? It USED to be a taxi but is now a full custom, I don't think you need to keep a taxi theme to it !
I'd paint it maybe 2 tone, Think of the hirohata Mercury ?
Up to you mate, it will look Kool whatever colour you go for !
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Post by RetroSpectKustoms on Jan 19, 2020 16:39:12 GMT -7
Interior and side profile of the car are top notch insane! Looks great!
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Post by mmthrax on Jan 19, 2020 21:53:44 GMT -7
That is a slammin' custom Les.
Killer stuff.
Carry on sir....
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Post by stitchdup on Jan 20, 2020 1:52:19 GMT -7
So last night I started on the suspension. First I had to modify the front of the 57 chassis as the suspension is narrower than the rail at the front and it needs to be low. I cut the section where the rail seperate off one side at a time and added some strips of scrap sprue as I didn't have the right size of plastic. It seems i neglected to get pics of the rails after, oops.   Tonight I will fit the front suspension cross member to the frame and it should hold it to the width I want. I've also decided not to section the hood so the car has a bit of a bullnose look to it, with just a hint of pre war custom. I'll build down the hood sides to suit the fenders  I also added some more plastic to the rear fenders to give me the shape i want  notice the uncut hood follows the roof line, and the rear arch is also the same shape. I'd love to say this was planned but it was really a lucky accident Then I assembled the rear suspension. I had to make some repairs as i broke parts while trimming them. The arms are less than a mm thick and i broke one rear and one front but its not assembled yet. I repaired the broken arm with some plastic and cussing but I'm quite pleased how it looks for my first use of this suspension   |
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Post by stitchdup on Jan 20, 2020 8:08:30 GMT -7
Also the engine is now a lexus with fuel injection. The ford engine was just to small for the bay
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Post by mmthrax on Jan 20, 2020 21:57:43 GMT -7
Cool progress Les.
That suspension set up looks challenging to work with.
Looks like a pretty good rendering though.
Carry on sir....
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