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Post by mykturk on Apr 30, 2010 18:22:59 GMT -6
Seeing a few nifty Monkee Mobile conversions here lately made me want one of my own... This is my favorite 60's TV Showrod for sure, so I don't want to change much. Soooo...  This will be another mild "Kit-twist", just featuring a nudge here and there, a motor and wheel swap, and a new color. But in the end, still clearly a "Monkee" by birth. A Twenty-first Century Monkee you could say, maybe.   I cut the hood free and moved it back about 3/16" or so... One of those things that you'd never notice really, but I want the motor farther back, and visible. A gluebomb Sandshark provided the Poncho power, for now...   You can see the slice I took off the back of the hood here and get and idea of 'why'...  I also lobbed a mighty good sized chunk off the rear roof pillars ( you can see the pieces in the first photo) and about a 1/4" off the windshield posts.  I started getting rid of the old tuck'n'roll around the top of the interior too.  It'll be hunkered way way LOW to the pavement, but that'll require rear wheel tubs, there just isn't any room inside the rear wheel wells now. More to come! |
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Post by Rodger on Apr 30, 2010 19:04:38 GMT -6
Looking good so far. I like that roof a lot better than the original.
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Post by DVS on Apr 30, 2010 19:48:27 GMT -6
Great start.  |
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Post by flounder on May 1, 2010 9:30:25 GMT -6
Now you're talkin', Mike. Better than the Last Train to Clarksville!
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Post by noodles on May 1, 2010 10:56:34 GMT -6
Oh, i'm lovin' this, looks wicked in the profile shot. Cooooooool!
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Post by RatRod on May 1, 2010 21:47:47 GMT -6
"I'm a believer"...... ;D
Great start Mike!!! Dean Jeffries will be p'd, but who cares!!!
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Post by gfgcollects on May 2, 2010 15:57:40 GMT -6
I always thought this was one of the nicer TV show cars from the sixties, Another kit everyone should try at least once. ;D And making some changes is what it's all about, looking forward to your finished results.
Gerry G
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Post by modelcitizen on May 2, 2010 21:23:20 GMT -6
Yep, lookin' pretty "Gangsta" ;D ;D ;D! Nice fresh take on this one  ! I'm likein' it ;D ;D ;D! "Paulie" |
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Post by Bert on May 3, 2010 8:32:45 GMT -6
I really like it so far. The changes will stand out when it's finished. Keep us posted.
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Post by Vintagercr on May 3, 2010 17:49:39 GMT -6
That is going to look really cool.
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Post by Steve-o on May 3, 2010 21:37:12 GMT -6
Lookin good man great idea !!
Steve-o
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Post by JerryG on May 5, 2010 8:28:20 GMT -6
Man I like where your heading with this. Yes everyone should build one of these...my favorite TV showcar! Great start!
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Post by keith on May 5, 2010 13:49:07 GMT -6
I've always loved this car from the first time I saw it on the show!And you are doing a great job on your build!I want to put a detailed chassis under mine but the interior won't let it fit up inside the car :PDoes any one know how the original cars chassis was made to fit?Curious minds want to know ;)Keep up the good work - love to see more.Thanks Keith
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Post by mykturk on May 5, 2010 21:25:43 GMT -6
Got it sitting on some rolling stock. These are wheels from a Testors Smoothster with rubber from an Alumacoupe. I'm not sure these are the finials by any means, but they'll do for now *...   Wasn't easy getting them in there I'll tell you.  I've always loved this car from the first time I saw it on the show!And you are doing a great job on your build!I want to put a detailed chassis under mine but the interior won't let it fit up inside the car :PDoes any one know how the original cars chassis was made to fit?Curious minds want to know ;)Keep up the good work - love to see more.Thanks Keith You're welcome, here's more.  That's the front 2/3s of a Revell Pro Street 67 Malibu I had sitting around taking up space, and since it's 1/25 and the MM is 1/25 and since a Chevelle and a GTO are based on the same GM platform, it seemed like a good idea. Clearly it was compaired with the horrable kit platform. But since the remaining 1/3 of that chassis is elsewhere, I'll have to fab up the rest still...  Here's where I discovered how quick they were concerned with getting this almost toy-like thing to market, oh so so long ago. Take another good look at the above photo. Never mind what I've done to it, look close at how the interior tub fits... Keep in mind, that part of the kit is unaltered...  It's a lot clearer in this shot just how far off center it is.  With the kit base, you'd never really see this crazy flaw. I didn't start to catch it untill I started fitting the rear axel myself. I couldn't figure out why my equil sized wheel tubs seemed like two different sizes from below when installed. It was while I was taking these pictures I finialy spotted why! The whole interior tub is like an 1/8 inch off center in the body!!! Going back and looking at the body, it's visable there too, but, I ain't fixin' it now. So, in answer to the detailed chassis question, something like what I have here, only without any wheel tubbing beyong the factory wheel cans would be pretty correct. The Revell chassis fits great so it'd be the prime choice, I think. There were two Monkee Mobiles with two different frames, or at least rear suspensions, one with a fixed axel (as in the kit) and the other with the stock 4 link coil spring set up. Still to come... I am planning on using the old license plate spot for the exhaust exits, and the space where the parachute was for the tag. So I'll have a phantom gas tank hidden behind the taillights. The space behine the rear end will just be flat stock, a 'frame', and a pair of tail pipes with square tips... I also still have to modify the front part of the frame to accept the Pontiac engine. Color remains a question mark. Anything but red or orange. Teal with a tan roor/interior maybe... Till next time! * I'm looking for a set of these, in big-n-little for this project, if you have a set you want to trade off, let me know!  |
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Post by keith on May 5, 2010 22:25:27 GMT -6
 Here's the original concept drawing Pontiac provided to Dean.It doesn't look as though Dean did too much different - but what he did do was just so cool!! ;DKeith |
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Post by barten on May 6, 2010 5:09:09 GMT -6
WOW this is going to be a classic! ! ! Great modifications.
GB
barten
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Post by keith on May 6, 2010 15:57:48 GMT -6
Wow - that's coming along nicely and those Pegasus wheels (if you find them)are going to look great!Thanks for the chassis details and info ;DKeith
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Post by mykturk on May 6, 2010 20:51:39 GMT -6
Wheelquest over. Nailed a set off the 'Bay for $11 delivered. Couldn't beat that!
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Post by stevielewis on May 7, 2010 5:56:25 GMT -6
This crazy idea just popped into my head for a color on this build....Black with Green Flames!....kinda like Fred's 1:1 hearse. Like I said...it's a crazy idea but might work. ;D
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Post by Brandon on May 8, 2010 18:42:51 GMT -6
Looking good! Be sure to chop the headrests off the seats with the chopped top. I have a set of wheels from one of these, if they will help:  |
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Post by mykturk on May 12, 2010 12:34:36 GMT -6
I don't like the "headlights" on the Monkee Mobile one bit. Nope, not one bit. A trip to the old parts box should fix this... Ah yes, the '65 Chevelle Wagon 'custom accesories' has just what I need...  Much better, and still plenty Showroddy too. The new wheels arrived the other day so I had to get them in place right away...  Now we're getting someplace! A little dose of primer helps even things out too.    Made the exhaust exits and vented them out the space formerly known as the license plate...  A dozen or so pieces later, we have a full chassis with better detail front and back...  Leaning ether towards metallic teal with a teal interior/top and calling it, "Raging Tempest". or Aztek Gold with a brownish tan interior/top and calling it "The Brass Monkey". Thoughts? Comments? |
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Post by keith on May 12, 2010 15:22:47 GMT -6
Those wheels look fantastic!Good call - I Like the head light fix as well.I think either color would work but I like the Brass Monkee idea myself.By the way - what carb set up did you use - is it from one of the sprint cars?I think Dean Jeffries would approve ;DThanks Keith
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Post by mykturk on May 12, 2010 15:48:21 GMT -6
Those wheels look fantastic!Good call - I Like the head light fix as well.I think either color would work but I like the Brass Monkee idea myself.By the way - what carb set up did you use - is it from one of the sprint cars?I think Dean Jeffries would approve ;DThanks Keith Thanks! I'm using a pair of Autolite "Cross Boss" inline four barrel carbs from the Revell Boss 302 Mustang kit. Two really. They are sitting on the kit intake from the Sandshark engine. |
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Post by modelcitizen on May 12, 2010 20:08:52 GMT -6
mykturk, I had some "spare time" and whipped up a little sumthin' for ya. I hope you don't mind.   Not the exact colors you're lookin' for but "paint" has it's limitations ;D ;D ;D. "Paulie" |
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Post by chiefsspeedshop on May 12, 2010 20:17:40 GMT -6
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Post by mykturk on May 12, 2010 20:51:49 GMT -6
mykturk, I had some "spare time" and whipped up a little sumthin' for ya. I hope you don't mind. Not the exact colors you're lookin' for but "paint" has it's limitations ;D ;D ;D. "Paulie" Pretty dang impressive for just using "Paint"! And pretty close to what I have in mind too. |
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Post by 70spop on May 12, 2010 22:25:11 GMT -6
Oh yeah, you've GOTTA go with Brass Monkee! Looking great, so far.
Brian
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Post by flounder on May 12, 2010 22:32:48 GMT -6
This is a totally cool upgrade. The stance is dead on!
I'll bet you can find a use for the monkey radiator cap in the Dragon Wagon.
Flounder
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Post by DVS on May 12, 2010 22:49:54 GMT -6
This is looking real cool, I like where you're going with it. |
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Post by showrodjohn on May 13, 2010 3:19:16 GMT -6
Great project this is the way it should have been built.
I like the name Brass Monkey what about the Golden Monkey?
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