Jo-Han Trans Am Javelin - slot conversion

[vtecfour]

Converting my long forgotten and stored Jo-Han Trans Am Javelin model kit.

Found it with only white and blue applied, so sprayed on the remaining red with Tamiya TS-8 Italian Red.



Gathered and cut the usual chassis pieces and soldered a bit.

.055" piano wire - mail rails and front axle supports
.062" x 1/2" brass strip - guide tongue
5/32" brass tube - guide post bored out to 9/64" to accept Sloting Plus Universal guide
.062" x 3/4" brass strip - guide tongue support plate, motor pod cross members
.032" x 3/4" brass strip - side pans
.032" piano wire - side pans flexi hinges




S can motor pod's a 3DRon resin printed one with bushing openings filed to accept Sloting Plus 3mm ones.

Awaiting BRM Trans Am rims so this build goes on hold until their arrival.

Dan

[Brad_T]

I'm a big Mark Donohue fan, I can't wait to see the progress and the finished product.

[vtecfour]

Might as well be productive while waiting for my BRM Trans Am rims, so got lots of modeling work done on the body and interior tray with more to go.



Moving forward but slowly.

Dan

[Fitzy]

Nice! I'm sure you guys all know I am a little partial to AMC !

[Vintage 1/24]

Really hard to find a '70 Javelin in scale - really too bad the Jo-Han stuff isn't available these days. Jo-Han had so many great subjects.

This looks great - I like an unusual subject for a build. It will be an almost one-of-a-kind slot car when you are done.

I also used to own one of the 1970 two-seat AMXs with that same/similar one-year only ram-air hood; 390 of course.

Will be watching the build.

Thanks!

[vtecfour]

Just averted a disaster, mostly, while applying the 50 year old decals.

The sheet looked fine except for a roundel with a crease. Began sliding the "Sunoco Javelin" script off the wetted sheet and it started breaking into multiple pieces! Managed to somewhat get the pieces into place but they're off register. A discriminating eye will notice, but it's OK for me.



Same thing happened on the other side but at least I was more prepared. In the future some Microsol decal saver should be brushed on even if the sheet looks OK.

Misted on multiple light coats of Tamiya semi-gloss clear so the decals don't crinkle as suggested by chrisguyw. It's worked on my other builds even though the cap label has a warning not to.

Moving forward.

Dan

[chrisguyw]

Good job Dan ...............just keep the pictures small, and no one will notice .............and I would agree with the decal saver, or a light coat of future before working with any vintage decals. If using future, it is best to cut the from the sheet.

Cheers
Chris Walker

[Vintage 1/24]

I can make you up a new set of the SUNOCO Javelin decals if you would like . . .

I think the 1970 Donohue Trans Am race car had the lettering reversed from what you show, that is, I think it would be white with some red outline – very much like the decals on the recent 1971 Donohue coke-bottle fendered Javelin Scalextric offering.

Let me know –

[vtecfour]

@ Vintage 1/24 - Thanks much for the offer but I can live with the original decal. Interesting that you've indicated red as the outline color. Didn't notice on any of the online images that is so. Did Jo-Han get it wrong and transpose the colors way back when?

Thanks.

Dan

[Vintage 1/24]

If you search up "1970 Javelin Trans Am" images you will see what I mean. Race cars change a lot; even from race to race.

Sometimes they would put a 1970 nose on an existing 1969 race car – sometimes they crunch a fender – so all that stuff happens, and it becomes hard to lock down definitive decal images and placement.

But generally all of the Javelin Tarns Am cars used the white lettering (like that current '71 Scalextric car).

But being faithful to the history of the original Jo-Han issue is cool in its own way - It has its own scale model history right there - original decals!

Just wanted to offer – I enjoy your builds and posts.

[vtecfour]

Backwards in my usual build process with the cosmetics being done before the chassis completion. Still waiting on those BRM Trans Am rims.

Did more paint detailing and installing of parts. Test fitted the interior tray.











Might have to remove the interior tray's floor area to get the chassis side pans flush with the body sills.

Dan

[dge467]

Looking great!

[mattb]

Great workmanship.

[vtecfour]

Pretty sure the interior tray's going to foul all over the eventual chassis, so cut the floor out and removed a bunch of the rear wheel tub detail. At least the instrument dash/steering wheel and roll bar were saved. Also allows me to install a driver figure more easily later on.



Dan

[Vintage 1/24]

That side-winder set up really gives you a lot of interior room - great for a model conversion - allowing for the full dash and extra cage detail; nicer than the classic 'flat card" approach.