CHARGER UK

Wow !!!! Such fantastic attention to detail. 

Congratulations Mark...

The most famous car in the history of the world! 

Looks like a good kit. Look forward to seeing the finished article.

Congratulations Mark...

Ok folks,  here’s how the build is coming along, the photos are low quality due to max file sizes but you get the general idea! (No pun intended)

Hey y’all,
Well, it was officially a year ago yesterday at the time of writing that I started this project.
Unfortunately, cold weather, family commitments, an international pandemic and two bereavements got in the way of things.
Well, I’ve made some progress! I’ve painted the dash, centre console and steering wheel (ended up using the wrong Tamiya colour ‘Deck Tan’), I’ve also started on the rollbar and done the first coats on the oil pan and firewall.
I also have those long overdue photos for you that will be ready very soon!
10:4
Joe

You certainly had some luck there then. Im in the process of converting a 1:18 scale Charger into a General Lee. I've repainted the interior and made a push bar for it. Im now waiting for the decals to arrive from the USA.

These look excellent. It's just a shame that the postage on diecasts etc costs so much from the USA to the UK.

Here's how the scratchbuilding went, using 1/16" rod for the frame and tubing fitted over the rod for the padded sections around the driver's side:







 

ROLL CAGE
Tip: Do NOT use the roll cage from the MPC "General Lee" for this project.  Wrong style, wrong design, wrong size.  
I also found some drawings online which purport to be the actual design sketches for the original.  They do match what I see in all the photos.

I've never taken as much trouble as this for the accurate steering wheel, but here's what I finally accomplished:

The interior needs special work.  From what I can see in the episode, the interior panels under the rear windows were removed along with the back seat, although I've read that only the seat was removed to install the full roll cage.  
So, I had to remove the rear panel and totally rebuild it as the interior structure that the panel would normally cover.  Was a 2 full day scratchbuilding job, daunting at first but well worth it in the end.  
The carpet will be well worn and stained soon.

Once damaged to taste, the foil is filled from behind with tons of gap-filling superglue and plastic strip reinforcements.
Then to the body itself, the same treatment but MUCH bigger. LOTS of superglue to fill it all from behind.  Then priming and sanding in appropriate areas.











 
 

For those who didn't know, the Charger wreck used in Episode 4 "Repo Men" was the same car that made the jump at the very end of the show's opening credits.  LOVED this car the first time I saw it as a kid, did not know how important it was until decades later.  
Replicating this wreck in 1/25 will be a VERY ambitious project.





 

Finished in record time, considering the extreme nature of the build
Only major regret is the wheel spacing....wide tires were definitely used, but I really am drawing the line at redoing the suspension to tuck them in more.  I've just had enough....
Hazzard collection is now 7 vehicles strong.










 

GreenLight Collectibles have some upcoming 1:18 releases which may interest people here. Firstly, out now, is their 1977 Plymouth Fury in Hazzard livery:

Then in May, there's Uncle Jesse's pickup:


Out now or coming soon, they also have various other TV and movie cars - see here for more details.

I've never bought any GreenLight models before, so if anyone has experience of them, please share it here.

As I said in the previous post, I think the new model of Cooter's Camaro could've been more accurate. I had a quick play with image above and came up with the one below. They already have the correct wheels on other models, and most of the rest would just require changes to the decals.

I thought we should have a single thread to post information about Dukes-related diecast models, new and old. My interest lies in 1:18 scale models, but feel free to discuss other scales.
Sadly, I don't currently have the funds or the space to add to my diecast collection (especially with a less favorable exchange rate than it was a few years back). That doesn't mean that I've stopped looking at new releases, so I thought I'd start this thread with a slightly belated round-up of some Dukes-related 1:18 scale cars that came out in the months before Christmas. The first three are released under the Johnny Lightning name, but I think they all use the old ERTL molds.
The first is a reissue of the Double Zero Mustang from the 'Reunion' movie. I'm lucky enough to have one of the first issue from 2001 that came with a 1:64 version - with the new release you only get the 1:18 car. It's one of the older diecasts, and doesn't have the same level of detail as some of the more recent releases, but it's still a nice model. On the negative side, the flames haven't been updated to be any closer to the on-screen version, the grille still has the Mustang logo and chrome strip instead of just the two lights, and it's still missing the "GT" badges from behind the front wheels. Even more inexplicable is the addition of a small black hood scoop on the new version - the car in the movie never had one, and nor did the original diecast version, so I can't see why they added one now. Finally, the new packaging calls it "Cooter's Ford Mustang" - no idea where they got that from!

After years of waiting, we can now get a reissue of a Hazzard patrol car with a light bar instead of the incorrect "gumball" lights we've been offered in the past (see inset). You may spot that it's still a '74 Monaco, which never appeared in the show (a couple of the Georgia episodes used a very similar '75), but I'm guessing the manufacturers used the same shell as 'The Bluesmobile'. I wish they'd do a '77/'78 Monaco or Fury, but this is the best attempt so far - they've even put the "SHERIFF" decals on the fenders this time (ironically, none of the Georgia patrol cars had these).

Now we have a first issue, and this time it actually is one of Cooter's cars: his Chevy Camaro from 'Luke's Love Story'. From the pictures I've seen, the interior is pretty detailed and the engine looks great. They even custom-made the hood scoop for this model. It's a shame they didn't pay the same amount of attention to other aspects of the car. First the decals: the stripes are wrong (in several ways), the door numbers should be all straight lines, and the "Cooter" text behind the doors doesn't look much like the on-screen version. There should also be a "350" on the hood scoop. As for the other details: Cooter's car was missing its grille, it didn't have hood pins, the headlights were covered over with discs (not just painted), and it had slotted mag wheels. I'm hoping they'll reissue it with these points corrected, because none of them would require much work.

Finally, I'll just remind y'all that the AutoWorld 'Silver Screen' General Lee is still available. It has a higher level of detail than the standard models, and the last release has several updated features, including the removal of the headrests, revising the decals and fitting a longer CB aerial. The three models above seem to retail online for between $50 and $60 each, whereas this one costs more like $90. If I didn't already own one of the ERTL 'Authentics' Generals, I think I'd buy one of these. NB. I've seen pictures of these that look as if the roof flag is missing - as far as I know, the flag is still there, but covered with a plain orange sticker. A post on the HNet Facebook page earlier this week seems to comfirm this.

Still to come, AutoWorld are set to release a 1:18 model of Daisy's '71 Road Runner (Satellite) in the summer. I've seen dates of July and August, so I'll try and let you know nearer the time. There are no pictures available yet, but y'all know what it looks like!

This is absolutely fantastic !!! Well done !!!!

Fantastic work of art !!!! Have you got anymore Photos of it ?

Thanks. My favourite car is the General Lee. I've been a fan of the Dukes since the early 80's. My favourite character is probably Daisy.

Untitled by mommydawn2000, on Flickr
Untitled by mommydawn2000, on Flickr
Untitled by mommydawn2000, on Flickr
Untitled by mommydawn2000, on Flickr

Untitled by mommydawn2000, on Flickr
 
Untitled by mommydawn2000, on Flickr
Untitled by mommydawn2000, on Flickr
Untitled by mommydawn2000, on Flickr
Untitled by mommydawn2000, on Flickr
 

Rhuebottoms getting some new lettering!