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Fiberfab Avenger GT-12 [FINISHED]

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  • Member since
    June 2018
  • From: Ohio (USA)
Posted by DRUMS01 on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 2:38 PM

I have two of these kits myself. Let me know if you need any parts as I'm sure I could part one out if I had too.

Ben

"Everyones the normal until you get to know them" (Unknown)

LAST COMPLETED:

1/35 Churchill Mk IV AVRE with bridge - DONE

NEXT PROJECT:

1/35 CH-54A Tarhe Helicopter

 

  • Member since
    October 2020
Posted by Scale-Master on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 10:10 AM
The tires that had been feasting on both sides of the windshield turned out to be only one at this point.  There must have been four, but there's only one left at this point. 

 

For a step by step tutorial on how to salvage windows with this type on damage check this out:

 

 

 

 

Also in the box there were two AMT tires and two inner walls of the IMC slicks.  (I vaguely recall throwing the AMT tires in when I considered building it back in the 90's.) The correct tires for the kit are represented by the one in the upper right.

 

 

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

  • Member since
    October 2020
Posted by Scale-Master on Monday, January 8, 2024 4:54 PM

What a great story!  Beautiful car too!  Thanks for sharing.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

  • Member since
    June 2018
  • From: Ohio (USA)
Posted by DRUMS01 on Monday, January 8, 2024 1:05 PM

WOW! Does this bring back some memories! I owned a Fiberfab Avenger in the late 70's through the early 80's. I did not build it, instead bought it pre-built. It started life as a simple body on a VW beetle tub but later was transformed to a rectangular box chassis using an early 70's Porsche 911 suspension and engine for power and handling. It was blindingly fast. The previous owner had the upgrade done and indicated the engine was from a naturally asiprated 911 RS or RSR. I never had it on the dyno, was told it was from a rare race version, and would guess it was producing around 310 HP. The builder was smart enough to add a roll bar at the rear firewall and front bulkhead frame along with other chassis stiffiners throughout. The car was also modified with a vent behind the rear window to pull air in for cooling and two black scoops added behind that to feed the carborators. Weighing under 1400 lbs, did I say it was fast? (smile)

Sitting in the car or rather laying in the "coffin" like seats is only for the young and agile. Even then you sort of fell into it and learned to tuck your head to avoid it hitting the top of the door frame. Then you would simultaneously bend and swing your legs into the narrow footwells.To say it was impractle is an understatement. To say it was scary fast and provided smiles and enjoyment is also an understatement. Even though it was a little bias to the rear of the car, it would still handle like its on rails, as long as you knew how to enter the corner. The light weight in the front did on rare occasion want to plow or push on loose stone or sand until weight was added and the suspension adjusted in. For a kit car, the builder did it right as it had disc's on all four corners and there was not one rattle at all. 

In 1979 I drove it from Colorado Springs to central Ohio while on military leave for the holidays (around 1,250 miles). During the trip I tried to average 90-95 mph. I got it done in less than 17 hours only stopping for food and bathroom breaks. Back then I had one of the early "Fuzz Buster" radar detectors, the size of a small brick, attached to the front window  with a big red light on the back to warn me. I sold the car to a collector in Denver once I got married and we were expecting our first child

Definately one of the most memorable cars I've ever owned.

"Everyones the normal until you get to know them" (Unknown)

LAST COMPLETED:

1/35 Churchill Mk IV AVRE with bridge - DONE

NEXT PROJECT:

1/35 CH-54A Tarhe Helicopter

 

  • Member since
    October 2020
Posted by Scale-Master on Monday, January 8, 2024 11:12 AM
The taillight bezels are brass.  They will be body colored.
More dry fitting.  The kit taillights will be used, but since they are not molded an even shade of transparent red they will need to be painted.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

  • Member since
    October 2020
Posted by Scale-Master on Saturday, January 6, 2024 10:53 AM
The kit access door was recontoured (and thinned out) to match the shape of the fabricated rear panel.  A lip was added to the top of the opening so it has a hard stop to close.
It has new hinges, but now I'm still not sure if there is really anything to see in there as the engine is very simplistic.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

  • Member since
    October 2020
Posted by Scale-Master on Friday, January 5, 2024 6:58 PM
I cut out the rear panel to accept the kit access door.  I haven't decided if I will make open, but I started tinkering with hinges.  The fissure in the deck lid has been filled and smoothed.
The basic interior needed to be built up to get an idea of how it was all going to fit and to determine the shape of the lower edge of the rear panel.  To further shore up the warp, since I cut the door out of the back, I added a strip of sheet plastic cemented in place while it was twisted to opposite direction of the warp.  Tabs were added to the interior tub and I used magnets to make sure it always fits into the body the same.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

  • Member since
    October 2020
Posted by Scale-Master on Friday, January 5, 2024 9:39 AM
The rear body panel was missing in my kit so I started fabricating a new from .040 sheet plastic.  I'll keep the look of the original part.  There was a bit of a warp to the body too so this was used to shore up and straighten out that issue after using a hairdryer on the body.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by keavdog on Thursday, January 4, 2024 5:05 PM

Interesting subject.  A car kit of a kit car ;)

this is a fun ad!

 

Thanks,

John

  • Member since
    October 2020
Posted by Scale-Master on Thursday, January 4, 2024 2:51 PM
The front valance does not fit well nor does it have enough material to reach the wheel wells.  I centered the front openings with the headlight buckets on the body and filled the short areas with .040 sheet styrene sanded to match the contours on the body and wheel openings.  The left side needed more material as the openings are not centered to the valance.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

  • Member since
    October 2020
Fiberfab Avenger GT-12 [FINISHED]
Posted by Scale-Master on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 7:43 PM
This is an IMC kit from almost 50 years ago (1976?).  It builds a 1970 and later version of the Avenger, (not the original version that started in 1966).  I bought this when it was a fairly new kit.  My intent is to build it essentially out of the box but with some minor upgrades like new decals.
The body has some serious sink marks especially on the left side and rear deck.  (I marked most of them with a Sharpie prior to the first round of sanding.) Way too deep to just sand out, they will have to be filled too.
There were also two chunks taken out on the right door from the fill points.  They have been filled and rough sanded to shape.  There are some serious ejector marks inside being addressed as well.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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