T&J Jeep Plan #127

It's been a while since I posted here and I am very happy to be back.  Just before Christmas I decided that I would build 2 versions, simultaneously, of the Jeep Plan 127 from our friends and Toys and Joys.  My plan was to build one from natural hardwoods and one would be predominantly poplar and painted.  Well, in all honesty, soon after beginning I realized that I was on a fools errand.  The plan is clear enough but there are some construction considerations to work out so after getting the chassis and engine area internal structure completed on both, I decided to go forward with the painted version and use that experience as a learning module.   So here is the completed first model.  It required about 97 hours of work (painting added time since things had to be made and painted and so on) and there was nearly a 2 week break when we traveled to Maine for the Christmas holiday.  

I learned a lot from this endeavor and feel that the next one will still require attention to detail but most of the construction concerns have been already worked through.   As you can see from the photos, I did add some detail to the dash board by creating image decals for the dials and the GPS screen.  I also added interior door panels for the front and back doors.  The exterior primary color is DecoArt's Ice Blue metallic acrylic .  Also, the plan includes the parts for implementing the roll bar unit and having the roof removable.  I chose to make this without the roll bar and permanently affix the roof unit.  This is a street model Wrangler not an off roader.

I think the most difficult part of this was to get the hood shape correct from front to the beginning of the windscreen.  There is a subtle rounding all the way back that has to be taken into account.  I am still not completely sure I captured it as it should be and so will work on the next model with more emphasis on that feature.

I hope you guys like the outcome and please let me know what I could do differently on the next one.  That one will be natural hardwoods primarily of walnut and butternut, with contrasting species for the seats, etc.  I made all of the parts for this, including the wheels.  Nothing was purchased from the T&J parts list.  

Regards,'
Dave