My current build. Not Nascar but very close

[Volzfan59]

Impressive! This model is going to be great when it's finished. Your detailing is so well done.

[MarkJ]

Thanks, Steve. Things should start coming to an end whenever I finally get this axle and its parts completely finished. Then it will be a lot of painting and assembling parts to the chassis to finally finish the build.

[MarkJ]

Made some truck arms and springs. I have the axle located in the right spot. Just need to add the springs and make and add shocks and cut the truck arms to the right length and then make and add a track bar. Also need to make and add the mounting points at the front of the truck arms.

[MarkJ]

Got the rear springs finished. Adding the U-bolts that hold the axel to the truck arms. I need to figure out exactly where to put the springs on the truck arms, there is not much room under there.

[Michael F]

You´re the master of scratchworking, Mark
The rear end looks great so far !!

[MarkJ]

Thanks, Michael. Its slow going right now because I'm fighting plumbing problems on the house.

[MarkJ]

Got the springs mounted on the truck arms. They will be more compressed when the axel is installed in place, but the pedestal will still be partly showing. I guess the pedestal is actually the jack screw for adjusting the springs for too lose or too tight conditions. I will drill some holes in the floor for the jack screws to go in. locating these holes correctly might be a challenge. They have to be correct fore and aft and also left to right. If not the spring will sit crooked.

[MarkJ]

Made an elongated box to mount the spring jack bolts to. Not exactly like the real car but the same idea. Really tight fit for the springs but I think it will work.

[MarkJ]

Finally got the springs figured out. Just need to add 2 shocks and a track bar.

[Volzfan59]

Mark, it's really coming together! Your work is nothing short of amazing to me.

[Rattlecan Dan]

Beautiful work. I have to admire your talent and dedication to accuracy and realism.

[MarkJ]

Thanks, guys, for the really kind words. I really appreciate them.

[MarkJ]

Got the bushings put on the truck arms. Working on drilling the holes so I can put the rods through the bushings to locate the axel to the frame so I can remove the tire saddles.

[MarkJ]

Started working on the shocks. I was able to get the truck arms attached to the frame, so I made 6 shocks. 4 for the rear axle and 2 for the front suspension. I was able to find a good ref picture for the Monroe shocks that were used on the real car. I used a rate pair to get the size right on them.

[MarkJ]

Added the two rear shocks. Just need to add a track bar and the rear suspension will be done. Then I can start priming all the pieces I made including the chassis itself and then paint the parts individually and start assembling the chassis and get it completely finished. I will be able to pose the model for photos with the body on or off. I still have to paint the body again from messing it up with all the handling I had to do with it in mockup work. That's okay because I wasn't really that happy with the completed paint on the body before.