Slobodan Mundzic

Week 9

This week I was only able to complete part of the dashboard.

The reason for the slower progress is a personal health issue. The schedule was already quite tight, and unfortunately, this will probably affect the final completion of the model. At this point, I don't think I will be able to finish the entire build within the competition deadline.

I will continue working on it anyway, for as long as I can.

So far, I should already have completed the dashboard and windshield and started working on the exterior details. Unfortunately, the build is now behind schedule.

But there is still one thing I want to show with this project: what I am capable of creating from almost nothing, especially when using unconventional materials.

For me, that is the real purpose of this project.

Materials used this week:

• Cardboard
• Hot glue

Week 8 This week I finally started assembling the interior. Before that, I noticed that the handle on one of the door panels wasn't painted correctly, so I fixed it. I also added another detail from the movie before starting the assembly: the opening behind the seats that leads to the rear section of the RV. I couldn't leave that detail out. Thankfully, the assembly went according to plan. I was a little worried about the seats because, after modifying them, they ended up being a few millimeters wider than my original version. I thought this might cause problems during assembly, but fortunately, everything fit where it was supposed to. There was a little bit of resistance while installing the center console, but nothing serious. Now I can finally move on to the dashboard. For the first time, the model is starting to look like the vehicle from the movie. As the build progresses, I hope it will look more and more like the original. **Materials used this week:** - Hot glue - All-purpose glue - Cardboard - Black spray paint

Week 7 This week, for the first time since starting this project, I didn't have to redesign any templates. After comparing them with the movie and my reference photos, I found that they perfectly matched the vehicle from that period. Once I was satisfied with the accuracy, I could finally begin building. Compared to my previous version of the model, I made a few improvements. This time I used wood for the door pull handle, giving it a more realistic appearance. I also added a transparent plastic reinforcement, although it may be difficult to see in the photos. For the window crank, I found a piece of copper wire that had just the right thickness. Using a pair of small pliers, I bent it into shape before assembling it onto the door panel. After applying the black paint, I once again used a silver marker to highlight the edges, the window crank and the door handle. These small touches help the details stand out much better. I'm now completely satisfied with how the door panels turned out, and I think they are a significant improvement over my previous build. **Materials used this week:** - Cardboard - Plastic - Copper wire - Black spray paint - Silver marker

Week 6 A small update this week – the seats are finally finished. Finding the right color turned out to be more difficult than I expected. At first, the brown paint I chose didn't seem to match the reference photos. However, after watching the movie again, I realized it looked much closer to what appears on screen. Then I remembered something important. The reference photos I have were taken many years after the movie, when the actual vehicle was offered for sale. According to the description, it had undergone a partial restoration, and judging by the interior photos, some parts had been repainted. The vehicle was also nearly 30 years old at that time and had probably spent years being moved from place to place, possibly even stored outdoors. It's very likely that the original seats had faded over time due to sunlight and age. With that in mind, I decided to stay faithful to the movie rather than the later photographs. While watching the film once again, I discovered another small detail: two openings beneath the headrests that I had completely missed before. They may hardly be visible on the finished model, but I decided to include them anyway. Finally, I used a gold marker to highlight the edges of the seats, another subtle detail that I noticed in both the movie and my reference photos. The seats may not be exactly as I originally imagined them, but overall I'm very happy with the result. **Materials used this week:** - Black spray paint - Brown spray paint - Chrome marker - Gold marker

Week 5 This week I started working on the seats. I began by using the templates from my previous build, but before going any further, I decided to watch the movie once again to check whether they actually matched the original vehicle. As it turned out, they didn't, so the templates had to be redesigned. After carefully studying the available reference photos and movie scenes, I estimated all the dimensions by eye, without using any measuring tools. It took several attempts, but I finally achieved a shape that closely matches the original seats. During this research, I also discovered that the seats are not black as I had previously thought, but a warm chocolate brown. This part of the project required a surprising amount of time. Most of the scenes showing the interior last only a few seconds, making it quite difficult to pause the movie at exactly the right moment. However, the effort was well worth it, as I was able to uncover details that I had missed during my previous build. Unfortunately, I don't have the correct brown paint yet, so the finished seats will be shown in my next update. The next step will be the door panels, after which I can finally begin assembling parts of the interior. **Materials used this week:** - Thin cardboard - Thick cardboard - Hot glue

Week 4 This week I completed the center console. Just like during my previous build, I couldn't find a complete reference photo of the original console. Once again, I had to improvise. I based the design on the center console of a late-1980s Chevrolet pickup, which was the closest reference I could find. The console includes two cup holders and a storage compartment behind them. In an ordinary pickup, it would be used for everyday items... in this vehicle, it would probably be the perfect place to store a small automatic weapon! 😄 I also chose to finish these parts in a light color so that the details would remain clearly visible in the photos. The gear shifter was made from wood, and I'm very pleased with the result. It has much more detail than the one I made for my previous version of this model. **Materials used this week:** - Black spray paint - Silver paint marker - Wood - Matchstick - 0.5 mm wire - Cardboard - Super glue - Hot glue

Week 3 This week I didn't make a huge amount of visible progress, as I spent most of my time measuring and planning the interior components, including the seats, dashboard and other details that will be installed inside the cabin. For the interior, I decided to use a lighter color. Since the original interior is almost entirely black, many of the details would be difficult to see in photographs. My goal is to make the interior easier to appreciate while still remaining faithful to the original design. This week I completed the main cabin structure and started working on the center console. I haven't started the windshield yet because I haven't found a plastic bottle with the right curvature. Rather than compromising the shape, I decided to continue working on other parts of the model until I find a better solution. From now on, I hope to post updates more frequently. Unfortunately, there is only limited space for photos in each update, but I would really like to share as much of the building process as possible. One more thing... At this stage, many of the individual parts may not seem to resemble anything at all. That's completely normal. Scratch-building is a gradual process, and everything starts to make sense once the pieces come together. Materials used this week: • Cardboard • Hot glue

Week 2 This week I didn't make a huge amount of visible progress, but I focused on one of the most important stages of the project – taking measurements and planning the construction. While organizing my workshop, I found the templates from my previous version of this vehicle. I decided to use them as a starting point for this new project. They will not be copied directly; instead, I will modify and improve them to create a completely new and more accurate version of the model. The construction has now officially begun. I started with the center section of the vehicle and completed the doors. My next step will be the interior, as it contains many interesting details that I want to recreate as accurately as possible. Materials used this week: • Cardboard • Plastic bottle • Super glue • All-purpose glue • Hot glue

For my project, I chose the vehicle from the 1989 movie *Tango & Cash*. Ever since I was a teenager, I have been fascinated by its unique and aggressive design. Although it appears only briefly in the movie, it left a strong impression on me, and for many years I wanted to build a model of it.

This will not be a conventional model kit, but a completely new 1:12 scale scratch-build project. The model will be built mainly from cardboard, combined with plastic, wood, wire and other materials, depending on what works best for each particular detail. Over more than twenty years in the hobby, I have developed my own building techniques, and this model will be entirely hand-made.

One of the reasons I chose this subject is its rarity. Over the years, I have collected a large amount of reference material, including photographs of the original movie prop, movie screenshots and other valuable sources that will help me recreate the vehicle as accurately as possible.

This week, I focused on collecting and organizing reference material. I analyzed movie scenes, compared available photographs and prepared the materials that will be used during the build. This research phase is extremely important, as it forms the foundation for the entire project.

I am looking forward to starting the build and I hope you will enjoy following the creation of this unusual vehicle from the very beginning.