1:18 Diecast Comp. O. Cobra Project. Just Started.

There are a few people on here that know I am into 1:18 diecast models and i'm also a watch enthusiast to go along with my car hobby.

I've built hundreds of 1:24/25th scale models over the years, but i've only built under 10, 1:18 diecast custom models. Reasoning is it's extremely time consuming, I usually have to use parts from multiple cars, or I order aftermarket looking 1:18 scale pieces like intercoolers, turbos, wheels, tires, etc. from a place in Germany that makes specifically custom 1:18 scale aftermarket looking pieces molded in plastic, but they are all white, so I have to paint them. Since the model is diecast, I have to actually use my drill. Unlike my 1:24 scale plastic models which are a quick repaint if I mess something up, it's a lot to remove if I have to paint/repaint a 1:18 diecast model.



Anyways, just wanted to show the very beginning stages of my 1:18 Comp. O. Terminator that i'm turning into a drag car.

All the parts you see are parts I intend to mix and match. I'm not sure what engine I intend to use right now, but it will be turbocharged, fully wired, caged, new master cylinder w/ braided line. I have a complete set of braided fuel lines with AN style fittings going through an aftermarket fuel pump. I had a sump yesterday, which I was prying off a chassis went flying and I found it, set it next to me on my couch, now I can't find it which is driving me insane. I've been searching everywhere, looking under everything around me. I guess i'll just make one by hand. I also have an SRA w/ a torque arm & panhard bar, but I think the bar is too skinny. Also it has a tach w/ shift light, 2 racing seats w/ nylon harnesses and metal buckles, wheelie bar, parachute, radiator with AN line, intercooler which is too small IMO, so i'll probably get a bigger one. The front bumper will have a hole drilled in the side for a dump tube exit, and i'm going to place a window net on the driver's side.

I'm not really sold on the wheelie bar look, so they probably won't make it to the final version. I really like the stance with the slicks and skinnies, so i'll probably leave those alone.


Just wanted to share with everyone since the only Terminator you can get is the Maisto one and while this is the same base, it's very different. Many of my 1:18 Fox Body models come in all kinds of versions. I have a road race 86 GT, drag car 89 LX, Vortech street car LX Coupe, Vortech street car LX Hatch, and 1-2 more on the way. Unfortunately there isn't a huge selection of Terminator 1:18 diecast models, so I thought i'd make my own. My actual Fox Body is forever being tuned it seems and i'm waiting to get a call for a watch I want, and i'm debating picking up something else like a JLC. Until then, I have a pretty large amount of free time on my hands to do projects like this...

pretty ****ing cool

Damn Ray, that is badass. Cannot wait to see the finished product. Hit me up first if you ever decide to sell it .

I love that stacked engine. But, then again, I'm biased LMAO!!!!

Just looking at these pictures guves me anxiety.

Small, intricately crafted pieces, time consumption, attention to detail, all the things you pride yourself in (rightfully so) are the things that throw me into immediate fits of rage.

Super bad ass, and definitely something I’d never even attempt.

72MachOne99GT said:

Just looking at these pictures guves me anxiety.

Small, intricately crafted pieces, time consumption, attention to detail, all the things you pride yourself in (rightfully so) are the things that throw me into immediate fits of rage.

Super bad ass, and definitely something I’d never even attempt.

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We have the same brain on a lot of stuff.

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Those engines are super detailed. Do they come painted or you do all of that?

So very cool.

72MachOne99GT said:

Just looking at these pictures gives me anxiety.

Small, intricately crafted pieces, time consumption, attention to detail, all the things you pride yourself in (rightfully so) are the things that throw me into immediate fits of rage.

Super bad ass, and definitely something I’d never even attempt.

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LOL, my wife tells me that all the time. When I build these cars and add LED lighting I have the body upside down and wires going everywhere. My wife tells me "I get a headache just looking at that." LMAO!!!

Funny how certain things are relaxing to some of us and very frustrating to others.

the place in Germany will make any kind of custom scale parts?
btw that's ****ing awesome. I need that too now

Black Gold 380R said:

Damn Ray, that is badass. Cannot wait to see the finished product. Hit me up first if you ever decide to sell it .

I love that stacked engine. But, then again, I'm biased LMAO!!!!

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Thanks Glenn! I will definitely hit you up when it's done. With each custom 1:18 diecast I make, they get better and better since I don't make too many of them because as I said in my OP, they're extremely time consuming.

I want this model to look as perfect as I can get it and have it look like a model that you would see on the Acme/GMP website. So no dried excess super glue noticeable, obviously no awkward looking drilled holes that are not sized too big for the cage to go through. The cages are always difficult in other diecast custom models i've made since none of them are fit for this or other cars i've made and I have to always custom put together the cages, which means on 6,8, or 10 point cages I have to connect each part of the cage separately.

When I envisioned this car way before I even started, I always planned on it being turbocharged and I really loved the idea of the dump tube exiting the side of bumper after I drill a hole in it. So out of those 3 different engines, i'm going to be taking multiple different parts from each engine to make one complete piece. I also have other models with scissor hinges on the hood, shocks, and prop rods. I plan on going with a prop rod, but I might use shocks instead to lift the hood in place since it's a very popular mod on pretty much every newer Mustang and on Fox Body's. I'm really frustrated I can't find the sump I had that initially lost, then found and placed next to me on my couch and now it's disappeared. The fuel pump with all the braided lines connected I plan to paint red to give it an A1000 look.

These usually take me 3 months to do since I try to make them as best as I can and locating 1:18 scale aftermarket parts can be difficult. I've bought around 4-5 Acme/GMP models purely to gut them of parts. I completely gutted this 69' Nova from GMP, but I didn't take a single thing from the exterior, so I placed it in a display case and it looks like the model I bought when it was new.

BlckBox04 said:

the place in Germany will make any kind of custom scale parts?
btw that's ****ing awesome. I need that too now

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Give me a few and i'll find the link. I haven't used them in a while, so I forget their website. I find a lot of this information from the diecastxchange forums. If you want to see some insanely modded models, they are on that website posted by members. They literally take apart every single piece of the model, sand blast it, use custom parts from that German shop, and a ton of them have a 3D printer to make anything they can think of. My model is a turd compared to the models these guys make. Many of them use $200-$500+ models and aren't afraid to to cut into the metal and rip it all apart.

Diablo Mike said:

Those engines are super detailed. Do they come painted or you do all of that?

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No, they've all been all pulled from other models like GMP/Acme, except the Cobra R, which is just from the Maisto model. I originally pulled parts from just Maisto models when I started building custom 1:18 diecasts, then I started using Acme/GMP/HWY 61/Sun Star and other's. It was only then my models started to have a more detailed look to them. I was hesitant because how much those models cost, but you have to use those type of cars to build a higher quality custom model.

BlckBox04 said:

the place in Germany will make any kind of custom scale parts?
btw that's ****ing awesome. I need that too now

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Thank you sir!


This is the company with all the parts i'm talking about.

I like TK though because they carry actual brand name pieces, like Enkei RPF1s and BBS and have the the tires to fit them which are Falken FK452 & Toyo Proxes R888 with the correct tread pattern and Toyo/Falken written on the sidewall. They have literally every aftermarket part for different parts of the car.

They have HKS & Garrett turbos and the turbos actually have the the brand name on the housing. They also have intercooler piping with silicone connectors in blue, black, or red.

They by far have the best collection, but there are quite a few sites that also have similar parts. I'm not sure why, but all these companies that sell 1:18 parts are mostly located in Germany.


Ulinowak is also a pretty good site that have quite a few model pieces.







Here's an example of the Garrett turbo they have.

That is definitely diecast modeling at its finest. Your attention to detail is extraordinary! Mind blowing.

You said you lost the sump that was placed next to you on the couch. Do you have couch cushions? Maybe it fell beneath the cushions? Or into the base of the couch?

CobraBob said:

That is definitely diecast modeling at its finest. Your attention to detail is extraordinary! Mind blowing.

You said you lost the sump that was placed next to you on the couch. Do you have couch cushions? Maybe it fell beneath the cushions? Or into the base of the couch?

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Thanks! I intend to make it look like it came straight from GMP and everything's meant to fit together.

I love TK, they are like the Amazon of diecast aftermarket parts, in terms of scale, except they don't overwork their employees and keep tabs on them by making them wear tracking devices. Kind of a side note, but I thought it was hilarious when that video got leaked about Amazon telling their employees to rat on their co-workers if they expect, or see any signs of the worst evil, talks of UNIONIZING!

TK used to have 4-5 different types and sizes on FMICs, now there are none, maybe they are just out. I can always ask someone on the diecast forums to 3D print me one.


You have no idea. I flipped over all the cushions, lifted everything had my head-lamp and Sure Fire scanning the floor. Then I vacuumed the carpet 3-4 times in a row to see if it would pick it up since the canister is clear and nope. No big deal though, it was really just two straight sections to form a 90* corner and then a 45* angle to mount on the gas tank. It shouldn't be too hard to replicate.

That is ****in cool as hell!

Looks good already! Can't wait to see the finished product. I am a huge diecast collector myself but mostly 1/64 as they are much easier to store lol.

99MustangGTman said:

No, they've all been all pulled from other models like GMP/Acme, except the Cobra R, which is just from the Maisto model. I originally pulled parts from just Maisto models when I started building custom 1:18 diecasts, then I started using Acme/GMP/HWY 61/Sun Star and other's. It was only then my models started to have a more detailed look to them. I was hesitant because how much those models cost, but you have to use those type of cars to build a higher quality custom model.

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Thats wild. Its legit hot-rodding, on a smaller scale

Very small update. Actually i've done more, but i'll show it later. The interior is out, i'm working on making a cage. I've chosen a Cobra R manifold for now, since I need an N/A manifold and this isn't a real car so I can't swap in one from an 01', but I may make my own. That will link up with the turbo, which I might change to a slightly bigger one, and I drilled a hole in the bumper for a test fit for the dump tube. I fitted the SRA and drilled out where the IRS would place the wheels. I haven't worked on it for a while, but had some free time this evening.

Do you use a magnifying glass or anything like that? Curious if the tach came like that or if you painted and assembled it?

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