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Post by mmthrax on Mar 21, 2021 19:17:53 GMT -7
Hello all. This is a model I have been working on for the last little while. I have been doing this in tandem with a 55 Corvette. I thought I could get more done by doing bigger batches at the paint booth, in a "production" type manner, but all it did was put more stuff in my way and annoy me. Leeson learned, for me. I won't do that again. Anyway, here is my progress so far. This is the kit I started with.  Since you guys know I love tools, I had these on watch for a while. The Tamiya files were a step up from the cheapie, made in India needle files I had. Those were not much better than nothing. Not straight, low quality control, inconsistent. Rubbish really. Very happy with the Tamiya files, however, having worked with Friedrich (Word Censored By Forum Administrator) full sized files when I was a jeweler, I knew that's what I wanted. I kept my eyes on these and as soon as could I could I ordered them from the friendly jewelry supply house. I love them. These are next level!  Got to work on the mold lines on the springs and the seats. I know no one will ever see this in situ, but I'm building this for me right? I'm trying to improve whatever skillset I have, so this is part of it.  Before:   After: I, for one feel better.    |
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Post by mmthrax on Mar 21, 2021 19:27:52 GMT -7
I saw someone use a Sharpie to highlight the mold lines before removing them. I tried it. Didn't work for me. I noticed I could get carried away trying to remove the black and remove too much material. Another lesson learned, for me.   My reference photos showed that the underside of the Corvettes were a tan-ish, yellow-ish fiberglass. Here I used Testors Tan acrylic over white styrene for the 53 kit and over grey styrene for the 55 kit. The tan over white looks closer to the reference photos.  |
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Post by mmthrax on Mar 21, 2021 19:31:13 GMT -7
All of the 53 Corvettes were white with red interiors. Here are a couple of batches from the paint booth.   |
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Post by mmthrax on Mar 21, 2021 19:36:13 GMT -7
Here is the reference photo for the wheel. The steel wheel is painted red.  Here is my attempt at recreating that.   The assembled wheel. I decided on black walls for this car. I will attempt whitewalls on the 55.  |
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Post by mmthrax on Mar 21, 2021 19:43:22 GMT -7
Now on to the shifter. This is the hideous, out of scale shifter that comes in the kit. This simply would not do.  Here is my reference photo of the factory shifter.  I started with a sewing pin. I put it in the collet of my flex shaft machine and using a file, reshaped it until it looked like I wanted.  Here is my result in situ. This looks much better to me.   |
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Post by mmthrax on Mar 21, 2021 19:57:02 GMT -7
Now guys if you don't have a flex shaft I highly recommend one. When I was a jeweler this tool is indispensable. In my opinion it is the same for modelling. In a strange turn of events this Foredom machine is actually better than the one I used twenty+ years ago. Don't fall for the China made machines. I tried one a couple of years ago and it is trash! The Foredom is the real deal. In the jewelry shop we used to mount these to the benchtop. It would hang in front of the drawers, but we didn't get in the drawers much. Everything we used was in the benchpan or on top of the bench. In my current situation I do use my drawers frequently and the flexshaft less so, so I am using a hospital IV hanger to hang the machine. Works like a champ. If you decide to get one of these you won't regret it. ![]()   |
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Post by mmthrax on Mar 21, 2021 20:04:52 GMT -7
Here is the reference for the steering column. I wondered if I could make the turn signal stalk. I decided to give it a try.  Using another pin and the flexshaft, this is what I came up with.  I think that bit is half of a milimeter. It's pretty tiny.  Here is my result. I am pleased with it.  |
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Post by mmthrax on Mar 21, 2021 20:17:13 GMT -7
Next is the dash. I used Testors black enamel, thinned a bit, and then Model Master Silver Chrome trim applied with a sharpened toothpick. Whew! Nervewracking!   Here is the completed interior. I tried my best to replicate the shift pattern for the powerglide on the shift ball.  This angle is meant to show how the dash wraps around into the door panels.  |
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Post by mmthrax on Mar 21, 2021 20:27:48 GMT -7
This is the reference photo for the engine.  Here is my result. I went with the Powerglide trans.  Check out the roaddraft tube. Long before the days of PCV valves.  Here is the reference pic for the ride height. The tires right at the edge of the arches.  Here is where I am with the model. This simply won't do. This reminds me of back in the 70's when someone would put a Nova or some such on a Blazer chassis. I will have to rectify this situation.  That's all for now. Thanks for looking. |
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Post by stitchdup on Mar 21, 2021 23:18:57 GMT -7
Very nice work Mark. I agree with the flex shaft, I've been using one for a long time as I dont like having the metal chuck too close to what I'm working on.
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Post by Deano on Mar 22, 2021 12:58:33 GMT -7
Mark, this is awesome mate, everything you are doing looks spot on. Nice attention to detail and accuracy, love it!!!
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Post by mmthrax on Mar 22, 2021 17:58:14 GMT -7
Thanks gents.
Doing my best.
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Post by mrversatile on Mar 23, 2021 6:40:49 GMT -7
Mark, you are doing a stellar job on this one. I hear ya about the ride height. Why do so many of these domestic kits have such terrible engineering when it comes to setting the ride height? Correcting it is one of my least favorite chores.
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Post by mmthrax on Mar 23, 2021 7:33:46 GMT -7
Thank you sir. (I keep wanting to call you Ric.) Appreciate the comments. I am going to try to remove the spindles and re-do them, and then try to put some shims between the axle and leaf spring. It's annoying when the thing is already glued together. Oh well. I will do my best. |
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Post by pete on Mar 23, 2021 12:35:21 GMT -7
You are killin' it with this build. Your craftsmanship and attention to detail are dead on. You are certainly making a silk purse out of a sows ear with that kit Mark!!! Nice job.
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Post by mustang1989 on Mar 23, 2021 15:52:10 GMT -7
Ive gotta hand it to ya Mark! This is looking great so far. Love the work on that shifter, steering wheel and the wheels!!! NICE!!!!
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Post by mmthrax on Mar 23, 2021 18:27:23 GMT -7
Thank you Pete and Joe.
I really appreciate the comments.
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Post by DeeCee on Mar 24, 2021 3:13:25 GMT -7
Firstly mate, GREAT to see you back at it,
secondly, WOW!! That amount of tiny detailing is awesome to see,
all the homework is paying off, this is going to be one perfectly detailed build by the looks of it Mark.
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Post by mmthrax on Mar 24, 2021 6:08:02 GMT -7
Thanks Dale.
Appreciate the comments.
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Post by sharp on Mar 24, 2021 13:42:36 GMT -7
Great to see you back Mark. This is looking awesome so far with all the extra details your adding to it. Keep at it bud!
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Post by mmthrax on Mar 25, 2021 6:20:02 GMT -7
Thanks Mike.
Appreciate the comments.
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Post by mmthrax on Mar 30, 2021 19:00:30 GMT -7
Some progress: I decided to cut the spindles off and move them the 3/32" I needed. I used my super duper Tamiya photoetch saw. It makes a very clean cut.   Here is the result. I then noticed I went the wrong way.  I have been working with the chassis upside down and glued the spindles to the opposite end. Oh well. I did the procedure over again, but this time cut the steering links off and glued them at the opposite side. This is before the steering link operation.  Fortunately the axle came loose without much fanfare and I cut some tubing to give me the 3/32" I needed. I placed the spacers under the rear axle. Not the most elegant of solutions, but that is what I did.  Here you can see them in situ. I will touch everything up later.  Then I re glued the wheels.  And here is the result. Now I have to do it all over again for the 55. That's ok. I'm learning as I go.  Thanks for looking. |
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Post by mrversatile on Mar 31, 2021 16:14:24 GMT -7
Nice adjustment on the ride height. I hate dealing with ride height issues, but it is an inevitable necessity. When I don't want the hassle I will pull out a Tamiya kit....lol It looks perfect now.
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Post by mustang1989 on Apr 1, 2021 2:42:22 GMT -7
Nice adjustment on the ride height. I hate dealing with ride height issues, but it is an inevitable necessity. When I don't want the hassle I will pull out a Tamiya kit....lol It looks perfect now. I hear what you're talking about Gil. I've had to adjust ride height and almost every car that I've built. A few were adjusted in the name of pro streeting a vehicle but on vehicles like my Challenger or 98 Trans Am they just didn't look right OOB. |
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Post by mustang1989 on Apr 1, 2021 2:42:45 GMT -7
Looking good here Mark. Good recovery on the mishap bro.
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Post by mmthrax on Apr 1, 2021 6:39:20 GMT -7
Nice adjustment on the ride height. I hate dealing with ride height issues, but it is an inevitable necessity. When I don't want the hassle I will pull out a Tamiya kit....lol It looks perfect now. I understand that Tamiya kits have far less issues. I have one to do in the near future, so looking forward to that. I don't think that every kit should be such a beating (cough cough), I mean, learning experience. Thanks for your comments. |
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Post by mmthrax on Apr 1, 2021 6:50:00 GMT -7
they just didn't look right OOB. I hear you here Joe. I realize that these are the limitations of a kit that was tooled long ago, and I could just assemble it and say "That's it. That's what the kit is. What do you want from me?", but when I started on this forum, I decided that I would do my best to be a "modeler" and "think outside the box", etc. It has to look right, and it is up to me to replicate what's in my head, no matter who tooled the kit. I'll keep trying to to that, and I appreciate everyone looking and commenting. |
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Post by mustang1989 on Apr 2, 2021 4:28:45 GMT -7
they just didn't look right OOB. I hear you here Joe. I realize that these are the limitations of a kit that was tooled long ago, and I could just assemble it and say "That's it. That's what the kit is. What do you want from me?", but when I started on this forum, I decided that I would do my best to be a "modeler" and "think outside the box", etc. It has to look right, and it is up to me to replicate what's in my head, no matter who tooled the kit. I'll keep trying to to that, and I appreciate everyone looking and commenting.Really glad you're here Mark. You're on the right track in regards to modeling bro. |
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Post by mmthrax on Apr 3, 2021 18:10:51 GMT -7
Some progress: Glued the rear valence in place. Interestingly this one, (vs the 55) is very near the correct size. It won't need near as much manipulation to pass muster.    |
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Post by mmthrax on Apr 4, 2021 15:20:01 GMT -7
Some progress: After some filing I am closer to where I want to be.  |
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