bill w Posted September 25, 2011 Author Share Posted September 25, 2011 It's been a while since I posted anything, this project has been giving me a difficult time, seems every part I work on gives me trouble. I finally finished the grill which was more difficult than I thought it would be. Anyway here are some pics. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Thanks for looking Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comp1839 Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 incredible work bill!!!! all the effort is really paying off for you. looks fantastic!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mooneyzs Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 This is the first time I have seen this thread and man this build is IMPRESSIVE!!! Bill you have some skills and this build is blowing my mind. This is just gorgeous. I will be following this for sure. looking forward to your next update. I am totally blown away at this build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 When I first looked at this thread I didn't click on that first link. I never realized that this model is completely scratch-built! "Amazing" doesn't even come close to describing this. I have a lot of questions, but the one I want answered the most is how did you make the body? Is is fiberglass? Vacu-formed? I saw your 3-D "wireframe" form, but how did you translate that into the actual body shell? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill w Posted September 25, 2011 Author Share Posted September 25, 2011 Thanks guys, this is fun to do but sometimes it gets the best of me! OK Harry, first lots and lots of measuring. I did five attempts at making the body including a vac-formed body. I built radio controlled air planes and thought why not build the body like a fuselage, with bulkheads or cross-sections. I practiced making a Corvette body, that was my first choice for a 1/8 build. I needed a full size car to measure but Corvettes are very expensive. Heres a pic of the Vette, it's all balsa wood cross-sections covered 1/16" balsa strips. When sanded smooth I covered it with 6oz. fiberglass, then I broke away all the cross-sections on the inside and covered with 6oz. glass on the inside and the shell is finished except for sanding. The Vette was never finished but thats the process. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki The Camaro was done the same way with the exception of carving a bass wood body and cutting up a 1/25 body. When you scale a small body to 1/8 scale it dose get distorted a lot, when I did mine the first time it was all by hand, I didn't get a computer until 1996 and didn't learn it until 1997. Now I do all my drawings in Illustrator. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki I hope this shed some light on how I made the body. I do have a real 69 Camaro in my garage that I use for measuring. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill w Posted September 25, 2011 Author Share Posted September 25, 2011 I forgot to mention that after the body shell is cleaned out and sanded both inside and out I cut it apart, fenders, hood, doors, trunk, and window openings. I add the details with styrene, top of dash, side cowls, door jambs and small details. The colored areas are styrene. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 Amazing. Astounding, actually. I can only imagine the hours of work you have invested in this model so far. One more question: How do you keep up your interest? I mean, personally I'm always gung-ho when I start a new model, but the longer I work on it, the more restless I get and wish I was further along... and usually I'll get to the point where I get bored with it and put it away and start something new. And too often that half-built model sits for years before I'll pull it out and work on it again. Sometimes I'll never pull it out again. So how do you keep yourself motivated? Are you building this straight through, start to finish, with no other projects going at the same time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill w Posted September 25, 2011 Author Share Posted September 25, 2011 Yes Harry I am building this without doing any other projects. Occasionally I will make a part for someone... but I do get discouraged a lot, and say why did I even start this. There are so many different parts... if I get tired of something I'll set it aside and start a different part, sometimes it's a year or more before I go back to a part. And when it's been that long you forget what you did and start all over. And Sometimes no matter how discouraged I am I will continue working, I think that if you push on and get past whatever the problem is you will get a burst of encouragement and finish the part. And then there are times that things are going so well I never want stop. Many times I wanted to quit but friends talked me out of it. Another problem I have, when I'm working on a specific part I think I can't make the part without making a corresponding part to go with it. And the project grows. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stump Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 (edited) Oh jumpin' fatman, get me my cape.......... Bill, this thing is AMAZING !!.....No, no, wait....................INCREDIBLY AMAZING !! LOVE how the grill and headlights come up, they look good enough to go into a 1:1 resto. Edited October 2, 2011 by stump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 Well, if you ever need more motivation think of how many folks here whose eyes have popped out of their skulls or jaws dropped to the floor! I mean, this is pure art in motion, so take your vitamins and keep it going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostreet Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 WOW, that is some amazing building and craftmanship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill w Posted October 2, 2011 Author Share Posted October 2, 2011 Thanks guys, most of the time it's fun to build and I plan on finishing it. Thanks again for looking. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 It just keeps getting better! David G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comp1839 Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 bill, every time i look at this, i have to marvel at the detail and exactness you have achieved. simply incredible!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill w Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 Thanks Dave and likewise, your builds are awsome. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill w Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 I got a few more parts finished. Horn relay, voltage regulator, water shutoff valve, wire harness hangers and ties. Hosted on Fotki Horns and wire harness plugs. Hosted on Fotki Battery cables. Hosted on Fotki First half of wire harness. Hosted on Fotki Thanks for looking. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffs396 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 As usual Bill, you are taking this to a NEW level! I'm giving up & going to go run with scissors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintagedragfan Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 cmon Bill lets get this camaro finished we would all love to see that!! absolutely beautiful work!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
futurattraction Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Bill, I don't know how I missed ths thread, but I'm thoroughly astounded by not only the quality of the work you've done, but also on the level of detail that each and every part has received. I want to ask sort of a tag-on question to the one Harry P raised earlier - how have you made so many of the smaller parts, such as the wire harness connectors and such. They look too perfect to be hand-made (maybe they are, and if so, it only shows that level of your ability, too) so am wondering if they're pieces produced on a rapid prototype printer. I don't think there are words to truly describe this project. There are lots of great builders. I pay special attention to the drag car builds, and there's lots of great detail building going on with them but the detail in so many of your parts that are intricate in their shape and size is nearly beyond my ability to comprehend. I will definitely keep my eye on this build in the future! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill w Posted February 18, 2012 Author Share Posted February 18, 2012 Thanks Bill, it's always slow going when scratch building. I am making progress, but before I post any pics I want to make sure I have enough things finished. I'm getting close to finishing up the engine compartment and will be posting pics soon. Hi Scott and thanks for the nice words. I make every part from scratch, then I mold and cast resin parts. I don't care much for rapid prototype process, I worked a lot with SLA parts at my work and they take a lot of work to make them look good. The harness connectors are made from styrene sheets and rod, all are cut with my X-acto knife. Thanks for looking! Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
futurattraction Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 I'm all the more impressed, Bill. My hat goes off to you. You do fantastic work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Sprinter Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Bill; I scratch build but nothing to the level you can do. You're down right amazing. We both use styrene, glue and some other stuff so that's not any secret. Maybe your diet, What you eat or the music you listen to must be it; please tell us.LOL. Seriously, though I am very impressed with your knowledge of the subject and the skills you have in building these cars. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill w Posted February 19, 2012 Author Share Posted February 19, 2012 Thanks Ken, I'm really enjoying this build, and your scratch building is outstanding. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The70judgeman Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 UNREAL.............I don't know what else to say. Went through your pics. Just blown away! And the tires!!! FIVE of them done that way!!! Man...you have patience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill w Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 Thanks Andy but I only made one master tire, made a mold and cast the rest. I don't think I would have the patience to make all 5. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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