Kmb0319 Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 (edited) I’m getting to the end my list of kits to build, and have wanted to this project for a while. I LOVE first generation Camaros. I’ve built two Revell 67s.... one as a Tahoe Turquoise SS, the other as the Better Off Dead car, and a 69 COPO. I wanted to build a basic 69 SS, but that isn’t offered in Coupe form, only the convertible kit. So, I had an idea... I don’t have a Camaro convertible, and I’d like to add one, so let’s mix and match parts to get an SS coupe. I thought about getting a Z28 coupe and making the convertible into a base 307 model, but I wanted both the standard front grill and the dog dishes, so I bought another COPO. My initial plan is a SS 396 coupe and a “what if” COPO convertible. I originally planned to swap interiors, since the convertible comes with the deluxe and COPO has the standard, but the interior buckets are different and the deluxe interior has the rear seat molded in. So with a 427 and a deluxe interior, this convertible is an expensive one- off! As far as colors, I knew one of them would be Fathom Green, my favorite color. I thought it would be the coupe, until I started researching. Surprisingly, I was really taken by the unique vinyl roof of the 69 model, and decided to try to replicate it. This one was IT: That left the convertible to be Fathom Green, and I want to do a white top and the black houndstooth interior. This one is an RS, but you get the idea. I wasn’t necessarily planning to have both of them end up green, but the Frost with dark green vinyl was too good to pass up. Since I’m “COPO-ing” the convertible and I already have a COPO coupe with the standard front end, my coupe will be an RS. I’m going to add some extra detail and take my time with them. Should be fun! Initial progress has been mostly painting. I’ve painted both chassis: This one has the cross member and front suspension in, the other doesn’t. The exhaust is painted but just sitting in place. I still have a little more detailing to do, but it’s close. I started assembling the 427... it might be a little wider, but the parts look identical to the 396. I’ll get a better comparison when they’re both assembled. I also started painting interior components after using embossing powder for carpet. On the deluxe interior, I laid the houndstooth decals and shot the seats with some flat clear. For the midnight green, I used Fathom Green with no primer to keep it slightly lighter. Edited February 21, 2018 by Kmb0319 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abelaxe Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 19 hours ago, Kmb0319 said: I’m getting to the end my list of kits to build, and have wanted to this project for a while. I LOVE first generation Camaros. I’ve built two Revell 67s.... one as a Tahoe Turquoise SS, the other as the Better Off Dead car, and a 69 COPO. I wanted to build a basic 69 SS, but that isn’t offered in Coupe form, only the convertible kit. So, I had an idea... I don’t have a Camaro convertible, and I’d like to add one, so let’s mix and match parts to get an SS coupe. I thought about getting a Z28 coupe and making the convertible into a base 307 model, but I wanted both the standard front grill and the dog dishes, so I bought another COPO. My initial plan is a SS 396 coupe and a “what if” COPO convertible. I originally planned to swap interiors, since the convertible comes with the deluxe and COPO has the standard, but the interior buckets are different and the deluxe interior has the rear seat molded in. So with a 427 and a deluxe interior, this convertible is an expensive one- off! As far as colors, I knew one of them would be Fathom Green, my favorite color. I thought it would be the coupe, until I started researching. Surprisingly, I was really taken by the unique vinyl roof of the 69 model, and decided to try to replicate it. This one was IT: That left the convertible to be Fathom Green, and I want to do a white top and the black houndstooth interior. This one is an RS, but you get the idea. I wasn’t necessarily planning to have both of them end up green, but the Frost with dark green vinyl was too good to pass up. Since I’m “COPO-ing” the convertible and I already have a COPO coupe with the standard front end, my coupe will be an RS. I’m going to add some extra detail and take my time with them. Should be fun! Initial progress has been mostly painting. I’ve painted both chassis: This one has the cross member and front suspension in, the other doesn’t. The exhaust is painted but just sitting in place. I still have a little more detailing to do, but it’s close. I started assembling the 427... it might be a little wider, but the parts look identical to the 396. I’ll get a better comparison when they’re both assembled. I also started painting interior components after using embossing powder for carpet. On the deluxe interior, I laid the houndstooth decals and shot the seats with some flat clear. For the midnight green, I used Fathom Green with no primer to keep it slightly lighter. I will be following this build...Just a FYI, there is no difference in the size of the 396 or 427 or even 454 for that matter....The only way to tell which is which is to disassemble the motor and measure the bore and stroke....Awesome job so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kmb0319 Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share Posted February 21, 2018 A-ha! That makes sense... I just expected some visual differences, even minor. Then my debate will be do I slap a 396 decal on the convertible and use the SS decals or keep it plain? I’ll make that call at some point. I got some color on the convertible last night, and laid .07 styrene to outline the vinyl top for the coupe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abelaxe Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Im enjoying this build.....Keep it going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemodeler Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Nice work so far and great choice on the colors, would have been easier to go with orange, red or blue but these will stand out being green! This model is my favorite too as I have built close to 12 of them, some snappers, some glue, but something about that body style has me hooked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kmb0319 Posted February 22, 2018 Author Share Posted February 22, 2018 2 hours ago, mikemodeler said: Nice work so far and great choice on the colors, would have been easier to go with orange, red or blue but these will stand out being green! This model is my favorite too as I have built close to 12 of them, some snappers, some glue, but something about that body style has me hooked! Wow... 12?! That’s awesome... you should post them as a group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PARTSMARTY Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Great -can't wait to see more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kmb0319 Posted February 22, 2018 Author Share Posted February 22, 2018 A little bit of progress last night... still working on engine #1. I started adding a few details. I made the tiny hose that runs from the front of the intake manifold to the water pump, used a little piece of guitar string to create another cable nobody will ever see, and got half of the smog system (?) done. I ran a piece of hose along the side of the block just above the headers, then shaped it up and over the manifold just past the halfway point. Then, I shaved the vacuum advance off of the kit distributor and glued it to the end of the hose, then painted it steel. My thought is to use my .07 styrene rod to do the other side and glue it to the other side of the vacuum advance, as this went from a hose to a metal runner on the real car. I think it’s going to work, but the black dot on the steel piece shows the first attempt failed. Everything that is done to this engine will be done to the other. I did make one purposeful error here. There is a “built by” decal on the right valve cover, but while the convertible kit has it, the COPO kit doesn’t. There is another decal that is nearly the same size and colors that goes on the side of the air cleaner, and the COPO kit has that. Having built that kit already, I know that I don’t see that decal at all, as the cowl seal hides it. So, I used the decal for the air cleaner as the valve cover logo on this engine. It’s not correct, but looks better than having nothing there. The other one will be done properly. I’ll try to get the other half of the smog system done today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted February 23, 2018 Share Posted February 23, 2018 A couple of items I noticed on your engine build. First off you have a great looking engine build going. The hose you have on the driver's side Valve Cover should be part of the Smog System and would be the PCV Valve that would attach at the base of the Carburetor. The other problem is that the Valve Cover as you have it now is upside down and the relief in the Valve Cover is to the rear and is to clear the Power Brake Boaster on the 1:1 Engine. Another way to know for sure that the Valve Covers are mounted properly on a Chevrolet Big Block is to remember that they used 3 attachments on the top side and 4 attachments on the bottom of the Valve Covers. The hose on the passenger side would be attached to the Air Cleaner. If you are using a closed Air Cleaner it would attach to the passenger side of the Air Cleaner. If you're using an open element Air Cleaner the hose would attach on the bottom plate of the Air Cleaner. If you just flipped the Valve Cover around and some minor rerouting of the hoses it would look perfect. Like you I'm a very big fan of the first generation Camaro and have owned a few, so I look forward to watching your builds here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kmb0319 Posted February 23, 2018 Author Share Posted February 23, 2018 1 hour ago, espo said: A couple of items I noticed on your engine build. First off you have a great looking engine build going. The hose you have on the driver's side Valve Cover should be part of the Smog System and would be the PCV Valve that would attach at the base of the Carburetor. The other problem is that the Valve Cover as you have it now is upside down and the relief in the Valve Cover is to the rear and is to clear the Power Brake Boaster on the 1:1 Engine. Another way to know for sure that the Valve Covers are mounted properly on a Chevrolet Big Block is to remember that they used 3 attachments on the top side and 4 attachments on the bottom of the Valve Covers. The hose on the passenger side would be attached to the Air Cleaner. If you are using a closed Air Cleaner it would attach to the passenger side of the Air Cleaner. If you're using an open element Air Cleaner the hose would attach on the bottom plate of the Air Cleaner. If you just flipped the Valve Cover around and some minor rerouting of the hoses it would look perfect. Like you I'm a very big fan of the first generation Camaro and have owned a few, so I look forward to watching your builds here. A-HA!! Thanks so much for the input. I’ll see what I can do here... at the very least, I can make sure the other engine is correct. I can fill the hole and use my Molotow pen to fix the chrome, but I also had superglued the spark plug wires to the clip that’s molded in. I don’t want to trash my whole engine, but will try to fix this. Good catch!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted February 23, 2018 Share Posted February 23, 2018 1 hour ago, Kmb0319 said: A-HA!! Thanks so much for the input. I’ll see what I can do here... at the very least, I can make sure the other engine is correct. I can fill the hole and use my Molotow pen to fix the chrome, but I also had superglued the spark plug wires to the clip that’s molded in. I don’t want to trash my whole engine, but will try to fix this. Good catch!! You could always just reroute the hoses and if the Valve Cover doesn't clear just leave off the Brake Boaster. I tend to have AR Syndrome and I think most people would never notice the notch or the mounting holes on the Valve Cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kmb0319 Posted February 24, 2018 Author Share Posted February 24, 2018 Well, I tried to move the valve cover, but the Superglue bond threatened to crack the block before the cover came loose, so I had to leave it. I did complete the other side of the smog system. At this point, the engine is pretty much done, other than heater hoses and parts that will connect in the engine bay. I could potentially try to add a few more details, but the air cleaner is pretty large and obscures a lot, so I’ll probably focus on detail that can be seen on the shelf. Moving on, I got clear on the Fathom Green body. I love this color. I’ll polish it out and wax it in the next day or so. I actually had put the white SS hockey stripe on the left side of the body, as I really liked that look in the reference pic above, but comparing it to the other side, I decided to leave it off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 Beautiful paint job. This polished out nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kmb0319 Posted March 1, 2018 Author Share Posted March 1, 2018 (edited) It’s been a crazy week, but I got a few good things done on the Camaros. Mind you, most of the progress has been made to the convertible, as I still have to order the Frost Green paint for the other. I got my interior assembled other than the dash, finished the chassis and got the engine mounted. Got the dash painted and decals on. I need to work on the steering wheel. I was going to use the deluxe wheel on this one, but one of the spokes had a defect, so I have to either use the COPO decal for the standard wheel or do a much better job than I currently have at painting the wood grain and chrome trim to match the dash. Moving back to the engine bay, I got my radiator assembled and battery cables in. I still need to drill a hole in the washer bottle cap and run a “hose” to the wiper motor. I also added the air cleaner, then put Last of the decals on the body and battery. With the body detailed other than most of the windshield frame, I installed the tail lights and the grill, and used my Molotow pen for the rest of the chrome trim other than the fender trim rings, which I’ll do tomorrow.I need to get the steering wheel done and paint/detail the firewall, and this one will be done. Next, I’ll repeat everything for the coupe. I did make one good piece of progress on it... I primed the body, then masked and shot the vinyl top. First time trying this technique, and I’m pretty happy with the results. I can’t wait to get my Frost green and see this one done! More to come. Edited March 1, 2018 by Kmb0319 Forgot a word Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kmb0319 Posted March 11, 2018 Author Share Posted March 11, 2018 I’ve gotten the convertible basically done. These limited decals have given me fits... each of the Camaro emblems on the side of the body have fallen off.. the right one twice. Luckily I have found them and been able to get them reapplied. The right front blinker decal has also fallen off twice, as well as the Chevy symbol on the grill, and both of them have been lost. I laid a spot of chrome where the blinker was, and will touch it with amber shortly. The rear wheels sat far too low, so I drilled another hole in the wheel backs to push the stance up. I’m still awaiting my tire decals (I had one leftover that I used) and need to put the door handles and rear view mirror on, but then this one will be done. I ordered the Frost Green, so I’ll be digging into that next. More to come. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelson Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Nice build,shame on the decals probably easier to just file off the raised lettering or BMF the emblems,then paint then afterwards go over them with a q-tip lightly dipped in thinner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Louis Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 I like this project! Watching close! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modlbldr Posted March 14, 2018 Share Posted March 14, 2018 Nice work. What color did you use on the green vinyl top? Later- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kmb0319 Posted March 15, 2018 Author Share Posted March 15, 2018 13 hours ago, Modlbldr said: Nice work. What color did you use on the green vinyl top? Later- It’s Testors Medium Green... I used it in an interior for my 70 Torino... I wish it was a little bit darker, but I had 90% of the can and nothing else to use it for, so it will do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modlbldr Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 Thanks. Later- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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