1957 Corvette with Snake Fu Sauce

[Gramps46]

 

Snake Fu is a term coined here on the Forum by Richard “Snake” Mesner for minor improvements and upgrades to usually inexpensive diecast models.  This example acquired from an estate is a vintage Italian made BBurago 1957 Corvette in a form that was new to me with a top and nice details and seemed to beg for some Snake Fu treatment.

In typical BBurago fashion for the time (and unfortunately adopted by Jada) the model is a bit larger than 1/24 and the wheels are oversized too and needed to go.  Fortunately the wheels and tires from the Monogram 1/24 scale Corvette are a perfect match and as Snake has reminded us from time to time the rims should be painted.  I looked at many photos on the web of white ’57 Corvettes and the vast majority had red interiors and rims.

 I removed the chassis from the body to get a good grip on the wheels and with a healthy tug they came off and the Monogram wheels went on without modification.  A note of caution here, the wheel backs of the early Monogram kits (2227) are different from the latter versions and do not work, only the later releases (2924) work without changes. I did use Elmers glue though to attach the wheels in case I ever wanted to change them back.

Overall IMO this is one of the best of the vintage BBuragos and seems to be fairly rare on the market.

[vamach1]

6 minutes ago, Gramps46 said:

 

 

Snake Fu is a term coined here on the Forum by Richard “Snake” Mesner for minor improvements and upgrades to usually inexpensive diecast models.  This example acquired from an estate is a vintage Italian made BBurago 1957 Corvette in a form that was new to me with a top and nice details and seemed to beg for some Snake Fu treatment.

 

In typical BBurago fashion for the time (and unfortunately adopted by Jada) the model is a bit larger than 1/24 and the wheels are oversized too and needed to go.  Fortunately the wheels and tires from the Monogram 1/24 scale Corvette are a perfect match and as Snake has reminded us from time to time the rims should be painted.  I looked at many photos on the web of white ’57 Corvettes and the vast majority had red interiors and rims.

 

 I removed the chassis from the body to get a good grip on the wheels and with a healthy tug they came off and the Monogram wheels went on without modification.  A note of caution here, the wheel backs of the early Monogram kits (2227) are different from the latter versions and do not work, only the later releases (2924) work without changes. I did use Elmers glue though to attach the wheels in case I ever wanted to change them back.

 

Overall IMO this is one of the best of the vintage BBuragos and seems to be fairly rare on the market.

 

Very nice Gramps (coming from a diehard Ford guy). 😄.  Where can we petition the word SnakeFu to be in the next Webster's edition or in the scrabble dictionary?  🤗

[Snake45]

Here's my $10 Rite Aid Welly, which I believe is the same model. I Snake-Fued and photographed it in mid-2019 and thought I wrote it up here, but I guess not. 

I was able to improve the weird headlights a bit. Sanded the tire treads. Sharpied the cove trim and black-washed the grille. Flat-coated the wheel covers. Painted the whitewalls black, just 'cause I don't like whitewalls,  especially wide ones. I did some stuff in the interior too but at this point I can't tell you exactly what. Maybe the pics will tell the story. 

[Gramps46]

Thanks for sharing your Welly Snake.  Wish I had the markings you have on yours for  Fuel Injection and front emblem.

[Snake45]

47 minutes ago, Gramps46 said:

Thanks for sharing your Welly Snake.  Wish I had the markings you have on yours for  Fuel Injection and front emblem.

They're tampo. The coves are red plastic, and I removed them and cleaned up the edges (and Sharpied the cove trim at the same time). Are the coves separate plastic pieces on yours? I can't tell. 

[Gramps46]

6 minutes ago, Snake45 said:

They're tampo. The coves are red plastic, and I removed them and cleaned up the edges (and Sharpied the cove trim at the same time). Are the coves separate plastic pieces on yours? I can't tell. 

Yes the coves are plastic pieces, I had not noticed that before.

[randyc]

Both of these are very nice.  THanks for sharing guys.  The black wals wrok well on that black car.  And Gramps, yours is very nice with the Monogram wheels.   I have a coupld of the Sunny versions that TOdd sent me back in the day.   Wish there was any kind of salvation for those.  I think they may be headed to the Goodwill.  Not worth the effort to ebay them.  THat why Todd sent them to me.

[Gramps46]

28 minutes ago, randyc said:

 I have a coupld of the Sunny versions that TOdd sent me back in the day.   Wish there was any kind of salvation for those.  I think they may be headed to the Goodwill.  Not worth the effort to ebay them.  THat why Todd sent them to me.

Put some numbers and a roll bar and make a race car out of the Sunny.  😄

[randyc]

1 minute ago, Gramps46 said:

Put some numbers and a roll bar and make a race car out of the Sunny.  😄

Thats a thought.  Still don;t have room for it to display.   There are TWO of them and they mean absolutely NOTHING to me.   I've got hte Todd cars that do on display or in the queue to build.  I started the Tamiya Morgan 4/4 this weekend.   I do love a Tamiya kit.   Everything fits without fiddling.   At least til the end when it all comes together.  If you didn't get it all correct to start with....

I'll be glad to send them to you though...

[PappyD340]

They both look great!