JollySipper Posted May 6, 2022 Share Posted May 6, 2022 Hey, Fellas.... Thought I would show the progress on my latest project! It's the Viper GTS from AMT.... I got it in a trade with a really cool guy on here. In some ways this kit seems a little better than the Revell kit. The only thing lacking on this kit is the wheels and tires. The rims look too small and the tires have too much sidewall. I'll most likely try to source another set of wheels somehow..... The idea behind this build is a used viper that had been gutted and turned into a track car. Here's the engine! I need to go over the manifolds again with another wash, it looks like..... Here's the start on the chassis. The floors and all will be painted white to kinda represent bare metal. It was kind of nerve wracking gluing those black painted suspension parts on to the white chassis, using orange tube glue! I'm thinking maybe a dark red color for the main body parts, not sure yet..... This is where I'm at with this. Please feel free to comment, and thanks for looking..... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill-e-boy Posted May 6, 2022 Share Posted May 6, 2022 The engine paint job looks nice This is a good kit. I built one years ago and seem to remember it gets a little tricky around final assembly time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPNM Posted May 6, 2022 Share Posted May 6, 2022 It looks like a great start and sounds like you have a good plan. I'll be following along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted May 7, 2022 Share Posted May 7, 2022 Real nice start to your new build TJ, you know I will be following! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted May 7, 2022 Author Share Posted May 7, 2022 26 minutes ago, slusher said: Real nice start to your new build TJ, you know I will be following! I was hoping you would, Carl man! You're my friend...... Thanks for the replies, guys.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CabDriver Posted May 7, 2022 Share Posted May 7, 2022 I’ve got the roadster version of this kit in my stash, but you’re right, the tires look way too small. I should try and find a file to 3D print some correctly sized ones. Good start! I’ll be watching! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattilacken Posted May 7, 2022 Share Posted May 7, 2022 Looking good m8! Will be following! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Payne Posted May 7, 2022 Share Posted May 7, 2022 Th Revell snap kits have the proper size wheels and tires. AMT elected to use their generic wheel size. The tires are the correct overall size, but the side walls are too wide due to the undersize wheels. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted May 8, 2022 Author Share Posted May 8, 2022 The next few steps for the chassis are done..... Next up is the front suspension and then installing the engine. The front radiator support isn't glued in place, it's just sandwiched between the front frame rails. This will allow me to adjust it's location when I add the wheel houses/inner fenders.......... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CabDriver Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 Saw this today - thought of this build! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl63_99 Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 That is a nice kit. I spent some time getting the hood to set in perfectly. It was good for a number of years, but now it's not quite lining up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted May 9, 2022 Author Share Posted May 9, 2022 10 hours ago, CabDriver said: Saw this today - thought of this build! Cool! Reference pics.... Thanks, Jim! 28 minutes ago, carl63_99 said: That is a nice kit. I spent some time getting the hood to set in perfectly. It was good for a number of years, but now it's not quite lining up. That looks really good..... In some ways this kit is better than the Revell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted May 11, 2022 Author Share Posted May 11, 2022 It's been too windy to paint anything that needs to be 'pretty', so I sprayed the primer that will be the interior color on it's parts. It's just Rustoleum 2X primer. There is still some parts and detail painting to do, but you get the idea....... I can't install the interior until pretty much last thing on the chassis, so it's just mocked up here....... That's it for now! Please feel free to comment.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 Your primer makes a very nice interior color, TJ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted May 11, 2022 Author Share Posted May 11, 2022 1 hour ago, slusher said: Your primer makes a very nice interior color, TJ! Thank you, Carl... It has just enough of a sheen not to be completely flat. Plus it can stand up to being handled...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 Nice project. Always liked the Viper, but hated most of the wheels that get put on it...especially those horrible early 3-spoke jobs. A real track car would most likely run lightweight forged 18-inchers, and there are plenty of those represented in scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jantrix Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 On 5/9/2022 at 7:40 AM, carl63_99 said: That is a nice kit. I spent some time getting the hood to set in perfectly. It was good for a number of years, but now it's not quite lining up. That's funny, mine fit just fine. 😁😃 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted May 11, 2022 Author Share Posted May 11, 2022 I remember that build! You put a lot of work into it...... 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted May 15, 2022 Author Share Posted May 15, 2022 Here's some more progress on the chassis..... The suspension bits are pretty tricky! I guess that's the way with a reasonably accurate kit. There's a couple hoses to add, and the interior, then I can begin working on the body parts..... I did lose an exhaust collector, gonna have to figure out how to add that back in....... Thanks for looking, and feel free to comment! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattilacken Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 Looking good m8! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted May 15, 2022 Author Share Posted May 15, 2022 Thank you, Anton........ I have test fitted the body on what I have done so far, it seems to not be much of a problem..... We'll see once the interior goes together. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted May 17, 2022 Author Share Posted May 17, 2022 A bit more progress! Looks like the frame/chassis is pretty much done.... I got ahead of myself on the instructions and forgot the lower radiator hose. Gonna have to figure out how to install that later....... One thing about this kit, you HAVE to follow the instructions...... Now I guess it's on to body prep and paint! Thanks, and comment freely......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CabDriver Posted May 18, 2022 Share Posted May 18, 2022 Looking good so far! I picked up a Revell Viper kit on @Paul Payne’s recommendation - the wheels look MUCH better compared to the AMT ones… AMT on the left, Revell on the right: The Revell rear tires are a few scale inches wider too: Disregard if this isn’t useful for your build - but for $5 plus shipping that I paid for this second kit I definitely am happy with these as an upgrade to the AMT parts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteski Posted May 18, 2022 Share Posted May 18, 2022 Yes, Revell wheel/tire combos are better, but the big problem is that both front and rear rims have the same offset. The real car (and AMT rims) have the proper deeper dish rim in the rear). That really bothers me. I wish someone would make really accurate Wiper wheels. I also like the deeper tread pattern on the AMT wheels. Decisions, decisions . . . Someone mentioned that the reason the AMT wheels are too small was because they used a short cut - used tires from another kit. What other AMT kit uses those specific size tires? T thought these were unique to the Viper, and AMT simply goofed on the size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang1989 Posted May 18, 2022 Share Posted May 18, 2022 Those Revell wheels / tires look like the hot ticket to me. As far as the tread depth goes......if I had a Viper that's exactly what the tread depth would be. lol Great build so far TJ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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