drsnapper55

Just a few more progress pics with the interior which will have the Camaro interior except for the Nova dash. Everything had to be settled down a bit including lowering all the seats and notching out a spot for the dash in to the Camaro console. The door panels and portion under the rear window have yet to be trimmed out yet, and I'm still deciding exactly how I want the upper part of the engine firewall / cover look - either keep as is and fill in the gaps or do something different. Staring point with interior: A lot of cutting: A quick mock up:

Good advice here - I don't think you can go wrong with a Paasche, Badger, or Iwata airbrush. I would go with a quality choice like this and a dual action, gravity feed type and maybe something with a large cup for bigger jobs - this as opposed to buying a single action and realizing later that you want more options out of it. I went with a Campbell Hausfeld dual tank compressor for way less than $100 bucks - not the quietest but great for light to moderate air brush users like me. I'm not sure if they make these anymore, but anything where you can monitor and adjust the psi should work ok. Don't forget to get a moisture trap. Hth and good luck.

Nice subtle weathering on this and good call on the decals. I can't see the detail problem you mention with the figure from the pic, but the R2 unit is nicely detailed enough and settled in there. I like your SAFS in the background - l'm not familiar with these but look to be similar to the Dorvack which I really like. I'll have to try that "why don't I build that for you" line on one of my buddies - ha.

Good info, and thank you for all the replies. This helps me to kind of put it all together and understand it a lot more with explanation. Thanks again,

I was wondering if anyone might have any model instructions or pics that show all the connections for a twin turbo setup? I have researched online, but it seems like a lot of the photos are missing all connections that I need to see from all angles (ex. top and underneath, waste gates, radiator, exhaust, etc.). I have one set of model instructions for a twin turbo (Chevelle 454), but the model parts themselves aren't detailed enough to know what I am looking at. I know some of it has to do with an art of where you can position and fit them in the engine compartment and that there are different kinds of turbos too, which has also been a little confusing to someone like me that is new and trying to understand it. If I do this in a model kit, I want it to be correct with the connections. Thanks for any help.

I like this - a throwback to the 80s with muscle and BBS. This model Z is one of my favorite cars, and your creation is a really slick version - just enough mods, lowered, and clean.

Excellent - thank you and looking forward to reading through all the info you have posted here. Outside of cars, I really enjoy a good sci-fi project - lots of good ones on this site, including yours.

I don't think I have ever seen one of these built - just awesome. I really like the lighting you added. Was that from scratch and combined with any PE or just kit stock? Again...really nice job. Not sure what to think about the new one yet, but I'm certainly a fan of the original.

Solid build...I like the black pin striping accent on the seats

Great project and subject you have here! Thanks for sharing and update pics. Your "sculptural abilities" - ha - came out just fine!

After a needed break, I was able to get back to work on this. I modified the Camaro front fender wells in order to get them to fit with the Nova body. Some detail with the struts had to be sacrificed, but there was no way around it. They have been repositioned slightly too in order to give the illusion of where they will be in relation to the wheels and modified front suspension. I'll add a little bit more scratch-built detail later. For now, the fit seems good, and I'm moving forward. The firewall, interior (ugh), and engine fit/hood mod will be up next. A lot of work for a simple detail chassis, but I'm hoping this will all contribute to the final product in a good way. My son has given me his approval, but comments/advice still welcome. Thanks for looking. Shaved off the underside flaring of the Nova body...a very hard to reach area with just about any kind of tool. I ended up using a bare blade in my hands and then a rough sanding stick. Shaving off and refitting some of the stock detail so that it will clear the hood later. I debated on creating plain fender wells (taken from the Nova chassis), but I want to recreate as much of the Camaro ZL1 inside (stock or not) as much as possible. Some comparison pics (unmodified on left). I also made some locating tabs for constantly test fitting the chassis to the body.

Thanks David - Yeah, that front wheel kept rolling away from me - ha. I do have a Corvette kit that I can check out just to make sure. Thanks again for the help.

I finished up some locating tabs for setting the chassis in place to the body. I know there will be a lot more test fitting with interior components, so this should help. I have some wiggle room with where I place the wheels while it still looking close to where the actual axles would be. After my son checks this post, he can text me and let me know if this is where he wants it to sit....

My local modeling club did a drive to collect kits to send to active service men and women across seas. We have also donated to a local boys home. This was several years ago, and the club has changed in terms of outside projects and service, so I don't recall any other details or contact info. Another donation idea might be a children's hospital, foster home, or cub scouts. A lot of schools might appreciate them too for an after school club or sort.

Some progress with filling sink holes and moving the front suspension to account for a slight difference in the front wheelbase. I reattached some of the front suspension arms after cutting in various spots. None of this is functionally correct, but I'm just going for something that will complete the look while still giving me the height I'm looking for. I'm having to take in to consideration where my chassis will attach to the body too - all of this has to line up. Next will be to open up the front more and mock up the height with how the wheels will attach.

Wow...nice - you used the Force on that one.

In my experience, I've found that it loose its strength after stripping paint too.

Second that, and Free Time is a nice family run business. It's a ways from Atlanta, and while both are on the same route, there is plenty else to do and see along the way. If you go, you'll pass Bigun's BBQ on the highway on the right - recommended.

I'm not much of an expert, but I certainly don't sand down something like you have pictured unless I'm sanding some easy, open flat areas or where I have filled with putty, etc. One thing that might help on something like the part above is more than likely you have handled it quite a bit in your prep which leaves oils all over it - not good for paint to stick too. Before painting the primer, wash it down good with some spray cleaner (like Purple Power) and a brush (like an old toothbrush). In fact, I do this with all my parts before painting them. Dry it out really good after. I like to make sure my paint in the can is at a decent temp too and mixed very well. I try not too push if it it seems too cold. I also spray just a little out first before it hits the part just to make sure it gets a good flow. As far as the finishing coat, I'm trying to practice more with just barely sanding the primer in order to get a smoother finish coat. Hope this helps you out some.

By grinding and sanding out the rear fender wells, I'm just barely going to avoid having to make any fender flares or major suspension changes. It's a very tight fit with these wide Aoshima wheels, but I'm going with it. I was surprised that the wheelbases on these two kits are almost identical, but the Camaro ZL has a much wider chassis. With that said, I just made some cuts to draw in the wheels on the front suspension (still setting and test fitting this), and I trimmed off some chassis length on each side to make it fit to the Nova body. Fender wells were all removed, and I'll figure out these and maybe some changes to the gas tank later. I know this may not be realistic, but I'm hoping that the look will be right in the end. Still a ways to go, but I'll be glad when I can get the suspension, ride height, and chassis set and then get on to the engine and other things. It doesn't look like a whole lot of work, but here are a few progress pics. Thanks for looking. fender wells grinded out (right done, left not done)

Thank you for the comments and help. I'm hoping to avoid any grafting, but I'm ready for that if necessary. I'm not too excited about the simple detail on this chassis and axles, and in some ways, that has made this harder. It is what it is though, and this is the kit that I have to work with. Good point on the cross member David, thank you. My son lives a state away, but when we can't visit, he will be following this topic/site.

Some progress and cutting already...some setbacks and some things that didn't work out, but that was expected too. I have a few more ideas and back up plans to keep it going.

This Nova is my son's favorite car, and I have been pondering some combinations for too long. It's time to get this project going. We have different definitions of "cool", but this will be built his way. After looking at various kits and supplies on hand, including the Corvette Callaway, C5R, and C7R model kits, we decided to try and use parts from Revell's 2013 Camaro ZL1 kit. He has told me about how he would like the stance (more level and lower than in the pic below), colors, etc. I'm not too formal with measuring, so we'll see how this goes. I think I have a good idea for where cuts will need to be made and how this will all work. Any suggestions welcome. I'll post progress as this project moves along. Thanks for looking.

I'm out x2 - I have plenty of other kits to keep me building for a long time. I'll just keep an eye out for some of my favorites and buy with a coupon or such. I find that if I hold off, I didn't need or want it as much as I thought.

Great idea on splitting the tires - thanks for posting pics of your progress - nice building