RancheroSteve

Thought I'd share a little something I did that might be helpful for any of you guys using the Micro Mark kit. I found that after some use, the clamp that holds the piece in the tank started to lose its tension and wouldn't hold very reliably any more. So I bought a 8/32 x 1" nylon bolt and wing nut from the hardware store, cut the old clamp off the rod and the head off the bolt, then epoxied the bolt onto the rod (with a plastic sleeve for additional strength). Then it's simply a matter of punching or drilling a hole in the workpiece and putting the wing nut on to hold it. No more worries about losing the part in the tank!

I started prepping the body. It's a nice, sharp casting that doesn't need much clean-up. I removed the molded in differential cooler lines (I'll replace them with wire later) and the Corvette emblem from the rear deck.

Some small big significant progress: I photo etched my windshield design; made two pieces and soldered them together for more thickness, added some brass rod for the convertible top pins and some small angle at the outside edges. There's still a little refining to do, but it's close. On to the interior next.

No big update, but the VRM decals arrived today (that was fast!). The decals cover several versions, but I'm still leaning towards the #2 Sebring 1964 car, especially after seeing the nice stripes that include the thin red outlines that AM missed.

Some good history about George DuVall and the windshield that bears his name here: http://www.coachbuilt.com/des/d/duvall/duvall.htm

The only one I know of in kit form is in the AMT '32 Ford Phantom, but Replicas & Miniatures offers at least a couple to fit different bodies.

Looks like the start of another great one!

A little more progress - I got the wheels and tires detailed, assembled, and attached. And here with the interior loosely in place: I'm getting ready to start on the body and figured what the heck, this one's coming out pretty decent, so I decided to splurge a little (I had a small PayPal balance) so I ordered the VRM decal set for the Grand Sport: http://www.v-r-m.com/vrm-007---grand-sport-1.html I've used their decals before (on my Cobra Daytona and Cheetah builds); not only are the decals excellent, they come with a little booklet full of historical info and reference. I suspect when they arrive I'll be telling myself I should have done it sooner.

This rig: I didn't see what it was hauling - I think they might have been shooting an ad of some type nearby.

Thanks for the update - I appreciate your efforts to get it right, not quick!

Thanks for the info - always good to come here and learn something! I do know several guys here in SoCal that have Minis, so I know it can be done.

Really nice build! Remember too that it doesn't get all that hot in the UK. I wonder how well that radiator arrangement holds up in warmer climates?

A little bit more progress - I got the radiator and associated plumbing in. I made a new top inlet and radiator cap for it along with new hoses. The oil cooler lines and oil filter are just temporarily floating in space - they'll get attached to the inner fender apron after the body is on. There are a couple of small things I would have done differently at this point (if I'd known), but I'm moving on - almost time to get some wheels on this thing.

It's the Mini Exotics kit. Curbside, but I added an engine from the AMT '63 Corvette and wheels and tires from the Owens Corning Corvette.

Yep - I didn't say Cheetahs weren't raced. I've posted it here before, but here's my version of the #64 car:

Part of the reason was that they never made enough Cheetahs for them to be homologated as production cars, so it had to run in the Modified class, which at the time was beginning to be dominated by mid-engined cars that were far more sorted. I've also read that the designers of the Cheetah were intending it to be more of a street driven sports car and so it lacked sufficient chassis stiffness, among other issues. But all in all, a cool car that never reached it's full potential.

I used an M&S transkit to build this IMSA Porsche 962. Excellent quality resin, good instructions, and it went together very nicely.

Thanks for the link, Joe. I'd looked at some of that before, but not all of it. Great material for someone who really wants to go crazy making an accurate replica - there's always more that can be done! I'm mainly trying to do a decent, clean build here, with a few added details. Glad to have your story on this thread, Bill - it's part of what makes message boards like this so worthwhile, as far as I'm concerned. Stan: yes, I use some pretty small brushes (down to 00000) where needed, and also use an Optivisor most of the time when building - my 60 year old eyes are not what they once were, plus standards, expectations, and cameras have all improved. Thanks to all who are following along - and for the enthusiasm and kind words. More to come . . .

Your post caught my eye, because my wife once worked at a Czech restaurant called "The Heart of Europe". Welcome!

Yes, it is an early version of the "third brake light" we've all come to know. According to the instructions, this was a feature on the Grand Sport. Of course, I read the instructions only after I had carefully sanded it off (thinking it was some kind of mold tab) and so I had to re-do it with a piece of aluminum tubing and a drop of metallic red paint.

Engine successfully fitted into the chassis and the headers attached. I had to re-work the steering box a little. It's a tight fit in there, just like the real thing. Oil lines will get hooked up later.

To my eyes, it appears that all the aftermarket/resin Cheetahs (Mini Exotics, Modelhaus, and HRM) were based off the Cox slotcar/static body. The Cox bodies of that time - Cheetah, Lotus 40, Chaparral, etc. - were really well done.

Facel Vega HK500 Tatra T87 and 603 another vote for the Volvo P1800 1960 Hillman Minx (because it was my first car) all kinds of sports racing and F1 cars from the 50s and 60s - but I took your question to be more about production road cars?

Very cool idea and execution. I like your choice of engine, too!

Same here - I've done it, but never with the intent to grandstand or show off, but to answer a question or illustrate a point if possible - so I hope it comes off that way. I try to do it sparingly and be sensitive about it. I'd listen if someone tells me otherwise.