Pierre Rivard

Ok... warning to the sensitive stomachs, the color theme reflects 1972. Remember Harvest or Avocado refrigerators? Right, so yes an ugly brownish yellow vinyl trim, and where trim has been removed we are down to dark gray factory e-dip primer. Weathering will be added later... which won't improve appearance. I'm considering making the roll cage unpainted carbon steel color. I confirm this is a low budget race car.

The interior is a low budget approach consistent with the theme of this car. Imagine original interior including most of the trim and dash, with the patina of a barn find car. Of course only a driver's seat, again original to the car but with safety belts, and of course a roll cage and fire extinguisher, heat shield mats and perhaps a few extra gauges.

Merci Claude, Steve (MUNCIE) and I have been exchanging on the topic. He helped me understand the vibe of the Lake and has been most supportive. I'm getting good help. Please PM me about Trois-Rivières event which I was not aware of. If I find time I might try to make a run for it just before we leave for Europe.

A gorgeous build and faithful replica of your dad's Corvette. Well done!

Chaparral, McLaren and now a Garlits dragster. You are a busy man Mark. Looking forward to more info about the resin fittings you have purchased. The engine does poke through the hood on this car, but I might add a home made aero hump ahead of it. Maybe... I try to pull engine builds at the early stage of the build these days, get that out of the way... Next engine I'm farming out to the shops of Daniel or Francis... or Bruce, Ken, Charlie or Claude! Send in your quotes guys. Another problem solved. Thank you Paul. I think weathering the engine helps the appearance I try to achieve for this low cost Bonneville effort Thanks Bruce. I did the best I could starting with the blower that came from an old tooled MPC kit. The casting lacks precision but I gave it a well used finish which I think fits the theme of this build I like the body paint also. It's a new method I had never tried before. There is still a question on how I should handle the chrome bumpers. Still thinking about it. Hi Charlie, super nice of you to stop by, much appreciated. I should have more soon, currently working on the interior, trying to match the theme of the body + roll cage etc. Bonjour Claude, definitely unusual. I'm just starting to learn about Bonneville racing and totally fascinated by it. For a first effort I decided to start with a simpler Classic Altered construction, sort of dipping my toe in. This is all new to me so any advice from the SoCan racing unit would be most welcome!

I like them both. My guess is you have a 30 mesh and 40 mesh there. If I had to choose I would go with the 40.

I know the feeling Ismael. Sometimes a lot of work is not visible but will add up in the end. it is sweating the details such as panel fit and finish that result in more lifelike replicas. You're making a silk purse out of a sow's ear!

Well Mark, that's a lot of info to digest. Rich and Guy's builds are proof of what can be achieved with this complex kit... but wow, what a complex kit that is. I'd say this kit is for expert builders just like you Mark. Please provide us with regular updates, this will be epic. My fix for the next few weeks!

That engine compartment is getting busy! I love the various detailing elements and paint textures & color shades you have done to all these engine & chassis elements. It looks very lifelike. Oh... on a side note, anybody want to do a few laps strapped in the "comfy" mandatory second seat? Ouch!

Beautiful build Rich, as all your builds are. Looks like Aoshima has successfully cast a lot of crisp details into this sculpted body and your papaya orange color makes all these details very visible. It is the proper color for a McLaren. Well done sir!

Lot's of work on this one and it shows. Engine is gorgeous, roof chop is seamless, stance is mean and no chrome finish looks perfectly sinister. What's not to love! I've never done a hot rod but this is providing the greatest of incentives.

Getting the glass trim out of the way first...smart! The masking, careful cutting, painting with fear of bleed through on a clear part. All done and looking great. Relax now, these scary parts are done!

Well it was a longer than expected journey but the results more then justify it. This replica adds up to a lot more than the sum of it's parts and quite the achievement with perhaps more than 90% of it scratch built the old fashioned way. I know CAD and 3D printing is quickly changing the game with speed and accuracy us old traditional builders can't achieve but there will always be a place for the tradition of making parts one by one... because it's a hobby! Be proud my friend, this replica oozes realism. No matter the method, realism IS the end game. Perhaps we should start the Scratch Builders Society? You have my vote for president.

TERMINÉ! FINITO! DONE! I mean... the engine part of it. A happy step for me. Did I say I don't like doing engines?

Thank you sir. On the positive side, so so eyesight makes me more indulgent of the defects I spent hours carefully applying on the parts I make.

Very nice build Bruce and a nice way to celebrate the loss of the great Eddie Jordan. I loved that car and if I recall right even in B&H livery it maintained the snake motif on the nose. Eddie was a marketing master.

Definitely is my friend. Nice to see you "back on the job"

So that's where you have been hiding! I just spotted this build for the first time and quite happy I did. You are showing us (again) what can be created starting with a very basic kit. Model on Master Daniel!

Hi Mark, I used these from RB Motion. I've had a small quantity for a while, very nice... very small and pricey but the blower assembly will always be visible through the hood so I thought it would be worth the effort. Description says it's 0.026" (=0.66mm) but the 0.4mm plug wires I used for fuel lines are a pretty snug fit. Still experimenting with these.

Thanks Mark. Toning down the chrome with the flat varnish + brown wash has reduced the contrast while keeping the variety of colors/textures I was aiming for. Getting there...engine should be finished today. My approach is the same as your's Niko, but the chrome was surprisingly good on these valve covers so I thought I could use them untouched but it didn't work next to the unplaced look of the blower. Better with the flat clear layer. Thanks Alan. I fear the engine build in every project so I make a list and take it step by step. It's the only way for me to slow down and avoid botching the engine. Definitely my least favorite part of a project. Thanks Carl. The barn find type paint job was a first for me and worked out quite nice. Found the sponge technique surfing the net so I can't take credit for it.

Blower assembly is done with fuel lines, valves and throttle all cooperating. I like the vintage look of it. First time working with a distributor from Greg Stegall. Very nice. Distributor fits behind the blower with less than 1 mm clearance. Measure twice... they say? True! Decided on a finish adjustment for the valve covers. Chrome finish did not fit well for a "working engine" so they were toned down with a flat clear & dark brown wash.

Pretty small stuff to work with. Hands are still steady but the eyesight is not so good. Working slowly at it and hoping my paint finishes will make the engine look fairly realistic.

I think it looks very good. Perhaps raise the rear just a tiny bit (1 mm). Love the HRM wheels.

Stunning!

Interesting question Bill, and you're not the lone ranger there. I think many of us have more challenging kits requiring time before we are ready to pull the trigger. Perhaps not a concern about our skills but more about building up the energy to tackle it. Two kits like that for me: Accurate Miniature Corvette Grand Sport and Fernando Pinto Alfa Romeo 8C LM. Took a while before I was ready but with patience and care they turned out fine. And if things don't turn out as good as planned? Well... it's just a hobby!