GerN

Superb build!

I saw a nice article recently which showed how to use photos of brake disks to detail blah parts like these. Of course I can't remember where, but it was pretty straightforward, sizing the images in a photo manipulation program (I use GIMP). PE would look better, but these weren't bad at all. Found it! Our own Gregg Hutchings in MCM issue 178.

Very good start. One problem with customs like this (and real vehicles) is that they tend to look tail heavy. A solution would be to slant the rear window more and do a split lift window and tailgate. You might play with the side view in GIMP (what I use) or Photoshop for fun. Just a thought. Another thought: looked at it again; maybe shorten the rear up to the top?

No, that's impossible; that can't be 1/24 - it must be 1/8! Or John Teresi must be about one foot tall. A stunning build.

WOW!

Yup, good old Vaseline in mineral spirits works great with the Permatex red RTV I use for molds, and I just made two semi-two part molds by partially splitting a fully encasing one part. V and min sp (I hope) will allow these molds of full Corvair engines to be used over and over. You might use a fresh blade to separate your mold halves.

And some builders complain about a kit multipiece body. . .

Great work on a radical custom!

Excellent dashboard.

Excellent work! I especially like the use of a plug to form the fog lamp housing. I build customs, so I appreciate how difficult this is.

Superb!

If you try the Permatex, either build up thin coats (2 mm max) or mix in a little baking flour (about 1/20 by volume, max) or only the exposed surface of the RTV will harden.

I've built the GT buggy engine and I hope no one has followed my example of truing the mating surfaces: the gaps caused by the non-flat surfaces are needed for the fan shroud to fit properly. The push rod tubes on the bottom of the Corvair engine are incorrectly parallel (should come together where they join the block) on the AMT and nonexistent on the other two versions.

My copy of this kit is a RevMono from 1997. It is 1/25. I should not have expected much from a kit calling a dune buggy a "Gran Turismo". By the way, I also have one of the Pirhana Spy Car kits with a Corvair engine, also disappointing.

Since these parts are basically thin discs with detail on only one side, it would be simple to use Permatex red RTV to make slush molds, no mold box needed. I'll provide more detail if requested.

I have the Dune Buggy GT kit, so I stripped its all-chrome engine. Maybe that's my mistake: this engine has fit problems too, although the fan shroud is OK, and better detailed than the AMT kit. At least this time I removed the pins and got everything flat first. Here is a fascinating bit of Corvair history, a modular engine with up to twelve cylinders: http://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/engine-prototype-the-stillborn-corvair-gen2-modular-engine-from-two-to-twelve-cylinders/

Those are the best plastic wire wheels I've ever seen. And great work building what appears to be a very good kit.

If the tub really is too short, front to back, I'd divide the tub at the front of the back seat. This would minimize the necessary work. Also, I think it may be less than 6 scale inches short.

Thanks for the thoughtful comments; that's all I wanted to do: get people to think about it. Oh yeah, and to take a look at MadMike's engine - wow. Just a little layering on one exhaust pipe - amazing.

For a fairly flat surface, Dymo tape is great.

Well-done, tasteful custom!

I've never entered a contest, but seeing the incredible 3D printed engine by Mad Mike in Under Glass (do take a look) made me think that if products like this become available, how can a contest judge make valid comparisons except in box stock classes? Of course, even there you could have people getting someone else to paint their model, etc.

Yes, that's the one. The fan shroud is clear. I've separated the engine and tranny, which I should have done before any gluing: the tranny lines up fine, but the engine is off. Glad not everybody has had my problems with it.

I have an RCERTL 2004 version of the AMT 1969 Corvair kit, and I've just assembled the engine to copy it for a rat rod I'm making. I had to file/sand every flat mating surface on it to avoid large gaps. The engine fan shroud would not fit over the fan; I filed both mating surfaces for the fan, but finally got out my large reamer and opened the hole in the shroud. Very disappointing. I also have the 5 engine parts pack Corvair; I used the other engine because it isn't all chrome. BTW, the chrome on the one I used was the most resistant to stripping I've ever seen.

Beautiful. I'm surprised you could avoid visible layers so well with only 15 parts; you must have quite a lot of experience creating the driver files. Very good work.