Scale-Master

After I test assembled the lap belts by bolting them into the frame and wrapping them over the seats I found they would not lay the way I wanted them to. So I had to mount them to the seats and forgo the lower mounting points. Not a real issue as they were not even visible once the seats were installed. All the stitching and labeling is done on the shoulder harnesses even the ones behind the seat. And here are all the lap belts. I’ll probably add some wear to the assemblies later, but they’re done for now…

It's done now, under glass...

1/43 scale Model Factory Hiro kit. I scratch-built the jacks, added the base and the rest is the way the kit goes together. WIP thread: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=90706 (Im still looking for the little rubber button feet I had somewhere to go in the four holes of the base.)

It wasn't my call, and I got them all to fit under the bodywork before the end recipient decided he wanted the wheels off for display.

It's difficult? Oh man, nobody told me that! Sure glad I wasn't aware of that... Since the decision was made to display it all open and to not install the wheels, I made some jacks to pose it on. Made mostly from piano wire, with a couple bits of styrene, vinyl tubing, coffee stirrer wood (thanks Mr. Taylor), and turned aluminum main wheels. They are copies of typical of the jacks of the day that were used, but simplified a little. I also made a base from aluminum, scribed some tile detail into it and did some gray & black shading to it.

Thanks guys! The engine cover is done too… The inside is painted a raw fiberglass color. It is almost done…

Thanks Mike. The header wrap was made from a cloth tape from the pharmacy (CVS house brand). After I painted it, cut strips and wrapped the header, and weathered it, I heated it with a cigarette lighter to give it a new memory. Hasn't come undone yet...

Thanks Andy! That is very kind of you to say. Commencing final assembly… It is tight, but the body does fit over the chassis.

Thanks Byron. Cleared and almost ready for the final assembly…

Wheels and tires are done. Semi soft rubber-like tires, aluminum rims, white metal centers with two piece PE/white metal nuts, and 18 decals… The tread on the tires is very well done.

I touched up the area in the decals that has an overlap (where the wheel well cut out would be) I wasn’t 100% sure the Martini decals would fully cover the bad spots. All the main decals are on it, except the Martini sponsorship ones.

Thanks! The main decals for the rear went on about as well as the front ones. I painted the edges of the fins blue in case the decals didn’t quite cover them, but it looks like that wasn’t necessary. There is still some touch up to do on the sides though.

The windows have PE frames that are actually quite workable and shapeable, except the one for the windshield is just too big. Since they are supposed to be black, I made decals to replace the window frames.

Hey Scott, I'm actually working on it right now. Started installing the seat belts, shoulder harnesses first.

I'll let you know when I run out of parts... I installed all the glass…

Actually, there was no '83 Corvette. I know some C3 '82 Corvettes were sold in '83, but they were no different than other '82s. Since the Renault Alliance won the Motor Trend Car Of The Year Award before the all new C4 was ready in '83, it was postponed as an expected shoe in for the award in '84, which it did win. The '82 Camaro earned the 1982 Car Of The Year Award.

Thanks Chris, it's starting to get tight in there... I have all the decals on the front section of the body. And clear coated the bonnet as well.

Thanks Carl, still plugging along... The dash fits, but had to be moved rearward a little bit to look right through the windshield. I had to remove the mounting points cast into the bottom of the dash. I mocked up the body to the chassis and tacked the dash to the frame. Later I reinforced the cement points. The chassis, engine and interior are pretty much done, just a little touch up here and there to do.

The dash is ready to be installed. The kit supplies decals for all the gauges. The toggle switches were designed well too.

And the swaybar & stabilizer links… As well as the front cooler.

Finally the upper control arms and tie rod ends. Also the interior cooling ducts and some front end bracing.

Could be those are left overs from when it was a motorized kit. Possibly for the battery box or motor mounting. I think there was something like that in the Lola from that series.

Now for the front suspension. Lower control arms and shocks go on first. Then the brake assemblies with their ducting.

Seats and steering installed… The seat belts are made entirely of PE, not as tough to work with as that may sound. A decal is even included for the steering wheel, which is made up of white metal and PE.