1:12 1969 Camaro Z/28 as seen in the August '69 issue of Car Life.

[69H.O.Firebird]

Wow! I never realized the 1:1 had a mold line! Live & learn each day. Still, awesome work!

 

[swede70]

Greetings,

A revised mounting flange for the fuel pump is witnessed, as is a scratch built bottom with inlet and outlet detail.  Worried that the added bulk across the bottom would introduce fit problems when installed, happy I was to discover this to be a nonissue.  Mounting hardware is to be added, hence the holes witnessed on the flange will come in handy to secure such. Thanks...

Mike K.

M.K.

Edited July 23, 2015 by swede70
Endless revision as per my project.

[1930fordpickup]

I was sitting next to my buddy at work and he said he still may have pictures of his  69 while it was being rebuilt. And many pictures from shows of the rear disc brake setups. If he can find them. He was telling me about  how it has three calipers that are the same . How one brake is at the rear and one is at the front on the rear end,  using the same mounting casting on both sides. Do you have sosme good pictures  of the rear end ? 

He told me a Camaro show was just at Depot Town in Ypsilanti. It is in the park where they have many car shows.  

[swede70]

I was sitting next to my buddy at work and he said he still may have pictures of his  69 while it was being rebuilt. And many pictures from shows of the rear disc brake setups. If he can find them. He was telling me about  how it has three calipers that are the same . How one brake is at the rear and one is at the front on the rear end,  using the same mounting casting on both sides. Do you have sosme good pictures  of the rear end ? 

He told me a Camaro show was just at Depot Town in Ypsilanti. It is in the park where they have many car shows.  

Greetings,

Thanks for your interest and offer.  I have Wayne Guinn's Camaro: Untold Secrets 1967-1969 and have been quietly purchasing materials since April of this year in the form of textual materials to compliment this project.  The Guinn title seems definitive with regards to the special Trans Am homologation pieces, but new discoveries or stuff previously overlooked is always welcome.  Just a few weeks ago I gathered an old Automotive Quarterly title identified as Camaro: From Challenger to Champion which dates back to 1981, and very fine it is.  I did attend the Ypsilanti, MI. Camaro show this year (my first time then), although most cars spied constituted older restorations.  Happily I'm near a National Parts Depot warehouse, something called the Lingenfelter Collection isn't far away, whereas a specialist known as Heartbeat City is fairly close to me situated as it is in Shelby Township.  Heartbeat City has a good website in particular, hence contemplate trying:

Heartbeat City JL-8 4 wheel disc brake subpage

Also very much worth visiting is something called the Camaro Research Group where I've maintained a rambling build thread across many a (incomplete) project - usually SCCA Trans-Am related in some fashion.  Follow the link to my thread there, but by all means search around for there's so much to examine there.  You'll quickly pick up on my habit of jumping from one project to the next, although the subassemblies and half-finished works are always good for passing a few minutes.  See: 

Mike K's mostly 1:18th Vintage SCCA Trans Am build thread on CRG

CRG has a few threads documenting 'as found' low mileage Camaros discovered as of late, hence I'm trying to honor what has been recorded and related here and there.  Individual cross ram items sold via eBay with pertinent photos provided as also been a lifesaver.  Kind thanks and yes - I'm always on the search for more and better stuff.

 

Mike K.

Edited July 23, 2015 by swede70
My usual habit of not leaving matters alone...

[LouO]

Really nice work! I'll be back to see how this keeps rolling along!

[swede70]

Thanks for the continued interest and encouragement,

More then...:

...information obtained via The Camaro Research Group exhaust header thread indicated that no flange detail is strictly seen between the exhaust headers (an over-the-counter option on '69 Z/28's) and the exhaust system proper; i.e. everything was welded together as per instructions scanned and viewed on the CRG.  Given this, I ground off the flanges and extended the pipes forward a bit anticipating that I'll have to cut them back at some point.  

...the same assembly painted, less guillotine clamp paint (or possible replacement given they are the wrong thing fitted to the chambered exhaust).  The actual chambered exhaust pipe clamps are simpler affairs, hence it would be good to change them out.  Barely visible is a small application of glue to suggest a weld (X2 then) between the equalization pipe and the two exhaust pipes looking back.

...front shock absorber top mounting detail done in miniature brass hardware.  The threads are coated with Tamiya Translucent Red less the threads beneath be wholly obscured, whereas the top is touched in with Testor's Dark Red enamel.  Barely visible beneath the upper control arms this detail is, while know I'm shopping for larger hardware to effectively suggest that the upper arms are also so-secured.

...the rear shocks with painted miniature brass hardware, with painted bushing detail largely obscured.  I hope to add shrunken two letter labels to denote to assembly line personnel which code (equating to stiffness) to fit to which Camaro passing by.  Such decals/labels can be had by 1:1 restoration houses for about $5 each.

...some miniature brass hardware sorted for use on the rear leaf spring shackles.

...the same in place and largely happy.  

...for visiting a pair of R/C shops, smaller coil over units were found to substitute into the front suspension assembly.  In the foreground may be seen the unaltered R/C unit, whereas back of it looking to the right of the lower control arm may be seen a cut down unit, and finally to the far right, another cut down unit which has had some coils removed to better simulate what would be fitted as per stock.  I hope to paint the coils gray, add coil spring rate tags as per stock, and possibly introduce some material over the metal center rod carved to reproduce the spiral shock detail.  Thanks for examining this post and for the nice feedback left.   

Mike K.

 

 

 

Edited July 29, 2015 by swede70
Quite constant updates...

[swede70]

A small update this...,

...the front suspension pseudo-springs (actually just locating pegs) have been cut off and ground even, whereas the cut down R/C equipment springs and perches have been loosely sited in the wake of rudimentary paintwork applied to each. 

...inside both assemblies a two-part shock absorber body has been sited with a thicker top half and an indented 'swirl' etched into the bottom half to match the exterior shock detail provided on the rear shock absorbers.  Tags to call out the spring rates have yet to be purchased, although I hope to reduce each and add these to what is seen here.

...hardly breathtaking, but discreet spring isolator pads have been painted in between the leaf springs and spring perches.  The dots seen directly below the mounts are a somewhat oversized and stand to be changed out. 

...some refinishing of basic assemblies is detectable here.  The wheel housing liners have been painted Krylon Semi-Flat Black which seems a bit less reflective, the master cylinder brake fluid reservoir top is now a bright gold cad. versus silver as before, whereas I've started to play around with air cleaner tones to suggest a well-worn as-discovered original versus a poppy 98+ point restoration.  The air cleaner was first painted Testor's Light Ivory, and then coated lightly with Tamiya Translucent Orange.  The effect seems a bit heavy in-camera, although know it is appears less 'in your face' when examined in person.  Finally, the hood latch striker plate as well as the hood hinges (a bit dumpily rendered these) have been repainted too in the hopes of suggesting gray chromate, or what is known as palmerizing. Thanks for skimming this update. 

Mike K.

 

Edited August 9, 2015 by swede70
Just my usual 'got to fix it' fixation at play and on show...

[swede70]

...more stuff then,

...believing that utterly clean valvecovers on something like this is akin to an anomaly, some used crankcase oil was dripped onto the fins nearest the breather/PVC opening atop each.  Without direct illumination nothing is strictly seen, although adding such does add a bit of dimension to the work.  A slight dusting of rust beneath the master cylinder was further added, although this too is largely invisible.

...revised exhaust system less paint.  I noticed that the chambered exhaust (as well as other period systems) did not feature a balance pipe between the two banks.  Having removed such, I inadvertently damaged a guillotine clamp for clumsy sanding.  Since the guillotine-style is incorrect on this topic, for some concerted application off they came.  Some material was left to help flesh out the correct style exhaust clamp detail, hence more to do here besides applying something akin to an aluminized finish from front to back.

...believing it possible to make some reasoned changes to the existing headers short of starting from scratch, this would be the revised passenger's side fitment less flange detail.  What was unnecessarily bendy is now straight...

...whereas this would be the driver's side. They obviously aren't 100% spot-on for each tube being routed to the proper position into the four-into-one collector provided, but all the same they're better.  It is my understanding that Bill Thomas as well as Kustom Headers both supplied Chevrolet with tube headers as an 'in the trunk' option for the '67-'68 Camaro Z/28.  Research suggests that Bill Thomas headers were a light silvery blue, whereas the Kustom Headers were painted semi-gloss black.  In '69 the headers were available over the counter, whereas I think I'll end up painting these the Kustom Header shade.  The collectors look a wee bit short, hence I hope add a puck of material to each to lengthen matters out. Thanks for examining this update.

Mike K.

Edited August 13, 2015 by swede70

[kruleworld]

some amazing work here. good job!

[swede70]

Greetings...

Noticing more than a few personal errors committed across both the exhaust system as well as for my finish choices, I've decided to redo the axle assembly as well as the exhaust.  The as-delivered guillotine-style exhaust clamps were correct, whereas I inadvertently sanded this detail off.  Further, much more work was and is required on the leaf springs and axle before I'll be satisfied with matters.  

For discreet sanding five leaves are seen versus four, locating tabs to prevent leaf spring side slippage have been added, whereas the ends of four of the five leaves have been squared off even if this detail can't strictly be made out from the photo image provided.

...the clamps on the leaves weren't quite where they needed to be, while only two were provided versus three (per side) that are required.  The clamps proper are yet to be added, although the welded-in locating points are seen above.  Other things are soon to be added...

...albeit bereft clips, this would approximate the finish choices made on the exhaust.  The chambered system on the Camaro was aluminized from front to back, whereas Krylon Chrome in an aerosol can was applied from a slight distance to add a bit of texture to the surface finish.  A bit 'soft' like Testor's Metal Master range, the Krylon product proved necessary to seal coat it with MM clear before the assembly could be safely handled.  MM Stainless Steel was employed to do what will eventually be clamp detail.  

I might be tempted to spray some Tamiya Translucent Blue on the exhaust to add a bit of further dimension, observing care if you will to mix up the application of such to differentiate between the separate elements the system is made up of.  In short, I want to suggest that the finish so-applied suggests different parts mated to each other rather than one continuous pipe per bank painted in one go.

...nothing shattering here, but MM (Model Master then) Jet Exhaust in a bottle was applied to each exhaust tip recess followed by a tiny drop of black further in.  It seems to look better than the standard 'pool o'black', although given the difficulties of setting up the cross ram carburetors, perhaps evidence of a chalky full-rich setting would be better?

...and a better driveshaft shade was found, this being MM Titanium in an aerosol can.  Two further dustings of differing shades of brown were used to add a bit of discreet rust detail to the surface of such, whereas the orange and white bands are assembly line details arrived at for the study of a '1969 Camaro driveshaft markings' thread on the Camaro Research Group.  The drive yoke requires some further marks, while the i.d. bands were painted very lightly as per design.  Moving ahead slowly then.  Thanks for reviewing this thread.

Mike K.

Edited August 22, 2015 by swede70

[Belugawrx]

Very nice work so far Mike!

I do enjoy reading your WIPs...and watching your techniques.

Well done Sir

Cheers

[swede70]

Thanks for the kind comments...

Returning I suppose to the rear suspension which I judged not quite adequate and hence worthy of another attempt.  Please see below:

...rather than create the leaf spring clamps/clips with four sections of plastic stock, I opted to heat up some thin rectangular stock in a glass of hot water to bend clips anew.  A small gap can be seen on the sides allowing for some movement as per stock, whereas note this is a view from the top that won't be strictly seen when all is assembled.

...while this would be the view from the bottom.  Very likely a bit large in sum, although I think I'll just go with it and move on to other aspects of this project whilst recording within my memory that the same work could have been done with a bit less visible bulk if my meaning is understood by the reader.

...well nigh invisible before, here is seen my effort to straighten out the ends of all but the center top leaf spring.  Not terrible this...

...a puck of material has been added to the nose of the differential as per photo reference.  Basically just a slice o' plastic tube, the addition also firms up the positioning of the driveshaft and is revealed to be no bad thing.

...cover hardware touched in with Testor's Jet Exhaust versus the usual silver or steel.  The Jet Exhaust shade seems closer to Gray Chromate versus other options tried to date, hence all for the good.

...assembled with shocks and shackles.  The isolator pads beneath the spring perches have been painted on again, whereas the small dots in the center of the perches are reduced in size for putty work, etc.

...now matched if you will to the exhaust.  I still need a new exhaust system casting to start anew for clumsy efforts to revise the clamps cast-in, although most of what's here looks the business...

...seemingly a nasty shot, this would be Krylon Satin Black used on the front spoiler.  It looks like the plastic 1:1 original, whereas backing off a bit and applying the coating from a distance resulted in a fine pebbled surface texture that for now appeals.  Thanks for skimming this most recent update...

Mike K.

 

Edited September 18, 2015 by swede70
...sometimes my writing is clumsy, hence I improve matters if I can.

[swede70]

...more work, with some obvious refashioning of what at first seemed good:

...the spiral shock detail not quite well-defined enough to use front shock bodies is seen redone here.  The one on the top of the rod depicts what will be visible, whereas know the bottom one is upside down.  A tiny section of machined stock as per the R/C part I using should be visible, hence it ought to all come together.

...the upper shock mounts through the front stub frame have been scrubbed off in anticipation of scratch building bushings and reapplying hardware that is both shorter and better aligned for being situated straight up versus on an angle.  In short, I dislike brush painting what can be rendered as individual parts...

...efforts to open up the drains on the front stub frame and rear subframe plus the usual floor pan body dip drains is noticed.  The hardware for the former will be scrubbed off and added independently, mostly to facilitate mindless paint work.  The plugs for the floors will be done as separate pieces, whereas I might be able to add a bit of visible seam sealer to make them look right.  Being so large, such detail work is invited even if such doesn't strictly come to mind on work of a smaller scale.  Also note that the seam in the middle of the casting heading from front to back has been lightly scrubbed away.  Such is easy to overlook and should be seen to before applying paint.

...expecting to do the topside of the fuel tank much like a metal briefcase with contour tucking in along the perimeter, I opted to remove the tank detail outright in anticipation of plugging the resultant gap.  Mounting straps may or may not be scratch built, but at least this effort frees me from the most tedious masking that would otherwise be required.  Also up might be the addition of the metal work 'melted cheese' edge detail seen on the 1:1 fuel tank corners nearest the rear axle in particular.  In sum, I'm effectively pushing the total parts count up on this model to comfortably finish it as I wish.  Thanks for skimming this most recent update...

Mike K.

 

[swede70]

...a fast update then...

...plugged area atop the fuel tank is seen awaiting putty application.

...reinforcement of the inset panel as seen from above.

...the same addition now puttied in.

...hardware removed from the front stub frame.

...hardware removed from rear subframe.

...initial chassis paint with semigloss black paint applied to the trans. tunnel both forward and back, Tamiya Fine Gray primer from the sides and inward, and finally, some MM Daytona Yellow from the outside in.

...front stub frame paintwork to come as well as wheel arch paint - most likely MM Fabric Black for what texture is on offer. 

-

...revised front spoiler profile with sharper ends and slight trimming to the base.  Much better I do think.  Thanks for skimming this update...

Mike K.

[Ralph Torres]

Very nice work Michael.. love the extra detail on your work.. alternator, fuel pump, spoiler and chassis..all look great..

[swede70]

Thanks Ralph for your kind notice.  Your multiple 1:12th Camaro projects evidencing all the creative things you've incorporated into them certainly impresses.  With respect...

Mike K.

...not having any luck finding MM Fabric Black locally and not terribly impressed with Rustoleum's Textured Black, I thought maybe I'd give some actual 'undercoating in a can' a whirl to reproduce a reasoned wheel housing/tub coating.  A texture is cast-in to the tool, whereas I suppose I was in no mood to strictly sand out and erase such. 

...this affords some idea as to the spray templates I fabricated for the purpose of applying the coating clean, albeit not too clean.  The aim was to mask tightly around the leaf spring mounts, while being impressionistic near the subframe rails, etc. 

...this would be the front stub frame painted in place (a terrible hassle this and reason alone to cut it off the bottom to meld to another chassis entirely), while note how the undercoating is dusted a bit onto the rails of said stub frame.  Other chassis items await adding, hence everything will 'pop' visually a bit more for attachment hardware, the front antiroll bar, as well as the spindles and drag link.  The shock bottoms were masked and sprayed - thank goodness for the utility of Tamiya tape. 

...understanding that Wally and Gus handled wheel house undercoat duties in April of '69 and that Wally was more or less stoned all the time while he stumbled through his 'work', this would be a 'good enough for production' stab at said undercoat.  Perhaps a bit wasteful, know that the exhaust as well as the axle assembly plus leaf springs will be replaced for errors made.  I sanded off the exhaust clamp detail (why oh why?) and was too eager to glue the leaf springs in position without first mating them to the chassis.  The leaf springs bow out heading towards the back of the car - something I didn't detect.  Check your alignment of parts first and avoid my error!

...being situated close to a National Parts Depot warehouse situated in SE Michigan, these would be 1:1 decals to call out the front spring rate as well as shock absorber valving specific to the Z/28 model.  The decals aren't shatteringly expensive at maybe $4 each, so something to consider certainly.  The images will be shrunk down with a color copier, twisted around a small plastic rod if need be for shape, coated in clear and then set in place.  If this was a 1:25th model I doubt I'd bother, but being so large such things can be added.  Kind thanks for all who stop by for a look here. 

Mike K.

 

Short update!  Having inadvertently lost the 1:1 suspension decals seen above in combination with troubles encountered with my 1:1 daily driver, it seems I lost momentum which I hope to regain for repurchasing another set of said decals, etc.  More to come then...

M.K.

Edited October 27, 2015 by swede70
Much like the model, endless re-dos.

[tbill]

fantastic project you have going on here, love all the added details.

[swede70]

...a brief respite concludes, while matters are taken up again...

...rather raw looking I do believe, these would be the spring tags and front disc brake backing plate decals reduced 75% twice over to carefully approximate what it is I require.  Not the best, but nevertheless a start as I have the 1:1 images now on file for having gathered them up again.  At the very least, multiple tries are desired so that I'll be able to trim such accurately.

...some of the above noted images in place, these calling out the rate of the spiral shocks fitted to the '69 Z/28.

...a pair of bumper mount holes are missing on each side up front, hence before another color coat was added I drilled these discreet holes through the front of the shell.

...I also forgot to mention my desire to extend out the trim on the bottom of the windscreen.  It shouldn't terminate on either side of the A-pillar but rather stretch across from the center before ending short of the top of each respective door.  Some time ago I extended the trim out from the cowl area prior to applying primer and paint.  Clear coats are up next, with Testor's Wet Look the coating of choice. 

...notice at the 12 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions that headlamp positioning detents have been added (i.e. merely filed these) into place. 

...succumbing to pressure evidenced by the better ideas of other builders here, I tore out the grille and filed the back until the top and bottom egg crate pattern opened up.  A small brass brush can help a lot here even as the inclusion of the same can scarcely be made out within the space of the photo image provided.

...looking better, with further work done to improve the circular profile of each respective headlamp bucket.  Paintwork to come then...

...though mostly a fan of the headlamp detail afforded, I've felt the lenses looked a bit dead on center for featuring no bulb detail.  I have no desire to make these strictly operate, although cutting into the back of each respective lens and introducing a grain of wheat bulb to improve matters helps. 

...a little dusty from the front, but better surely.  I'll dip this in car wash solution and blow dry it, otherwise I'll just end up scratching the surface in an undesired sense.  Thanks for skimming this most recent update.

Mike K.

 

 

Edited October 30, 2015 by swede70
...like the model, the usual small adjustments...

[Ralph Torres]

Nice... i like your attention to detail..

[swede70]

Renewed Greetings,

After mulling the matter for weeks, a second kit was purchased to avail myself much needed spares, second tries, as well as excuses to cut matters into several parts to facilitate paintwork as deemed required.  Slow motion progress to report then...:

...a bit preliminary here, but notice that the tepid cast-in sheet metal stiffening brace work has been sanded out whilst saving the raised perimeter and hood hinge location detail, whereas in time the ZL2 fresh air hood in fiberglass plus cross ram ductwork will be scratch built and reproduced.  I've just slipped in some sheet plastic here, whereas this aspect of the project stands to be redone and much elaborated upon. 

...notice the tiny bulb can in fact be noticed, whereas the border of the grille (less the area on the outside of each head light bucket; i.e. such is to come) wears some chrome foil. 

...a little sloppy with the chrome foil (it's obviously slipping a bit), but again the bulbs show up nicely.

...the full refinished grille, with a compromise sanded mesh being a bit lower than the 'chrome plated' surround still incomplete for the outside edges requiring foil. 

...this image was drawn from the Camaro Research Group water pump thread, while the water pump design reflects what was fitted to 1969 Camaros.

...a bit overexposed, this would be the kit item as-delivered.  Notice that the heater hose attachment point and/or 'bulge' is missing along the top, whereas the taper emanating from the center is missing.  Further notice the absent of the cast-in 'dot' towards the left bottom, the missing material on the left bottommost attachment point, whereas know that the back view would reveal that the hose attachment point isn't quite fully rendered and appears a compromise at best.

...still unfolding, but notice the material additions consistent with rectifying that which I could.  Attachment hardware in the form of either miniature hardware or simple plastic hex rod will be substituted in prior to textured paint application.

...and finally, something fairly modest.  Presuming that interior seats perfectly lined up is something of an anomaly, here an additional mounting slot has been drilled in under the assumption that the passenger of this particular scale ride may be shorter of stature.  Oops - it seems I reversed the seat when I took this photo image.   I'm not sure I'll bother with seat rails, but all the same some attention so-manifest might help matters visually.  Thanks for skimming this update.

Mike K.

Edited November 20, 2015 by swede70

[Ralph Torres]

Nice job.. 

[Belugawrx]

Great stuff here Ralph !

The added detail will definitely pay off...

Cheers

 

[tbill]

amazing attention to detail, keep it coming..........

[Ralph Torres]

Great stuff here Ralph !

The added detail will definitely pay off...

Cheers

 

thanks Bruce but its not mines lol.. wish it was though ... great work here...

[exesivefire]

Great detail!!