427 Street Cobra Csx3181

[Darin Bastedo]

This update covers more work done on the frame and the improved rear suspension, brakes, and half shafts, as well as more progress on the interior, and steering gear.

Here is the 1:1 Rear Suspension:

Here is the scale version with scratch built aluminium half-shafts, Arrowhead Aluminium Resin & machined aliminium Cobra brakes.

Here are a few more frame pieces I've scratch built to replace their plastic counterparts.

Here is how the various componants are starting to fit together;

I modified the kit steering rack by drilling out the boots and gearbox, so that when I do the posable steering the tie rod will pass through the tube, allowing the model to have working steering and an accurate appearance;

Here is the new dashboard. it aslo is formed from aluminium sheet and drilled for guages and switches. The Gauge bezels for the speedo & tach will have bezels made out of sliced aluminium tubing, and the accessory guages will have photo etched bezels from an old Performance Detail Products detail set. The glove box will be hinged and filled with stuff from the Detail Master Interior Junk set.

The deeper I get into this build the more I'm amazed at the elgant simplicity of the Cobra's design. It had almost nothing that wan't there for performance.

Thanks for looking, let me know what you think.

[MojaveRacer208]

WOW!!!!....

Great work!

Richard

[RodneyBad]

WOW!!!!....

Great work!

Richard

AWESOME work!!!

man!!

I can't wait to see the rest of it..

That's probley the best way to build a Kick A#$ Model.

See each Part as A Build

Not the whole car as One build..(they way I DID, Untill now)

That makes since,

Right?

[cobrit]

AWESOME work!!!

man!!

I can't wait to see the rest of it..

That's probley the best way to build a Kick A#$ Model.

See each Part as A Build

Not the whole car as One build..(they way I DID, Untill now)

That makes since,

Right?

Hi. It's been three months since you last updated us on your Cobra build. How's it coming? We would like to see the projects latest updates. Thanks.

[Darin Bastedo]

Well I'm back at the bench with this build, it's been almost 18 months sice I've been able to work on models but during that time I've been able to collect a lot of reference material and spent much time thinking of methods to accomplish what I want to do.

I've found great reference shots like these...

There are a lot more at my fotki site. stay tuned for updates as I am trying to finish this one by summer.

[nails3825]

I was smiling all the way through this detailed description of your build... and a very detailed model you're making These are my favorite cars by far, can't wait to see this one finished... take your time!

[Jon Cole]

Darin,

This is looking like museum quality build. And I have to applaud anyone who can build over twenty models of one particular car! I'd say that qualifies you as the resident Cobra expert!

[gary]

Your fotki site is truly amazing. Thanks for sharing.

Gary

[MikeMc]

I'm glad that you can finally get back to both this cobra and your bench!!

Now lift this sucker into orbit!!!

[Darin Bastedo]

I've gotten some more done on this one. Today I finished up the passenger door and tried my hand at some hammer and dolly work to create the compound curve necessary to shape the aluminum hood. I still need to do some filing and polishing on it but it is the right shape and follows the contours of the body.

In this photo you can see the scratch-built aluminum dash. this was the first chance I've had to mock it up since I built it.

In this shot you get a good view of the opened fender vents.

Next step is the new improved windshield frame the aluminum piece is shaped like the glass will be and the frame will be built up around it.

Hope you guys like my progress so far.

[Raul_Perez]

The detail work is awesome, Darin!!

I'll keep following this one until you're done!!

Thanks for sharing,

[LVZ2881]

Darin, great to see you back at work on this, you are truly doing a great job

[stevegt738]

I wondered what happenedto this build, good to see it back.

[crazyjim]

You gotta be kiddin' me with the details. Unreal!! Looks fantastic so far.

[Junkman]

I truly appreciate this smooth transition from modelling to art every time I see it.

[Darin Bastedo]

Thanks for the comments. I'm getting more and more confident with scratch building. This project has really made me stretch my abilities and come up with clever solutions for some difficult processes. I've learned a lot so far.

[Alyn]

Thanks for the comments. I'm getting more and more confident with scratch building. This project has really made me stretch my abilities and come up with clever solutions for some difficult processes. I've learned a lot so far.

Great looking project you've got going here. Lotta fun watching you keep piling on the details. You're right about the solutions. IMO, the process of coming up with a method to make a part is more interesting than actually making it.

Thanks for the excellent progress pics.

[Darin Bastedo]

Started on the interior tin-work, and am close to finishing the bodywork on this one. a lipe was added to the door opening so the dor has a prototypical jam to it. The interior panal has a lip that meets the door jam. (still needs to be smoothed and trimmed at this point. Also all the vents are now opened and both side pipe holes have been filled. The hood is trimmed and fits like a glove and the door lip has fixed the fit of the doors.

Here is the tool I made out of sanding film, sheet aluminum and an exacto handle to file the openings of the fender vents.

Still plugging away at this one every chance I can get. Hopefully I'll have more to show this weekend.

[Peter Lombardo]

Darin, this is really great watching what you are doing here....this is, I think, a kit that we all take for granted. I am sure we have all built many of these but not many, if any, to this level. Great job. You are right, these cars were built for one reason and one reason only.......go very fast. Thats it, no frills, no comfort.....just go fast and stop fast. It is no wonder that there are so many kit car replica's out there.....the 427 Cobra just excudes brute force. You are certainly doing justice to this car and improving that kit many times over. keep it up!

[crazyjim]

I don't know who's worse Darin. You or Jeff Surber. The details you guys do are mind boggling to me.

[Scalper]

Great looking project so far. like the mini metal work.

[Gary Davis]

Man Darin...I just caught up with this WIP that you're doing here. Awesome craftmanship. This is a GREAT subject to build as it's an ALL time cool car. I'm really enjoying your build.

[MikeeD]

Just a little FYI for all you Cobra fanatics...

Hope I didn't hijack your thread, just wanted to relay a little info

Good looking build...you just gotta love a cobra.

They always represented the ultimate high performance street car to me

Shelby American

Production Figures

Cobras and Shelby Mustangs 1962-1970

COBRA PRODUCTION TOTALS 1962-65

260 Cobras

Street Cars.............................62

Factory Teams Cars (initially 260 engines

then updated to 289)................4

Factory Prepared Competition Cars (initially

with 260 engines then updated to 289)

..................................................1

Independently-prepared

competition race cars.................7

Dragonsnake (initially 260 engines then

updated to 289)...........................1

Total 260 Cobras ......................75

289 Cobras

Street Cobras .........................455

Standard Competition.................2

Sebring Cobras...........................3

LeMans Cobras...........................3

427 Prototypes...........................1

427 Prototypes 'Flip-Top".............1

FIA Roadsters.............................5

Daytona Coupes..........................6

USRRC Roadsters.........................6

Total Factory Team Cars............29

Factory Prepared Competition Cobras

Standard Competition....................2

LeMans Prototype..........................1

LeMans Replica..............................3

USRRC Roadsters...........................5

Independently-Prepared

Race Cobras................................21

Dragonsnake Cobras.....................2

COB/COX* Street Cobras.............60

COB/COX* Race Cobra..................1

Total 289 Cobras........................580

Total small block Cobras.............655

*(COB - Cobras for Great Britain)

*(COX Cobras for export other than to Great Britain)

98cobA.jpg (8085 bytes)

Coil Spring Big Block Cobras

Street Cars ................................260

Prototype Competition

Roadsters......................................2

Production Competition

Roadsters....................................19

Semi-Competition Roadsters..........1

Daytona Super Coupe.....................1

Chassis Only..................................3

COB/COX Cobras..........................32

1965-67 427 & 428 Cobras ..........348

------

Total Cobras Built .....................1,003

SHELBY MUSTANG PRODUCTION TOTALS 1965-70

5R_535b.jpg (13825 bytes)

----- 1965 -----

GT 350 .................................... 515

GT 350R .................................... 36

GT 350 Drag Cars..........................9

GT 350 Street Prototype................1

Competition Prototype GT 350.......1

Total 1965 Shelby Mustangs.....562

66shelby.jpg (47506 bytes)

------ 1966 -----

GT 350 .................................... 1,370

GT 350H ..................................1,000

GT 350 convertibles......................... 6

GT 350 Drag Cars.............................4

Total 1966 Shelby Mustangs .....2,380

67gt500.jpg (18844 bytes)

------- 1967-----

GT 350 ......................................... 1,175

GT 500 ........................................ 2,048

GT 500 Notchback Prototype................1

GT 500 Convertible Prototype...............1

Total 1967 Shelby Mustangs .........3,225

68gt350d.jpg (75428 bytes)

-------1968 ------

GT 350 .......................................... 1,253

GT 350 convertible ........................... 404

GT 500 ......................................... 1,140

GT 500 convertible ........................... 402

GT 500KR ........................................ 933

GT 500KR convertible ........................318

GT 500 Notchback Prototype...................1

Total 1968 Shelby Mustangs ............4,451

69gt350.jpg (19373 bytes)

------ 1969 & 1970 -----

GT 350.............................................935

GT 350 convertible......................... ..194

GT 500 .........................................1,536

GT 500 convertible .......................... 335

GT 350 Hertz Cars ............................150

Prototype Test Cars..............................3

Cars updated to 1970 est. .................789

Total 1969-70 Shelby Mustangs .....3,294

Shelby Cars Totals

Shelby Mustangs ........................13,912

Cobras.........................................1,003

Total Shelby cars produced ..........14,915

Source of information: Shelby American Automobile Club Registry

[Darin Bastedo]

Thanks guys. I'll have more to show in a couple of days.

[donstruke]

Thanks guys. I'll have more to show in a couple of days.

What an incredible build you're doing. Build? It's more like a work of art! Fwiw I borrowed the 427 CSX once owned by Tony Hogg of R&T from an

owner before he had it, my friend Mike Clark of Altoona, Pa., for photography in Georgano's book "A History of Sports Cars". I drove it for a week and will never forget that.

I recall getting onto the Pennsylvania Turnpike at Bedford and as I nailed it and flew past an 18-wheeler, the driver gave me a big wind-it-up sign with his arm and blasted his horns.

Attached is one of the many cars I should have kept from those years.

Don Struke

Baltimore

Check my car pix plus my B&W of Donohue and Penske at the '66 Marlboro Trans Am race at http://don-struke.artistwebsites.com/