CheZOOOM

[Misha]

Looking over the stash, searching for the perfect isolation project, just the right kit to be built straight-outta-box (SOB). Something of a slump buster as most of my WIPs are struggling at the mid point of their builds. A simple build is the goal. Bingo! The CheZoom Corvair F/C! The added bonus would be to build a box art version, as I find it a very cool depiction.

I must admit that I have been completely unable to build anything SOB for a number of decades now. Looking over the instruction sheet and sprues it appeared quite an easy project... but wait, it didn’t take long to yank out the Mopar and swap in a Rat from the 37 Chevy... from there the complexity grew.

Seeing how much of the interior is on view, including the engine through the bubble top rear window, that a few more details wouldn’t hurt. Shortening and narrowing the chassis in the rear to fit the body, positioned the engine/trunk opening to feature the axle and empty space to the rear. (Originally the chassis fit the first Barracudas, particularly the Tom McKuen 65). The  missing frame members were easily fabricated to complete the rear. The trunk will house the Moon gas tank and a small battery for accessories, as the engine will have a magneto ignition system. As a result the frame will also have a push bar and chute structure added.

Body modifications so far have included de-badging, re-contouring wheel openings, removing the rear lower valence panel, eliminating the molded in wipers, and adding a front splitter plate.  The last item has been to draw up templates for the inner trunk lip and deck lid detail underneath to be built from sheet plastic. Overall the recently re-issued kit is well formed with faint mold lines that required minimal clean up.

Examining the interior offered another diversion for added realism. The kit provides a simple tub to contain the seat, dash wheel, Moon pedal and shifter stalk. As these were the early days of Funny Cars, before the glass floppers, the Corvairs were, for the most part stock unibodies with a custom frame. In this case the body from the cowl back is steel, with operating doors and the front is fiber glass. In this kit that detail is completely absent, so out with the X-Acto and saw! 

The plan is to build inner panels for the interior, showing the entire door rather than the existing tub interior. The sides were removed from the tub while the supports for the dash remained. This will also allow for greater detailing. Need to add a clutch and brake pedal, hand brake for front discs, shifter with hardware to rear, and fire suppression system. Plus added switches and wiring to the dash. The doors will have simple upholstered panels matching the headliner.

The frame will also come in for greater detail with hardware bits. To fit the Corvair wheelbase the front axle will move one step forward on its spring perch. This will also help lower the nose. A future mock up will indicate how much rake to put in by adjusting the coils on the rear subframe. 

Overall a simple project that eluded me once again - then again, time is what I have on my hands...

Cheers Misha

[Oldcarfan27]

From the title, this isn't the simple kit I was thinking of.

But this is a better surprise. Don't get too bogged down with the details, so we can see it finished.

Best wishes!

[Dann Tier]

This looks like its gonna be freaking COOL!!!!

[David G.]

This looks to be an interesting build.

David G.

[espo]

I have a work on hold using a stock Corvair with an LS in the back seat. This would make a much better starting point. I look forward to seeing how this one progresses.  

[afx]

Looks like a great project Misha.  I can't build straight from the box either!

[Gizzy]

I too have thought about building this one so I'll be watching your progress.

[Misha]

Thanks for all the comments! Quite gung-ho with this Bow-tie!

Been working on getting the chassis and stance fitted and nailed down. Using Aleene’s Tacky Glue I mocked up the engine and its cradle, then fitted it to the chassis. It was obvious that the wheelbase was a bit too short, plus an issue with fitting the meats under the rear wheel wells. Best solution  was increasing the radius of the opening. Penciled it in freehand and with X-Acto in hand began scraping out the unwanted material, just like opening a door or trunk with the backside of a #1 blade. Finished it off by sanding the cut smooth. The engine cradle also required some modification to fit the BBC, with more detail to follow including front engine mounts. Everything still in bare white plastic!  Next step is replacing the front axle...

Cheers Misha

[Dann Tier]

Nice progress, bud!!

[David G.]

Good solution. 

David G.

[MeatMan]

Nice project. I've got one too but not ready to build it yet.

[Belugawrx]

Nice progress Misha !

[Scott8950]

This is an awesome project and swapping in the big block chevy is just perfect for this car. I'll be following this build

[Misha]

Been busy with getting DSC  virtual competition entries in so turned the workbench into a photo booth. Now getting back to the project at hand. Visited the stash and pulled all the Corvair kits for comparison and more importantly, looking for the fully faired in front nose piece in one of them. My first car was a 65 Monza with the 140 hp engine, so always a soft spot for kits.

First up is a previously built Chezoom I picked up for $1.35 which included an extra chassis and engine parts still in bare plastic and some bits on runners still. I’ll be stripping the paint and using the body for a future F/C build with a JoHan chassis. That’s the reason for the nose hunt.

The 2004 reissue with the metallically blue paint had what I was searching for! Oddly enough it was the only kit out of the five that did. In addition was a great set of Michelin tires in the smaller size for compacts, in addition to the larger tires sharing a similar aggressive tread.

The 1969 annual kit featured the Sprint option all in red. All the annuals for that year featured the “Blueprint” instruction sheets. The tires were the same shared with the Barracuda and Falcon releases. 

The 1967 annual kit is a real gem in offering the turbo-charged engine that was still available from Chevy that year with the Corsa option. Sadly the 1969 annual, upon which all subsequent re-releases were based upon, lacks this option.

So plenty of styrene to sort thru and to build! So now back to the current project pictured with the original smaller sized box and the latest release.

Cheers Misha

[Misha]

Hard to think about how long I’ve been away from this isolation project, nearly two years! A couple of Porsches interfered in grabbing my attention away from the Corvair. Yet it is now back in the top three on both the workbench and paint booth.

I took the big block Chev apart as it was just tacked together for fitting and cleaned up the parts, made alterations, such as fitting the headers, adding oil breathers on the valve covers, and adding bolt heads to attach the clutch bellhousing to the engine plate. 

After spraying Tamiya grey primer from the can, I followed up with LP 5 semi-gloss black shot thru a Paashe VL to provide a base for the metallic finishes to follow.

Last nite I sprayed the first coat of a variety of LP finishes on the main engine components. I am very pleased with the new line of bottled lacquer paints that Tamiya has recently brought out. I generally mix 1:1 paint to thinner using their brand of thinner, with the retarder only for gloss, not metallics or the semi/flat finishes. The next step will be detail painting with washes and dry brushing.

 

Thanks for checking this build out again,

Cheers Misha

[Misha]

Hi Moderators👋
I just realized this thread ought to be in the Drag WIP section, would you please slot me there?

Thanx Misha

[Misha]

Here are some more shots from September 2020 that I haven’t posted before…

 

Modifications to the rear engine plate and bellhousing. Throw out bearing arm added from solder. Bolts still to be added.

The large tank in the foreground is for the water being circulated by an electric pump. Enough for the short runs being made. Small battery in rear will connect to an external battery boost panel and the Moon gas tank will relocate to the rear as well.

Top view with the Moon tank in its original position. Intake scoop is mounted facing the rear for greater air. Corvair remains a Chevy powered rear engine car!

 

By mocking up the major parts with the Aleene’s Tacky Glue it was possible to establish the stance I was looking for. It all takes time and patience to achieve that certain look, or at least come close enough for a cigar!

Comments and suggestions are most welcome, cheers Misha

[Misha]

Had a chance to spend a few hours today on detail painting and further construction on the fuel & spark delivery, seat supports, and chassis detailing with bolt heads for the suspension (still in progress). 

Cheers Misha

[afx]

Coming along nicely.

[Zippi]

That's looking pretty nice there Misha.  I like the engine colors.  

[Misha]

5 hours ago, afx said:

Coming along nicely.

Thanks JC, it has taken its time to get back on the bench. I had to park a couple of other projects largely because of getting mired in details and with my current CannonBall, the IMSA Camaro, I had fallen behind too far to complete it by month’s end. So glad to be free of contest/display deadlines, model on!

5 hours ago, Zippi said:

That's looking pretty nice there Misha.  I like the engine colors.  

Thanks Bob, my favourite area is engine construction and all the recent metallic paints have helped to enhance the work with washes and dry brushing. My most recent completions have been curbsides, and it was neat to focus on the other aspects of paint finishes plus much quicker build times.

Thanks guys for checking in, cheers Misha

[David G.]

You've got a lot of excellent detail work going on, it'll be great to see it all come together.

That's also quite a rake on that car! 😮 It reminds me of when I bought my first set of air shocks back in the Seventies.

David G.

[Misha]

Over the past month or so, I’ve been able to get this project back on the work bench in bits and pieces. Majority of the parts have yet to see primer while a few engine bits have gotten their metallic finishes. 

The interior has been getting its bits of detail. The stick shift is connected to the in/out box by a flex cable running to the rear mounted engine cradle. The front discs are controlled by the tall handle connected to the master cylinder allowing the pilot to keep the clutch in while building revs with the gas pedal, leaving his right arm on the brake lever, and his left on the steering yoke. The steering column ends with a scratchbuilt steering gear to transfer motion thru the idle arm to the drag link. 

The chassis itself has been further detailed with Grandt Line and Meng bolt heads. Acorn nuts will be from Norm Veber of R&D.  The underbelly pans feature strengthening beads accomplished with Evergreen half-round strips with the ends curved and sanded down. Further detail was added with frame connectors to tie in the floor pan in and adding rear axle connectors to the engine cradles so the axle doesn’t appear to be held in place by magnetism. The pivot points of the cradle to the frame were also further enhance, to make it look look we  meant it 😄 by adding half round stock and bolt heads. At the rear of the cradle is a panel to be used for boosting the small on board battery to power the electric water and fuel pumps while a magneto will furnish the spark for the engine. 

The interior of the body is also receiving its share of detail with bracing for the fiberglass front end and side door panels made of aluminium that replace the stock door cards. At the rear there is a an interior lip running around the trunk rim to support the lid.

My original intent to have a basic kit to build as a break has gone completely off the rails now! I have a fair amount of priming to accomplish, get the chassis completed for priming, as well as the main body. The BBC will now begin to get assembled with all the bits and pieces that will entail, wiring and plumbing. Can’t wait to get the body paint on the go, a combination of Candy Red with red Meatlflake panels…

 

Thanks for checking in!

Merry Christmas 🎅 to all!

Cheers Misha

[afx]

Chassis is looking good - thanks for going to that next level.  Merry Christmas.

[Dave72]

This is really looking good so far! Nice work.