Pavement Modified Vega build

[OldNYJim]

I’ve been wanting to do an oval car for a while and I found one of the MPC Rat Trap Vega kits cheap online a couple of weeks back and couldn’t wait to dig into it:

Not a super detailed kit but the examples I’ve seen build up to a decent looking replica of a vintage pavement modified - I figure I’ll do this version close to box stock (famous last words) then take what I’ve learned to do some more detailed versions down the line.

Quick look at some of the main components:

Used a little Bondo to straighten out some sink marks on the frame and body before primer:

Then shot the body in a nice hot pink as a base for (lots) more paint work later:

Meanwhile, added a little subtle weathering to the tires with the Tamiya weathering set to darken the lettering a little (before on the left, after on the right):

Shot the wheels Vallejo gold and gave them a light black wash:

Borrowed a trick from NASCAR and added some tire lettering with an acrylic paint pen:

Before picking out the lug nuts and rims for a little more detail, followed by another wash to add some grime and dirt to make them look a little used:

Oval cars are fun!  Working on the frame next - more soon!

[alan barton]

I've built a bunch of these, Jim, including this one.  Stance is everything - the rear just has to be a freckle higher to give it some serious tuffness!

Love your wheel detailing.

Cheers

Alan

[MackT]

Looks like a fun build.

[slusher]

I bought glad you building yours so I can watch,Jim..

[OldNYJim]

Thanks fellas!  Been working on the door numbers this week...

First up, cut and applied some masks:

Then, Vallejo gold with a band of Createx white through the center:

Then, remask:

Shoot Createx black over THOSE masks:

And remove masks!

Need to do some little touch-ups to the black to get it perfect but that’s about what I was shooting for!

More soon!

[alan barton]

Wow, I could use that technique.  I have a huge stash of number decals but they are typically too large (1/24th NASCAR) or the wrong colour for the paint - you know the type of thing.  I take it these masks are somehow computer cut?

Cheers

Alan

[OldNYJim]

3 hours ago, alan barton said:

Wow, I could use that technique.  I have a huge stash of number decals but they are typically too large (1/24th NASCAR) or the wrong colour for the paint - you know the type of thing.  I take it these masks are somehow computer cut?

Cheers

Alan

Yes sir!  Just cut on my little Silhouette cutter!  They’re, like, $120 but they’re an AMAZING tool for the money!

[Toys4Don2]

Looks awesome so far!

[slusher]

8 hours ago, Toys4Don2 said:

Looks awesome so far!

I agree..

[OldNYJim]

Thanks fellas!  

Another couple of days worth of progress - cut a graphic for the trunklid:

And shot some color on it:

Still need to paint the driver name on the roof there but I felt like adding some era-correct (I think?) decals tonight - really starts looking like a race car once you’ve got some logos on there!

Building this for a friend of mine - he races pink oval cars and his initials are MPC - so it was cool that MPC puts a decal of their logo on the sheet for these!  Happy little coincidence!  

More soon! 

[slusher]

Fantastic graphics Jim, your friend will love it..

[Straightliner59]

On 5/14/2021 at 9:54 PM, CabDriver said:

Thanks fellas!  Been working on the door numbers this week...

First up, cut and applied some masks:

 

Then, Vallejo gold with a band of Createx white through the center:

 

Then, remask:

 

Shoot Createx black over THOSE masks:

And remove masks!

 

Need to do some little touch-ups to the black to get it perfect but that’s about what I was shooting for!

More soon!

The numbers look fantastic! I've been planning to cut some number markings masks and use them to apply leafing cement then apply metal leaf. It should look great! In four-and-a-half years, I still haven't spent any quality time (or any time, for that matter) with my Cricut. When they came out, my then girlfriend bought one. At the time, they were limited to their proprietary cartridges, as to what they would cut. I repeatedly told her that if they would make them so that people can use their own art, they would open themselves up to a whole new market. Once I had enough money, and they became more versatile, I bought one. I have yet to use it, in spite of the great things that can be accomplished, with one. I just brushed the adhesive on this one, to try out the leaf.

[DrKerry]

Very kool!!!

[Sledsel]

Very cool build

[randyc]

Why couldn't they have put wide 5's in these?  I used to go to Bowman Gray in Winston-Salem, NC and all the mods run wide 5s and did back in the early 80s.   Not sure about before that.  

 

[OldNYJim]

Thanks for all the kind words fellas!  

On 5/20/2021 at 9:02 AM, randyc said:

Why couldn't they have put wide 5's in these?  I used to go to Bowman Gray in Winston-Salem, NC and all the mods run wide 5s and did back in the early 80s.   Not sure about before that.  

 

I’m not sure about that either…but yeah, some wide fives would’ve been cool!  

Made some more progress on this one but hadn’t updated for a while so here goes…

Got the headers painted and added some heat-stain:

Got the engine together:

No one cares to see me paint the suspension components I’m sure, but I got those done and got this thing on it’s wheels - couldn’t resist dropping the body on for a quick preview of how it’ll look:

And removing the seam lines from the kit roll cage didn’t look fun, so I just remade it:

Paint is drying now ready for when I get the to the interior:

Oh, and my buddy that I’m building this for liked to often run a pink Panther decal on his car somewhere, and I couldn’t work out how to replicate that…then this weekend I found these nail art decals on eBay - perfect!  Not sure where I’ll hide the Panther yet, but I was stuck on how to achieve that…

More soon!

[slusher]

Excellent work so far Jim,  those Pink Panther nail art are very cool…

[Mattilacken]

Great looking build! Good work on those door numbers.

[OldNYJim]

Thanks fellas!  Pretty much done with this one - I’m planning at least a couple more of these, but wanted to do a simple box-stock-ish version just to see how they go together.  Fun quickie build!

 

[Nacho Z]

This is just so doggone nice!  I absolutely love the whole thing but those door numbers are fantastic!!  Thanks for sharing.

[James2]

Nicely done...

[ksnow]

Very nicely done. Paint work is amazing.