Monogram's 1966 Chaparral 2D Coupe: WIP

[David G.]

22 hours ago, TarheelRick said:

Keep those updates coming. I like what you did with the wing actuator. Just for fun, I dug out my kit and it also is missing any semblance of an actuator. Are you going to run the injector stacks as furnished in the kit?  I am thinking of maybe replacing them with some stacks from one of the AMT funny car kits. The ones in the kit look rather flimsy for my taste.  Anyway, build on.

Thank you Ricky, I'm glad that the actuator looks okay. I'm always a little worried that the mods I build will look clunky or "tacked-on".

I plan to use the stacks that came with the car. I'm not confident in my ability to effectively work in a different set at this point.

 

20 hours ago, absmiami said:

yup

Thanks Andrew,

David G.

[David G.]

Hello Everybody!

It's time for a little update.

Remember those aftermarket wheels? Well a little cleanup and some Rustoleum chrome paint has them looking pretty good.

 

 

A test fit with the aftermarket wheels. Lookin' good!

 

These look much better than those wide whites I had on it earlier!  

As always, thanks for taking the time to look and please feel free to post a comment if you wish.

David G.

[Bainford]

Just found this thread. Your Chaparral is looking good. I built this kit a few years ago and found it an enjoyable build. 

[Bainford]

On 5/19/2024 at 10:10 AM, shoeman said:

Looking great.  I have the same, or at least different issue kit.  Boy did you get lucky on those wheels!   I'll have to think about how to modify the kit rears I guess. Watching your progress!

There is a Tom Daniels kit with a wide version of this wheel. I think it's the Monogram Dog Catcher, and maybe others. The wheel is the same as the Chaparral wheel, but without the eight bolts around the base of the rim. They can easily be added with aftermarket bolt heads or scratch bolt heads. If you can find a pair in the 'Wanted Section' it would be easier than modifying the kit wheels. I used them on my Chaparral. 

Edited May 25, 2024 by Bainford

[Nacho Z]

I have been following along with your build, David, and it is coming along very nicely!  I read your comments about the injector stacks and I would like to suggest something to you, (I hate hijacking threads).  I have built this kit and posted it here, a quick search will find it.  I replaced the kit stacks with electrical ferrules.  They were inexpensive and it was an easy upgrade.  Just a thought and a friendly suggestion.  Keep up the good work and keep on posting these updates!

[Straightliner59]

Hi, David. Those HRM wheels are really nice! I have a set for mine, as well. When I first started messing around with my Chaparral, I was looking for wheels, and found some old Cox slot car wheels that would have worked, decently, that were actual magnesium! Keep it rolling! It's looking good!

[David G.]

13 hours ago, Bainford said:

Just found this thread. Your Chaparral is looking good. I built this kit a few years ago and found it an enjoyable build. 

Thank you Trevor. It is a fun build, I agree.

 

12 hours ago, Bainford said:

There is a Tom Daniels kit with a wide version of this wheel. I think it's the Monogram Dog Catcher, and maybe others. The wheel is the same as the Chaparral wheel, but without the eight bolts around the base of the rim. They can easily be added with aftermarket bolt heads or scratch bolt heads. If you can find a pair in the 'Wanted Section' it would be easier than modifying the kit wheels. I used them on my Chaparral. 

Those are some nice looking wheels.

 

9 hours ago, Nacho Z said:

I have been following along with your build, David, and it is coming along very nicely!  I read your comments about the injector stacks and I would like to suggest something to you, (I hate hijacking threads).  I have built this kit and posted it here, a quick search will find it.  I replaced the kit stacks with electrical ferrules.  They were inexpensive and it was an easy upgrade.  Just a thought and a friendly suggestion.  Keep up the good work and keep on posting these updates!

Thank you John. I'm pretty sure I found your build when I was researching mine. There aren't many of these out there, even within our community.

I will keep your tip in mind, though I'm inclined to leave the stacks as they are. After all, I'm really the only one who will likely see the build after it's completed.  

No need to worry about hijacking my threads John, I do enjoy the information and conversations.

 

4 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

Hi, David. Those HRM wheels are really nice! I have a set for mine, as well. When I first started messing around with my Chaparral, I was looking for wheels, and found some old Cox slot car wheels that would have worked, decently, that were actual magnesium! Keep it rolling! It's looking good!

Thank you Daniel. Actual magnesium wheels! That would have been cool. It does make sense though as slot car wheels would have to withstand actual torque while the wheels on our static builds do not.

It's probably not a lot of torque but torque none the less.

Thank you all for your comments.

David G.

[Pierre Rivard]

The HRM wheels look really good and the tires are also excellent. Looking at your build brings back excellent memories of building mine, such an enjoyable little kit. Thank you David for sharing the product of your work with us.

[David G.]

1 minute ago, Pierre Rivard said:

The HRM wheels look really good and the tires are also excellent. Looking at your build brings back excellent memories of building mine, such an enjoyable little kit. Thank you David for sharing the product of your work with us.

Thank you most kindly Pierre. I'm glad to know that you're enjoying the build.

David G.

[martsky]

Just a comment on the rear spoiler.  Because the Chaparral had an automatic transmission, it did not require a clutch pedal.  Instead there was a third pedal that the driver could push to flatten the spoiler on the straights.  When braking for a corner, releasing the third pedal would cause the the spoiler to flip up and produce instant downforce.

[Straightliner59]

The aforementioned magnesium wheels...

[David G.]

15 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

The aforementioned magnesium wheels...

 

Wow, those are cool!

I see a brass brush in their future.

David G.

[David G.]

Hello Everybody!

I don't usually post on Mondays but I'm getting too far behind in my updates, so here's one for the Chaparral.

The first color coat looks pretty good, smooth even and clean. I'll let this cure for a while then do a little color sanding for a second coat.

 

 

After letting the paint rest for several days, I darkened the panel lines with some Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color then waited a couple of days for that to dry before removing the blobs. Here we are all washed up and ready for the (hopefully) final coat of paint.

 

 

This will work as the final coat. The panel lines look pretty good. For a build like this I'll usually darken the panel lines with Tamiya's black Panel Line Accent Color before each coat of primer or paint. I find that doing this creates a subtle shadow in the panel lines when the final coat of paint is applied.

These look pretty good but maybe just a little lighter than I would like. I have some Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color in grey which I have yet to try. I may give that a shot.

 

As always, thanks for taking the time to look and please feel free to post any comments that you may find stirring in the recesses of your soul.

David G.

[Pierre Rivard]

Paint looks good David. I agree with gray panel line on white cars, a more subtle and realistic look.

[David G.]

21 hours ago, Pierre Rivard said:

Paint looks good David. I agree with gray panel line on white cars, a more subtle and realistic look.

Thank you Pierre.

David G.

[David G.]

Hello Everybody!

Here's the next albeit minor update.

I decided to darken the panel lines just a little more using Tamiya gray Panel Line Accent Color. After that was allowed to dry and I got all the slops and blobs cleaned up I started throwing some decals at it.

 

 

Here's a better look at the tires and dash decals.

 

There's more to come... but I have to do it first.   

Thanks for taking the time to look and please feel free to comment if you so choose.

David G.

[kensar]

This is looking very good, David.

Regarding panel lines on white subjects, I sometimes just deepen the lines with a hobby knife instead of painting them, but what you've done looks good.

[David G.]

21 hours ago, kensar said:

This is looking very good, David.

Regarding panel lines on white subjects, I sometimes just deepen the lines with a hobby knife instead of painting them, but what you've done looks good.

Thank you Ken.

Yes, I've done that too but it's less easy to predict the results than it it using a paint or pigment of some kind. For white bodies I used to use Tamiya's black panel line accent and then paint over it until I bought some gray accent. Using that it's easier to achieve more consistent results.

David G.

[David G.]

Hello Everybody!

I'm just cranking along on this Chaparral, here's the next update!

The interior is done! Monogram thoughtfully provided a pre-painted figure. They did a much better job than I ever could have.

 

 

Monogram also provided the decals for the dashboard instruments. Nice! I love when model companies do that.

 

I should have this one wrapped up pretty soon!

Thanks for taking the time to look.

David G.

[David G.]

Hello Everybody!

I'm in the home stretch with this one.

This is one of those rare builds that seems like it's going to be an easy build... and it actually turns out to be an easy build!

No nasty surprises, no unforeseen complications, no major alterations, just good, clean, model building fun!

I have the last of the decals applied to the tires. They've been dull-coated and mounted, I also flat-spotted the bottoms so they sit better.

 

 

There is just one more side to place the decals on then they're done. I've also installed the interior and glass.

 

 

The headlights are in place too.

 

As always, thanks for taking the time to look and please feel free to post any comments you may have.

David G.

[Pierre Rivard]

Looks superb David. One of the best vintage Monogram kits in my opinion and your addition of aftermarket wheels and tires makes it even better.

[Bainford]

Looking good, David. I painted the chassis on mine flat black, but seeing yours in the correct brown, I wish I had had the wherewithal to do the same. It looks so much better (and correct).

[David G.]

On 6/7/2024 at 4:02 AM, Pierre Rivard said:

Looks superb David. One of the best vintage Monogram kits in my opinion and your addition of aftermarket wheels and tires makes it even better.

Thank you Pierre. Yes, this kit has been a pleasant surprise. It's simple but builds up very well and looks great when it's done. 

The aftermarket wheels were purely a stroke of luck. They just happened to be in the box when I bought it at the swap meet this past April.

On 6/7/2024 at 6:01 AM, Bainford said:

Looking good, David. I painted the chassis on mine flat black, but seeing yours in the correct brown, I wish I had had the wherewithal to do the same. It looks so much better (and correct).

Thank you Trevor, I'm glad I went with the brown color for the chassis too. It just seems right.

David G.

[kensar]

Looks excellent David.

Jim Hall was such a significant innovator in racing technology, its a shame more of his work is not kitted.

[David G.]

4 hours ago, kensar said:

Looks excellent David.

Jim Hall was such a significant innovator in racing technology, its a shame more of his work is not kitted.

Thank you Ken, I agree. Everyone knows who Carroll Shelby is but Jim Hall... not so much.

David G.