57 Corvette - 1/16 MPC

[kenlwest]

As most of you are probably aware, this kit is loaded up with challenges.  I haven't found many builds of this kit online, and after looking over the kit more closely, I can see why.  But I think with a little work, and research, it can be turned into something presentable.  Here is a list of problems that stand out immediately:

1.  The headlights are too small, but I think this can be fixed.

2.  The engine block is simple, but acceptable as most of it is hidden.  However, the cylinder heads are not offset like the real car.  I will try and fake in a little offset, just so they are not mirrored.

3.  Warp and Sink everywhere!

4.  Tires are not appropriate for 1957.  I will be printing new ones.

Overall, the kit holds good promise.. the body proportions seem really good at first glance, however the grill is a bit too rounded.  I "might" be able to correct this.

Ken

[kenlwest]

Here are all of the engine parts.  The black parts on the bottom have had the chrome stripped.  The only chrome left are the air cleaner covers, and the ignition shield.

[Superbird McMonte]

 This is going to be very interesting! I’ll be watching.

[kurth]

I built one of these  about 15 years ago.  I did not know about the problem with the engine. The headlights do look weird.  I think I did a build thread here at the time.  I built it because I had one I got for christmas in the late 80s which I brush painted and I wanted to finally do it "right" as an adult. I did learn a lot from the challenges I faced with this kit.  Good luck! I look forward to see what you can do with this one. 

[kenlwest]

I was able to move the RH head rearward to create the offset to more depict the real engine. To do this, I had to trim out some of the ignition shield.  Later I will have to shorten the RH exhaust pipe.  Other than that, I am happy with the engine.  I also built the fuel injection version of the intake, although I won't be using it.

[JollySipper]

I have one of these about 75% complete, just need to paint the body parts, foil, and final assembly...... This should be cool to follow! I'm sure yours will turn out a bit better than mine is......... I was lucky enough to be able to trade for a set of wire wheels for it.

Have you picked a color scheme yet?

[milo1303s]

This kit originally came with working head and tail lights that's probably why the headlight lenses are off !

[kenlwest]

16 hours ago, JollySipper said:

I have one of these about 75% complete, just need to paint the body parts, foil, and final assembly...... This should be cool to follow! I'm sure yours will turn out a bit better than mine is......... I was lucky enough to be able to trade for a set of wire wheels for it.

Have you picked a color scheme yet?

Yes.  Black, with silver coves.  Red interior.

[kenlwest]

The frame and chassis components are actually pretty good.  Here are the parts before cleanup.

[kenlwest]

The frame and chassis assembly prior to painting.  I had to twist and torque the frame quite a bit to straighten it to an acceptable state.  Overall it goes together well.  I will have to see if I can keep the front articulated suspension in place after final assembly, depending on the stance.  If the front wheels do not sit vertical and parallel, I will permanently fuse everything together.

[dietgilroy]

After the 1957 Corvette, are you planning to build the C4 Corvette 1/16?

[kenlwest]

Just for the heck of it, I painted whitewalls on the kit tires.  While they would look good on a 30's or 40's car, they really don't work here.  The rims are also too wide.

So now I will be printing both tires and wheels!

[kenlwest]

I printed the wheels and tires.  BUT, somehow they were printed at 1/12 scale.  1/12 is my usual scale, and setting up the printing gcode at 11:30 pm was probably not a good idea.   I am happy with the design, but I just need to scale down to 1/16 and reprint them.

[kenlwest]

Tires and wheels are printed.  I staged the left hand wheels on the chassis, then placed the body on top just to verify correct wheelbase.

The detents on the tires are where the whitewalls  will be painted.

[kenlwest]

The tire ww's were modeled after the box art tires on the real car.

The wheels were modeled exactly as the kit wheels, except I narrowed them to the correct width.  This is so that the kit's hubcaps would fit perfectly.

[Dave Darby]

Looking good! Definitely following this build.

[dino246gt]

Great tires and wheels, in both scales, 1/12th and 1/16th!

Ya gotta get those wheel covers set deeper into the rims though, agree?

 

[kenlwest]

1 hour ago, dino246gt said:

Great tires and wheels, in both scales, 1/12th and 1/16th!

Ya gotta get those wheel covers set deeper into the rims though, agree?

 

Yes, maybe a millimeter or so.  Just need to decide whether to grind the rims or reprint modified wheels.  Leaning toward reprinting.  I appreciate the feedback - nudges me to do what needs to be done.  It seems that many amt and mpc 1/16 subject suffer from this.

 

Edited July 12, 2024 by kenlwest
Added comment

[kenlwest]

The engine sitting in its place.  Also looks like the weight and flats on the bottom of the tires are enough to keep the loose parts on the front suspension stable and straight.

[dino246gt]

26 minutes ago, kenlwest said:

Yes, maybe a millimeter or so.  Just need to decide whether to grind the rims or reprint modified wheels.  Leaning toward reprinting.  I appreciate the feedback - nudges me to do what needs to be done.  It seems that many amt and mpc 1/16 subject suffer from this.

 

Almost all kits, 1/25th included suffer from this!

Cheers!

 

 

[kenlwest]

I am back from moving my son and his girlfriend to Chicago.  Glad to be back.

The body was really a warped mess.  The cowl was crushed at some point, and it splayed the rockers outboard.  This made it impossible to fit the hood and door jambs properly.  Fortunately,  the interior tub matches the correct shape of the cowl, so I used it to pull the body into the correct shape.

[kenlwest]

The hood now fits the opening.  The pictures really didn't show it, but I would say the cowl dipped about 1/8 inch in the middle, and the sides were splayed out about the same on each side.  

The body was either pulled out of the mold too soon, or the kit was exposed to attic heat or something similar.  The sealed box and parts showed no sign of crush.  

 

[kenlwest]

A little staging fun... I wanted to try out both tops.

I did manage to sink the hubcaps into the wheels.

[DJMar]

Lots of work on this one, and she's looking good.

I really like the wheels and tires you printed up, versus the kit pieces.

Also, I totally forgot this kit came with both the hard & soft tops.

[kenlwest]

The engine is mounted.  The tires were flat washed, then the whitewalls were painted.