Nova Salt Flat Racer

[Pierre Rivard]

4 hours ago, Claude Thibodeau said:

Salut Pierre!

I have built 6 or 7 Bonneville cars in the last few years, but only last year did I get the chance to make friend with fellow forum user MUNCIE, who happens to race 1/1 cars on tle lake. So, he was generous enough to send me one of the latest rule books. Needless to say, I now try to make sure that my cars "would pass inspection". 

I don't think I can add anything to your creativity, but if you'd like to consult the rules, we should find a way to get the book to you.

For instance, I'll be at the Trois-Rivières show on sunday the 27th. If you plan to be there, or have a friend who'll attend, let me know.I'll bring it with me. 

CT

Merci Claude,

Steve (MUNCIE) and I have been exchanging on the topic. He helped me understand the vibe of the Lake and has been most supportive. I'm getting good help.

Please PM me about Trois-Rivières event which I was not aware of. If I find time I might try to make a run for it just before we leave for Europe.

[Pierre Rivard]

The interior  is  a low budget approach consistent with the theme of this car. Imagine original interior including most of the trim and dash, with the patina of a barn find car. Of course only a driver's seat, again original to the car but with safety belts, and of course a roll cage and fire extinguisher, heat shield mats and perhaps a few extra gauges.

 

[Pierre Rivard]

Ok... warning to the sensitive stomachs, the color theme reflects 1972. Remember Harvest or Avocado refrigerators? Right, so yes an ugly brownish yellow vinyl trim, and where trim has been removed we are down to dark gray factory e-dip primer. Weathering will be added later... which won't improve appearance. I'm considering making the roll cage unpainted carbon steel color. I confirm this is a low budget race car. 

 

[Pierre Rivard]

And now the fabrication of smaller components begins with a shifter with a basic no frills rubber booth. I like my newly acquired punch set.

 

[BK9300]

Always a treat to follow along on your builds - get to continuously pick up detailing nuggets!

[Mark W]

2 hours ago, Pierre Rivard said:

And now the fabrication of smaller components begins with a shifter with a basic no frills rubber booth. I like my newly acquired punch set.

 

Nice innovative thinking on making the boot!

[Dave B]

Ah Pierre, using your skills set on something different, good to see!!!

Looking really good, I haven't built a rod for soooo long.

Dave B

[MarkJ]

Pierre, Interior coming along nicely. Cage and color for the interior trim is an excellent choice that I'm sure you will weather to match the rest of the car. Never thought I could get giddy over a Bonneville racer. Enjoy your upcoming trip.

[Nacho Z]

She is coming along quite nicely, Pierre!  Always a pleasure watching your work.

[Pierre Rivard]

Door panels, seat and dash have been "aged"

Perhaps a bit more to come for the seat, before harness installation

 

[Pierre Rivard]

On to finishing the roll cage. as previously said I wanted to replicate carbon steel, no paint, a few rubs & scratches.

I started with a semi metallic dark gray, done by mixing black and aluminium. Step 2 was a bit of dry brushing flat aluminium in some spots, then some gunmetal. Last step was blending it in a bit using Tamiya weathering masters (gunmetal, then soot)

 

[Pierre Rivard]

And then getting the interior floor/back seat & rear shelf areas to look like primed metal with some surface corrosion.

Step 1 was painting medium gray to replicate the factory electro dip primer. Step 2 is a highly diluted lighter gray, applied generously and with some spots wiped off to various degrees. Step 3 was lightlysponging some rust paint (dark and light) to replicate various degrees of surface rust. Step 4 was a Vallejo rust wash, applied unevenly and wiped off in some areas while letting it pool on other spots.

 

[MarkJ]

Perfectly aged and made to look perfectly real. you are a magician at this stuff, Pierre. It's amazing how you do this process. Its innate in you.

[Dave B]

Certainly looking like it's spent a lot of time on the salt!!!

Dave B

[absmiami]

Yup

[kensar]

Looks great!

You'll have to weather up the interior panels to match the condition of the chassis and body.

[Pierre Rivard]

21 hours ago, MarkJ said:

Perfectly aged and made to look perfectly real. you are a magician at this stuff, Pierre. It's amazing how you do this process. Its innate in you.

Thanks Mark. It is actually pretty easy to do, much easier than trying to achieve a nice shiny paint job. It's a lot of fun too!

18 hours ago, Dave B said:

Certainly looking like it's spent a lot of time on the salt!!!

Dave B

Hi Dave. The concept of this build is the making of a salt race car from a barn find, solid but not pretty Nova. I know... it's weird...

6 hours ago, absmiami said:

Yup

Thank you Andy

1 hour ago, kensar said:

Looks great!

You'll have to weather up the interior panels to match the condition of the chassis and body.

Open to suggestions Ken. I tried dirtying the vinyl trim with washes, any idea what I could do to improve it?

[charlie libby]

back for more Pierre ,looking great 

[kensar]

Normally, I don't think the 'salt flat rules' would allow one to keep the potentially flammable interior panels in place.  It doesn't cost money to rip them out.  But since you are keeping them, here's a thought:

1) Paint a flat finish on them if you don't have one already.

2) Use dry pastel chalk in dark gray or brown to give a dirty look in spots, maybe a lighter application all over.  Apply with a dry sponge and rub it in.  The flat finish will grab onto the chalk powder.  You may want to experiment on other parts first (goes without saying).

3)  Maybe explore ways to simulate tears or cuts in the vinyl.  Cover sections like the top edge of the door, top of the dash, or arm rest with foil, then cut into it and peel back the edges slightly.  Then repaint - the interior of the panel would probably be a dirty white color.  You may have other ideas about what to use in place of the foil (a thin masking tape or adhesive backed vinyl, maybe).  Get creative.  Would work on the seat, too.

These are just a few first thoughts.  Try something new you haven't done before.

[Pierre Rivard]

23 hours ago, charlie libby said:

back for more Pierre ,looking great 

Thank you Charlie. Not a lot of accurate mechanical details here  but this project is an enjoyable paint & weathering experiment.

[Pierre Rivard]

22 hours ago, kensar said:

Normally, I don't think the 'salt flat rules' would allow one to keep the potentially flammable interior panels in place.  It doesn't cost money to rip them out.  But since you are keeping them, here's a thought:

1) Paint a flat finish on them if you don't have one already.

2) Use dry pastel chalk in dark gray or brown to give a dirty look in spots, maybe a lighter application all over.  Apply with a dry sponge and rub it in.  The flat finish will grab onto the chalk powder.  You may want to experiment on other parts first (goes without saying).

3)  Maybe explore ways to simulate tears or cuts in the vinyl.  Cover sections like the top edge of the door, top of the dash, or arm rest with foil, then cut into it and peel back the edges slightly.  Then repaint - the interior of the panel would probably be a dirty white color.  You may have other ideas about what to use in place of the foil (a thin masking tape or adhesive backed vinyl, maybe).  Get creative.  Would work on the seat, too.

These are just a few first thoughts.  Try something new you haven't done before.

Thanks for the suggestions Ken. I may try a few of these. I'm keeping interior trim with this car as it supports the narrative for the type of quick build production based race car I aim for. Perhaps today all salt cars have these removed but I am dating this as a 2000ish entry. Two examples of salt car interiors from the era that kept some of the stock interior trim. First is a Ford Maverick that ran in the mid nineties in the production or classic category. Second is the famous C3 Corvette Sundowner, it had a long career and last ran in 2000 in the GT class.

 

[Belugawrx]

Like what your coming up with Pierre....^man, now that is a crowded interior^^^

 

[MarkJ]

Whoa. If you were claustrophobic, you couldn't drive that, Corvette. Man, every gauge you can imagine is in that baby. Can't wait to see your take on that for your build. 

Pierre, again I wait with bated breath for the next update.

[kensar]

I appreciate the info on the other salt flat cars and the fact that you have researched these subjects, Pierre.  Thanks.  I'm sure this will be a very unique model when you are done, knowing the extent to which you detail your models.  Looking forward to more updates!

[Pierre Rivard]

23 hours ago, Belugawrx said:

Like what your coming up with Pierre....^man, now that is a crowded interior^^^

 

Sure is. This stock body C3 last ran in 2000 with a 303 cid twin turbo, perhaps with a bit of nitro and ached a 2 way average of 270mph. Who has time to look at all these gauges...

21 hours ago, MarkJ said:

Whoa. If you were claustrophobic, you couldn't drive that, Corvette. Man, every gauge you can imagine is in that baby. Can't wait to see your take on that for your build. 

Pierre, again I wait with bated breath for the next update.

Thanks friend. Mine will have a few adds but pretty spartan in comparison.

5 hours ago, kensar said:

I appreciate the info on the other salt flat cars and the fact that you have researched these subjects, Pierre.  Thanks.  I'm sure this will be a very unique model when you are done, knowing the extent to which you detail your models.  Looking forward to more updates!

Definitely off the beaten path Ken. I did add some weathering to the interior trim btw.