ARII Chaparral 2C

[Mark W]

After sending the Wintersteen Grand Sport under glass, I decided to undertake a less stressful project .

This will be a curbside Chaparral 2C.
The first mod was to use a set of HRM wheel/tire set. This has to be the most beautiful Chaparral wheels and tires I’ve seen!

So far I’ve opened the screen areas as I feel there is no I know way to make them realistic.

There is a lot of talk about the color of the Chaparrals. I plan now to go with Ermine white, a 60’s Chevrolet color.

Feel free to add to this topic as far as color or any mod I can add to make it a better model.

I would also like a source for the “66” decals with a clear background. The kit ones aren’t bad as they are an off white.

[TopherMcGinnis]

Those are AWESOME cars!

[dwc43]

I have one of those that I started and boxed back up. I need to find it and finish it. Not a bad idea opening up the rear screens and putting some wire in there would look great. I cut an engine in half and put that in my car. I should have cut the floor pan out and put the hole engine in there. Maybe I will since my skills have improved a lot since I started that kit.

[Rick L]

It amazes me what Jim Hall had accomplished by 1966 at 31 years old.

[Pierre Rivard]

Another great racing car build to follow. How fortunate that you have the HRM wheels. Much better than modifying the kit wheels like I had to do for a 2D build. 

[Mark W]

42 minutes ago, Pierre Rivard said:

Another great racing car build to follow. How fortunate that you have the HRM wheels. Much better than modifying the kit wheels like I had to do for a 2D build. 

They are beautiful wheels. I do have another set for a future 2D build.

[Mark W]

57 minutes ago, Rick L said:

It amazes me what Jim Hall had accomplished by 1966 at 31 years old.

I’m now reading a book about him and yes, his accomplishments are impressive.

[Mark W]

1 hour ago, dwc43 said:

I have one of those that I started and boxed back up. I need to find it and finish it. Not a bad idea opening up the rear screens and putting some wire in there would look great. I cut an engine in half and put that in my car. I should have cut the floor pan out and put the hole engine in there. Maybe I will since my skills have improved a lot since I started that kit.

I plan on much the same, some sort of engine top half with the Webers. Maybe a full engine since this will be the early 2C with the exhaust stacks exiting on top. Whichever is easier.

[Mark W]

I did a mockup and found that it was setting high in the front (or low in the rear).

Decided to lower the front to level it off.

What do you think. The tires tucked up in the wheel well a bit look ok?

Edited April 14 by Mark W
Added photo

[Justin Porter]

On 4/10/2025 at 8:47 PM, Mark W said:

After sending the Wintersteen Grand Sport under glass, I decided to undertake a less stressful project .

This will be a curbside Chaparral 2C.
The first mod was to use a set of HRM wheel/tire set. This has to be the most beautiful Chaparral wheels and tires I’ve seen!

So far I’ve opened the screen areas as I feel there is no I know way to make them realistic.

There is a lot of talk about the color of the Chaparrals. I plan now to go with Ermine white, a 60’s Chevrolet color.

Feel free to add to this topic as far as color or any mod I can add to make it a better model.

I would also like a source for the “66” decals with a clear background. The kit ones aren’t bad as they are an off white.

Looking like a good start. Hasegawa sells a nice variety of "bulk" photoetch screens in different patterns. You might find something that suits the mesh you're looking for.

[dwc43]

Looking good to me.

[Pierre Rivard]

I think it looks very good. Perhaps raise the rear just a tiny bit (1 mm). Love the HRM wheels.

[Mark W]

1 hour ago, Pierre Rivard said:

I think it looks very good. Perhaps raise the rear just a tiny bit (1 mm). Love the HRM wheels.

I was leaning that way, just wanted other’s opinion.

[Mark W]

3 hours ago, Justin Porter said:

Looking like a good start. Hasegawa sells a nice variety of "bulk" photoetch screens in different patterns. You might find something that suits the mesh you're looking for.

I’ll check it out Justin, it has to be a pretty fine mesh.

[Mark W]

A few spacer, a little filing and the ride height was adjusted.

Now on to the screens and cockpit!

[Mark W]

Working on the screens, which do you prefer?

[Belugawrx]

I think the smaller weave one..where did you source that Mark..? I am in need of some that size.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Looking really good.  

I was very curious about the accuracy of the Arii kit, and now I know. Thanks a bunch for posting this build here.

[dwc43]

Smaller one for sure. Don't want to see the empty hole behind it, unless you put an engine in the back of it too.

[Pierre Rivard]

I like them both. My guess is you have a 30 mesh and 40 mesh there. If I had to choose I would go with the 40.

[RancheroSteve]

On 4/10/2025 at 5:47 PM, Mark W said:

 

I would also like a source for the “66” decals with a clear background. The kit ones aren’t bad as they are an off white.

Excellent start! I've had one of these on the shelf for at least twenty years and I'm still trying to work up the nerve to start it.

Fred Cady made a decal set for the Chaparrals that has the clear background you're looking for. Cady decals are long out of production, but the sheets pop up on eBay pretty frequently. You could also print your own ink jet set if you're inclined that way.

[Mark W]

On 4/16/2025 at 9:01 PM, Belugawrx said:

I think the smaller weave one..where did you source that Mark..? I am in need of some that size.

Bruce, I got various screen sizes from an industrial hydraulic filter. I should have some extra, how much do you need.

[Mark W]

11 hours ago, RancheroSteve said:

Excellent start! I've had one of these on the shelf for at least twenty years and I'm still trying to work up the nerve to start it.

Fred Cady made a decal set for the Chaparrals that has the clear background you're looking for. Cady decals are long out of production, but the sheets pop up on eBay pretty frequently. You could also print your own ink jet set if you're inclined that way.

Thanks Steve, I’ll look into the Cady decals.

[Mark W]

21 hours ago, dwc43 said:

Smaller one for sure. Don't want to see the empty hole behind it, unless you put an engine in the back of it too.

 

13 hours ago, Pierre Rivard said:

I like them both. My guess is you have a 30 mesh and 40 mesh there. If I had to choose I would go with the 40.

 

On 4/16/2025 at 9:01 PM, Belugawrx said:

I think the smaller weave one..where did you source that Mark..? I am in need of some that size.

Great, the fine it shall be!

 

[Mark W]

On 4/16/2025 at 9:02 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

Looking really good.  

I was very curious about the accuracy of the Arii kit, and now I know. Thanks a bunch for posting this build here.

No problem Bill. The body is great, well proportioned, the front swoop should be a little deeper but that’s hard to notice.

The interior is lacking, the pontoons should be flat, but they are round to accept the “batteries”. And it is a curbside.

I’m going to correct that. The prices are crazy high on ebay, buy I watched for several months and got one for $40.00 total cost.

Still high for a curbside, but it’s the only game in town.