Grill Fit?

[m408]

O.K. Gang, here is the problem. I am working on the AMT 60 Corvette. I am having a real problem fitting the grill into the body. Seems like a bad fit. I have tried micro filing, both body and grill, and just can't get a good fit.

My idea... enlarge body openings, grease up grill parts with vasoline or wax paper, tape grill in place, and fill voids with putty, remove grill and sand as needed for final fit after paint.

Questions... Has anyone tried this before? Will the vasoline or wax paper act as a mold release from the putty, leaving me with the proper holes for grill insertion after paint? If so, would this work also with customizing head and tail lights? Also, if it is feasable, what are your recomenditions for glueing plastic to putty?

I know, what with some of the work displayed here, that you folks can do just about anything. Hoping to cash in on your knowledge.

[62rebel]

you're experiencing one of the many drawbacks to 45 year old tooling. it's a matter of filling and filing,sanding and filling to get ANY of the early 'vettes grilles to fit right. i personally haven't tried vaseline or similar products to keep parts from sticking until i want them too, and IMHO vaseline seems to me to be too hard to control and keep where you want it. the majority of builders use tape IIRC to isolate parts like this. putty, used to fill out gaps, tends to chip and flake at the edges; i suggest cutting a fillet of sheet styrene and CA-gluing it in place, then file and sand it to the contour you seek. my only caveat regarding CA is that it makes the plastic hard as a rock where it soaks in. i have several early Vette kits and all of them have fit issues around the grilles and valances. patience!

[MikeMc]

try wafer thin strips of styrene welded in with tenax to build up the opening then start filing and then add more.........