Snake45 Posted November 23, 2014 Posted November 23, 2014 I just realized--I never posted the final "Under Glass" pics of this thing. So here it is. The idea here was to build a typical “little guy” NHRA Modified Production class racer based somewhere in the 1969-1972 time period. Kit is the AMT '65 Chevelle station wagon and one of my goals was to build it as close to out of the box as I could stand, using the kit parts whenever possible (modified if necessary), even if these weren't the very best parts I had on hand. Everything you see here is from the kit EXCEPT: *Hood lump—Cut down and modified from AMT '72 Nova. *Carb velocity stacks: AMT '72 Nova. *Header collector tubes from aluminum tubing and header mounting flanges from sheet styrene. *Tunnel ram intake manifold from parts box, modified to fit small block Chevy. *Deep sump for oil pan made from laminated sheet styrene. *Hurst shifter scratchbuilt from Evergreen sheet styrene and plastic rod. (Full build details here: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=94431 ). *Side windows made from “throwaway” clear plastic pie cover. *Decals from three sheets from the parts box, plus the kit sheet. The original plan was to paint it a solid dark or “royal” blue like a $39.95 Earl Schieb paint job using generic or truck fleet colors, but the Krylon paint I used for this didn't lay down to suit me so I stripped that off with rubbing alcohol and went with Testor Model Master Nassau Blue, which I'd bought for another project and then decided I didn't like the color for that. But turns out that Nassau Blue is a factory '65 Chevy color, the Testor rattlecan color is darn close to it, and the flat finish of this line of paints does a nice job of replicating four-to-seven year old factory paint that spent its life parked outside and didn't see a whole lot of wax. GM cars of this type were notorious for rusting through in the lower rear fenders and sometimes the rocker panels, so I simulated some “rust repair” in these areas using, ironically, Model Master Rust paint (airbrushed). I was tempted to do more of this but there's always the danger of going overboard in this sort of work so I left it at this. I can always add more later if the mood strikes me. Hood lump was cut from the hood of an AMT '72 Nova Pro Stock, reversed, reshaped with filing (the top front corner, formerly the top rear corner, is now paper-thin), and cut down to a scale 7”. Painted satin black to match the primer finish these sort of things usually came in. I have about four hours or so reworking and detailing the front end. The grille and bumper come molded together, with a chrome strip between them. On the real car, there's sheetmetal between the grille and bumper below the headlights, and then it's open in the middle section, so I drilled and filed that out and then painted the sheetmetal areas. Chrome windshield and side window trim were done with a silver Sharpie (Cheap! Fast! Easy! What's not to like?), and the body chrome emblems were done with good old Testor Chrome Silver and a small paintbrush (from Walmart, if you can believe it—one of the best detailing paintbrushes I've ever owned). Main references were the May 1968 issue of Car Craft magazine (“SPECIAL MODIFIED PRODUCTION ISSUE!”) and the 1971 NHRA rulebook. Full “workbench” build article with engine and interior pics can be seen at: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=93345 Thanks for looking and comments/questions welcome.
Snake45 Posted November 23, 2014 Author Posted November 23, 2014 Just for fun, I photographed the model with the cover of the May '68 Car Craft with a similar '55 Chevy MP drag wagon as background.
om617 Posted November 23, 2014 Posted November 23, 2014 Cool wagon. It`s nice to see unusual subjects as drag cars.
oldscool Posted November 23, 2014 Posted November 23, 2014 Hey snake, I like your model and you can't go wrong with Nassau blue. Where did those valve covers come from? I need a set for a replica of my 69 Camaro that I plan on building.
Snake45 Posted November 23, 2014 Author Posted November 23, 2014 Where did those valve covers come from? I need a set for a replica of my 69 Camaro that I plan on building. They're from the kit. I just painted what was there.
oldscool Posted November 24, 2014 Posted November 24, 2014 They're from the kit. I just painted what was there. Thanks, I have never looked at all the parts that come with that kit.
jbwelda Posted November 24, 2014 Posted November 24, 2014 that looks pretty authentic alright. very kool concept. just wondering: is the underside of the hood finished? so the hood bulge is sort of incorporated into it? I take it the bulge was necessary due to the high rise intake manifold? jb
microwheel Posted November 24, 2014 Posted November 24, 2014 Good job like that you went with the street machine look.
Burnout Posted November 24, 2014 Posted November 24, 2014 Very nice. I love the doorslammers from that time frame and you hit the mark with this one.
Snake45 Posted November 24, 2014 Author Posted November 24, 2014 that looks pretty authentic alright. very kool concept. just wondering: is the underside of the hood finished? so the hood bulge is sort of incorporated into it? I take it the bulge was necessary due to the high rise intake manifold? jb The hood is the kit hood to represent a stock steel hood. I think it's painted black on the underside but it might be primer or even blue, I forget. After building the engine, I measured carefully and cut the opening for the carbs. The bulge represents an aftermarket fiberglass bolt-on, but it's not attached, just sitting there. I hope to eventually come up with something that looks a bit more like "Grumpy's lump," and then will glue that on when I get it the way I want it.
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