tyrone Posted January 29, 2015 Posted January 29, 2015 this is some SURGICAL sh** we are watching here....LOVE your work....
blunc Posted January 29, 2015 Posted January 29, 2015 that there is some real fine scale modeling that shows knowledge of the subject and the drive to replicate it.
doggie427 Posted January 29, 2015 Posted January 29, 2015 that there is some real fine scale modeling that shows knowledge of the subject and the drive to replicate it. X2
Randy D Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 Hello Jim, Wonderful detailing sir !!!!!!! Randy
microwheel Posted January 30, 2015 Author Posted January 30, 2015 Hey thanks alot guys, Sorry updates are slow in coming, the vette construction is going alot slower than I had planned when I started out with it. But then I wasnt planning to do as much detail as I am, but you know how that goes.. these things speak to you as you go along lol. Finally got time to get a little bit more done last night and this morning. Finished up getting the front suspension brake and wheel work done.. It pretty much went the same way as the rear brake work so I didn't take pics of each step in the process since it was the same as the back brakes. But at least now one of the major conversions I wanted to do to the vette is pretty much done.. It now has 4 wheel disc brakes, possible front suspension, and rotating rear end half shafts. Here's a couple pics of the front suspension work.. sorry some may seem a little dark.. Lighting in the hobby room is a little crappy today. Sorry if things look a little dusty, it will all get a final clean up before final assembly. About all I got left to do on the front suspension is paint detail and install the steering gear box. That will get done over the weekend I hope, as well as getting started on the engine. Left turned Right turned.... Here is the final chassis mock up.. my plan is to wait till I mate the chassis, interior, and body together before permanently cementing the rear suspension into place.. that's why you dont see the rear shocks and some of the brake detail for the rear suspension isn't mated up . This is so I can make sure the rear wheels sit correctly to the body and adjust the rear end with shims if need be to get the correct centering of the rear wheels. It will make sense when I get that far. Continued in the following post.. ...
microwheel Posted January 30, 2015 Author Posted January 30, 2015 Next up I started work on the firewall. I painted the firewall Tamiya semi gloss black and the wire detail got dry brushed with a dark grey. I then drilled a hole in the brake booster for the brake booster vacuum line, and gave a paint coat of testors metalizer brass. The windshield wiper motor was done in metalizer aluminum. I gave the master brake cylinder a coat of metalizer gunmetal and left the master cylinder lid chrome plated. Next up was to make the brake booster assembly's brake line transition block for the brake lines.. I made this out of evergreen plastic strip and round rod drilled out for the brake lines and detail painted with testors steel and brass metalizers The transition to master cylinder lines were made from Model Car Garage scale detail brake line. I will add the transition block lower lines that run to the main brake lines transition block before the firewall gets installed into the car. And that's pretty much as far as I am for today. I'll post more as I get things done. Thanks for all the great comments everyone and for watching my build.
Monty Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 (edited) Hey thanks alot guys, Sorry updates are slow in coming, the vette construction is going alot slower than I had planned when I started out with it. But then I wasnt planning to do as much detail as I am, but you know how that goes.. these things speak to you as you go along lol. This reminds me of an old movie that I love - The Agony And The Ecstasy. Charlton Heston plays Michelangelo who was picked by the pope to paint the Sistine chapel. The artist has to withstand pressure from the pope to finish it quickly while struggling to maintain his own exacting standards. As we all know, Michelangelo ultimately prevailed. Here's the lesson for you, Jim: Work at your own pace, add what you want, and when it's finished it, will be nothing short of remarkable. Edited January 30, 2015 by Monty
mustang1989 Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 You sir, are da MAN!!! Beautiful and crisp detail!!! Holee smokes!!!!!
microwheel Posted January 31, 2015 Author Posted January 31, 2015 This reminds me of an old movie that I love - The Agony And The Ecstasy. Charlton Heston plays Michelangelo who was picked by the pope to paint the Sistine chapel. The artist has to withstand pressure from the pope to finish it quickly while struggling to maintain his own exacting standards. As we all know, Michelangelo ultimately prevailed. Here's the lesson for you, Jim: Work at your own pace, add what you want, and when it's finished it, will be nothing short of remarkable. Thanks Monty, with all the personal issues going on around here, there isnt much choice but to work on this build slow and steady. The Agony on this build had come along many times, and had my share of redos so far lol.. But your right.. the Ecstasy when it's worked has been well worth it.
microwheel Posted January 31, 2015 Author Posted January 31, 2015 You sir, are da MAN!!! Beautiful and crisp detail!!! Holee smokes!!!!! Thank ya kindly Joe Sir... I'm starting to tinker with this engine this morning.. Not very far along yet, just some basic assembly, parts clean up, test fitting and detail planning lol. When I get into it full bore I'll be posting more pics.
10thumbs Posted January 31, 2015 Posted January 31, 2015 Hi Jim, I really enjoy looking at your detail work, very convincing. The metalizer paints look correct too, great work. Michael
microwheel Posted February 1, 2015 Author Posted February 1, 2015 Hi Jim, I really enjoy looking at your detail work, very convincing. The metalizer paints look correct too, great work. Michael Thanks Michael. I've used Model Masters Metalizer paints since they first came out.. Dang am I telling on myself here lol. No really, They are a little fussy to work with and can be a little messy to, but they do look good.
10thumbs Posted February 1, 2015 Posted February 1, 2015 The way the "brass" paint looks has me convinced. The magnesium also. I'll have to see where I can get the MM paint. Again, I've learned something, thanks for sharing. Michael
microwheel Posted February 1, 2015 Author Posted February 1, 2015 Hi Michael, they shouldn't be to hard to find. Most hobby stores carry them. Just remember there are two type in the line.. buffing and non-buffing.. the buffing metalizers can be buffed out with a soft cotton cloth when dry and shine up to a nice metal finish. the non buffing metalizers will give you more of a bare non shine metal look.. such as bare steel and aluminum. It just depends on the look your after. I have almost the entire line since I use them alot for different finishes. A little pricey when you go for the whole lot, but if you buy just a couple at a time. It goes easier on the wallet. And yes, they come in both a spray can and bottles.. I mostly use the bottles, and when I need to spray them I use my air brush, and no they don't need thinning.. but with really small parts you can even apply them with a paint brush and still get a nice result.
slusher Posted February 1, 2015 Posted February 1, 2015 Real nice work on the firewall Jim, going to remember this when I build mine. Your detail abilities are way above me but I do try some...
W-409 Posted February 1, 2015 Posted February 1, 2015 This is truly inspirational work. Excellent work on the little details, makes me sometimes wonder if this is a real car or a model. I will have to bookmark this thread for future reference...I have two of these Corvettes on my stash.
mikemopar70 Posted February 1, 2015 Posted February 1, 2015 Your brake lines detail is beautiful. Can't wait to see it completed!!
microwheel Posted February 2, 2015 Author Posted February 2, 2015 Real nice work on the firewall Jim, going to remember this when I build mine. Your detail abilities are way above me but I do try some... Thanks Carl. Don't sell yourself short my friend, I've watched some of your builds, and your abilities are top notch in my book. This is truly inspirational work. Excellent work on the little details, makes me sometimes wonder if this is a real car or a model. I will have to bookmark this thread for future reference...I have two of these Corvettes on my stash. LOL thanks Niko, I only wish it were a real 67 Vette. The wife would never keep me home cuz I'd be out cruising everyday.
microwheel Posted February 2, 2015 Author Posted February 2, 2015 Your brake lines detail is beautiful. Can't wait to see it completed!! Thanks Michel. I can't wait either.. this thing is taking alot longer than I thought it would.
microwheel Posted February 2, 2015 Author Posted February 2, 2015 Update for today guys, I finally decided to start work on the power plant. Now don't forget, I'm attempting to convert the vette into a rare ac version. To start with, I de-chromed a couple parts such as the Alt, and the intake and carb assembly parts, (I should have thrown the fuel pump in for de-chroming as well, but forgot. Oh well it's being done now.) I assembled the basics and cleaned up the join lines. I mocked up the fan belt and alt assembly so I could pre-attach the Alt where it needs to sit. The Alternator will be used as the main alignment point for the fan and crank pulleys . I plan to use a aftermarket pulley kit, so I'm using the kit supplied one to get a sense of alignment. I then scratch made a bottom alt mounting bracket and cemented the upper and scratched made brackets in place. These and the alternator can get painted with the engine and later detail painted. When the cement set up, the kit fan belt assembly was removed. A hole was drilled in the fan pulley mounting point to allow the stem from the aftermarket pulley to fit. This now gives me a alignment point for the crank and fan pulleys, while keeping the Alt solid and stable. Next up was to mock up the aftermarket pulleys into place. The Alt pulley got a photo etched fin piece from detail master's photo etched engine detail set and then the alt, fan and crank pulleys where set in place to check for alignment. Once everything was correctly aligned the pulleys were removed and set aside for later assembly. Next was to pre-drill most of the holes needed for later detailing. Holes were drill for plug wire detail, heater hoses , brake booster and crank vacuum lines, and a dip stick, though not all depicted here in the below photo. There will be more needed, I'm sure, as assembly goes along. I also removed the molded on shift linkage rods from the tranny, and drilled holes for scratch making better detailed linkage rods. Sorry the pic is a little blurry. Sometimes white parts on a white background does that. That's pretty much up to date on where the vette is at for today. I'll post more as I get it done..
Snake45 Posted February 2, 2015 Posted February 2, 2015 Will that alternator fit under the hood? Looks kinda tall.
microwheel Posted February 2, 2015 Author Posted February 2, 2015 Will that alternator fit under the hood? Looks kinda tall. Hi Richard, yup it will.. if you check my pics, you'll see it was lined up using the kit's original fan belt pulley assembly. What might be throwing the perception off is the fact that the valve covers arent in place in the pics yet. In the last pic, you'll see I mocked the original fan belt assembly back in place to make sure of just that, as well as give the alt more strength as I was handling it alot for drilling stuff out. Using the original fan belt assembly with the alt mocked to it, when making the brackets and tacking them into place with the alternator, pretty much guaranties the alternator will be in the proper location when the kit belt assembly gets removed from it.
microwheel Posted February 3, 2015 Author Posted February 3, 2015 I spent some more time this evening on the mock up work for the engine on the vette. Mostly on the AC compressor and getting all the aftermarket pulleys lined up. This is the configuration I'm after for the AC unit. Since the kit didn't come with the needed AC parts, I dug around in my parts stash and came up with the needed parts from an old damaged beyond repair revell 65 chevy impala ss that got dropped too many times. I knew I saved it for parts so I robbed it of it's AC compressor and accessories. It will need a bath in the paint stripper but it will work as is for mock up and making the mounting brackets on the vette. After playing around with different shapes of pieces of evergreen plastic sheeting for a good part of the day, I finally scratch made upper and lower mounting brackets for the AC compressor that was at least close to my reference pics. These were pinned together with piano wire, and were made to be removable for the purposes of disassembling for paint. Most of the engine was liquid taped together for checking alignment and fit. And to make sure all the pulleys were going to line up correctly. plastruct round rod was laid across the pulleys to check for alignment and adjustment as needed. Now everything can be disassembled and cleaned up and painted. I'll detail the intake manifold and carbs once the block gets painted and is set aside to dry. I don't have braided plug wire, which most of these cars had, so I'll have to go off accuracy a little bit and revert to black or yellow plug wire. We'll just call it a generation 2 vette. Since I may just leave the pulleys unpainted for that hot rod dress up look that alot of my generation did with our cars as teens and young men. I still got more odds and ends detail work to do with the engine and engine bay, but at least the biggest part of the conversions are out of the way. I'll post more as I get things done.
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