I M S A Corvette G T P 'my Grail Of '08

[ismaelg]

Hello,

This should be one of my most important projects of 2008. My grail for this year: the Quick Skins IMSA Corvette GTP.

Brief History background:

Back in the very early 80's, Lola designed a revolutionary chassis to compete in IMSA against the strangle hold of Porsche 935s of the day. This chassis, named T-600, debuted with a Chevy V8 powerplant. Lola had all their hopes into this sole car. It won it's debut race in 1981 and eventually captured the 1981 IMSA championship, despite having entered at the 5th race of the season. The success of this car generated interest in Chevrolet, which had not "officially" competed as a manufacturer since the late 50's. Chevrolet, at the time, was interested in developing their V6 turbo into the small block succesor. From this, a relationship between Lola and Chevrolet was established and the Corvette GTP program was borned, debuting in 1985.

The model:

Around 2004, Quick Skins announced it was going to release a resin kit of the GTP. I immediately salivated an ordered one as quickly as possible It was eventually released in late 2004 or early 2005.

The model is quite good, with the body requiring only minor cleanup.

A quick mock up shows the overall look.

After cleanup, a good wash and removing the support bar in the windshield area, a light sanding and a quick coat of primer would reveal how it's going.

The panel lines can use some deepening but overall it's looking good! right?

Well, there's a catch in here:

All this was done over 2 years ago. Why did it stalled and was not revived until now? That will be the topic of the next update: Stay tuned!

Thanks,

Edited March 21, 2008 by ismaelg

[Brendan]

It will be interesting to see what you do with the kit. I built mine and had no issues with it. Tamiya's TS 17 Gloss Aluminum is a pretty good match for the decals. Can't wait for updates.

[ismaelg]

Hello,

OK, Here we go: There were 2 reasons why this project got stalled:

1. The paint scheme: Had to build up the courage (and experience) to paint it. This car is silver and black on the sides, white and black on top but there are thin silver and red stripes separating them. While it looks fairly simple, the thin stripes require the highest precision in the color separation lines. I always wanted to paint the silver part, not using the silver decal. I don't like the idea of a massive decal covering the side of the car. Add the fact that at the time I was a huge decal hater, and it was intimidating to say the least. I'm not exactly a decal lover now, but I consider decals now like my asthma. I aacept it will always be there so I better deal with it

2. The second reason I blame on my "overcomplicaditis" syndrome. I'm a sucker for accuracy on my models. I can be as anal retentive as the worst IPMS military modeler

Race cars are always changing and evolving. That's why a specific timeframe must be set to represent a specific car. The model has no louvers on top of the fenders. That makes it an early version of the car. Yet, the back of the bodywork behind the cockpit makes it a later version. So I FOOLISHLY decided to add the louvers. The louvers themselves were constantly changing on the car. So I decided to do the car as it raced in Road Atlanta in 1987 where it was on the pole and set a new track record. (Shhh I didn't choose the 1986 Road Atlanta winner because the louvers were bigger Shhh )

So, for over 2 years I tried everything to replicate these louvers:

Here are some of the attempts:

and many others that were so bad they were not even worth a digital picture

I gave up and was about to do it without the louvers, but while at Venture Hobbies in Chicago last Novenber, I found 0.75mm quarter round rods. Hmm OK one last chance:

and TA DAH!!!! This is as close as I'll get. I plan on doing a decal for the outline of the louver panel.

Now I'm ready for the paint challenge

Sorry for the long post.

Thanks,

Edited February 5, 2008 by ismaelg

[Clay]

I am sure that this will look absolutely awesome when it is finished, I will probably not be able to build that so I say more power to ya.

[935k3]

Glad to see this thread. This was one of the prettiest cars from that era. I was lucky enough to see it race at Watkins Glen a few times. Can't wait to see your progress on this one.

[roncomatic]

I'm also glad to see this thread. The Corvette GTP racer was, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful and lethal race cars on the planet during it's heyday.

--ron

[Raul_Perez]

Ismael,

That is my absolute favorite paint scheme for those cars!!

Hey, maybe we should do a racing Vette pickup painted in those colors?!

Keep us posted on your progress,

[ismaelg]

Let the painting begin! Of course after deepening the panel lines and primer etc. etc.

First color: Cobra Colors Corvette Arctic White:

Now is when the fun begins!

Masking for the subsequent colors. As any pilot will tell you: for every minute of flying, there are hours of preparation.

Thanks,

[FordRodnKustom]

Nice, always one of my favorite GTP's from that era. Looking to seeing your progression with it.

[ismaelg]

The Cobra Colors Nurburgring Silver has been applied.

[Brendan]

I was thinking about doing the short tailed version of the Corvette...the one that ran with the V-8. Very cool so far. Are you going to put the louvers in the vents just in front of the back wheels? Also are you going to put the dive planes in the front?

[ismaelg]

I was thinking about doing the short tailed version of the Corvette...the one that ran with the V-8. Very cool so far. Are you going to put the louvers in the vents just in front of the back wheels? Also are you going to put the dive planes in the front?

Thanks! Glad you like it. The short tail version would be nice. I'd love to do several versions as well if these kits were more "accesible". Long tail V8, Short tail, Lee Racing, Peerless, Budweiser etc.

I'm doing the car as it ran in Atlanta in 1987. The dive planes in the front were added later. By the louvers in the vents, do you mean these on the side?

Thanks,

[Len Woodruff]

Thanks! Glad you like it. The short tail version would be nice. I'd love to do several versions as well if these kits were more "accesible". Long tail V8, Short tail, Lee Racing, Peerless, Budweiser etc.

I'm doing the car as it ran in Atlanta in 1987. The dive planes in the front were added later. By the louvers in the vents, do you mean these on the side?

Thanks,

Ismael do you have a picture you could post of the version you ar building so your masking job will make more since to me?

[ismaelg]

Ismael do you have a picture you could post of the version you ar building so your masking job will make more since to me?

It is the one at the very top of the thread. Car # 52 in black white and silver with red pinstripes. It will make more sense in the next 2 steps...

Thanks,

[Brendan]

Thanks! Glad you like it. The short tail version would be nice. I'd love to do several versions as well if these kits were more "accesible". Long tail V8, Short tail, Lee Racing, Peerless, Budweiser etc.

I'm doing the car as it ran in Atlanta in 1987. The dive planes in the front were added later. By the louvers in the vents, do you mean these on the side?

Thanks,

I meant the flap above the rear vent for the radiator. If you do, use the phote etch and take your time in bending it as it is a "pain in the butt" to get it to the right shape. There were some talk at Quick Skins about doing the Budweiser car, but he had other projects ahead of that if he was ever going to do it.

[ismaelg]

I meant the flap above the rear vent for the radiator. If you do, use the phote etch and take your time in bending it as it is a "pain in the butt" to get it to the right shape.

Ahh yes, now I know what you mean. It is my intention to add them, but it all depends on how they behave I have also considered doing them with brass, but I haven't got there yet.

Thanks,

[ismaelg]

Hello,

I've been quite busy lately so not as much progress as I would like. But the silver was masked and Cobra Colors Ultra Black applied. Just like the movies when someone gets a face surgery and they remove the bandages to see if it worked or not, once dry to the touch I'll take all the masking off. This is nerve-racking. It will be either a great triumph or a catastrophic failure...

Thanks,

[Brendan]

Looking good. Have you started on anything with the chassis?

[ismaelg]

Looking good. Have you started on anything with the chassis?

Thanks Brendan! No I haven't done anything yet with anything other than the body. Actually I was joking with a friend yesterday that I forgot the model was more than just the body

Thanks,

[irender]

Hello,

I've been quite busy lately so not as much progress as I would like. But the silver was masked and Cobra Colors Ultra Black applied. Just like the movies when someone gets a face surgery and they remove the bandages to see if it worked or not, once dry to the touch I'll take all the masking off. This is nerve-racking. It will be either a great triumph or a catastrophic failure...

Thanks,

C'mon, c'mon..peel that tape off..let's see. The hardest part is waiting for things to dry to find out how they turned out. Looking good so far.

[Guest roadkill2525]

I got some more pics but need a bigger scanner.

Edited February 18, 2008 by roadkill2525

[Guest roadkill2525]

got some more pics, there of the 22.

[Guest roadkill2525]

Any updates? I've taken a liking to this after reading about it and watching your build.

[ismaelg]

Hello,

OK, enough fooling around. Time to get serious.

Back to this project:

Just like in the movies where somebody gets face surgery and there is always a dramatic scene carefully and slowly getting the bandages out and seeing the results for the first time: Was it a success? a failure?

.

.

.

.

.

WOHOO!

It's a success! No major touch up seems to be needed. The roof needs some buffing but if it comes to worst, re-painting the roof is the least difficult task. Masking the separation lines on the colors worked great.

This is far from over but it's going in the right direction.

Thanks,

[Nick F40]

You know I love road racers and this is spectacular so far................that PAINT!