Removal of wipers

[Fortheloveofgassers]

What self respecting drag car or stock car would have windshield wipers? Problem is many kits that are good candidates for race cars have wiper arms molded in. I have removed them with limited success.

Anybody have good proceedure to remove wipers and recreate the intake vent and window molding?

I even thought about cutting the whole mess out and grafting I photo ecthpiece in it's place.

Would love to any hear all suggestions for this age old problem

Thanks

[1972coronet]

Not necessarily a complete answer to your inquiry ; some --if not all-- "Stock" drag classes require windshield wipers , even if the requisite homologation of 50 factory-assembled vehicles had only one for the driver's side .

[Snake45]

Removing the wipers isn't difficult. Even rescribing the lower windshield trim isn't that hard. But if the wiper has covered part of the cowl vents...problems.

I can only offer two suggestions, one easy, one difficult.

1. Chose a dark color for your paint job so the cowl vents aren't so conspicuous.

2. Rescribe the individual vents, using the backside of an Xacto blade, the tip of a razor saw, or something of the kind. Tedious!

[AC Norton]

I have been removing them on my race cars for over 30 years now....and its even harder now that my eyes are worse...lol...regardless, its one of those jobs you just love to hate, and weighing up the pros and cons should be your choice, as some wipers are much more difficult to remove than others. scribing work is something that I think most builders really have to be in the mood to do, i have found. its one of those jobs that cannot be rushed thru, because that work will show a result that usually is not satisfactory. use sharp, new blades, take your time, make certain your lighting is set just right, and remember....practice makes perfect,,,well, hopefully almost perfect.....the ace.....

[High octane]

A lot of kits come with separate wipers and I usually leave the driver's side on, as the car can be caught in a "downpour" sitting in the staging lanes.

[Fortheloveofgassers]

Thanks for all the replys. I guess I should have said I like building Gassers which typically shouldnt have wipers.

I have tried cutting the wipers off and re-scribing the cowl vent with a panel scriber. It turns out ok but I keep thinking there must be a better way. Has anyone replaced the cowl vent with photo-etched vents?

[SfanGoch]

What a revoltin' development this is! If it's not one thing, it's something else. Now, you'll have to worry about blending the PE vents with the surrounding plastic. It's a vicious circle, I tell ya.

[Fortheloveofgassers]

What a revoltin' development this is! If it's not one thing, it's something else. Now, you'll have to worry about blending the PE vents with the surrounding plastic. It's a vicious circle, I tell ya.

Too funny. Maybe we should quit building models and take up knitting?

[High octane]

Ed, in the "beginning" gassers were every day hot rods that were raced on the drag strips on weekends. They had to have all safety equipment such as lights, mufflers, horn, and yes even WIPERS, as they were to be "street legal."

[Snake45]

I keep thinking there must be a better way.

Sometimes, there just isn't a better way.

Maybe you could talk someone into producing a line of resin wiperless cowl panels. Of course, then he won't make one for the model YOU want to build. Ain't it always the way?

[Muncie]

OK, remember i like the lazy solution... and sometimes lack of patience - just some simple ideas

i remove the wipers and rescribe the windshield molding. i just leave the remaining cowl vent openinings without scribing in the slots where the wipers were - doesn't look too bad.

On a gasser, minor cutomizing is permitted if it does not affect performance - so I'd probably sand the vents down below the surface so they don't reappear and fill them in completly.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Too funny. Maybe we should quit building models and take up knitting?

Collecting Beanie Babies would be good.

[roadhawg]

I too build race cars, so I feel your pain. I've considered just filling in the vent and using a decal to give the illusion of a vent....never actually tried it though.

[Erik Smith]

I too build race cars, so I feel your pain. I've considered just filling in the vent and using a decal to give the illusion of a vent....never actually tried it though.

That actually would probably look decent - better than painted over ones possibly.

Instead of rescribing, you could open the vents. I suck at scribing, so I try to avoid when I can. To get the vents open and straight, you can drill a small hole at each end of the "filled" vent (with the wiper residue) then cut out the plastic inbetween the holes - helps keep blades from passing "go" and causing more work. Then I use a tiny strip of sand paper, thread it through the opened vent, and sand to desired width. It's tedious and mind numbing, but so much fun at the same time. Kind of like doing push ups when you have the flu.

[Guest]

I've seen cowl vents covered with a slightly larger piece of aluminum with rivets before. You could glue a piece of .005 or .010 styrene over them in the same manner for the easy way.

I open cowl vents whenever possible. While I haven't removed the wipers. My method of opening them may help you out. To open the cowl vents, I thin the underside with a Dremel and router style bit until I can see through the plastic. Then, I'll sand with a piece of 150 sandpaper to smooth it up until the remaining styrene is almost ready to fall out. I then take a photo etch saw blade to cut out what's left. I think the photo etch saw blade would work pretty well to make the cut through what's left of your wipers.

[MeatMan]

I like the idea of using a cover piece. Should be okay if well done on a racing only car. For the sticklers you could use some weld bead for detail.

[Fortheloveofgassers]

There is some amazing talent and some great ideas on this forum. Thanks to all who chimmed in.