The Mustang and Corvette Group Build

Dale, Gordy, Your builds are looking great!

I made a lot of progress on the vette. Note to self, never spray clear on a cold day. The stuff bubbled up and when it dried, it had small little pits in it. I used 2000 grit sandpaper and it took a while but it finaly smoothed out. I had to spray some touch up where I sanded down to much.

Here's a shot of the body.

I got all the parts that needed to be painted semi-gloss cleaned up and painted. While digging through a box I had from about 15 years ago I found an old Aztek external mix airbrush. I rigged it to my compressor and it works great. Shoots Acrylic straight out of the bottle and easy to clean up. I also sprayed the engine but the picture came out blurry. I guess my definition of in focus and the camera's is different hehehehe. 

Started on the under-carriage.

And also started prepping the stuff that needs to be re-chromed.

L8TR,

Eric.

Looks pretty good Dale.

Gordy the seat belts, and Rims look great. I got one kit for x-mass and I'll be doing that for the 2014 AGB.

Here  is a picture of the body with the paint. I don't know what brand the hood scoop is but I got it from the Slixx web site when I bought the decals.

It also needs a little touch up but I'll do that after the decals in case I have to touch up around them.

This is a picture showing the engine in the frame. The pre-wired distributor is from Morgan Automotive detail. It will be wired to an Accel Super Coil also from MAD.

The top of the frame rails were hallow so I filled them with super glue, and auto body filler.

I started on the decals, but I don't have pictures yet.

That does look like great work Gordy. Keep it up. I know what you mean about the new kits, happens to me all the time.

I thought the cold weather might have been an issue for some. I haven't sprayed much for a while due to some sinus trouble, and won't this week as it's about 40 degrees C all week, which means it will be fifty in the garage.

Cheers

Tony

I had noticed our little GB thread had fallen to the second page and I was hoping to have a decent update this weekend but I'm still struggling making the Vette shine.  The ignition wires aren't co-operating much either.  Those are my 2 biggest hold ups.  I'm about ready to give up on both and just settle for what I have.

I did make some PE seat belts -tho I'm not sure I did them correctly, I still wanted to try.  There were no instructions-my hobby shop guy just gave them to me.  The female half of the buckle didn't look GM enough so I added the square thumb trigger bit.  Close enough.  :)   And I'm sure my brother will point out that it is not accurate to the 1:1 car. 

The pin stripe decal on the rims was challenging.  It turned out ok. I also tried to do a pin wash on the bolts but the detail doesn't seem to be there. 

Oh and those wheels are my first attempt at Alclad2.  The results aren't perfect but it was easier than I had expected and got rid of that kit chrome look I hate so much.  I learned a lot, like I need the base to be glossier before applying the chrome for better results so I'm sure the next attempt will be even better.

Sorry, only the one pic turned out clear-ish.

I think I may be starting to get burned out on the Vette.  Maybe it's just all the new Xmas kits calling to me. 

So many kits, so little time.  Keep atter fellas!

Gordy

I plan on starting to do the decals on the Mustang II while watching the games today. I'll post some pictures of the painted body at the same time.

Hi Tony,

We're finally getting some decent weather here so I was able to fix the hood on my vette. For some clear doesn't spray well in cold weather. I want to get some of the interior done today.

L8TR,

Eric

Any progress fellas ? I think I'll finish the sanding of the body on my 53 Corvette tonight.

Cheers

Tony

Looks really good Dale, and the headers look great. It's been a mild summer here so far, temps in the 20 to 30 degree celsius range on most days, very pleasant. Trouble is, I've been fighting this head cold for the last two weeks and have slowed right down with everything.

Cheers

Tony

Dale, I think you have a very good grasp on the solder header idea!  The more of them you do the easier they get.  Nice work on the little Mustang, that is a Nasty little kit to build but looks like you have it under control.  You will learn to say some new words, I did!  I might take mine out of the box again someday but I am in NO HURRY!  LOL!  All I have done is work over my work room some, -10 degree temps are not common for the part of the country I live in and has made things kind of brutal.  I wish I could have spent the winter where Tony lives!    More later    

George

Well I've finely had some time to work on the Mustang II. First off thanks for the Picture Rommel that helped me plan what I was going to do with the suspension.

The front suspension was simple I just installed the spindles up side down. I had to cut the molded on springs off and glue them on separately.

The rear suspension kind of worked itself out. When I was doing a mock up of the interior, chassis, and body their was a large gap between the wheel tubs and frame. Since I thought that the rear sat to high instead off filling the gap I cut the chassis so the rear of the chassis fit snug up to the wheel tubs. Then I boxed in the gaps between the two halves of the chassis with some styrene strips.

I forgot to take pics of that work. I'll take pics of the completed work, after and post that.

I painted the interior tub aluminum thinking it would be sheet metal. I tried to paint the dash board stock looking. I read somewhere online that around the time this car represents they had to have at least foux (sp?) painted dash.

The headers that came with the kit did not come close to fitting, so I made my own from solder. At this point it may have ended up back in the box, if it had not been for this GB and learning how to make your own headers.

I cut the collectors off the kit headers and glued them to the exit of the headers.

sorry about the duplicate pic. I can't figure out how to get rid of it.

Ho ho ho, reminds me of a few others that may not be told here.

I got a couple of those vises rom Tandy, which was the Australian branding of Radio Shack. Maybe you could try a place like that.

Nice work boys, keep it up.

Happy New year to all, it 31 Dec here.

Cheers

Tony

Thanks, I'll look into it and let ya know if I find a source.  I can think of a million uses for that thing.

Thanks again,

Gord

Gordy, I picked up the little vise in a hobby shop around 1988.  It was an X-Acto brand and I have not seen one in a while.  It might still be in their product line.  Micro-Mark might offer something like it, you could check with them.  It is handy, I use it for holding engines as in the pic, holding distributors when I drill them and lots of other things.  I would like to find another as this one is getting kind of worn!  

Glad you liked the joke!  I found it in a book about Corvette racing history.  There is truth to that, the Corvette was kind of heavy for a fiberglass car----compared to Shelbys' Cobra.  Gotta give credit to Ol Shelby on that deal, it was the best world class con job in racing that has been pulled off.  History might have been different if the GM Execs. had not pulled the plug on the Grand Sport after 5 cars.   We will never know!    George

rommelkiste

.--------"Daddy, do you have a light-weight Corvette?   Almost, shut up and keep sanding"!   LOL!  

Ha.  See, now that's funny.

That engine looks amazing Rommel.  Question for ya; Where did you get that cool little vise that you hold your engines with?  I've been trying a few different methods that don't seem to work as well as that seems that it might.

and thanks for the joke, I needed that this AM  :)

Keep up the good work fellas.

Gordy

Gordy, you reminded me of sort of a Ford/Chevy joke from the 60's when Shelby first turned loose the Cobra.--------"Daddy, do you have a light-weight Corvette?   Almost, shut up and keep sanding"!   LOL!  

Eric, nice drill press.  I have never had much luck with the tiny drills in one of those but it does come in handy for lots of things.  Thats a nice addition to your tool stash!

Only have a couple of pics for the GS.  Got the engine wired and all the parts on but the Alt.  I also have the chassis and suspension to the point I could mock it up on all fours.  The detail is nice on this kit but the suspension is lacking locating pins  and you kinda have to guess at locations.  The front you kinda have to "eye-ball" into position after you attach the lower "A" arms.  I really hope the interior and body fit this well, I really don't want to re-engineer a bunch of parts for a good fit.

Nice acquisition Eric, let me know how it goes.

Cheers

Tony

Hi all.

Builds are looking great.

I planned to spend the day in the shop but again got side tracked. I hope I can get in tomorrow as I am way behind. I did find a good deal on an 8" drill press on sell at Harbor Freight for 69 bucks. Hopefully I can stop breaking my tiny drill bits trying to drill out plug holes and distributors hehehehe.

Later,

Eric

Gordy, that interior is looking great, thats going to be one sweet looking Vette.

Tony could you add the AMT FIRE FIGHTER Pro Stock Mustang II to my build list. Thanks.

Gordy - nice update, it's going to be a beauty. I like your interior.

George - I've added the Shelby to your list.

I hope you all had a great Christmas, and received some nice plastic.

Cheers

Tony

Wow, those Vettes look great.  Well done guys.  It seems that the Vettes are being completed faster then the Fords.  There is a Ford vs Chevy joke here some place :)

Anyway, I don't have a lot to update but I do have a few pics. 

I'm currently struggling with getting a nice glossy coat of black paint onto the exterior and I was able to make my first spark plug wires!  (you can faintly see them laying behind the engine pic) I am also working at aging/weathering the engine and engine bay.  I think I need to do something more with that master cylinder as well.  It may tuck/be hidden a bit once the body is on but it kinda stands out as ugly to me.

The interior was fairly simple paint and dry brush but I am told by my brother then the seats aren't accurate for 78 and the raised shift pattern on the console is also incorrect.  There is a white decal I placed over the raised shift pattern that is apparently the correct pattern for the 4 speed.

Keep up the inspiring work fellas.

Gordy

Tony, got to digging through the stash and found a Stang I would like you to add to my list.  When I finish up the GS, I will do this one, a GT350R, "As Delivered" from Shelby in late '65 or '66.  Found some great old reference material on how they looked as they rolled out of the Shelby Factory back then.  I always see them in photos race ready and thought it would be neat to build one before it was tweaked by the new owner.  Hope all you guys had a great Christmas and I will have some up-dates on the GS soon.  

That engine looks great Rommel. Your builds always look great.

I was going to snap some pics of the progress on the Mustang II, and get some more work done on it. But I got called into work for a water main brake, and I couldn't turn down the $$$$. Looks like it's going to be an all nighter.

Great work George. The chassis looks much better now, completely unacceptable as it was molded. As always, your engine is looking right.

I haven' t built mine yet, so I'll save all your tips, thanks.

Cheers

Tony

I have a bit of an up date on the GS.  I found in my research that the vented hood was on the 64 car, it was covered in white tape during racing.  I found that the car swallowed  a large amount of water during a rain storm in practice and suffered hydraulic  lock, bending two connecting rods.  The hood was covered for the race to guard against that problem.  Just some trivia for the history buffs.  The tube frame in this kit is beautiful but is molded with open portions on the bottom. 

I filled these with putty, sanded them smooth and painted the frame in glossy black as the 1:1 was done by GM back in 63.  It looks much more realistic with the extra time.

The engine builds up nice but the instruction sheet is a little short on information and exact parts location.  It mentions the accelerator linkage but does not mention the fuel lines at all.  The parts in the photo are just test fit but the fuel block covers the area that the oil filler tube goes.  the oil filler will have to be shortened if you use the fuel line and block.  I don't have any complaints about the kit yet, but you do need to test fit EVERYTHING well first as the instructions are not very helpful in locations.    Tony, if you have not built your kit yet, I will call out all the problems I find so you will know what to expect.  Here is one pic of the mock-up aluminum engine with stock GM parts in Traco Grey.  

Tony, my research on the Grand Sport shows me the kit has some details that are not accurate.  The kit is meant to build the chassis #005 used by Penske and Hall.  No photo of the day shows the vented hood included in the kit on the 1:1 car during competition.  I have found that you almost have to model one of these cars as a "Period in time" build as they changed from race to race and owner to owner.  In my research I have only found this type hood on the '66 roadster conversions.  I might use the vents as they do look cool, but might also fill the hood openings to model the power bulge on the '64 1:1.  Since only 5 of these cars were ever made and as much as they changed, I guess it really doesn't  matter.  All the reviews of this kit tells me that the exhaust does not fit well but we will see.  I do intend to keep this one as close to the '64 Sebring car as I can.   Wish me luck, I'm gonna need it!

George

George, Eric has been kind enough to make the 'Two corvettes' badge for you. I've put it on the front page.

Cheers

Tony

George, that is a magnificent choice ! I have one of those too. Build Roster updated. Will you do the kit scheme, or some other ?

Cheers

Tony

Dale,

That is a nifty vette!

Rommel, Wow, that is some amazing detail. I have never seen the next kit your starting. I'm anxious to see how it looks. Now that I'm halfway back to normal I can get back to it hehehehe.

Type at ya later.

I might regret this later, but I have selected the Accurate Miniatures 1995 issue of the Corvette Grand Sport kit for my next build.  I think this kit is available from Revell now but I don't know if the contents of their kit contains all the extras but it is molded from the AM tooling.    This kit has crisp molding and two small bags of PE parts.  The Webber cross flow intake for the engine is the best I have ever seen in a kit.  This kit has loads of detail out of the box so I won't have to scratch stuff like on the last Vette.  This kit builds the 1964 Sebring 12hr. race version.  Wish me luck on this one and Tony, add this one to my list.