cruz Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 Okay guys, after much thinking and head breaking I decided to go w/ this kit. It was given to me by a very good friend so I have to build it. It's a special kit to me, I have always loved Chevy Vegas and it's time to have one in my collection. I will be doing some changes since it's an old kit. I went as far as to order a Ross Gibson engine for it even though I will be utilizing most of the kit's parts, at least 'till now. I started playing around with some rim choices I had laying around but ultimately decided to go with the Weld Stars in conjunction with the Pegasus sleeves. Hosted on Fotki This is the kit and as you guys can see it's an antique but the body is correct even though I had to do some straightening here and there in addition to adding some plastic in several locations to even up some body lines, nothing major... Hosted on Fotki These are the first rims and tires I was testing out in conjunction with the ride height or as my boy Irv would say, "the rake". They are from the Fujimi Trueno kit. My plans were to change the color on them later and Alclad them in either Aluminum or Chrome. I liked them because I prefer meatier tires than low profile tires. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki I also liked the fact that the back rims were deeper than the front ones. Quote
cruz Posted June 4, 2009 Author Posted June 4, 2009 These are the second set of wheels and tires and even though they looked pretty good I wasn't too crazy about the low profile look, I want some meet on my tires because they will be "communicating" with my engine choice which I will tell you about later. There are 2 different sets of rims here, I prefered the last one posted.... Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki These are the other set.... Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Quote
cruz Posted June 4, 2009 Author Posted June 4, 2009 I will be adding more information later, there is a pretty nasty thunderstorm happening right now and I don't want my 'puter fried!!! Quote
cruz Posted June 4, 2009 Author Posted June 4, 2009 Okay guys, the thunderstorm is past us. For my last choice of rims and tires I went with some Model Master Aluminum sleeves I had laying around. I also had some nice Weld Star rims and thought about putting them together, only I had to do a lot of sanding to ultimately introduce them into the sleeves. I love the way they came out and this is what I am going with. I already had the rims and tires for the front, bought a few spares at a club meeting for a very reasonable price. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki These are the ones for the front. Hosted on Fotki Quote
cruz Posted June 4, 2009 Author Posted June 4, 2009 Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Quote
cruz Posted June 4, 2009 Author Posted June 4, 2009 For the powerplant I went with a small block crate engine from Ross gibson. I have heard good and bad things about these resin engines, I will make sure to make it a positive experience!! Hosted on Fotki I still don't know which color to paint it, it will come to me down the road but suggestions are welcomed. I do like the yellow shade with the rims..... Quote
cruz Posted June 4, 2009 Author Posted June 4, 2009 that looks good too Dave Okay my friend, I am done posting for now, tell me which ones you like the most, I promise not to post while your'e doing so also!!! Quote
Raul_Perez Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 Too cool, Marcos!! I had one of these during my senior year in high school!! It was a fun car to drive!! Anyway, I like the first and last set of wheels that you posted. Thanks for sharing, Quote
Modellpularn Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 Marcos, I also like the Vega! It was a new car that year I lived in San Diego, and I thought it was a cool little car. A mini Camaro kind of.... I happen to have the '72 Vega kit, and a wagon - funny car only, as that's the only way you can build the AMT kit. About the wheels, I'd go with the last choice. Looks very good with those sleeves in the back! Quote
Joe Handley Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 To be honest, I love the Watanabe's too, did anybody ever make a version of the Quad 4 or teh EcoTec in styrene or resin? Quote
Joe Handley Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 there was a Quad4 in the Monogram Olds Aerotech. Dave That would look pretty cool in that Vega Quote
Smart-Resins Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 I like the last set of wheels for sure! Personally I like a blower idea, but that engine would make it a sleeper! Jody Quote
MrObsessive Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 Cruz, another killer project! I say go with the last set you posted..............A bright orange would be nice for this style of car! Whatever engine you choose Bro has to be better than the oil leaking one Chevy used. I can't remember the last time I've seen an original running! Marcos, I also like the Vega! It was a new car that year I lived in San Diego, and I thought it was a cool little car. A mini Camaro kind of... I've always wondered if that car was meant to be a new body style Corvair had Chevy continued that model. The vents in the rear, the taillights, the roofline, all of it kinda says Corvair to me. Quote
Foxer Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 I agree with the last set of wheels .. they look great on the car. I'd love to see a step thru building the Ross Gibson engine, Marcos. Those have to be in the details but I've never seen one up close and personal. Quote
chris coller Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 Cruz , just a heads up on the Gibson engine you may need to shim it in certain areas. The detail on these are awesome but the fit can rather be crude. I am working with a Hemi Pro Stock engine and it needed some work to get it to have a clean look. Just a heads up and by the way the 5 star Welds will look good on this car. My brother friend had a Vega pro streeted back in the 80's. It was white with blue,red and yellow stripes on the door. Can't wait to see what you do with this! Quote
cruz Posted June 4, 2009 Author Posted June 4, 2009 Cruz , just a heads up on the Gibson engine you may need to shim it in certain areas. The detail on these are awesome but the fit can rather be crude. I am working with a Hemi Pro Stock engine and it needed some work to get it to have a clean look. Just a heads up and by the way the 5 star Welds will look good on this car. My brother friend had a Vega pro streeted back in the 80's. It was white with blue,red and yellow stripes on the door. Can't wait to see what you do with this!Thanks for the heads up Chris, I will be posting the progress on the engine, like everything resin, I am sure I will have to work around it, wish everything resin was like Norm's and Harold's quality!! I will take pictures when I first receive it also. Quote
Smart-Resins Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 I have seen two still in mint condition and running! I almost bought one last year for $3500 and it still had the factory plastic on the seats! Also my grandfather has one that he has driven for years. Still drives it ocasionally! By the way, I am currently working on a Baldwin Motion "Super Vega" hood. Thanks. Jody Quote
torinobradley Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 The first choice really speaks to me but the last one is way cool too. The other two wheel sets seem a bit too modern. The first pic with the Watanabe's reminds me of the Cosworth Vegas. I saw a '76 about a year ago on the road. It was black with gold wheels. Looked really good and at $5000 with another parts Cosworth, I was pretty tempted. Are there any kits out there with a DOHC cosworth head for that little, all aluminum 140? The Weldstars are a great look for a bracket or street racer. Shoehorning a small block chevy in a Vega was all the rage in the '70s and '80s. Heck, they even put big blocks in them things that would break the tires loose on a full power shift from 3rd to 4th... I had a '76 coupe that I hot-rodded the 140 with Crane, Hooker and Holley and it was pretty fast and lots of fun to drive, and a '74 wagon with a 350 in it that had trouble keeping the back tires from spinning... Quote
67PontiacGTO Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 Really cool build you got going here.Its a shame that I don't see more of these vegas being built, thought the ones I have seen were really cool. If you haven't chosen a color yet what about a two-tone- Testors Dark Emarld Green for the main body color and silver down the middle of the green? I thought that would look cool and the chrome really stands out. Just a suggestion. Can't wait to see where you take this thing. Clutch Quote
mikelo Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 I just did a rendering of one for a killer kompact show if you need any paint and body mod ideas. Mike Quote
cruz Posted June 5, 2009 Author Posted June 5, 2009 I just did a rendering of one for a killer kompact show if you need any paint and body mod ideas. Mike Thanks Mike, like I said, all ideas are welcomed!!! Quote
cruz Posted June 5, 2009 Author Posted June 5, 2009 Managed to do some more work on the Vega! Even though it was pretty tedious I finally opened up the the small vents on the rear hatch door but it was well worth it, with some paint it will definetly look better. Hosted on Fotki Back side... Hosted on Fotki I still have to do a bit more cleaning but it sure looks better!! I had to also add some plastic not only on the hatch but on the body, the fit was pretty bad here. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Quote
E St. Kruiser50 Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 Hey Marcos Great start on a nice old kit. If it were me, I'd paint this "Puppy" a nice pearl yellow and foil the trim. My 2 cents. Love the plastic color together with your wheel/tire choice. Whatever you decide, it'll be beautiful when you're done - dave Quote
mikelo Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 Wow, that is coming along nice so far. I cant believe you got those vents open so nice. Well, here is the rendering I did. I think you can see why I thought of it right away. Mike Quote
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