MrObsessive Posted December 31, 2018 Posted December 31, 2018 (edited) Finally got this one done! At least as far as I'm going to take it. Some things I had to leave on the cutting room floor. For instance, MPC gives you no provision for windshield wipers. Looking at how shallow the cowl is in relation to the shape of the hood, if I tried to put in wipers, the hood would be sticking way up in the air, so I let those go. Also, the scripts were quite faint even after the original paint was stripped. IMO, my attempts at painting these are not as good as I'd like and I'm not that good at the BMF under paint technique. Each time I try that the BMF tears spoiling the appearance. PE is the best way to go for me, but the lack of a PE set for '74's, I just had to make do with what I have. Before............ Edited January 4, 2019 by MrObsessive Dual post............posted too soon.............
MrObsessive Posted December 31, 2018 Author Posted December 31, 2018 (edited) Finally got this one done! At least as far as I'm going to take it. Some things I had to leave on the cutting room floor. For instance, MPC gives you no provision for windshield wipers. Looking at how shallow the cowl is in relation to the shape of the hood, if I tried to put in wipers, the hood would be sticking way up in the air, so I let those go. Also, the scripts were quite faint even after the original paint was stripped. IMO, my attempts at painting these are not as good as I'd like and I'm not that good at the BMF under paint technique. Each time I try that the BMF tears spoiling the appearance. PE is the best way to go for me, but the lack of a PE set for '74's, I just had to make do with what I have. Before............ After....... Not a lot of engine detail as I wanted to make this as simple a build as possible. Just the obligatory wiring, fuel lines, and a couple hoses. Here's the next one that's been neglected for a long time. The '68 L88 427 convertible which I originally built in 1988. VERY dusty and the soft top is among the missing. I recently got another soft top and this will be taken apart and repainted Corvette Bronze. New or redone wheels are in order, better detailed engine and redline tires this time around. In the future I'm going to be doing more of these redo/rescues. I'm at a point in the hobby (and in life) that I want to get more done. That doesn't mean I won't be doing any more superdetailed builds, just changing the focus a bit more on projects that I've had literally in mind for a very long time, that need to see the light of day. Thanks for lookin' folks! EDIT: I deleted the pics in this second post and re-ran them through my photo editor. It bugged me that they were a bit 'dark'. I usually do this, but it slipped my mind. Looks better on my monitor on this end! Edited January 3, 2019 by MrObsessive Re-edited pics for better color contrast
ismaelg Posted December 31, 2018 Posted December 31, 2018 Bill, Excellent job on restoring that beauty. She is GORGEOUS! Congratulations! Thanks,
TarheelRick Posted December 31, 2018 Posted December 31, 2018 (edited) Not much for Vettes, except the first gen Stingrays 63-67, but this one is a real beauty. I may have to reconsider using the ones in my stash for trading fodder and actually try building one. Of course, it will be nowhere close to the exceptional work seen here. Edited December 31, 2018 by TarheelRick
W-409 Posted December 31, 2018 Posted December 31, 2018 This turned out very nice, but that's not a surprise to anyone that has seen your previous work. The modifications that you did really improve the look, and as always, a great paint job and very nice and clean overall look make it stand out from the other Corvettes that I've seen in a while. Excellent job.
Snake45 Posted December 31, 2018 Posted December 31, 2018 2 hours ago, MrObsessive said: Here's the next one that's been neglected for a long time. The '68 L88 427 convertible which I originally built in 1988. VERY dusty and the soft top is among the missing. I recently got another soft top and this will be taken apart and repainted Corvette Bronze. New or redone wheels are in order, better detailed engine and redline tires this time around. In the future I'm going to be doing more of these redo/rescues. I'm at a point in the hobby (and in life) that I want to get more done. That doesn't mean I won't be doing any more superdetailed builds, just changing the focus a bit more on projects that I've had literally in mind for a very long time, that need to see the light of day. Thanks for lookin' folks! Bill, if I were you, I would just clean that one up, do any obvious needed repairs or touchups, and leave it alone as a time capsule of your 1988 modeling skills. This is a common and inexpensive kit--start with a new one and build it up to your current standards, and then you can display them together to show how far you've come in 30 years. I've done this in a couple cases and plan to do some more of it. And I have a couple of my original old builds that I stripped and now wish I hadn't. Just something to think about, old friend.
MrObsessive Posted December 31, 2018 Author Posted December 31, 2018 (edited) 2 hours ago, Snake45 said: Bill, if I were you, I would just clean that one up, do any obvious needed repairs or touchups, and leave it alone as a time capsule of your 1988 modeling skills. I've thought about that, but I have other models which I haven't posted here which could show the differences. Besides, I've already taken this one apart! Later on once I really get rolling, I'll start a new thread for this one. Thanks for the idea though..........I did have my mind set on getting this one redone as I've got paint for it and all. I have a '57 Corvette I'll have to post sometime which I did about a year before this one. You want to see a stark contrast between that and the one I did 15 years later?? Yikes! This one I don't think I even painted........I think I just clearcoated the plastic for whatever reason and I've always hated that 'see-through' look you get when you don't put primer on the plastic. Edited December 31, 2018 by MrObsessive
Gerald Haney Posted December 31, 2018 Posted December 31, 2018 love the save rebuild aspect. I think you did a great job. The green is a great color choice. I'll be watching and following for the rebuild on '68 you have disassembled! ha.
donb Posted December 31, 2018 Posted December 31, 2018 6 hours ago, ismaelg said: Bill, Excellent job on restoring that beauty. She is GORGEOUS! Congratulations! Thanks, Agree. Nice job Bill.
mr moto Posted December 31, 2018 Posted December 31, 2018 Beautiful work as always! As far as the high stance, you are absolutely correct. That's how they looked. Many sports cars of that time were simply "jacked up" by the manufacturers as the easiest way to meet new federal bumper height regs. More sophisticated solutions were left for later re-designs. As I recall, MG's a really bad case of it.
Flatout Posted December 31, 2018 Posted December 31, 2018 Beautiful Vette Bill, the color combo looks really good?
espo Posted December 31, 2018 Posted December 31, 2018 beautiful looking Corvette, I like the Green with Saddle Interior color combination.
Dave Darby Posted January 1, 2019 Posted January 1, 2019 Looking good Bill! Looking good Bill! No seriously, really nice work!
Lordmodelbuilder Posted January 1, 2019 Posted January 1, 2019 Nice job on the 74 Bill. I love those Vettes. I also restored a 74 that my brother had built in 74. Hoping we both get a few more done in 2019.
MrObsessive Posted January 1, 2019 Author Posted January 1, 2019 5 hours ago, mr moto said: Beautiful work as always! As far as the high stance, you are absolutely correct. That's how they looked. Many sports cars of that time were simply "jacked up" by the manufacturers as the easiest way to meet new federal bumper height regs. More sophisticated solutions were left for later re-designs. As I recall, MG's a really bad case of it. Ahhhh yes! The 'ole "4X4" appearance of those MG's! Back in the mid '80's I had a '71 MG Midget (yes I could get into one) and I do remember being parked to newer mid '70's MG's at the time and how mine was noticeably lower than those. Gotta love the regs at the time. Styling is subjective, but if it weren't for the fact that many of those '70's cars were good looking, we'd have whole lost generation of vehicles due to those battering ram bumpers! Yuck!
MrObsessive Posted January 1, 2019 Author Posted January 1, 2019 Thanks for all the nice comments fellas! Hopefully later this week I can get a thread started on the '68 convertible with some progress pics.
Snake45 Posted January 1, 2019 Posted January 1, 2019 1 minute ago, MrObsessive said: Back in the mid '80's I had a '71 MG Midget (yes I could get into one) Amazing. My girlfriend of the '80s drove one and I could only just barely get into the passenger seat. I don't remember if I ever actually drove the little beast or not--if I did, it was only once.
Curt Posted January 1, 2019 Posted January 1, 2019 Nice Corvette, Bill. I enjoy all your builds so if you get a few more out in 2019, all the better. I too have realized that there is less time than I'd like to work on these things so my goal now is a good shelf model and only a few will have the extra detail.
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