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1963 Nova Match Racer


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Finally broke down and started working on my 63' Nova Match Race car.  Now, this is not a gasser, not an A/FX car.  If anything, it is closer to S/SX.  Classes of the era are a fun history lesson on its own.  

I opted to start with the Trumpeter Nova kit, as I think it has the nicest tooling.   The new Moebius 64' C pillar leaves a lot to be desired to me, and does not capture the "shape" I am looking for, which sets this body style apart.  The original AMT 63' Nova would have been a nice start, but they are way too rare.   The old Rat Packer is AWB, and too much "A" as far as I am concerned.  So, Trumpeter it is.  

My car will be somewhat of a cross between the original Bill Thomas Nova, and the Blairs Speed Shop 65'.  

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The thing I like about the original Bill Thomas car, is that the rear wheels were not altered, only the fronts were moved forward (I can not recall how much, I do not have my note sheet handy).  I intend to CAD the Bill Thomas "Instant funny car" front frame kit and 3D print it, to splice in.  

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I started work to retrofit a Moebius frame/floor under the trumpeter shell.  I hacked off the rear wheel tubs and fuel tank, and moved the frame rails in a touch to better clear the new tires.   I will just build a new set of wheel tubs now I think, to match the new floor.  The lower half of the firewall was removed to allow engine setback.  Next up will be getting the rear end better mocked up.  I have yet to decide if I want to do a flip front end like the Bill Thomas car, or just a removable hood like the Blairs car.  

I just ordered Speed City's new 392 Hemi kit, and already have a slew of other parts in line for this.   Now, if I can only find a suitable car to start building it in 1:1 also.   Been looking for almost 2 years now..

 

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1 hour ago, 12bridge said:

The thing I like about the original Bill Thomas car, is that the rear wheels were not altered,

If that's the car in the picture above, the wheelbase may not be altered, but the wheel opening has been worked over. It has been enlarged, or at least raised up, no doubt to make tire changes easier. Note how the top of the opening is above the body line that used to extend back from the opening "lip".

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  • 3 weeks later...

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Got the new Speed City 392 mocked up.  Anyone happen to have painting tips for doing the super dull, almost white aluminum blower cases of the day?  I picked up Alclad Magnesium to try for the hat and later on the rims.  

 

 

 

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3 hours ago, 12bridge said:

Anyone happen to have painting tips for doing the super dull, almost white aluminum blower cases of the day?  I picked up Alclad Magnesium to try for the hat and later on the rims.  

Build a time machine, go back to the '70s and buy up all the Pactra Flat Aluminum you can find. It was wonderful stuff and I mourn its passing every day. 

I have a spray can of a Krylon "matte" finish that will produce a flat, white-ish finish if applied wet over chrome. Unfortunately the effect/finish isn't uniform enough to use on anything I've discovered. (I mist it on in several very light coats on interior parts.) 

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20 hours ago, 12bridge said:

Anyone happen to have painting tips for doing the super dull, almost white aluminum blower cases of the day? 

While I haven't any applied theories in this respect, I have been playing with the idea of a dead-flat aluminium paint, a mist of flat white (primer, likely) from a distance, and the dullest top coat I can find. I may even give Tamiya Pearl White 'TS' a try vs. the primer, that way some semblance of metallic sparklies will hint at a rough-cast metal finish. I'm planning to try it on the Tarantula intake of the 1970 Chevelle Baldwin-Motion kit.

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I will keep coming back to this one.  I want to see how it turns out.  Good start.  I need to see how you fit the hemi.

I gave up on converting the AMT '65 altered wheel base to stock.  Body work troubles again...

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On 7/2/2022 at 8:45 PM, Snake45 said:

Build a time machine, go back to the '70s and buy up all the Pactra Flat Aluminum you can find. It was wonderful stuff and I mourn its passing every day. 

You ain't kidding! I have a nice, large jar of it, in the form of Plastikote's "Odds n Ends" line. I also have a jar of their Brass, which is the same thing as the old Pactra Flat Brass. I am sure glad I bought them!

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