C2 custom Corvette Showrod project from 1/43 junkers

[ismaelg]

Hello,

  It seems this will be the year of 1/43 for me.  For a while I've been looking at the AMT 'Vette Showrod custom Corvette on ebay, waiting on a bargain. I know, I'm cheap.  

Picture from my friend Rob:


It seems the model was released back in the 60's as the Mini Trophy Series, then reissued in 1974 as the 'Vette Showrod and then in the late 70's early 80's as the Street Magic.

Anyways, I got my bargain in the form of 3 junkers:




All 3 are missing the rear bumpers. But been a custom, no big deal.

First order of business was to disassemble all 3. The blue one was the most challenging as it was a glue bomb.



And one thing led to another and all of a sudden I was hacking the worst chassis (glue bombed) and combining with the best body.






Glued in place to work the bodywork blending. The square holes were plugged with styrene and will eventually be smoothed out.  I have an idea for the rear.



This was never intended to be a "serious" model. More like a toy in the 60's. So fit is not expected to be spectacular. That's where blending will come in.


Stay tuned as I'm suffering from a Severe Project Hopping Syndrome attack.


Thanks,
Ismael

[ismaelg]

Hello,

  Don't you hate it  love it when something pops out of nowhere and gets center stage for a while?  ?











And this is just scratching the surface...

Thanks,
Ismael

[Can-Con]

Looking good. 

I kinda hope Round2 reissues that series.

I had the '69 Chevelle when I was a kid and it seems to me that it looked better then their 1/25 kit.

[ismaelg]

Hello,

  You have no idea how many times I have drilled, plugged and re-drilled every one of these holes...  Even "moving them around": plugging a side and re-drilling sideways.
Since this is a custom anyways, a popular custom touch in mid year Corvettes, adding a third tail light to each side.  
I have found that precision drilling by hand in 1/43 is quite challenging no matter how much and how careful you measure.















Still more work ahead but slowly getting there.

Thanks,
Ismael

[ismaelg]

Hello,

  This is just the very first single coat of Scalefinishes Corvette Jetstream blue.  I like where this is going.  





Thanks,
Ismael

[Camaro lover]

Coming along nicely. I always liked the extra tail light option on the 1/25th  scale corvettes. I know how frustrating it can be adding the extra light when the kit has no provisions for it. 

[ismaelg]

Thanks!

Hello again,

  WHAT?  Do you want to do a fade paint job in a 1/43 toy-ish model?  Are you insane? Are you out of your mind?

YEP!














 

Scalefinishes Corvette Jetstream Blue with a Badger 150 airbrush, Cobra Colors Ferrari Argento Nurburgring silver (leftover from a 2004 model project) with a Badger GFX airbrush.

Thanks,
Ismael

[ismaelg]

Hello,

  I started with this:


did this...


and ended up with this:

Thanks,

Ismael

[OldNYJim]

This would be clean impressive work at 1:24th scale…let alone half that!  Nice job - keep going!! 

[ismaelg]

Hello,

  This week's slower progress as I have been very busy at work.

Body has been cleared. Let it rest for a few days before attempting polishing.





The smaller the scale the more toy-ish heavy chrome looks.  Compare the grille with an untouched one. Stripped the chrome, deepened  the slots. Painted aluminum and added those vertical bars to hint the presence of hidden headlights. A black wash gets it home.


As I said, the smaller the scale, the more toy-ish chrome looks.  stripped, sanded and painted aluminum. More work on this later on.


Detailed the one piece hacked chassis


Lots of work on the shoes. Yes, they have valve stems. Stripped untouched wheel to the left.





Thanks,
Ismael

[ismaelg]

Hello,

  Polished the roof just as a test.




Looking good but I'll wait a few more days before continuing with the rest of the car.


Thanks,
Ismael

[ismaelg]

Hello,

  That's weird. I've never had much success painting the raised details on 1/24 tires. But these are 1/43, almost half the scale. I was about to give up on this one but after many tries...




 

Thanks,
Ismael

[NOBLNG]

Looks great all around Ismael. The interior work is exceptional!?

[ismaelg]

Hello,

  If you don't find the exact part you need, make it!

Start with appropriate size tubing.  If you don't have metal (preferred), plastic will do.
Cut a piece.


Carefully ream from the inside and then sand to the desired angle.



Go to town with your choice of paint. Aluminum in my case.
 

Test for a snug fit:


Repeat:



Get appropriate size craft beads, paint them clear red, install and...
TA-DAAHHH!!!!


Thanks,
Ismael

[ismaelg]

Hello,
This one is finished and posted Under Glass!

 

Thanks,
Ismael