‘65 Corvette Gasser (1/8th)

Encouraged by Sam, this is a quick thread on my first 1:8th. 1965 Corvette Sting Ray.....the best looking Corvette ever made - in my opinion. With such a large model, I was disappointed it didn’t have opening doors, so I had a go at opening them up - it couldn’t be that bad, could it ?
After hours (couple of days) of carefully scoring through the door shuts, they eventually popped out. Then all the inner door sills had to be constructed, filled and sanded, followed by the inner framework and new rear wheel tubs.
I decided to go for a tilt front end too, but keeping the hood separate.

The original chassis was scrapped in preference for a completely new chassis frame with coil spring rear suspension, and a straight front axle traditionally hung on semi elliptic springs. All the usual brake lines, etc., were added.
The original transmission was cut into three items, and the shifter linkages made before glueing it all back together again. An alloy RC drive shaft was fitted......and I made a garage jack.

Next was the scratchbuilt big block, complete with fuel injectors.

I attempted to make a set of ram pipes from copper brake pipe and a flaring tool I had....with some degree of success. Working steering added, and more detail (filling the roof side vents to change it to a ‘66) - and on to it’s first coat of white primer. Again a set of Tamiya wheels were adapted for the rear, and homemade Centrelines for the front.

Finally, in the last of this series of photos, it was onto the paint - Tamiya Metallic Lime Green and Ford Diamond White. The doors were hung, interior finished off, decals added, and the exhaust manifolds changed - plus a myriad of other minor details.

Hi Ron,

I am lost for words, the only one I can think of is AWESOME...


You are a styrene engineering wizard, Sir...


Andy...

Cheers Andy ......of course, as I have mentioned before, all I can see are the mistakes.

I will never achieve this level of detail, but it sure is nice to see. For me, I need to balance detail with completion times that are attainable or I will get discouraged...which leads to never getting one finished...and getting rid of everything due to frustration.

I just want to know where the casting numbers are so I know what year the engine and heads are.

I get a box of parts. I paint and stick them together. Therefore I assemble kits.

This is on a whole different level Ron. Keep it up!

Thanks Sam - but I never thought it was possible too, until I joined the 1/24th scale Truck model group just a few years ago. There was a Dutchman on there that built complete vehicles perfectly to scale just from sheet plastic, rod and extrusions - right down to cable ties - unbelievable. If you think I’m good, he was on another planet !
He was the inspiration for me, to first build truck bodies, and then onto bigger things.
If my posts inspire others, then my job on earth is done !

Thanks too Shay - (touche?). Nothing wrong with building out of the box, I wish I could do that, but something inside my head keeps telling me to go that step further. I’m just mental, I guess !

I have a few Cartoon cars that couldn't run in real life Ron, I rebuild old stuff sometimes with what my other half calls big stupid engines sticking out through the bonnet.

I must get back to it

I have built 1/25th models that were lowered, on big wheels, and the fronts had no turning circle whatsoever.... they looked cool, but would never have worked in real life.
A while back I built a real Beetle and lowered it so it ran 2” off the deck, but I had to buy a narrowed front beam in order to get some steering under the wings.
It still needed a 30point ‘U’ turn to avoid speed bumps.

Ron! I have simply run out of superlatives for your scratch building skills.

Wonderful work.