Short Track Models
Construction Topics => Fab shop-under construction pics => Topic started by: David Bogard on May 03, 2021, 01:41:06 PM
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I thought I would build the venerable Rat Trap Vega kit since I had one laying around and as usual, I just don't seem to follow instructions very well!
I shortened the front and rear, installed poseable steering and cut down the firewall:
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aJqipFxAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aJqimMxAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aJqicdxAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aJqiwyxAyY5G.jpg)
I then filled in the rear fender wells as I think I am going to slide the body back 3/8" or so.
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aJqi48xAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aJqiDjxAyY5G.jpg)
I then did a rough-in fabrication for a new hood and it now has a profile that I can build around.
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aJqiYMxAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aJqisyxAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aJqikNxAyY5G.jpg)
With this basic set-up in place I can build the roll cage, dash and interior and that will determine the final rear length of the hood. Getting the motor stuffed in there and then determining what kinds of "bumps, bubbles or scoops" the hood will need will come later. Lots of smoothing and tweaking along the way but at least I now have a platform that I had in my mind's eye and will go from there. Thanks for looking!
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Model on David. Your insight and creativity are truly inspiring.
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Well, I kept looking at this thing last night and I decided it was a little too tail-happy. So I cut a full .250mm out of the tail but then it looked too stubby when I re-attached it (I think I created a small Chevy Citation in case anyone wants to make one!). So I knocked the tail back off and added .080mm back into it and now it seems to have the right proportions to my eye. The whole body just seems better balanced to me. I will now smooth that in and THEN start building around it all. Once the final rear ride height is locked down I will add a little to the rockers to perceptually draw the body down to the ground more.The moral of the story I guess is to not let me stare at something too long or the razor saw will likely come out (whether it needs to or not!- Ha!)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aJNycdxAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aJNypFxAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aJNy1qxAyY5G.jpg)
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Sweet! Vega nut here. Going to build one some day. Watching this one as I know it'll be cool when you're done. Tb
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Tom, the coupe would be much easier to modify. This little fastback version poses it's own barriers mainly because of the inherent negative slope of the top as well as the tie-in into the trunk. For what I am attempting on this little modified I think it'll turn out okay in the end but I would have much prefer the coupe!
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You know, there was still something bugging me about this thing and I finally figured out what it was. This fastback Vega body-style has a slight and inherent negative slope to the top so I decided to try to change that. A very small slice, maybe 1/16" plus the kerfs, was taken from the front pillars. Then I carefully bent the upper pillars to align themselves in order to best maintain to original body style windshield slope integrity. In the end, I now am really started to like this little thing! The mock-up is roughly where the body will eventually sit and once that is locked down I will trim off the rocker skirts appropriately. Some smoothing and the main bodywork should be done.
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aJzdh5xAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aJzdVyxAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aJzdSdxAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aJzdDGxAyY5G.jpg)
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....All the right cuts in all the right places (https://images51.fotki.com/v382/photos/0/3714830/14102431/sawzallsmiley-vi.gif) (https://public.fotki.com/outlaw-ford/79-mustang-late-model/sawzall-smiley.html)
Brings back some memories of a Vega hatchback I.M.C.A modified that I saw the first season they ran them here in '83....tri-5 Chevy frame (former late model or hobby stock???) ,Vega body and as I recall, a grimy SBC claimer engine
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Got the body locked down. Along the way it became apparent that the extreme side body curvature was problematic as it would push the headers way out too far for what I wanted to do. The answer was to simply cut the lower portion of the doors off and re-attched them at less of a curved angle. That not only gives me a better and more flattened side profile but will now allow me to tuck the headers underneath the body, a much better look all the way around. Got the interior rear shelf built and fabricated new motor mounts in order to get the engine block moved rearwards and lower. More body smoothing will be needed but I can now move to the cage and other interior components, along with the lower fuel cell at the rear.
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aEY6JdxAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aEY6HLxAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aEY6agxAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aEY6eWxAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aEY6ZGxAyY5G.jpg)
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You amaze me. You see things most of us would never see. You should have been a designer for one of the big car builders..
Rett
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Thanks Rett. Having said that, several on this Forum "amaze" me with their own abilities. For me, like the upcoming headers on this build, I can "see" exactly what I want to do with them and then it will simply be up to me to create them. I already "know" what they will look like so the fun is getting from evergreen or solder or whatever to what I "see". Once all of that kind of stuff on a build is done, the painting and graphics and final details are a pain in the neck for me. . . . no fun in that!! Haha!
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I can't "see" what I want. I think I do, but getting it done is another story. I can't paint like I used either. Frustrates the heck out me. I'm redoing that 57 Ford right now 'cause I screwed it up. Oh well, I'm not giving up yet....
Rett
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Never! That's kind of the beauty of what we do and the materials with which we work. You can always "fix" something! In fact, I've learned 10 times as much about modeling while fixing my mistakes than I have anything else!! Haha!
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Working now on the dash, cage and my driver. I don't put drivers in cars all the time but I do enjoy seeing them in there and they add a lot to a build. They are also an entire model project all by themselves as you have to cut and trim and adjust them every time you want to put the little fella in there! Why is it that few of you, if any, ever put drivers in your race cars?
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To answer your question about putting drives in builds....
For me, I did, once, but was not permanently in place, and that was the OLD IMC Chaparall 2E Can-Am car.
Didn't think having a car on a trailer attached to a two vehicle would look right with a driver sitting int the car.....but that's just me.....
Maybe it was just me, but always thought the drivers for the old Grant King sprints/supers looked a little undersized....
Case in point....
(https://i.postimg.cc/qMDzQ9vL/Old-trailer-1.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/SNxn6ykR/OId-Trailer-2.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
I know there are no two vehicles for these 2, because the tow vehicles did not survive the 16-20 different moves in 42 years and the originals to these trailers met their fate before I left for Southern Calif....
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Quite a bit more bar work to be done on the cage as well as some gauges and detail to the dash. Still, I had enough of the basics in place to start getting my driver in there. The little fella has undergone countless surgeries (without anesthesia) but he is happy to finally have a car to drive. Once he gets smoothed and painted, and gets his head/helmet he will be rarin' to go!
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aEneohxAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aEne2CxAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aEne3LxAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aEnazVxAyY5G.jpg)
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................................ Why is it that few of you, if any, ever put drivers in your race cars?
Because of this..... They are also an entire model project all by themselves as you have to cut and trim and adjust them every time you want to put the little fella in there!
Also ,depending on what era, painting skin tone colors for the face and hands.....I might be inclined to add a driver with a full face, tinted helmet and gloves which would be of a more modern type build which I have yet to take on.
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I bought a cheap acrylic paint set of 24 colors a couple years ago from WalMart and each of the little bottles is about 3/4 of a fluid ounce. I have found that I can mush around with those and get about any color I need. Beyond that, they are very small areas where the skin tone is needed. Having said that Brian, yes indeed, getting a decent looking skin tone is the hardest part of the figure painting process, no doubt about it.
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Back in the '70's when I branched out into 1/48th military from the WWII era, it tried painting faces, etc. on the figures that came with the kits. didn't turn out all that well, but then I didn't know to prep them....paint used was Humbrol. (?) ......Think those were tossed when I moved at the end of 1980, along other old builds and kits never started or never finiished...
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Heading to the paint shop. I've got a small spoiler to fabricate for the front as well a some detail items underneath but everything is mocked up and in place.
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aHFUwNxAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aHFUpyxAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aHFUAGxAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aHFU6qxAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aHFUYdxAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aHFUR5xAyY5G.jpg)
(https://media.fotki.com/2v2aHFUPrxAyY5G.jpg)
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Lookin' good David....Lean 'N Mean"!
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Looking fantastic as always.
Bob
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I'll be honest, i wasn't really keen on your body mods, but now that its on wheels with the hood I think it looks great. Well done. Make sure to glue drivers right foot to the floor.
Tb
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I don't always like mine either Tom! I just keep cutting or adding back until I get the proportions or the "look" I am after. Even then, I don't always get to what I "see" in my head! And yes, his little right foot is hammered down!
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The June Bug of Doom!
Okay, so tonight I was putting some paint on the car and just finished with maybe one of my best paint jobs ever! The white coats were about as perfect as I get them (it's a shame that my best paint jobs happen on race cars that don't really need it!!) I set the body down after admiring it and I hear a buzzing sound and then a "thunk!". I do not know how he got in or where he came from but a big old June Bug crashed right into the side of my painted body!! I was furious! I grabbed that thing, threw him on the floor and smashed it. After I looked at the remains, I smashed it again!! And then ground my foot around like I was grinding out a cigarette or something! A large 3+ stall garage/shop and this stupid arthropod decides to make a kamikazee dive into the side of my little modified? Oh well, I will let it dry good, lightly sand off the area tomorrow, and do it all again.
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And you already know the repaint will never ever be as good as when you did it the first time I have often thought I should just spay on a mist coat rub my thumb on both sides and sand it smooth an now try to get a good paint job......
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Lol! Now you're making me feel better. I manage to screw up a paint job by myself. I don't have a June bug to blame!!! Seriously, I'm sure you will get it fixed.
Rett
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WHEW!!! When you said you grabbed that thing and began stomping the bejesus out of it, I am glad you clarified it was the June bug and not the rat trap. BTW, that is one sweet racer.
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Nothing surprises me anymore. Um, except that.....models seem to have some unique cosmic force bent on ruin the minute you approach them with a can of paint.
Tb
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I hear you Tom. I've had times when I was super careful, tack-clothed everything, pristine environment, and STILL got some weird dust ball or some such thing right in the paint job! Then again, I've just blown 'em off with pursed lips and shot something real quick (that didn't matter) and it was mirror perfect!! The test shots will never run, never have orange peel, never have a bleed and never have a speck of dust in it. The actual final may have ALL of that!!
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The facial skin tone color(s) look great! The posed wheels, driver etc. really add to this build.