1/24 Revell - 1953 Corvette

[robemcdonald]

After my recent struggle with a newish revell kit I thought I’d have a crack at an old one.

The 1953 Corvette. I’m pretty sure the moulds for this are almost as old as me....

What can possibly go wrong?

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[Eric Mc]

At least the decals are more modern.

[gruffgriff]

If I recall correctly that was tooled by Monogram way before the merger with Revell so the engineering and fit should be pretty darn good, certainly better than anything AMT/Revell US of the same vintage. Guessing early/mid 80s....going to look it up.
Bit on the big side mind....about 1/20th rather than 25th!
Enjoy!

[robemcdonald]

it does seem a bit big to be fair. I will do some measuring later on and work out what scale it actually is.

I spent yesterday evening removing all of the seam lines and moulding marks and filling the body.

It took an age, but looks okay now.

I will post a few pictures later on.

I do have a question though. The model has moulded on windscreen wipers. Ideally i would like to replace these. Anyone have any ideas on how to do this? I've had a look and cant find any PE detail sets for the kit.

Cheers

Rob

[wessbee]

Model Car Garage in the US do PE kits for this kit -
https://www.modelcargarage.com/eshop/pc/viewPrd.as...

Doesn't include wipers, although they do a separate set of stock wipers
https://www.modelcargarage.com/eshop/pc/viewPrd.as...

[gruffgriff]

Nice useful looking pe set there, solves how to replicate the headlight stone shields nicely!

[gruffgriff]

Might have to get creative making a press tool to shape the compound curvature....maybe pound a large ball bearing into the backs on some mdf....

[robemcdonald]

Some progress.

The biggest problem was the fit (or lack of) on the bonnet.



I used some thin styrene sheet to build it up a bit


The result is suboptimal, but better than before.

Some white paint.


I left that for a couple of days and masked up for the chrome bits.

[robemcdonald]

I also assembled the motor (only 5 or 6 parts)


And this is the chrome on the body completed.


I will put it away for a while now to let the chrome dry properly (molotow takes a good few days)

[gruffgriff]

Good progress, guess there's not that much left....that blueflame six looks a lot better than it goes!
Looked it up and was first released in 77 with a die cast metal body, all subsequent releases are plastic moulded presumably from that original die. Explains the chunkiness of the shell that I recall from one I had but never built, but not the relative oversizing of it...

[mrkipling]

Did you decant and spray the Molotow Rob? My pen keeps flooding and bobbing.

[robemcdonald]

I used the liquid from a refill

Airbrushes beautifully

[Spottedlaurel]

Good rescue on the bonnet.

I'm still a Bare Metal Foil user for chromework, haven't yet tried the pens.

[gruffgriff]

A fellow, deeply respected model club member HATES bm foil whereas I reach for it with confidence every time shiney is required. His modelling is one of my earliest inspirations to stretch myself and decades later I might congratulate myself for approaching his level... I love it for it's malleable nature...speed to apply....use as fine masking...always sheets in stock here.
I don't own an airbrush so can't compare but we modellers know what we like? Or totally dislike!

[dr_gn]

Nice work so far on an old kit; I like the engine. That bonnet fit was terrible. How can they sell a kit these days that fits like that?

[robemcdonald]

Absolute piece of st kit! I really wish I hadn’t started this thread Could simply bin it and move on with my life.

Nothing fits. Location points can only charitably be called vague. The poxy windscreen is a different shape to the frame.

Rant over, some progress. I’m just going to finish it post a picture and get my hammer to the bd.

[henryk001]

Keep going Rob, get to the end of the build good or bad or go back and correct whats wrong. You will feel better for it especially if you have another build in mind as im sure you have in your stash

[Spottedlaurel]

Looks more than alright to me, but I must admit I'm wary about starting some of my American kits for the reasons you describe....

[gruffgriff]

Sorry to hear this Rob, I had assumed it would have been approaching the engineering standard of Monogram's excellent muscle car kits that followed it. Persevere, modelling around issues all add to the skill and experience bank. Meep the hammer away until you call it done please!

[dr_gn]

You could wick some glue-n-glaze in the windscreen gap. Depends if you’d rather have what would look like a slightly opaque repair on a cracked screen, rather than a gap. Or maybe add a sun visor strip from coloured acetate? Other option would be to remove the glazing, press some modelling clay behind it to make a pattern, add the missing bit, and plunge mould a new screen from PET-G sheet. I’ve vac-formed a Tornado canopy, and it’s easier than you might think, so plunge forming would be even easier.

I guess the moral is to choose your ‘vintage ‘ kits carefully. The problem is many of them are 90% very good, but often let down by a few very difficult to correct details. The Airfix MGB is a good example - pretty nice kit, but the grille is a joke. Same with the wheels, but there are aftermarket options for them.

Anyway - you might as well finish it. If you really can’t live with it, at least use it as an airbrush practice target.