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Post by Oldtimer on Sept 12, 2018 10:18:02 GMT -8
This is a sneak preview, just to build a little curiosity. I was torn about putting this in the Trans Am folder, as this fantasy model really would have raced IMSA, but the basis is pony car. (Mods - feel free to move it at your discretion).
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Post by Oldtimer on Sept 18, 2018 12:22:30 GMT -8
Taking an inspiration from Gene Felton's efforts in road racing in his 1969 Camaro. In the rough and tumble early years of "run-whatcha-brung" IMSA road racing, Felton stuffed a Big Block Chevy engine into it, with moderate success. Taking that concept to the workbench, here are the early results. 1/18 scale GMP Streetfighter body and chassis, and some custom 3D-printed Corvette wide-body fender flares. Putting a Big Block from a Carousel 1 L88 Corvette, with crossflow 4x2 Webers (I think from a GMP Lola). From the picture in my first posting, you can see a quick change rear end from a GMP Winged Sprinter, which will require a custom drive shaft (details on that later). Wheels and tires from a GMP Lola T70, as well. Going to be an interesting build to get the wheels and tires to mount, but I think I have that already figured out, just waiting for some parts to arrive. Stay Tuned!
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Post by garydavis on Sept 18, 2018 14:24:11 GMT -8
Now this is looking cool! I really like the idea and it's looking killer as it sits right now. Looking forward to the next update..
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Post by slim on Sept 18, 2018 19:28:18 GMT -8
Cool project, I'm watching!
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Post by afx on Sept 19, 2018 2:15:13 GMT -8
The fender extensions somewhat mimic the body lines around the wheels on a '69, they should work.
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Post by Oldtimer on Sept 19, 2018 7:00:49 GMT -8
The fender extensions somewhat mimic the body lines around the wheels on a '69, they should work. They are the first generation of some I have having made to customize the standard Carousel 1 L88 Corvette. The patterns came from a 1/24 AMT Eckler Corvette model, enlarged up to 1/18 scale. Due to the scaling difference between manufacturers, we are still working on the final patterns. Here's a test fit of a front and nose. Here's what we are going for.
GM also supplied similar flares for the Monza, but there isn't an 1/18 scale Monza. But there are 1/18 scale Vegas!
Again, IMSA back in the day was a blank canvas; which fits very much to my creative endeavors (along with a mind that never moved much past the mid-80's).
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2018 11:17:48 GMT -8
Very Cool, I'll be focused on this
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Post by Oldtimer on Sept 20, 2018 10:17:54 GMT -8
Made some progress on fabricating the driveshaft. Took delivery of several sizes of aluminum and brass tubing. Measured the OD of the original driveshaft, and the ID of what appeared to be the most appropriately sized tubing. In this case, a brass thin wall. ID needs to be 5/32, so I chucked the front and rear u-joints up in my "lathe", and dispatched the appropriate machine tool. And now here's the front and rear, ready, and then jointed with the brass tubing.
Attaching the wheels to the front and rear axles next.
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Post by Oldtimer on Sept 22, 2018 9:34:16 GMT -8
Okay, got into fabricating the front axles with which I will be widening the track to get the tire out to the edge of the flare. So, this is the stock stub axle coming off the upright. Remember we are trying to accomplish two things here, widen the track, and locate a set of non-standard wheels onto the model. I am going to create a two piece apparatus. One to fit over the stub axle. The other to fit into the wheel (although I did drill out the wheel to allow this piece of tubing to fit inside the stub axle piece. The wheel adapter is about the same length as the stub axle adapter, owing to the amount pressed into the wheel being about the same length as the stub axle. Going to run a screw down through the center of the wheel into the original plastic stub axle, so that the wheels will roll.
Next, moving back to the rears. Here's a teaser.
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Post by garydavis on Sept 27, 2018 9:13:01 GMT -8
Man O.T..... You're doing some fine fab work here. I sure enjoy watching your WIPs.
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Post by Oldtimer on Sept 27, 2018 10:33:33 GMT -8
Man O.T..... You're doing some fine fab work here. I sure enjoy watching your WIPs. These are fun, take me back to when I was building and maintaining real one's. In limbo right now, waiting for the new 3D-printed rear flares to set the track width. Only want to cut the brass and stainless tubing once. Worked on the fuel filler last night, but didn't have my phone to take pictures, but will post them tomorrow. Thanks for your support, it means a lot to me.
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Post by Oldtimer on Sept 28, 2018 10:14:37 GMT -8
So, working up a fuel filler set up. Many of the 1/18 scale GMP 60's Trans Am Camaro models have a quick fill device in the middle of the rear deck lid. Here's one, for example. The GMP Street Fighter Camaro body donor for this custom didn't have the deck lid cut-out, so I thought I would create a filler similar to the one on my first '69 Camaro racer. Picture's a little grainy but I think you can make it out. Here's a picture of that same rear spoiler, now painted flat black, hanging in my garage/workshop. I took the fuel cell body, and added a center section (resin cast by Mike Kotwick - Swede70). Fabricated a neck out of aluminum tubing, and added a flip-type fuel filler cap (attached it to a smaller piece of aluminum tubing for ease of installation and positioning). Then took a Dremel to the deck lid until I had enough clearance for it to sit flush. Might shorten up the neck just a bit when everything is final, but right now, we've got it pretty much roughed in. Also need to add a vent, pondering a combination of aluminum tubing and shrink wrap (like I used on my custom dump cans).
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Post by robhart on Sept 28, 2018 12:19:15 GMT -8
Nice work.
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Post by afx on Sept 28, 2018 16:30:41 GMT -8
Coming along nicely. If you want to go more old school on the fuel filler cap, I made this one from a punch out of flat stock and then glued a strip across the center. A little sanding and shaping and I liked how it turned out. Made a tether from thread.
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Post by Oldtimer on Sept 28, 2018 19:13:00 GMT -8
Coming along nicely. If you want to go more old school on the fuel filler cap, I made this one from a punch out of flat stock and then glued a strip across the center. A little sanding and shaping and I liked how it turned out. Made a tether from thread. Similar to the final on my Trans Am/IMSA '71 Mustang
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