209 replies to this topic

[Mark Onofri]

Dave,we gotta have a cigar and some cognac together someday. I'm with you on books vs internet. Books win.
 

By circumnavigating the roof instead of just hacking it off at the base, I don't have to worry about the seam. Amazingly enough, the seams/ references did line up. Rather than try to cover up the front A-pillar seam, I'm going to leave it—just like a real car would.

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[Martin]

This could be the right time to get one of these tools Mark. I just got mine, its made by Tamiya and I have not used it yet but I have watched video's and it looks great and is designed for re-cutting panel lines deeper.  I have always just used the back side of a knife but wanted to try this specialty tool. 

 

 

Be great to hear from anyone that has used this tool?

[Mark Onofri]

Martin, I'm glad you posted that. The closest hobby shop only had the blades! Of course I bought them hoping to use them to cut some Kirkwood com segments that weren't cut. Forget that it says
" not for use on metal"
The handle would make it a hell of a lot easier to use 🙄
I've spent more time fixing the gouges from trying to clean/ sharpen body seams than the time spent on the rest of the build.

[Martin]

I ordered mine from Amazon, we have prime and it came next day free shipping for around $9. Hard to beat.

It comes with extra blades in the handle too 

 

Save a lot of driving and time 

 

https://www.amazon.c...I-Nf0ohLbYOjbwq

[Dave Crevie]

Man! Those door lines align perfectly. Too many people forget about re-establishing the lines before they paint. I'm one, sometimes just too lazy to do it. Especially if the body is just going to get busted up racing. If it was going to be in a concourse, you can bet I would do it, though. I made my own tool long ago, from an old General Steel 6 inch rule. The cutting end is a little different. I added basswood strip to the sides to make a half-*ssed handle. Originally I made it to make scribed siding for model railroad passenger cars and buildings. Found it worked great for adding panel lines in styrene models. 

 

You guys are amazing. I got to get going on something soon. Something that will look good running on the flat track.

[Mark Onofri]

Here's a project for you. Cheep, I'll throw in a 95HP motor and automatic transaxel too! I thought it went over the scales years ago.

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[Mark Onofri]

It's about time to squirt the flat black. Not tonight.This is what makes or breaks it. Well, it'll definitely show what needs work and what's done.
There was a large divot in the roof. Wether or not it was a good idea to (try to)fix it remains to be seen. It was a lot of extra work that I hadn't planned on. The body overall was not the straightest either. It was almost like working on the real one that I'm trying to duplicate.

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[Bill from NH]

What are you going to do with this body after you get it painted? Put it on display or build a racecar?

[Mark Onofri]

Well......

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[Mark Onofri]

Good question. It'll probably wind up as art for arts sake.

[Dave Crevie]

I think if I were going to build another "Cra-Z-Cushman", I would use this Cosworth BDA motor. 280 H.P and revs to 12,000 rpm.

 

 

Or maybe this 907 E;

 

 

The BDA would be much faster, but the 907 is on a slant and would fit better under the seat. The 907 needs complete overhaul, the BDA only needs assembly.

 

Anyway, just pipe dreams. I won't be building anymore weird car projects. 

 

Oh! And a little suggestion. Use gloss black for final block sanding. Shows imperfections better than flat. But either way, you are doing a capital job of the body work. 

[Bill from NH]

I'd like to see that Cosworth stuck in a Vega 

[Dave Crevie]

The Vega had it's own Cosworth modified engine. I had a 1974 Vega GT, and was able to get one of the Cosworth engines for it. But it had already started to sag out in the front suspension, and when I checked into what I had to do to correct that, I gave up on the project. Alton sold complete subframes to weld in ahead of the fire wall, and tie into the floorpan rails. They even sold a version to put a small block V-8 in, with a full cage. 

 

 

[Bill from NH]

I didn't know Cosworth was involved with the Vega. The local trailer shop in Manchester built a couple Vegas with Chevy V-8s for drag racing. That must have been 20 yrs. ago. Now, I occasionally see a black Heny-J with a Chevy small block. It's a street car & a speed demon on the highways,

[Mark Onofri]

What do you expect from a car that was transported like a side of beef? What could possibly go....
Right!!!
I'll post some pics later. The rear valance is proving to be a b###h. Although, after the Ferrari, I've come to expect a poor fit from Aurora models.
It is my favorite part of the car and...
It was my favorite part of the......too!

[Mark Onofri]

For those of you who are not familiar with the Vega, some brain trust at GM came up with a brilliant idea. No, not the plastic 90° elbows behind the water pump on the V-6. No, not the plastic shift cable end that connects to the shift lever on a Colorado .
No, what they did was,hang these Vega POS's by the bumper. {Can't remember if was the front or back} and stuff them into boxcars. Vertically.
Drained of fluids,of course.
How many of the aloof dealership employees do you think were aware of that?
Evidently, this decision was made AFTER the stress analysis calculations were finalized.
I don't think the cosworth was subjected to this torture. But,then again,.....🤔

[Mark Onofri]

Dave, your right about the gloss black but, it's a bi**h to sand. If it was a real car, Ida dusted the black with flat white.
Lots a low spots on the body. They must have put the mold on ice before they shot this one. In the first photo, the lower front fender didn't fulley form. On the real one,it would be rusted anyway. The roof is better than I expected. Hopefully, the few low spots are visible in the picture.
Nice motors, if not a Cushman,maybe a riding mower?
PS: has anyone else noticed that the price of Testors enamel is 10x higher than what it should be?

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[Bill from NH]

When I bought Testors enamel, it cost a dime per bottle. Back then i could afford to keep 50-60 bottles on hand. When I last looked at it, several years ago, those dime bottles coat $1.59 & up. I will admit that Testors enamels do give you a very glossy shine, when airbrushed, if you can wait the days or weeks for it to dry.

[Mark Onofri]

$2.99 to $3.99 I'll post a picture of the 5¢ bottle top. Remember that?

[Dave Crevie]

The shifter broke on my Vega ( four speed ) I went to the local bone yard to get another one, but there wasn't one to be had, anywhere. The counter guy told me that the early Corvette unit would work if you used the Vega mount. And he just happened to have one. At a small fortune. But I was getting tired of using the screwdriver, so I shelled out the bucks. Much shorter throw, in case I ever wanted to race the s**tbox. 

 

You could buy a Henty J from Sears, as their Allstate;

 

 

 

 

Used to see this one running the local strips when it was much prettier.

 

 

For the lawn tractor, I have a race Alfa 2 litre. ( yes, Bernard, the one sitting outside the garage) Should be able to get the mowing done a little quicker.

 

And enamel will cure-out much faster if you reduce it with lacquer thinner instead of the Testors thinner. But be careful laying on the coats over plastic. You could craze it. 

[Mark Onofri]

The automotive paint store will fill a aerosol can at Les than a extortionate price compared to$3.99 for little bottle of Testors . The spray tip is excellent compared to the hobby stuff. And also, if I go with a two stage, I can have my female friend shake the cans for me.

[Dave Crevie]

Dupi-color in spray cans has been a friend of mine since I was a kid. I started using them when metallics started to become popular. Even used them inside clear bodies when everyone was brush painting them. Plus, my cousin worked at the auto parts a few blocks from my house, and would sell me stuff for cost. The hardware store where I would have my first real job was next door to it. And the slot track was next to that. So I could spend all my hard earned in a tight little zone. 

 

I tend to keep women away from spray paint.Too many bad experiences. Now squirty whipped cream? That's a different story.

[John Luongo]

dave, what was the top engine in those 65 corvairs? 4 carb flat six or turbo charged like the earlier models?

[Dave Crevie]

All the Corvair info you could possibly need; (you can click on the chart to zoom in)

 

[Mark Onofri]

A friend of mine that I'm doing a sewer for as I text,has a black Monza ragtop with a 140HP & dual 45 mm Webber three barrels. Wait until he gets the bill.
Last post of the day. It's Friday night crash and burn @ Speedies Fastlane