Harder than I thought...

[waaytoomuchintothis]

This Corvette project is tough, and the worst has been fabricating clear headlight covers and headlights for the Vette that had closed headlights. I made the covers from the clear plastic that something came in, and the headlights themselves I scrounged from my old parts box, but the bucket that holds them all has been a bear. I think I have it half done now, and the painting has begun, but those headlights are the hardest thing I've done so far in slot cars.

[frank9129]

Lemesee - laemesee - lemesee!!!

[HomeRacingWorld]

Funny thing, going through some challenges here too.

I know you will get it...you always do :)

[TsgtRet]

[waaytoomuchintothis]

Okay, here's an "in-progress" shot of today's work. One of the headlight covers is on the hood for scale.
And another shot of what I'm building.

[dreinecke]

Looks good so far!

[ListerStormGT]

Rob, that looks great so far! That is a great looking car and I know you will do a great job on it.

[Nor Cal Mike]

It will be well worth the effort.

[DAVE]

There are a few clear resins you can use to make headlight lenses. I use Castolight.

[FootScoot]

I'm starting on mine today. These seem to be made of a softer plastic than most Carrera's. Not quite sure which direction I'll go as far as livery. Probably a fantasy would be best for me. They are kinda toylike in the way they fit together, but it can be fixed. As many problems with removing the paint as you had I think I'll just sand the clearcoat, prime and paint. Carrera always seems to widen their chassis' so much it's hard to fit wider race type tires under them. I have a razor saw and good idea about how to take care of that. What's with those funky bushings they used on these and some other early cars??? Oh well nothing some sheet styrene and some superglue won't take care of. ;)

[waaytoomuchintothis]

Yep, Foot, the old Carreras bear little resemblance to what they make today, that's for sure. Those rooftops over the bearings are strange, and they can be eliminated fairly easily with hot glue, but considering how little room there is in there, I just left it alone so far. I can't get a wider stance and keep the fender openings stock. I'm using Pioneer wheels and Paul Gage tires, a Slot.it crown gear, and one of Mark's motors. Running the bare chassis, it seems quite smooth, but I am concerned that handling won't be that great with this stance and a body I can only lighten so much. We'll see...

Here's yesterday's progress, still in the rough. Looks like I shook a bit on one of them. Sorry.

[FootScoot]

Rob, that looks great! I figured out how to put wider boots on mine. I just cut the bushing towers out, thinned them down with a flat file. Now all I have to do is level them with the chassis and superglue them to tack them on then use some JB Weld to finish them off. I'm just gonna drill the old bushings out and use some Slick 7's in it. I'm using CB Designs 5 spoke wheels with Slot It tires on front, and some Yellow Dogs on the rear. I'll post some pics later. :)

[frank9129]

Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou.
Looking good.

[FootScoot]

I primered mine today, or let's say I attempted to primer it. When I sanded the clearcoat and washed the body with dawn dish soap, let it dry, and sprayed the primer on it started to fisheye in some spots. Not sure if it was the clearcoat or something oily on the finish, so Iwashed it again after the initial coat of primer had dried, and sprayed it again. This time it took the primer just fine, kinda strange the way it reacted at first. :?

I would have posted pics, but the battery is dead in the darned camera again. I think it's time to buy another camera. :oops:

[raceeng18]

The vette looks great Rob. That will be one to be proud of. I knew you could do it.

Joe F.