Dodge Viper Competition Coupe

[JTninja]

Hi all! Youve seen my WIP for my Audi R10, which sadly the process has slowed while waiting for Dexter to finish parts for the 07 Audi. The C6R is being polished, and so I need something to do!

Im proud to introduce my next project: the Dodge Viper Competition Coupe.

The car was produced by Dodge starting in 2003, running at $120,000. In order to buy the car, you had to be a professional driver. In many opinions, Dodge had done this half-heartenly (Dr Z killed it, but thats another story). The Viper GTS-R had dominated Le Mans, and the ALMS. It left a big whole, and sadly the Competition Coupe (CC) couldnt fit in the whole its older brother had left. The car was in the middle, not being fast enough to run in GT1, but couldnt race in GT2. Instead, the car ran in the Speed World Challenge GT series, running against the E46 M3, Audi RS6, Porsche 911, Corvette C5 and C6, and the Caddy CTS-V. Then last year Woodhouse Performance, a team from Speed GT, brought the CC to Mid-Ohio to compete in the ALMS in the GT2 class. The car was slimly modified, and running on Kumho Tires. The car finished the race, a great accomplishment. Later that year, Primetime Racing brought the CC for the last 3 rounds of the ALMS, but not running full spec.

This year, Primetime had finally got the car to full GT2 spec, and ran at this years 12 hours of Sebring. The car survived the gruling 12 hours, with the only team in GT2 running with only 2 drivers. The car finished an amazing 5th in the class.

This is the car I wish to make. Im taking Revells 1/25 Viper SRT-10 Coupe, and starting the Modding from there. My skills and patience will be put to the test (I have little of both). I have never used putty before, and to turn the Viper into a race car will need a lot. Ive just learn about pe parts, so everything in this project is new to me.

Well, the build out of the box is simple, parts fix pretty well. Major problem I had was the hood. Revell made it so it could be opened, yet when in closed position, it stuck out, being un-even by the left front light, and could not stay down. With advice from my dad, I spent 10 minutes with a hair dryer heating that hood up and re-bending it into the correct shape with the chassis, and it worked. Then I found out that the race cars hood doesnt open like that... The engine took a while, very nice detail down to the hook up with the Dif in the back.

One of the first things I did when opening the kit was cut out the doors. Since I didnt had a saw, I used my xacto knife. 5 hours later, they were off.

Im going to turn the interior into a racing cockpit. Ive started by cutting down toothpics and creating the cage. Ill get a proper racing seat in the car, I just wanted to see how cool the stick one was By not using the inside door piece, putting the dash in is really hard, having to cut in certain parts so it could rest on the toothpic.

At least the blue springs look nice

Now the wheels....Stock they came chromed! I personally think the bar inbetween each main spoke was ugly, so I cut them out, and started sanding the crome off.


Anyways, odds are Ill use different wheels, but cant find the anything like the wheels that are used:


Next I need to find a way to redo some major parts of the body work. I need to extend the front nose a little bit, and the rear needs to be redone. The hood for the CC is majorly different from the srt10, and also the exhaust location is different. Anyone know a good way to do this? Ive seen people use Stryene I think, but dont know where to get it. I looked at hiroboy, and they were out. Also, does anybody know how to hinge doors? I havent the slightest clue, but I cut the doors out before thinking...

Thanks for looking!

[Some_Kid]

Glad to see another viper on here! This looks to be pretty ambitious. I thought my 98 rt/10 would be a handful but the body work for this is going to be great im sure you can handle it. Good luck.

[jmwallac]

I've thought about doing this myself but have so far been scared off. Take lots of pictures!!! Can't wait to see the results.

[Veyron]

Nice project.

Myself..I'm waiting for AutoArt to release their 1/24 plastic version. I have their 997, Veyron, Chiron and Ford GT...and they are all nicer than I could build.

Yeah, I'm lazy like that.

http://www.autoartmodels.com/pages/slot/24index.htm

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Originally Posted by Veyron

Nice project.

Ditto This will be a good one to watch. The body is quite different from the production coupe, it seems more like the 1st generation coupe w/a few tweaks to bring the styling closer to the 2nd generation. Either way there's a lot of work to get the body accurate.

Originally Posted by Veyron

they are all nicer than I could build.

Bullshit.

Originally Posted by Veyron

Yeah, I'm lazy like that.

Me too. They are nice, and they fill the void when a subject doesn't inspire us to take 12-~ hours to build when you can pop one out of the box that looks so good. My problem is I looked at the Carrera and immediately was figuring how to take it apart, repaint it, put larger driver figure in it, cast the wheels (Sportcraft would do well by some of us by offering the Auto Art accessory wheels and tires that are easier to get elsewhere), and complicate my life

[JTninja]

hmmm, didnt know AutoArt made 1/24 plastic models, was only aware of 1/18, 1/43 and 1/64. Between my dad and I, we have an M3 GTR, C5R and C6R...came close to buying the Woodhouse Viper CC, but thats the first version of the CC....

Body shaping should really start in about a week, just ordered 5 sheets of .20 Styrene sheets, didnt know what size to get, so I guessed

Thankfully, on April 17th-19th, the ALMS will be here at Long Beach, so Ill get to take TONS of pictures.

Heres a templete of what the car could and should look like, with the exception of the wing, which isnt too good in this...

[JETninja]

One of the first things I did when opening the kit was cut out the doors. Since I didnt had a saw, I used my xacto knife. 5 hours later, they were off.

Psssss....

You guys think I should tell my Son about using a Dremel for Cutting?

[JTninja]

Hey guys, a small update here. In 2 weeks Ill have a chance to see this Viper up close and they come to Long Beach for the next race. All the pics I need will be taken, so I can make this car as real as possible...

Ive started working with the front end of the car...sadly, its not going how I want it to....This is my first time using Putty, and not a big fan of it yet...

Only I, could take a Srt-10, add putty, and make the car have an Rt-10 front end!

Lots of sanding, more putty, sanding...uhhhhh

Slowly taking correct shape...


Once I get my pics, I can work more on the engine and interior, while the body is a slow process....

Can anyone recommend the size styrene rod to make the door hindges? So far ive taken parts of p/e to bend around a small part of a toothpic, but dont think it will work...

[cameraboy5]

Keep on sanding! Looking Good!

[JTninja]

Okay, heres a small update for now. I went to the Long Beach GP, and got tons of great pictures of the Viper. On Thursday practice, I was outside the teams sent, taking pics of the front of the car. A team memeber comes up and asks if was taking spy pics, and I laughed, told him i need pics for the model I was building. He walks away, talks to a guy for a second, and comes back. "Im sorry, you cant take pictures out here....you have to come in here"

I chatted along with the crew about the car, who were all very nice. While taking the pictures, I relized how far in over my head I am in this project. The CC is very different from the Srt10. Im going to have to completely cut out the whole trunk area, as well as part of the firewall. Worst part is, I dont know what Im doing....

How can I do the wiring and bars for the engine? I tried toothpics but theyre too big....


Anyone know how to do these hoses? Ive seen them done on here, but dont know how to do it myself...


Any sugestions on the closest looking seat for this? Ive seen a few on hiroboy, but dont know which is right...


Ummmm, I dont know where to start....or what the heck that stuff is...I think thats the fuel cell....


What type of wires can I use to do this? Any ideas on sizes?


And last but not least....Ive looked everywhere for these type of tires, but cant find any! Ive seen the 5 main spokes...I want the 7 main spokes that the Vettes use, but these 6 spoke ones dont exist!


I hope someone out there can help! Im a nood when it comes to this sort of stuff...Im just using my first p/e sets!

[Veyron]

I don't know of any rims like that currently available.

You are getting a lesson in over-your-head-modeling 101.

Not saying you can't do it...just that these full detail custom projects keep snowballing into scratchbuilding hell. Change one thing and it chain reacts into 7 things have to be changed etc.

Good thing you're young...you have plenty of time to finish.

[Adam Baker]

For the roll cage parts, take a look at some of the work done by Dave T & Clay Kemp on their nascar models. The bars under the hood would probably be pretty well done using .020 or .030 plastic rod. For the wires in the cockpit, I'd take someting such as automotive wire, and strip the covering off to get at the individual strands inside. Run it how you like it, and hten pull the wires out carefully and paint them the correct colors.

For the hoses, take some very small diameter solder, and wrap it around something that would give you teh right ID for hte tubing. Wrap the solder tight around what ever your using. When your done, carefully slide the solder off and start dipping it in some paint of the appropriate color. Dip it once, and let it dry, and just keep repeating the process. Eventually there will be enough paint on it to help keep it togehter, but it will also still be slightly flexible to let you route it the way you need it.

[DerXL]

Hi JTNinja

That's some project you're taking on. But when you take your time (and keep your patience), things should be OK.

Concerning the hoses.
There are several tips for making these on this very forum. I know that RickardOlsson is working on a Tyrrell 6 wheeler F1 racer and is trying to make his own hoses too. Maybe you could "spy" in his thread.
It's more or less the same method as Adam Baker described. However, maybe you could use some kind of foil to wrap around the wire, and paint it after bending it to shape (instead of dipping the hose in paint)... Just an idea.
I must admit I never tried it myself. But I definately have some kits that could do with these hoses. So I'll be watching you closely.

I do know that Renaissance has some kind of tubing (look here : http://www.renaissance-models.com/mambo/etienne/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemi d=37).
Just scroll a bit down the page to the "BOAR" articles. They're only available in 2, 3 and 4 mm diameter... So maybe they're too small...
I have the 2 mm ones that I'm intending to use as "fresh air" hoses for the driver and co-driver of the 307WRC I'm building.

Looking forward to the next update !

[Spike2933]

Originally Posted by DerXL

Hi JTNinja


I do know that Renaissance has some kind of tubing (look here : http://www.renaissance-models.com/mambo/etienne/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemi d=37).
Just scroll a bit down the page to the "BOAR" articles. They're only available in 2, 3 and 4 mm diameter... So maybe they're too small...
I have the 2 mm ones that I'm intending to use as "fresh air" hoses for the driver and co-driver of the 307WRC I'm building.

the 4mm maybe be good enough, I have the 2 and 3 and the 3 is way too oversized on 1/43 I can only use the 2 for the Mclaren and Porsche I have to be built.

if you have to scratch make them, I'd say run wire around a small tube or the size you want, get some shrink tube and heat it. that would also then having an opening in the middle

[JTninja]

Hehe, Veyron got it right....Im young! I cant understand half the things anyone says!

Im abitious, I knew it would be tough, but then I saw the car in person, and suddenly i get 7 more problems...I was hoping that someone had seen wheels like the ones above, either seperately or part of a kit theyve built, but I guess not...we'll see, the team gets new tires soon anyways...

Thanks for all the tips on hoses guys, Ill try to figure out what each sugestion means Ill probably try those 4mm hoses. I can do the wiring, just have to find the supplies.

Thanks for all the tips guys! Ill continue the putty'in and hopefully some bodywork today. (Got to work on the GTR too!)

If anyone has any more ideas, please feel free to share!